Serotype distribution and coverage by pneumococcal vaccines in hospitalised adults with pneumococcal pneumonia in Germany
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Understanding the prevalence of pneumococcal serotypes in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is critical for vaccine development and implementation of future public health policies. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been implemented to decrease the burden of pneumococcal disease. This study aims to identify the serotype distribution of pneumococcal CAP in Germany. Methods This interim analysis of a multicentre, prospective, active observational study includes patients aged ≥18 years hospitalised with CAP in seven German hospitals. Patients were enrolled between August 2022 and September 2024. To determine CAP aetiology, microbiological tests were performed according to local standard of care. Urinary antigen testing for Streptococcus pneumoniae (BinaxNOW) was performed in all patients, and two serotype-specific urinary antigen detection (SSUAD) assays were used to detect serotypes in pneumococcal vaccines PCV15 and PCV20. Results S. pneumoniae was detected in 16.5% (85/514) of participants by all diagnostic tests. SSUAD assays detected S. pneumoniae as pathogen in 13.2% (68/514) of participants. In six patients, two pneumococcal serotypes were detected. The seven most detected serotypes were: 3, 11A, 8, 23B, 9N, 18C and 22F. Among 74 serotype detections, 64 (86.9%) are included in V116 compared with 56 (75.8%) in PCV20. The difference in coverage between PCV20 and V116 was 10.8% (95% CI −3.2–24.8%). Conclusion Among adults hospitalised with CAP in Germany, S. pneumoniae was detected in 13% of cases by SSUAD assays. While the findings suggest that V116 may offer broader serotype coverage compared with PCV20, these differences were not statistically significant.
Source: ERJ Open Research
Authors: Dian Karssen, Lisa M. Hessels, Grit Barten-Neiner, Wolfgang Bauer, Sandra Franch-Arroyo, Thomas Fühner, Christina O. Hassiepen, David F. Heigener, Sebastiaan Hullegie, Rianne Jahja, Kelly D. Johnson, Julius Kremling, Mathias W. Pletz, Craig S. Roberts, Gernot G.U. Rohde, Madelyn Ruggieri, Jochen Schneider, Daiana Stolz, Todd D. Swarthout, Thomas Weiss, Cornelis H. Van Werkhoven, Martin Witzenrath, Marc J.M. Bonten, Cristina Prat Aymerich
Institutions: Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Ecraid Foundation (Netherlands), Klinikum Region Hannover, Agaplesion Diakonieklinikum Rotenburg, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States), Klinikum Dortmund, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital Frankfurt, TUM Klinikum, Technical University of Munich, University Medical Center Freiburg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, German Center for Lung Research, Freie Universität Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $808
OpenAlex ID: W4416746770