Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccines Decreased Acute Otitis Media Burden: A Population-Based Study in Israel

Tal Marom, Sagi Tshori, Galit Shefer, Jacob Pitaro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To study time trends in all-cause acute otitis media (AOM) burden by calculating incidence rates of AOM episodes and recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) cases in highly immunized pediatric population during the pre- and post-pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV) years. Study design: In this population-based study, AOM episodes and rAOM cases were identified in Clalit Health Services–insured Israeli children aged 0-10 years between 2005 and 2018 by using a data-sharing platform. Because a near-sequential implementation of PCV-7/PCV-13 occurred within a 1-year period (2009/2010), we compared AOM visits before (2005-July 2009) and after (August 2009-2018) the introduction of PCVs. We focused on children younger than 2 years of age, who are the target population of PCVs and are at AOM peak age. Results: We identified 805 389 AOM episodes contributed by 270 137 children. The median number of AOM episodes was 2 (IQR 1-4). A downward trend of incidence rates of AOM episodes was observed during the post-PCV years in children younger than age 9 years (P < .001). The largest decrease (21%) was observed in children younger than 1 year, from 807/1000 children during the pre-PCV years to 640/1000 during the post-PCV years (P < .001). An average annual decrease of ∼14/1000 AOM episodes was calculated in children younger than 1 year old (β = −13.39, 95% CI –16.25 to −10.53, P < .001). Of rAOM cases, documented in 84 237 (31.2%) children, 74% were in children younger than 2 years, and 55% were in boys. The risk to develop rAOM significantly decreased during the post-PCV years in children younger than 2 years (hazard ratio 0.893, 95% CI 0.878-0.908; P < .001). Conclusions: AOM burden significantly decreased following PCVs introduction in highly immunized children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-238.e3
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume235
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2021

Keywords

  • acute otitis media
  • children
  • intervention
  • pneumococcal conjugated vaccine
  • recurrent acute otitis media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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