J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Oct;38(42):e330. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e330.

Community-Acquired Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Highly Vaccinated Population: Analysis by Serotypes, Vaccination Status, and Underlying Medical Conditions

• Hyun H
• Jang AY
• Suh JW
• Bae IG
• Choi WS
• Seo YB
• Lee J
• Yoon JG
• Noh JY
• Cheong HJ
• Kim WJ
• Kim MJ
• Song JY

• KMID: 2547559
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e330

Abstract

Background
Targeted risk population has been highly vaccinated against pneumococcal diseases in South Korea. Despite this, the pneumococcal serotype distribution is evolving, which impedes efficient roll-out of vaccines.
Methods
This prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 19 years with communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) from five university hospitals in South Korea between September 2018 and July 2021. The outcomes of interest were the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with CAP, pneumococcal serotype distribution, and risk factors of 30-day mortality in patients with pneumococcal CAP (pCAP). Considering the high seroprevalence, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of serotype 3 pCAP.
Results
A total of 5,009 patients hospitalized with CAP was included (mean age ± standard deviation, 70.3 ± 16.0 years; 3,159 [63.1%] men). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the leading causative agent of CAP (11.8% overall, 17.7% in individuals aged < 65 years with chronic medical conditions). Among the 280 serotyped Streptococcus pneumococcus, serotype 3 was the most common (10.0%), followed by serotypes 19A (8.9%), 34 (8.9%), and 35B (8.9%). Non-vaccine serotypes (serotype 35B [13.9%] and 34 [12.0%]) were the most prevalent in 108 individuals vaccinated with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Serotype 3 was prevalent, irrespective of PPSV23 vaccination status, and more common in individuals with chronic lung disease (P = 0.008). Advanced age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.040; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.011–1.071), long-term care facility residence (aOR, 2.161; 95% CI, 1.071–4.357), and bacteremia (aOR, 4.193; 95% CI, 1.604–10.962) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients with pCAP. PPSV23 vaccination reduced the risk of mortality (aOR, 0.507; 95% CI, 0.267–0.961).
Conclusion
Serotype 3 and 19A were still the most common serotypes of pCAP in South Korea despite the national immunization program of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine in children and PPSV23 in old adults. PPSV23 vaccination might reduce the risk of mortality in patients with pCAP.

Keyword

Community-Acquired Pneumonia; Pneumococcal Pneumonia; Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine; Serotype

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Serotype distribution of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia in South Korea from 2018 to 2021. (A) Serotype distribution of overall pneumococci. (B) Serotype distribution of pneumococci in PPSV23-non-vaccinated in individuals (C) Serotype distribution of pneumococci in PPSV23-vaccinated in individuals.PPSV23 = 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, PCV13 = 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, PCV15 = 15-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, PCV20 = 20-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, NT = nontypeable, VT = vaccine serotype, NVT = non-vaccine serotype.

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