Air pollution raises invasive pneumococcal disease risk in South Africa
A study of 59,017 invasive pneumococcal disease cases recorded at 531 hospitals in South Africa found that higher weekly district-level PM2.5 concentrations were associated with increased IPD risk, estimating about a 3.4% higher cumulative risk over eight weeks at 50 µg/m3. Main modelling used data from 2005–2019 and included genetic information from 4,350 bacterial samples, showing effects varied by age and by serotype, with serotypes 14, 19A and 8 showing strong pollution-associated increases. Authors say combining air-quality monitoring with genetic surveillance could help anticipate outbreaks and inform hospital and vaccination planning.
Higher weekly PM2.5 associated with increased IPD risk over weeks.
Context
The study used national GERMS-SA surveillance data and genetic samples. Main modelling covered 2005 to 2019 because Covid-19 reduced recorded cases. Combining air-quality and genetic surveillance could help health services prepare.
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