Pneumococcal infection in adults: burden of disease

Abstract

To overview the present global burden of pneumococcal disease is important because new preventive measures such as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 are currently being evaluated. Pneumococcal disease is roughly divided into non-invasive and invasive disease. The burden of non-invasive pneumococcal disease in adults is mainly determined by community-acquired pneumonia. Pneumococcal pneumonia has high incidence rates and carries a high mortality risk, especially in the elderly. Within the cluster of invasive pneumococcal diseases, pneumonia also represents the most common infectious source. Incidence and mortality rates of both non-invasive and invasive disease have changed as a result of pneumococcal vaccination in children. However, especially elderly patients with comorbidities remain vulnerable to morbidity and mortality caused by pneumococcal disease. The current review summarizes the current knowledge on the epidemiology including outcome of the main clinical forms of pneumococcal disease, with a special focus on elderly patients. Furthermore, the economic burden and future vaccine strategies are briefly discussed.

Interleukin‐10 plays a key role in the modulation of neutrophils recruitment and lung inflammation during infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae

“…In fact, S. pneumoniae causes 50% of pneumonia cases in this population. 4 In USA, pneumonia rates for individuals between 65 and 69 years old were ª 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Immunology, 146, 100-112 18Á2/1000 person-years and 52Á3/1000 person-years for individuals over 85 years of age. 5 S. pneumoniae contains several virulence factors used to evade the immune response at different stages of infection.…”

Review: Current and new generation pneumococcal vaccines

“…[5][6][7][8][9] The pneumococcus can cause non-invasive or invasive disease (organism isolated from a normally sterile body site) 5,8 and is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), meningitis and bacteraemia in both children and in adults. 10 With regard to all-cause CAP, it is clear that the pneumococcus is the most commonly isolated pathogen, irrespective of whether the infection is either mild enough to be treated at home or requires hospitalisation or even intensive care unit admission, also irrespective of the severity of infection such as assessed by the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI).…”

“…10 With regard to all-cause CAP, it is clear that the pneumococcus is the most commonly isolated pathogen, irrespective of whether the infection is either mild enough to be treated at home or requires hospitalisation or even intensive care unit admission, also irrespective of the severity of infection such as assessed by the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI). 8,11 However, in a meta-analysis of studies from Europe it is clear that there are regional differences in the prevalence of the pneumococcus as a cause of CAP, depending on both the treatment setting and diagnostic approach. 12 However, since the pneumococcus is the most important pathogen in most situations, the data on the epidemiology of CAP to a large extent mirrors that of pneumococcal pneumonia.…”

Refining PCR-based serotyping for detection of vaccine-preventable Streptococcus pneumoniae

“…[1][2][3][4] Both CAP and IPD are major causes of morbidity and mortality, and pose a significant burden on our healthcare system. [3,5] Pneumococcal diseases are responsible for approximately 1.6 million deaths worldwide each year, with incidence rates greatest in children, the elderly, or individuals with risk factors. [6] Childhood immunization programs have played an important role in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease.…”