Objectives

Overall objectives

To determine the incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of invasive disease due to Neisseria meningitidis, group A streptococcus, group B streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza requiring hospitalization in a defined population
To provide an infrastructure for further research, such as special studies aimed at identifying risk factors for disease, and post-licensure evaluation of vaccines and treatments

To determine the distribution of emm types and the association between specific emm types and disease severity
To track antimicrobial resistance among invasive group A streptococcal isolates
To identify potentially modifiable risk factors for community-acquired group A streptococcal infections
To assess the effect of early administration of IVIG on mortality associated with invasive group A streptococcal disease

To characterize epidemiology and trends in neonatal and adult invasive group B streptococcal disease
To evaluate effectiveness of screening and antibiotic prophylaxis on neonatal group B streptococcal disease

To determine the incidence, clinical features and outcomes of episodes of laboratory-confirmed influenza associated with hospitalization in a defined population and to assess variability in diagnosis and management
To assess the effect of treatment with antiviral medication on length of stay, and mortality
To assess efficacy of influenza vaccine in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in older adults

To characterize epidemiology and trends in invasive menigococcal disease
To evaluate effectiveness of meningococcal conjugate vaccines and impact on disease burden
To compare components of care for patients with suspected meningitis to current care guidelines

To track emerging antimicrobial resistance in pneumococcal isolates
To evaluate the impact of new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for infants on burden of disease and antimicrobial resistance
To evaluate prevention of pneumococcal disease among the elderly through pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine use
To detect changes in serotype and epidemiology of illness due to Streptococcus pneumoniae which may be associated with the introduction of the pediatric conjugate vaccines
To determine patient characteristics of adults with community acquired Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis, and attempt to identify risk factors for the disease as well as prognostic indicators for poor outcome
To determine the effect of antimicrobial exposure on risk of isolation of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae from community-dwelling seniors
To compare microbiologic characteristics of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing meningitis over time
To determine the microbiologic and molecular characteristics and the association between specific serotypes and disease severity