Part 1, Chapter 12: Manual Appendix V Pneumococcal Disease and
Pneumococcal Vaccine INFORMATION ABOUT PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE AND
PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE: Pneumococcal infection is a leading cause
of death worldwide and a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis
and other Invasive (blood borne) diseases. Strains of the
pneumococcal bacteria (germs) are beginning to show increasing
resistance to antibiotics emphasizing the importance of vaccine
protection against pneumococcal disease. It is estimated that
400,000 to 5000,000 cases of pneumonia due to pneumococcal
bacteria occur yearly in the USA with about a 5 percent to 10
percent fatality rate. Persons 65 years of age and older who
have bacteremia (bacteria in the blood) with a pneumococcal
infection have a much higher risk of death. Populations at high
risk are the elderly, alcoholics, and individuals with immune
disorders, certain blood diseases, and certain kidney disorders.
At the present time there are 83 known pneumococcal bacteria
strains. Most pneumococcal dis