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Objetivo: La enfermedad neumocócica es una causa frecuente de morbilidad y mortalidad entre la población infantil. La reciente autorización de la vacuna conjugada heptavalente ha incrementado el interés científico que suscita esta enfermedad. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las características epidemiológicas y clínicas, así como la evolución de esta enfermedad invasiva en la población infantil de la Comunidad Valenciana. Método: Los datos se han obtenido de las historias clínicas de los niños menores de 15 años, con aislamiento del neumococo, atendidos en todos los hospitales públicos de la Comunidad Valenciana durante el período 1996-2000. La evolución de la incidencia se valoró mediante la comparación de tasas, los signos clínicos y su evolución (secuelas y letalidad) mediante la evaluación de la frecuencia y su distribución por edades. Resultados: Se registró un total de 127 casos, lo que representa un promedio de tasa anual de 3,89/105 habitantes en los menores de 15 años y de 20,14 en los menores de 2 años. Presentaron antecedentes de problemas de salud un 29,1% de los pacientes. Las manifestaciones clínicas predominantes fueron sepsis/bacteriemia (38%), neumonía (31%) y meningitis (24%). Al alta, presentaban secuelas 10 niños, de los que el 75% eran menores de 2 años. Fallecieron 8 niños (letalidad del 6,3%). Conclusiones: En nuestro medio, durante el período estudiado, la infección neumocócica se presenta sobre todo en los niños menores de 2 años, así como en los mayores de esta edad con antecedentes de problemas de salud. En estos últimos se ha encontrado una mayor mortalidad. Sería conveniente introducir la enfermedad neumocócica en el Sistema de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, lo que nos permitiría disponer de estimaciones más precisas de su evolución epidemiológica y valorar si la vacuna conjugada es la solución a los problemas que plantea esta bacteria en la actualidad.

Objective: Pneumococcal disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The recent authorization of the heptavalent conjugate vaccine has increased interest in this disease. The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of this disease, as well as its outcome in the pediatric population of the Autonomous Community of Valencia., Method: Data were obtained from the medical records of children aged less than 15 years who were positive for pneumococcus isolation on admission to hospital between 1996 and 2000. All the public hospitals of the Autonomous Community of Valencia were included. Changes in incidence were evaluated by comparing rates and outcomes (sequelae and lethality) through frequency and age distribution., Results: One hundred twenty-seven cases were registered, giving a mean annual rate of 3.89/105 inhabitants aged less than 15 years. The rate was 20.14 in children aged less than 2 years. A total of 29.1% of the children had previous health problems. The main clinical manifestations included sepsis/bacteremia (38%), pneumonia (31%) and meningitis (24%). At discharge sequelae were present in 10 children, 75% of whom were aged less than 2 years. Eight children died (6.3% lethality)., Conclusions: In the period and region studied, pneumococcal infection was present mainly in children aged less than 2 years and in those with previous health problems. In the last few years, mortality has increased. Thus, inclusion of pneumococcal disease in the epidemiological surveillance system would be appropriate to achieve more precise estimations of its epidemiological patterns and to determine whether the conjugate vaccine represents a solution to the problems currently associated with this bacteria.

Background: The increase in meningococcal disease caused by serogroup C in the Autonomous Community of Valencia during the 1996-1997 period gave rise to an A + C meningococcal vaccination campaign having been conducted targeting the population ranging from 18 months to 19 years of age. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the impact of this campaign regarding the epidemiology, clinical aspects and evolution of meningococcal disease and the vaccination status of the youth population for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of this vaccination., Methods: The data was taken from the clinical records of the children under 15 years of age who showed clinical signs and symptoms suggesting an invasive disease with isolation of Neisseria meningitidis and/or which meet the established case definition criteria which had been treated at all of the public hospital in the Autonomous Community of Valencia within the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was evaluated by means of incidence rates. The clinical aspects and their progress (sequelae and lethality) by frequency and distribution by serogroup and age. The vaccination efficacy was calculated using the Orestein equation., Results: A total of 302 cases of invasive disease caused by N. Meningitidis were recorded. The rate of incidence by serogroup C in children under age 15 dropped following the vaccination campaign from 5.82/10(5) habitants in 1997 to 1.68/10(5) habitants in 1998. Rates similar to those prior to the time prior to the vaccination recorded three years subsequent to the campaign, showing an increase in the disease caused by serogroup B over the last 2 years. Sixty-one percent of the sequelae were among children under 5 years of age. Lethality was higher for serogroup C. Vaccination efficacy three years subsequent to the campaign was 83.7% for the 5-14 age range and 69.1% for the 19 month-4 year age range., Conclusion: The polysaccharide vaccine was shown to be effective for halting the outbreak. The drop in the incidence of serogroup C can be attributed to the vaccination efficacy achieved.

Background: The introduction of a conjugate type b Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) vaccine for children has led to a sharp drop in the incidence of H. influenzae disease. The purpose of this study is that of analyzing the major characteristics of invasive disease due to H. influenzae as regards epidemiology, clinical aspects, evolution and immunization status among the infantile population of the Autonomous Community of Valencia for the 1996-2000 period., Method: The data was taken from the clinical records of those children under age 15, who have shown clinical signs and symptoms indicative of invasive disease entailing isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and/or meeting the established case definition requirements, who were treated at all of the public hospitals in the Autonomous Community of Valencia throughout the 1996-2000 period. The trend of incidence was assessed by mean of incidence rates. The clinical pattern and the evolution there of (sequelae and life-threatening aspects) by frequency and age range., Results: A total of 36 cases of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae were recorded. The incidence rate among children under age 15 dropped from 3.56/10(5) in 1996 to 1.07/10(5) in 1997 (coinciding with the immunization campaign and the subsequent including of the conjugate Hib vaccine in the Routine Vaccination Schedule of the Autonomous Community of Valencia) and 0.30/10(5) in 1998, this being a situation which has continued over the following years. Fifty-three percent (53%) of the cases occur in children under age 18 months. Both the sequelae as well as the deaths occurred throughout the period prior to the routine use of the conjugate vaccine. No child properly immunized died. Two cases of non-b type H. influenzae occurred in immunized children., Conclusions: The incidence of infection due to type b Haemophilus influenzae dropped drastically as of the start of the routine immunization of the infantile population.