Genomic Surveillance Reveals Vaccine-Associated Shifts in Pediatric Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Tunisia.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) remains a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in children worldwide. In Tunisia, the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was introduced into the national immunization program in 2019 for children under two years of age. This study aimed to assess molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine impact on pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) before and after PCV10 introduction. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital (Tunis, Tunisia) between 2016 and 2022. IPD isolates were characterized by multiplex PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Serotyping was performed using three approaches

SUBMITTER: Mhimdi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12846382 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature