Pneumococcal infection in Russia: state of the issue

Abstract

Background: Pneumococcal disease is common cause of morbidity and mortality in adults and children worldwide. The severity of pneumococcal diseases determines their high socio-economic significance. Aims: Estimate the burden of pneumococcal infection and vaccination coverage in Russia. Methods: The data was obtained from federal surveillance system. The information obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics methods. Results: The annual incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in Russia was 491.7/100000 in 2011-2019. It ranges from 359.8/100000 among adults of working age to 1505.4/100000 among children 1-2 years old. The upward trend of incidence is observed throughout the period, most expressive among school-age children (7-17 years old). Total 29.2% of all pneumonia have an identified etiology. 94% of pneumonia with known etiology are bacterial, 8.4% among it are pneumococcal. Pneumonia accounts for 57% of all deaths from respiratory diseases among children under five (3.7/100000) and 34% among elderly. The death rate from pneumonia in 2009-2018 tends to decrease. In 2018, 25.5 thousand deaths from pneumonia were registered (17.5/100000). The highest rate is observed among children under one year (14.0 /100000) and elderly (41.2 /100000). There is a downward trend in incidence of otitis media. The incidence in children under 14 was 2612.6/100 000 in 2018. The incidence of bacterial meningitis is 1.4/100 000. Every year 2-3 thousand cases are registered, 43-52% of which are among children (3.04/100000., maximally in children under one year old, 13.2/100000). The level of vaccination against pneumococcal infection is increasing annually, but the proportion of children who have received a completed course of vaccination remains insufficient (64.6% in 2019). Coverage among the adult population was 2.3% (3.8% among those over 60). The main contingents of vaccinated adults are conscripts (coverage 67.4%) and people with chronic lung diseases (coverage 15.1%). Conclusions: The socio-economic and epidemiological burden of diseases associated with pneumococcal infection in Russia remains high. Accurate assessment of morbidity and mortality rates caused by St. pneumoniae diseases isnt possible due to the insufficient level of their ethological identification. Further efforts are required to achieve high level of herd immunity against pneumococcal infection through vaccine prevention during COVID-19 pandemic.