Jacobs DM, et al. - Hospitalization rates ascribed to pneumococcal meningitis (PM) were determined 4 years after the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). Findings reported that introduction of PCV13 resulted in a significant decline in the hospitalization rates attributed to PM, though no subsequent improvements were noted in case-fatality rate.

Methods

• Researchers performed a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2008–2014.
• They identified patients with an ICD-9-CM code for PM (320.1) and using US Census data as the denominator, rates were calculated.
• They used data weights to derive national estimates.
• They also assessed three time periods: 2008–2009 (late post-PCV7), 2010 (transition year), and 2011–2014 (post-PCV13).

Results

• A total of 10,493 hospitalizations were reported during the study period, due to PM, in the U.S.
• Data reported an overall decline in the PM incidence from 0.62 to 0.38 cases per 100,000 over this time (39% decrease; P < 0.01).
• It was also demonstrated that among children <2 years, the average annualized PM rate decreased by 45% from 2.19 to 1.20 per 100,000 (P = 0.10).
• Decrease in annual PM rates was also documented in those aged 18–39 years (0.25–0.15 cases per 100,000; P = 0.02) and 40–64 years (0.95–0.54 cases per 100,000; P = 0.03).
• Additionally, 1016 deaths were ascribed to PM, and the case fatality rate was variable over the study period (8.3%–11.2%; P = 0.96).