Pneumococcal Infections (original) (raw)

Also called: Streptococcus pneumoniae infections

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• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

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Summary

Pneumococci are a type of streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria spread through contact with people who are ill or by healthy people who carry the bacteria in the back of their nose. Pneumococcal infections can be mild or severe. The most common types of infections are:

• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis
• Meningitis

How the diagnosis is made depends upon where the infection is. Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. Possible tests may include blood, imaging, or lab tests. Treatment is with antibiotics. Vaccines can prevent pneumococcal infections. There are two vaccines. One is for infants and young children. The other is for people at high risk, including those who are over 65 years old, have chronic illnesses or weak immune systems, smoke, have asthma, or live in long-term care facilities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Ask the Experts: Pneumococcal (Immunization Action Coalition)

• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish

• Pneumococcal Disease Causes and How It Spreads (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23): What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish

• Pneumococcal Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers (Immunization Action Coalition) - PDF

• Antibiotics: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

• Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance and Trends (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumococcal Infections (National Institutes of Health)

• Pneumococcal Infections (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

• Pneumococcal Vaccines (PCV, PPSV) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish