title: Pneumococcal vaccine.
abstract: Pneumococcal infection is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries. Adult patients with a range of chronic illnesses are at increased risk of both morbidity and mortality from this condition. The currently available 23 valent vaccine is generally not effective in children under 2 years of age or adults with significant immunosuppression. However, case control and cohort studies have established the vaccine's effectiveness in patients with a number of chronic illnesses as well as those undergoing splenectomy. The vaccine is safe and should be more widely used by practitioners with patients who meet the current NHMRC guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Torzillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines