Frequency and outcomes of Moraxella catarrhalis bacteremia in children

Abstract

The 7 valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7) has been shown to have a broad impact on the rate of invasive pneumococcal disease in children as well as the frequency of colonization and disease with other common respiratory bacterial pathogens like Moraxella catarrhalis . This study investigated whether these changes have translated to changes in M. catarrhalis bacteremia. We screened all children with blood cultures performed at our center in the years pre- (1997–1999) and post- (2001–2004) PCV7 institution. There were six cases of M. catarrhalis bacteremia (pre-PCV7: 2, post-PCV7: 4) or a rate of 11/10,000 blood cultures. PCV7 had no discernable effect on frequency. In comparison to matched patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia, children with M. catarrhalis had lower fever and white blood cell counts with better outcomes. There was no discernable change in frequencies of M. catarrhalis bacteremia due to the introduction of PCV7.