BACKGROUND Pneumococcal disease causes substantial morbidity and mortality, including among adults. Adult pneumococcal vaccines help to prevent these burdens, but they are underused. Accounting for the full benefits of adult pneumococcal vaccination may promote more rational resource allocation decisions with respect to adult pneumococcal vaccines. OBJECTIVES Using the Preferred Reporting Ite...

BACKGROUND The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may change the incidence of, and the risk and prognostic factors for, invasive pneumococcal disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS We prospectively studied 142 episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia in 122 HIV-infected adults. Eighty-five episodes occurred in the pre-HAART era (1986-1996) and 57 in t...

Background: Pneumococci have developed multiple strategies to infect the host. Results: PepO is ubiquitously expressed pneumococcal protein that interacts with host proteins and facilitates host cell invasion and evasion of innate immunity. Conclusion: PepO is a plasminogen and fibronectin binding pneumococcal invasin. Significance: Understanding the mechanism of pneumococcal interaction with h...

Despite the dramatic decrease in invasive pneumococcal disease since the widespread use of the first pneumococcal vaccine, invasive and resistant disease still occurs. We present a case of ceftriaxone-resistant pneumococcal meningitis suggesting that continued vigilance is warranted for empiric treatment of meningitis when Streptococcus pneumoniae is a concern.

1. Background information and objectives of the meeting 2. Recommendations for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in the context of the WHO Biological Standardization Programme 3. The impact of the pneumococcal vaccines worldwide 4. Serological criteria for licensing pneumococcal vaccines 5. Outcomes of the studies conducted by the vaccine manufacturers: experience with

BACKGROUND Although it is widely accepted that adults with immunocompromising conditions are at greatly increased risk of pneumococcal infection, the extent of risk among immunocompetent adults with chronic medical conditions is less certain, particularly in the current era of universal vaccination of children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort s...

C Bulletin of the World Health Organization | October 2008, 86 (10) Cheung 10. YB, Zaman SM, Ruopuro ML, Enwere G, Adegbola RA, Greenwood B, et al. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the evaluation of the efficacy of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Gambian children. Trop Med Int Health 2008;13:603-11. PMID:18331385 Direct 11. and indirect effects of routine vaccination of children with...

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia, the most common cause of childhood death. Papua New Guinean children experience high rates of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization within weeks of birth, predisposing them to pneumococcal disease. In a trial to determine the safety and immunogenicity of early infant vaccination with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vPCV), we...

This study was undertaken to assess the uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination based on provider records of the hospitalised elderly, a group at high risk of influenza and pneumococcal disease. The study used a random sample of 3,204 admissions at two Victorian teaching hospitals for patients, aged 65 years or more who were discharged between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2002. Informatio...

BACKGROUND Few data are available regarding pneumococcal peritonitis. We studied the clinical characteristics of intra-abdominal infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and its prognosis in relation to antibiotic resistance. METHODS We reviewed all cases of culture-proved pneumococcal peritonitis. Patients with liver cirrhosis and primary pneumococcal peritonitis were compared with pati...