Baseline epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Canada prior to the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine

Changes in the epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae were reported worldwide after the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine, particularly an increase in multi-drug resistant (MDR) 19A strains. Subsequently, a 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-13) has been introduced. This study assessed the incidence of S. pneumoniae serotypes in all age groups prior to the introduction of PCV-13 in Canada (2007-2009). Eight hundred S. pneumoniae isolates from respiratory specimens and blood cultures were collected as part of a Canadian surveillance study (CANWARD) from patients in 15 tertiary-care centers. Serotyping was performed by the Quellung method and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The most common serotypes were 19A (8.6%), 3 (7.3%), 22F (6.0%), 4 (4.6%), 5 (4.4%), and 11A (4.4%); and the first serotype 6D isolate in Canada was identified. Serotypes 5, 7F, and 19A were significantly (p<0.001) more frequently isolated from bloodstream infections. Considerable serotype variability was noted for different age groups: 15B (p<0.01) and 19A (p