INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN THE PREVENTION OF PNEUMOCOCCAL INFECTION: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Pneumococcal infection remains one of the significant public health issues worldwide [1]. According to the World Health Organization (2022), approximately 740,180 children under the age of five die from pneumonia each year, accounting for 14% of all deaths in this age group. As for children aged one to five, pneumonia is responsible for 22% of all deaths in this age group [2]. Objective. To analyze the global experience of implementing an interdisciplinary approach in the prevention of pneumococcal infection, as well as to assess the prospects of applying this principle in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Materials and methods. The work is based on the results of a literature review from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cyberleninka, and e-Library, using keywords like «pneumococcal infection,» «pneumococcal pneumonia,» «interdisciplinary approach,» «prevention,» and others. Results. Pneumococcal infection is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children, especially in developing countries. The implementation of an interdisciplinary approach, involving the collaboration of pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, mid-level healthcare workers, and social workers, has proven effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal infection in many developed countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and others. Discussion. An analysis of global experience shows that the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach in the prevention of pneumococcal infection contributes to increasing vaccination coverage and reducing the incidence rate. It should be noted that its implementation in Kazakhstan faces several barriers, including insufficient awareness among healthcare professionals, limited resources, and low vaccination adherence among the population. Conclusions. The interdisciplinary approach is a key aspect of the global fight against infectious diseases. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the interdisciplinary nature of pneumococcal infection prevention is still in its early stages. The implementation of interdisciplinary strategies in our country requires strengthening specialized knowledge and coordination within the healthcare system, as well as improving vaccination monitoring to enable scientific research on the impact of vaccination on morbidity and carriage.