[Pneumococcal vaccination: expected benefits in adults].
OBJECTIVE
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the leading causes of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and acute otitis media in children and adults worldwide. Polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines have been available for approximately 50 years and conjugate vaccines, which generate immunological memory even at an early age but have limited serotype coverage, have recently been developed.


BACKGROUND
Although the polysaccharide vaccine is considered effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults, its efficacy against pneumonia and among older or immunocompromised individuals is still controversial. On the other hand, the conjugate vaccine for children allows a large reduction in the incidence of IPD and in the rate of pneumococcal colonization in the general population through herd immunity, but its serotype coverage remains low in adults and serotype replacement may be expected in the long-term.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present context of widespread antibiotic resistance, it is of the utmost importance to assess the expected benefits of pneumococcal vaccination, in order to be able to use it optimally in all population parts.
Temime
L
L
CNAM-Chaire hygiène et sécurité, 2, rue Conte, 75141 Paris cedex 03, France. laura.temime@cnam.fr
Dab
W
W
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate