Epidemiology and Impact of Anti-Pneumococcal Vaccination and COVID-19 on Resistance of <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> Causing Invasive Disease in Piedmont, Italy
Alessandro Bondi,
Emanuele Koumantakis,
Antonio Curtoni,
Anna Maria Barbui,
Marco Peradotto,
Daniela Lombardi,
Roberto Casale,
Silvia Alizzi,
Elisa Zanotto,
Lorena Charrier,
Rossana Cavallo,
Cristina Costa
Affiliations
Alessandro Bondi
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Emanuele Koumantakis
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Antonio Curtoni
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Anna Maria Barbui
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Marco Peradotto
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Daniela Lombardi
Regional Epidemiology Reference Service for the Surveillance, Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (SeREMI), 15121 Alessandria, Italy
Roberto Casale
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Silvia Alizzi
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Elisa Zanotto
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Lorena Charrier
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
Rossana Cavallo
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Cristina Costa
Microbiology and Virology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Background: The international surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) reports S. pneumoniae as one of leading causes of death associated with AMR. Against invasive disease, several vaccinations are available and a reduction in AMR in S. pneumoniae has been observed. Here, we evaluated the impact of anti-pneumococcal vaccination policy and the SARS-CoV2 outbreak on AMR in S. pneumoniae causing invasive disease. Methods: We collected all strains of S. pneumoniae causing invasive disease from 2008 in the Piedmont region (Italy). Each strain was typed in order to identify the serogroup and data about AMR were collected. The population under surveillance was classified as infants, children, adults, and the old population. Results: We collected n = 2076 S. pneumoniae strains, with 21.9% and 40.3% being resistant to penicillin G and erythromycin, respectively. We reported an increased risk of infection with penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae among all populations and evaluated whether the infection was caused by a serotype included in the vaccine formulation. A similar increase was observed after the SARS-CoV2 outbreak. Conclusions: In the Piedmont region, subsequently to the introduction of anti-pneumococcal vaccination, a significant increase in the risk of penicillin G-resistant invasive pneumococcal disease among infants and old population was reported. No significant impact was found for the SARS-CoV2 outbreak.
