Decline in pneumococcal meningitis in Spain after introduction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

All patients < or =14 years old with a diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis (n = 160) were included (2001, 2004-2006). Incidence per 100,000 child <5 years old varied from 6.14 in 2001 to 2.83 in 2006 (54% of reduction, P < 0.01). There was a significant correlation (R2 = 0.9506) with PCV7 distribution increase. No significant changes in the incidence by nonvaccine serotypes were found when comparing 2001 and 2006. The case fatality rate was 7.5%.