Immunizations - Pneumococcal Pneumonia

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Introduction	Hepatitis B	Smallpox
Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis	Poliomyelitis	Other Vaccinations
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella	Pneumococcal Pneumonia	Resources
Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox)	Viral Influenza	References

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

The pneumococcal bacterium (also called Streptococcus pneumoniae or S. pneumoniae ) is responsible for many respiratory infections in the upper and lower airways. This bacterium is dangerous for people with serious underlying chronic medical conditions and illnesses and is the leading cause of ear infections and sinusitis in children. Themost serious complication is pneumonia.

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About 1.2 million people are hospitalized each year for pneumonia, which is the third most frequent reason for hospitalizations. (Births are first and heart disease is second.) Although the majority of pneumonias respond well to treatment, the infection can still be a very serious problem. It kills between 40,000 and 70,000 people each year. Together with influenza, pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the US and is the leading cause of death from infection.

Of particular concern is the increasing prevalence of pneumococcal bacteria that are resistant to many standard antibiotics. This has created a great sense of urgency in the medical community to find effective measures for preventing infection.

This picture shows the organism Pneumococci. These bacteria are usually paired (diplococci) or appear in chains. Pneumococci are typically associated with pneumonia, but may cause infection in other organs such as the brain (pneumococcal meningitis) and blood stream (pneumococcal septicemia). (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)

Vaccine Description

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against S. pneumoniae (also called pneumococcal) bacteria, the most common cause of respiratory infections. There are two effective vaccines available: The 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax, Pnu-Immune) for adults andthe7-valent conjugate vaccine Prevnar (PCV7) for infants and young children. Experts are now recommending that more people, including healthy elderly people, be given the pneumococcal vaccine, particularly in light of the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There isa great sense of urgency in the medical community to find effective measures for preventing infection.

Candidates for the Pneumococcal Vaccine

The7-valent conjugatevaccine Prevnar (PCV7) is very effective in children. Evidence suggests that this vaccination, plus the vaccination against H. influenzae (an important cause of meningitis), has led to 30,000 fewer cases of serious bacterial infections each year.