Infection Prevention: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Background
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) is a gram positive diplococcus
- There are at least 83 known serotypes of this organism.
- The organism has a polysaccharide capsule, which is a major virulence factor.
Epidemiology
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia. In 1996, there were an estimated 106,000 to 175,000 cases of pneumococcal pneumonia in the United States.
- It can also cause other diseases such as meningitis, ear otitis, and septic arthritis.
- 10- 25% of adult patients with pneumococcal pneumonia develop bacteremia, an invasive disease with a high mortality rate
- Overall case fatality rate for adults with bacteremia is 15-20%.
- Elderly individuals have a case fatality rate with bacteremia of up to 60%.
- It is estimated that pneumococcus causes 7000 to 12,500 deaths annually in the United States (1).
Antibiotic Resistance
- Over the past several years, penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has increased significantly.
- There are also increasing rates of resistance to other antibiotics such as macrolides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones.
References:
1. Feikin, DR, Schuchat A., Kolczak M, et. al. Mortality from invasive pneumococcal pneumonia in the era of antibiotic resistance, 1995-1997. Am J Pub Hlth 2000; 90:223-229.
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