Invasive pneumococcal disease

Notification requirement for invasive pneumococcal disease

Invasive pneumococcal disease is a ‘routine’ notifiable condition and must be notified by medical practitioners and pathology services in writing within 5 days of diagnosis.

This is a Victorian statutory requirement.

Primary school and children’s services centre exclusion for invasive pneumococcal disease

Because invasive pneumococcal disease comes under the heading of streptococcal infection (including scarlet fever), the case is to be excluded until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and feels well. Occasionally, invasive pneumococcal disease can manifest as meningitis. In such circumstances, a child should be excluded as for bacterial meningitis. In this instance, the child is to be excluded until well.

Infectious agent of invasive pneumococcal disease

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive Streptococcus of which 90 serotypes are known to cause disease. Worldwide, approximately 23 serotypes account for the majority of infections.

Identification of invasive pneumococcal disease

Clinical features

Invasive pneumococcal disease commonly presents as septicaemia, meningitis and pneumonia. Septicaemia and meningitis are more common in children (with the exception of Aboriginal children, who present most commonly with pneumonia), while pneumonia is more frequent in adults. Other less common clinical presentations include otitis externa, sinusitis, septic arthritis, peritonitis, pleurisy, endocarditis and pericardial abscess.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is via isolation of the organism by culture or nucleic acid detection methods (polymerase chain reaction – PCR) from a normally sterile site (e.g. blood or cerebrospinal fluid). Rapid antigen detection tests are available, but they are of limited use in the diagnosis of invasive disease in children because of the frequency of pharyngeal pneumococcal carriage. Although an excellent point-of-care test for clinical diagnosis of pneumococcal infection (sensitivity 70–92 per cent; specificity >90 per cent) urinary antigen (BinaxNOW), the results do not meet the national guidelines for confirmation of invasive disease.

Incubation period of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The incubation period is 1–3 days.

Public health significance and occurrence of invasive pneumococcal disease

S. pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia worldwide. Indigenous children in central Australia have the highest reported rates of invasive pneumococcal disease worldwide. The overall incidence rate in Victoria is approximately 9 per 100,000 population per year, with an overall case-fatality rate approaching 8 per cent. Rates of disease are highest in children aged less than 2 years, and people aged 65 years and over.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance is increasing. Approximately 28 per cent of isolates in 2005 in Australia were non-penicillin susceptible, and 5 per cent were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance differs by state and territory.

Reservoir of Streptococcus pneumoniae

S. pneumoniae is commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of humans.

Mode of transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The organism is transmitted by respiratory droplets, direct oral contact, or indirect contact through articles freshly soiled with respiratory discharges. Person-to-person transmission of the organism leading to infection is infrequent, as many factors intervene between acquisition of the organism, colonisation and development of disease.

Pneumococci are commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy people worldwide. Such colonisation does not normally result in infection because the pathogens are destroyed by normal nasopharyngeal flora. When a person’s normal mechanisms of immunity are impaired, invasive disease can occur.

It is believed that peak incidence of S. pneumoniae colonisation occurs in children at 3 years of age. Incidence of asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriage then decreases with age until 10 years of age, after which prevalence rates remain stable.

Period of communicability of invasive pneumococcal disease

Bacteria are communicable in respiratory infections until discharges from the mouth and nose no longer contain virulent pneumococci in significant numbers. Appropriate antibiotics render patients with susceptible strains noninfectious within 24–48 hours.

Susceptibility and resistance to invasive pneumococcal disease

Everyone is susceptible to infection; however, the risk of invasive disease is highest for those aged less than 2 years and the elderly. Other risk factors include prematurity and low birth weight, immunosuppressive therapy, and exposure to tobacco smoke. Conditions or illnesses such as asplenia, sickle cell disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, Hodgkin’s disease, hypogammaglobulinaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, renal failure, neutropenia, nephrotic syndrome, HIV infection and recent organ transplant are also risk factors for infection. Indigenous people in all age groups have higher rates of invasive disease. Immunity is thought to be serotype specific.

Control measures for invasive pneumococcal disease

Preventive measures

The National Immunisation Program currently funds pneumococcal vaccines for the following groups:

Infants and children

• Routine schedule:
  • All infants at 2, 4, and 12 months of age
• Extra dose at 6 months for:
  • All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants
  • Infants born before 28 weeks gestation
  • Medically at-risk infants
• Catch-up vaccination
  • available for children under 5 years of age
  • The number of recommended doses depends on the child’s age and health.

Children aged 12 months to less than 18 years

• Newly diagnosed medical risk condition

Adults

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • aged 50 years and over
• All adults aged 70 years and over
• Adults with medical risk conditions
  • Conditions as listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook

Pneumococcal vaccines are funded by the National Immunisation Program, for people with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of serious illness. However, not all recommended conditions are covered. People who are not eligible for a funded pneumococcal vaccine will require a private prescription.

For detailed information on the different vaccine schedules and recommendations for children and adults , including the medical risk conditions and catch-up recommendations, refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Control of case

Penicillin remains the treatment of choice until antibiotic sensitivities are obtained. Patients who are allergic to penicillin may be given cephalosporins. Dosage and administration are dependent on clinical acuity and site of infection. Attempt to obtain blood or cerebrospinal fluid specimens before commencing therapy. Treatment should not, however, be delayed in children and infants, particularly if the clinical presentation suggests septicaemia or meningitis. Consult the current version of Therapeutic guidelines: antibiotic.

Control of contacts

Investigation of contacts is of no practical value.

Control of environment

Disinfect or destroy articles contaminated with discharges from the nose and throat, or from other infected sites.

Outbreak measures for invasive pneumococcal disease

In the very rare situation of an outbreak in an institution or other closed population groups, immunisation could be considered if the implicated serotype is contained in one of the available vaccines.