Infection
Pneumococci are transmitted from person to person through the air. The infection is found worldwide.

Vaccination
There are several vaccines against pneumococci infections.

Vaccine for adults
The vaccine consists of polysaccharides (sugar) from 23 different types of pneumococci, and gives 60% to 80% protection for at least 5 years.After 5 years re-vaccination (booster) may be necessary, but persons with high levels of antibodies may experience severe side effects, and a blood sample analysed for antibodies against pneumococci is needed before re-vaccination.

Vaccine for children
The vaccine is so-called conjugated vaccine where the pneumococci sugars are couples to a protein carrier because sugars are not good at inducing an immune response in children.

Vaccination is recommended to people:

with chronic heart and lung disease

with diabetes

without spleen

over 65 years

immunocompromised like HIV-positive

with chronic renal diseases

with chronic liver diseases

living in countries with a high frequency of pneumococci resistant to penicillin like Spain and the United States.

Symptoms
Fever, cough, breathlessness, chest pain.

Diagnosis
Culture of bacteria from sputum, blood and spinal fluid.

Treatment
Early treatment with antibiotics is important and may be life saving.

Prevention
Vaccination

Further information: H.P.A. – Pneumococcal Disease

Edited 12 December 2008