Appropriateness of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Brazil: potential impact of age and clinical diagnosis, with emphasis on meningitis.

The distribution of pneumococcal serotypes in Brazil was analyzed by age group and clinical diagnosis, using data obtained during 20 years of national surveillance. Serotypes 1 and 5 remained among the main serotypes in all age groups, increasing in frequency with age. Serotype 14 was prevalent among children, whereas serotypes 3 and 4 were most prevalent among the adult population. The potential impact of the 7- and 9-valent conjugate vaccines on children up to age 5 years with severe pneumococcal diseases was 58.2% and 73%, respectively; the highest coverage of the 7-valent vaccine for pneumonia was achieved for children aged 7 months to 2 years (70%), whereas, for meningitis, it was observed for children aged 7 months to 5 years (58.6%). The use of conjugate vaccine may be of potential benefit by reducing the childhood sequelae and mortality of pneumococcal infection in Brazil.