The article reviewed how 30 European countries monitored serious infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which could lead to illnesses such as meningitis and pneumonia. It highlighted that although all countries had some form of surveillance, the systems and case definitions used varied widely, making cross‑border comparisons difficult. The introduction of new vaccines, particularly those targeting young children, had changed the epidemiological landscape by reducing disease rates while also raising concerns about the emergence of new strains. We suggested that Europe needed a more unified approach to surveillance, including standardized case definitions, consistent measurement methods, and improved sharing of information on circulating strains. Such an approach would have supported better vaccine policy decisions and more effective monitoring of vaccine impact, ultimately strengthening public health across Europe.
I was invited to join a consortium of experts on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) to prepare this overview on behalf of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and to develop recommendations for EU‑wide surveillance. After conducting a survey across countries and holding several months of discussions, we met in person to agree on the final recommendations. We concluded that the most effective way to initiate European IPD surveillance would be to standardize data collection on meningitis cases and to monitor circulating serotypes through a dedicated hospital network. It was a highly engaging project, and I learned a great deal from working with such an outstanding group of experts.