Assessment of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination on Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Carriage: A Case Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children Under-Five Years Attending Mbale Municipality Health Centers, Eastern Uganda

Aims: To determine the nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pnuemoniae among children under-5 years of age who have been vaccinated with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-10) and those unvaccinated in Mbale Municipality, Eastern Uganda.

Study Design: This was a cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Mbale Municipality Health Centres, Eastern Uganda during the period of September 2015 and June, 2016.

Methodology: We enrolled 280 children (140 vaccinated with PCV 10 and 140 unvaccinated). Demographic data were obtained from the care givers, and vaccination status from the caregiver and the vaccination card. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for Streptococcus pneumonia at least four weeks post immunization. Pneumococcal carriage was defined by a positive culture, with an identification of Streptococcus pnuemoniae.

Results: The overall prevalence of Streptococcus pnuemoniae carriage was 123 of280 (43.93%; 95% Confidence interval: 39.88-47.69) with the rate among the immunized of 14.29% (95%% CI: 11.33-16.73), compared to the 78.57% (95%CI: 81.34-88.61) among the unvaccinated children. The odds ratio of pneumococcal carriage was 7.4 among the unvaccinated children compared to the PCV immunized children.

Conclusion: Vaccination with PCV offers protection to the risk of pneumococcal carriage. This study emphasizes the value of monitoring for the impact of PCV vaccination program in order to reassure health care workers and families.