Pneumococcal infection in Russia: State of the issue

Briko, N. I.; Korshunov, V. A.; Lomonosov, K. S.

Background. Pneumococcal disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in adults and children worldwide. The severity of St. pneumoniae diseases determines their high socio-economic significance. Aims — estimate the burden of pneumococcal infection and vaccination coverage in the Russian Federation. Methods. The data was obtained from federal statistical surveillance system. The information obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics methods. Results. The annual incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in Russia was 491.7/100 000 in 2011–2019. It ranges from 359.8/100 000 among adults of working age to 1505.4/100 000 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 (incidence 142.5/100 000). 8.4% among it are pneumococcal (12.6/100 000). Pneumonia accounts for more than half of all deaths from respiratory diseases among children under five years (57%, mortality 3.7/100 000) 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 (17.5/100 000). The highest mortality rate is observed among children under one year old (14.0 /100 000) and elderly (41.2 /100 000). There is a downward trend (annual decline 2.4%) in incidence of acute otitis media among the entire population. The highest level is in children under 14. The incidence was 2612.6/100 000 in 2018, 670 thousand cases was observed. 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 (3.04/100 000, maximally in children under one year old, 13.2/100 000). 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 is not possible due to the insufficient level of their ethological identification. Further efforts are required to achieve a high level of herd immunity against pneumococcal infection through vaccine prevention, especially today, during COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.