Global serotype distribution among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing otitis media in children: potential implications for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common infection following pneumococcal colonization of the upper respiratory tract. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes 30-60% of AOM cases worldwide. However, not all pneumococcal serotypes cause disease and an association exists with nasopharyngeal colonization by certain serotypes and their propensity to cause AOM. This review examines the global serotype distribution relationship between pneumococcal serotypes and AOM in children aged <18 years and demonstrates that the most common pneumococcal serotypes causing AOM globally are 3, 6A, 6B, 9V, 14, 19A, 19F, and 23F.