Community and Vaccine-Preventable Invasive Bacterial Pathogens
Overview
Infectious agents once considered to be hospital associated are increasingly being isolated from patients in the community. Furthermore, the role that the community plays in the transmission dynamics of many pathogens remains unknown as does the true burden of community acquired infectious disease. Community acquired disease encompasses a wide spectrum of disease causing microorganisms including several vaccine preventable invasive bacterial pathogens that are an important cause of disease particularly in children. Accurate monitoring and surveillance is important in limiting the spread and acquisition of community infections.