Pneumococcal Infections

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

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Treatments and Therapies

• Antibiotics: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Ask the Experts: Pneumococcal Vaccines Immunization Action Coalition
• Pneumococcal Disease: Risk Factors and and How It Spreads Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Pneumococcus: Questions and Answers Immunization Action Coalition
• Vaccine (Shot) for Pneumococcal Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bacteria Culture Test National Library of Medicine
• Pneumococcal Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Tests for Lung Disease National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Chest x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
• Sputum Gram stain Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pneumococcal Infections National Institutes of Health

Statistics and Research

• Fast Facts You Need to Know about Pneumococcal Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Patient Handouts

• Meningitis – pneumococcal Medical Encyclopedia
• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23): What You Need to Know Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Symptoms

• Pneumococcal Disease: Symptoms and Complications Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Specifics

• Pneumococcal Disease: Types of Infection Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Children

• Pneumococcal Infections American Academy of Pediatrics
• Pneumococcal Vaccines (PCV, PPSV) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Pneumococcal Infections