Enhanced Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance Working Group – Quarterly Surveillance Report – 1 January to 31 March 2013

Abstract

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and results in illnesses such as pneumonia, bacteraemia and meningitis. There are currently 92 serotypes recognised worldwide and it has been a nationally notifiable disease in Australia since 2001. The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) established the Enhanced Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance Working Group (EIPDSWG) in 2000 to assist in developing and implementing a nationally standardised approach to the enhanced surveillance of IPD in Australia. This quarterly report documents trends in notifications of IPD occurring in Australia in the first quarter of 2013 (1 January to 31 March 2013).