Progress and Future Challenges in Coordinated Surveillance and Detection of Pneumococcal and Hib Disease in Developing Countries

Over the past 20 years, numerous research projects and surveillance studies have led to the recognition that bacterial meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia are com-mon and severe causes of childhood illness and death in developing countries 1–5. With recent advances in vaccine development and increases in financing, most of these serious bacterial infections are preventable 6, 7. Expanded access to appropriate antibiotics for ef-fective case management makes those infections largely treatable as well 8. In 2003, however, many developing countries lacked accurate, sensitive surveillance systems to monitor the occurrence of bacterial meningitis, sepsis, and pneu-monia. Information about this occurrence is important for guidance in the selection of antibiotics for therapy,