2708. Genetic Structure of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Invasive Disease in Korea, 2014–2016

BACKGROUND: The extended-valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) were implemented into Korean national immunization program in 2014. This study investigated the change in genetic structures of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Korean children after 10- and 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV10 and PCV13, respectively) use. METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2016, invasive isolates were collected from 23 hospitals throughout Korea. Cases of IPD were defined by isolating pneumococci from normally sterile sites. Each pneumococcal isolate was identified using standard microbiological techniques and serotyped by Quellung reaction. The multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was analyzed for randomly selected isolates. RESULTS: A total of 91 pneumococcal isolates were analyzed. Common serotypes were 10A (18.7%), 12F (11.0%), 15A (9.9%), 19A (9.9%), 15B/C (7.7%), 23A (6.6%), 35B (5.5%), and 23B (4.4%). The isolates belonged to 38 sequence types (STs), including 4 newly discovered STs. Of the 4 clonal complexes (CCs), 3 clonal complexes were antibiotic-resistant international clones. CC166 (11.9%) were associated with non-vaccine serotypes (NVTs; 11A, 15B/C, 23A, and 13). Serotypes of CC320 (10.9%) comprised of serotype 19A and 19F. The main serotypes responsible for CC81 (10.9%) were serogroup 15. New serotype-ST combinations were observed, especially in serotype 13 and serogroup 15. Also, a possibility of capsular switch event was noted between serogroup 6 and serogroup 15A.). CONCLUSION: The introduction of extended-valency PCVs has resulted in the change of the genetic structure of pneumococcal isolates in Korean children. This study demonstrates that selective pressure from PCV10/13 caused predominant serotypes to be NVTs and genetic changes such as capsular switch events. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.