Decreased Pneumococcal Carriage among Older Adults in Denmark during the COVID-19 Lockdown

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  • Michaela Tinggaard
  • Hans Christian Slotved
  • Randi Føns Petersen
  • Nichlas Hovmand
  • Benfield, Thomas

Background: COVID-19 containment measures reduced the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease. Data on pneumococcal carriage rates among adults during the pandemic are scarce. Methods: Naso-and oropharyngeal swabs and questionnaires were collected during January 2019 to December 2021 from adults ≥64 years of age. Carriage was determined by lytA/piaB PCR. Results: A total of 1556 participants provided paired naso-and oropharyngeal swabs. Their median age was 74 years (IQR, 70-79). Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA was detected in 146 (9.4%) oropharyngeal swabs and 34 (2.2%) nasopharyngeal. The carriage rate decreased from 12.9% (95% CI, 10.1%-16.1%, n = 66/511) prelockdown (January 2019-February 2020) to 4.2% (95% CI, 2.0%-7.5%, n = 10/240) during lockdown (March 2020-February 2021) and increased to 12.1% (95% CI, 9.8%-14.7%, n = 87/719) with the reopening of society (March 2021-December 2021; P =. 0009). Conclusions: Pneumococcal carriage prevalence declined significantly during pandemic mitigation measures and rebounded to prepandemic levels as measures were lifted.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberofad365
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume10
Issue number8
Number of pages5
ISSN2328-8957
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

    Research areas

  • adults, carriage, COVID-19 pandemic, pneumococcus, surveillance

ID: 371929879