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. The most serious complication is pneumonia.

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.

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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