A case of fatal pneumococcal 19A meningoencephalitis despite administration of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of serious invasive diseases in children, especially in young infants, but seven- valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) is believed to prevent invasive pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis in young children. However, recently, the incidence of non-PCV7 serotype has increased after PCV7 vaccination. A 14-month- old female patient presented at our emergency room with mental change and lethargy. Three days previously, she had developed fever and vomiting. After being admitted, she rapidly progressed to coma and brain death despite prompt and extensive supportive treatment. She expired 20 days after admission with a final diagnosis of pneumococcal 19A (non-PCV7 serotype) meningoencephalitis despite having received PCV7 (Prevenar ) vaccinations on three occasions. The author reports this first fatality due to pneumococcal 19A meningoencephalitis in Korea and provides a brief review of the literature.