Recurrent invasive pneumococcal disease in children: underlying clinical conditions, and immunological and microbiological characteristics.

Laia Alsina
Maria G Basteiro
Hector D de Paz
Melania Iñigo
Mariona F de Sevilla
Miriam Triviño
Manel Juan
Carmen Muñoz-Almagro

Open link

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0118848

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Journal

issn:1932-6203

Abstract

Clinical, immunological and microbiological characteristics of recurrent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children were evaluated, differentiating relapse from reinfection, in order to identify specific risk factors for both conditions.All patients <18 years-old with recurrent IPD admitted to a tertiary-care pediatric center from January 2004 to December 2011 were evaluated. An episode of IPD was defined as the presence of clinical findings of infection together with isolation and/or pneumococcal DNA detection by Real-Time PCR in any sterile body fluid. Recurrent IPD was defined as 2 or more episodes in the same individual at least 1 month apart. Among recurrent IPD, we differentiated relapse (same pneumococcal isolate) from reinfecti...