Differential Impact of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions on the Epidemiology of Invasive Bacterial Infections in Children During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. Issue 2 (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Ye Kyung; Choi, Youn Young; Lee, Hyunju; Song, Eun Song; Ahn, Jong Gyun; Park, Su Eun; Lee, Taekjin; Cho, Hye-Kyung; Lee, Jina; Kim, Yae-Jean; Jo, Dae Sun; Kang, Hyun Mi; Lee, Joon Kee; Kim, Chun Soo; Kim, Dong Hyun; Kim, Hwang Min; Choi, Jae Hong; Eun, Byung Wook; Kim, Nam Hee; Cho, Eun Young; Kim, Yun-Kyung; Oh, Chi Eun; Kim, Kyung-Hyo; Choi, Eun Hwa
• Is Part Of: Pediatric infectious disease journal. Volume 41:Issue 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: invasive bacterial infection -- children -- COVID-19 -- pandemic -- nonpharmaceutical interventions; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Infection in children -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003414
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3668

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Invasive bacterial infection (IBI) remains a major burden of mortality and morbidity in children. As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged, stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were applied worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of NPIs on pediatric IBI in Korea. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, surveillance for pediatric IBIs caused by 9 pathogens ( S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, N. meningitidis, S. agalactiae, S. pyogenes, S. aureus, Salmonella species, L. monocytogenes and E. coli ) was performed at 22 hospitals throughout Korea. Annual incidence rates were compared before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 651 cases were identified and the annual incidence was 194.0 cases per 100, 000 in-patients in 2018, 170.0 in 2019 and 172.4 in 2020. Most common pathogen by age group was S. agalactiae in infants < 3 months (n = 129, 46.7%), S. aureus in 3 to < 24 months (n = 35, 37.2%), Salmonella spp. in 24 to < 60 months (n = 24, 34.8%) and S. aureus in children ≥ 5 years (n = 128, 60.7%). Compared with 2018 to 2019, the incidence rate in 2020 decreased by 57% for invasive pneumococcal disease (26.6 vs. 11.5 per 100, 000 in-patients, P = 0.014) and 59% for Salmonella spp. infection (22.8 vs. 9.4 per 100, 000 in-patients, P = 0.018). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in invasive infections due to S. aureus, S. agalactiae and E. coli . Conclusions: The NPIs implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced invasive diseases caused by S. pneumoniae and Salmonella spp. but not S. aureus, S. agalactiae and E. coli in children. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.