Evaluation of Serotype-Specific Immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae in Pregnant Women and Cord Blood of Infants: Impact of Race and Ethnicity

Hispanic mothers and their infants have a higher prevalence of protective immunity to most serotypes of S pneumoniae, compared to white or black mothers/infants. We found no evidence of a lower prevalence of protective immunity to specific serotypes in non-Hispanic black vs non-Hispanic white infants that might account for the reported higher incidence of IPDs in blacks. Environmental factors in Hispanic mothers may be responsible for their enhanced level of immunity. A significant number of cord blood samples had inadequate levels of protective immunity to a variety of S pneumoniae serotypes