Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39012685›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2024

Estimating the Global and Regional Burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis in Children: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Jay J Park, Jakov Tiefenbach, Mohammed Ma'arij Anwar, Sandhya Narayanan, Beatrice Ope, Selene Seo Bin Han, Boni Maxime Ale, Davies Adeloye, Igor Rudan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. [Analysis of the clustering ofZhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Heliyon · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jay J ParkEdinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-8762-6986
Jakov TiefenbachEdinburgh Global Health Interest Group, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-3163-384X
Mohammed Ma'arij AnwarEdinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-7136-8342
Sandhya NarayananEdinburgh Global Health Interest Group, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-0170-3897
Beatrice OpeAssociation for Reproductive and Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria.ORCID 0000-0001-9989-9367
Selene Seo Bin HanEdinburgh Global Health Interest Group, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-3721-0453
Boni Maxime AleEdinburgh Global Health Interest Group, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-8449-3310
Davies AdeloyeSchool of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1316-8139
Igor RudanEdinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-6993-6884

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) has been a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. The most recent estimation of the global burden of Spn meningitis indicates a positive trajectory in eliminating Spn through the implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. However, continuous monitoring and assessment of the disease burden are necessary due to the evidence of serotype replacement, antibiotic resistance, and the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to provide an updated and focused assessment of the global and regional burden of Spn meningitis in children, which can guide policies and strategies to reduce the disease burden.

methodsPopulation-based studies published from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2022, were preliminarily searched from the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Global Health (CABI), and CINAHL Plus without any language restrictions. Studies were included if they reported the incidence, prevalence, mortality, or case-fatality ratio (CFR) for Spn meningitis in children aged 0-4 years; meningitis was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid culture; the study period was a minimum of 1 year; the number of reported cases was at least 10; and the study had no methodological ambiguities. The article screening process follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Characteristics including study period, setting, World Health Organization region, income level, vaccination information, and participant data (age, number of cases, deaths, sequelae, and risk factors) will be extracted from the included studies. Search results will be updated and incorporated into our review prior to finalizing the extraction of data. Generalized linear mixed models meta-analysis will be performed to estimate the pooled incidence and CFR. We will further assess the risk of bias and heterogeneity, and will perform subgroup and sensitivity analyses to provide a meaningful interpretation of the current burden and literature for pneumococcal meningitis.

resultsOur preliminary search in December 2021 yielded 9295 articles. Out of 275 studies that were assessed with our eligibility criteria, 117 articles were included. Data extraction and analysis are expected to be complete by January 2025. We plan to publish the results from the full study, including an updated search in 2024, by March 2025.

conclusionsGiven that the major burden of Spn meningitis affects children under the age of 5 years, this systematic review will provide a thorough understanding of the global burden of Spn meningitis in this vulnerable population over a span of 2 decades. Insights into incidence trends, geospatial distribution, risk factors, and sequelae will be valuable for stakeholders, policy makers, and the academic community. This information will aid in the ongoing monitoring of the disease and in enhancing targeted vaccine programs to further mitigate the impact of the disease on children worldwide.

trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42021293110; https://tinyurl.com/kc3j5k4m. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/50678.

Indexed as

Meningitis, PneumococcalMeta-Analysis as TopicSystematic Reviews as TopicChild, PreschoolCost of IllnessGlobal HealthHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornPneumococcal VaccinesStreptococcus pneumoniaePneumococcal Vaccineschild healthglobal burdenglobal healthinfectioninfection prevention and controlinfectious diseaseIPCmeningitispediatric meningitispneumococcalpneumococcal meningitspneumoniasepsisstreptococcal meningitisStreptococcus pneumoniaesystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39012685
PMCPMC11289570

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.