PLoS Medicine (May 2009)

Pneumococcal serotypes and mortality following invasive pneumococcal disease: a population-based cohort study.

  • Zitta B Harboe,
  • Reimar W Thomsen,
  • Anders Riis,
  • Palle Valentiner-Branth,
  • Jens Jørgen Christensen,
  • Lotte Lambertsen,
  • Karen A Krogfelt,
  • Helle B Konradsen,
  • Thomas L Benfield

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000081
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 5
p. e1000081

Abstract

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BackgroundPneumococcal disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between specific pneumococcal serotypes and mortality from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).Methods and findingsIn a nationwide population-based cohort study of IPD in Denmark during 1977-2007, 30-d mortality associated with pneumococcal serotypes was examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis after controlling for potential confounders. A total of 18,858 IPD patients were included. Overall 30-d mortality was 18%, and 3% in children younger than age 5 y. Age, male sex, meningitis, high comorbidity level, alcoholism, and early decade of diagnosis were significantly associated with mortality. Among individuals aged 5 y and older, serotypes 31, 11A, 35F, 17F, 3, 16F, 19F, 15B, and 10A were associated with highly increased mortality as compared with serotype 1 (all: adjusted odds ratio >or=3, pConclusionsSpecific pneumococcal serotypes strongly and independently affect IPD associated mortality.