Elías David Salgado-Villalba, Ángeles Costta-Michuy, Ximena Del Rosario Villalba-Valencia, María Isabel Carrasco-Ronquillo, Teresa Alejandra Salas-Haas, Amelia Carolina Cifuentes-Carcelén, Katia Margarita Bracero-Velasco, Ivonne Del Pilar Aucapiña Aucapiña-Aucapiña, Pilar Palomeque-Velastegui, Jaime David Acosta-España
Serotype 19A has emerged as an important cause of pneumococcal disease following the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10). In this retrospective study of children hospitalized with culture-confirmed invasive pneumococcal disease at an Ecuadorian pediatric reference hospital, among 46 cases, 43 (93%) were serotype 19A, with most presenting as severe complicated pneumonia. The majority had received three PCV10 doses. Penicillin nonsusceptibility was identified in 88% of isolates. Serotype 19A infections were associated with longer hospitalization and higher medical costs, highlighting the substantial burden of complicated pneumonia due to a non-PCV10 serotype.