title: Update on pneumococcal infections of the respiratory tract.
abstract: Respiratory illnesses are the leading reason for seeking medical care here in the United States. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial pathogen causing acute otitis media (AOM), sinusitis, and community-acquired pneumonia in both the pediatric and adult populations. The continued development of antibiotic resistance to an increasing number of different antibiotic classes by this organism has made the treatment of some of these infections more difficult. Recently, a heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was approved for infants and toddlers, beginning at 2 months of age. Widespread implementation of this vaccine in the childhood population may have a significant impact on the amount of systemic disease seen with this organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. ttan@nwu.edu
authors.forename: Tina Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014943:Global Health; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014136:Tracheitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines