The epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage and infections in Malaysia

Abstract

In Malaysia, various aspects of the epidemiology of pneumococcal carriage and disease remain largely unclear due to the lack of supporting data. Although a number of relevant studies have been documented, their individual discrete findings are not sufficient to inform experts on pneumococcal epidemiology at a national level. Therefore, in this review we aim to bring together and systematically evaluate the key information regarding pneumococcal disease epidemiology in Malaysia and provide a comprehensive overview of the data. Major aspects discussed include pneumococcal carriage, disease incidence and prevalence, age factors, invasiveness of pneumococci, serotypes, molecular epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility. Penicillin resistance is increasingly prevalent and studies suggest that the majority of pneumococcal serotypes causing pneumococcal disease in Malaysia are covered by currently available conjugate vaccines. Continued surveillance is needed to provide a better understanding of pneumococcal epidemiology in Malaysia.

Keywords::

• antibiotic
• meningitis
• molecular epidemiology
• otitis media
• pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• pneumococcal infections
• pneumonia
• serotype
• Streptococcus pneumoniae

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was made possible by funding to SC Clarke provided by the University of Southampton Internationalisation Fund. SC Clarke currently receives unrestricted research funding from Pfizer Vaccines (previously Wyeth Vaccines), has participated in advisory boards and expert panels for GSK, Pfizer and Novartis but receives no personal payments from this work. He is an investigator on studies conducted on behalf of the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust/University of Southampton/HPA that are sponsored by vaccine manufacturers but receives no personal payments from them. He has received financial assistance from vaccine manufacturers to attend conferences. JM Jefferies has received consulting fees from GSK and has received financial assistance from vaccine manufacturers to attend conferences. All grants and honoraria are paid into accounts within the respective NHS Trusts or universities, or to independent charities. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.