Acquisition of Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants and their families
Jon Deeks with Karen Sleeman, Leslie Daniels, Marion Gardiner, David Griffiths, Ron Dagan, Sunetra Gupta, Richard Moxon, Tim Peto and Derrick Crook (Oxford)
Most children are believed to acquire Streptococcus pneumoniae asymptomatically, with only a few developing overt S. pneumoniae disease. This study investigates the relationship between acquisition of S. pneumoniae and mild nonspecific infection leading to general practitioner (GP) consultation.
A prospective birth cohort study of 213 infants assessed at home 9 times during 24 weeks by nasopharyngeal swab and parental interviews were conducted.
Swabs positive for S. pneumoniae (whether indicating a new acquisition or continued carriage or a previous acquisition) were found to be significantly associated with GP consultations for infection by the study infant. The association of GP consultations with new S. pneumoniae acquisitions was stronger than for carriage. The association remained after multivariate analyses adjusted for other risk factors for infection. A similar and independent association was found between S. pneumoniae acquisition by the study subject, and GP consultations for infection by the family.
We concluded that acquisition of S. pneumoniae by the study infant was significantly associated with GP consultations for infection by the infant or family. This indicates that S. pneumoniae is a likely cause of mild respiratory infection in infants and their families, and that introduction of a vaccine for S. pneumoniae may impact on the incidence infections.
Publication: 178
