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The following is a summary of “A nationwide study of two decades of invasive pneumococcal disease in the Faroe Islands, 2000–2023,” published in the December 2024 issue of Infectious Disease by Kallsberg et al.
Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) continues to be a significant public health issue, especially among vulnerable groups like the elderly, and this study examines trends in the Faroe Islands, where high vaccination coverage and geographic isolation provide a unique monitoring environment.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to investigate the prevalence, trends, and serotype distribution of IPD in the Faroe Islands from 2000 to 2023, with a focus on the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on disease incidence and serotype replacement.
They analyzed 86 pneumococcal isolates, representing all IPD cases in the Faroe Islands during the study period. Data on patient demographics, serotype identification, and vaccination history were obtained from national health records. Temporal trends in vaccine-type (VT) and non-vaccine-type (nVT) serotypes were assessed, with particular focus on changes following the introduction of PCV13 in 2010.
The results showed that after the introduction of the PCV13, a shift from VT to nVT serotypes occurred, while the overall IPD rate remained stable. A notable increase in IPD cases was observed among the elderly population. The analysis revealed that serotype replacement contributed to the rise in nVT cases despite a reduction in VT-related IPD.
Investigators concluded the importance of continuous evaluation of pneumococcal vaccine formulations and alternative strategies to address the growing prevalence of nVT IPD, with higher-valency vaccines and sustained vaccination coverage being essential for mitigating serotype replacement and enhancing public health outcomes in the Faroe Islands.
Source: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23744235.2024.2440033#abstract
