Broadest coverage against pneumococci:
- There are more than 90 strains (serotypes) of pneumococcus bacteria.
- The first pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licensed in the year 2000 to protect against 7 serotypes of the bacteria.2 this was followed by PCV-10, which added protection against 3 more serotypes.
- It has been proven that the types of bacteria which were not covered by the earlier pneumococcal vaccines are beginning to increase in Saudi.2
- The latest vaccine approved in 2010, the 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-13), now offers the broadest coverage against pneumococci in the pediatric age group.2
Increasing non-vaccine strains:
Seven serotypes (6A, 6B, 9V, 14, 19A, 19F, and 23F) covered by the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) accounted for most drug resistant strains before the introduction of the vaccine in 2000. After PCV7 introduction, most antibiotic resistance was found in serotype 19A, which is included in the newer 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) introduced in 2010 and currently being used.2
Serotype resistance to antibiotics may play a prominent role in increasing rate of disease transmission in the population and probability of causing invasive disease fatal diseases for children in blood, brain and lungs.3
Emergence of multi-drug resistance:
Antibiotics are medicines used to kill the bacteria that cause diseases. However, bacteria can change (or mutate)making it possible to resist antibiotics. This is known as antibiotic resistance. Many bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), have become resistant to one or more antibiotics. Resistance can lead to treatment failures.1
- Globally, including KSA, pneumococci have become increasingly resistant to penicillin, which has been the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of pneumococcal infections. It has been estimated that 15% to 30% of S. pneumonia worldwide are currently multidrug-resistant.2
- In KSA, the emergence of high-level resistance to penicillin has made the treatment more complicated.2
- Reports of resistance to other antibiotics have also been emerging from various parts of the Kingdom, including antibiotics such as:2
This situation highlights the significance of prevention through vaccination in order to control pneumococcal diseases.