title: Streptococcus pneumoniae: description of the pathogen, disease epidemiology, treatment, and prevention.
abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant morbidity and mortality. Children younger than 2 years and individuals older than 65 years experience the highest rates of pneumococcal disease. Efforts to treat pneumococcal disease have been complicated by increasing resistance to antimicrobials. Prevention efforts have included the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, with use of these vaccines targeted to those at highest risk for disease. Information and background on S. pneumoniae and pneumococcal disease are provided. Vaccines targeted at this pathogen are reviewed, and the clinical trials that evaluated their safety, efficacy, and effectiveness are summarized. Also provided are recommendations for use of these vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., Global Medical Affairs, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Angela E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bridy-Pappas
authors.forename: Marya B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: Kimberly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Center
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Isaacman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines