Decline in Pneumococcal Disease in Young Children During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Israel Associated With Suppression of Seasonal Respiratory Viruses, Despite Persistent Pneumococcal Carriage: A Prospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies hypothesized that this was due to reduced pneumococcal transmission resulting from nonpharmaceutical interventions. We used multiple ongoing cohort surveillance projects in children <5 years to test this hypothesis.

Methods

The first SARS-CoV-2 cases were detected in February 2020, resulting in a full lockdown, followed by several partial restrictions. Data from ongoing surveillance projects captured the incidence dynamics of community-acquired alveolar pneumonia (CAAP), nonalveolar lower respiratory infections necessitating chest X-rays (NA-LRIs), nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in nonrespiratory visits, nasopharyngeal respiratory virus detection (by

SUBMITTER: Danino D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8754767 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature