What is invasive pneumococcal infection?

INTRODUCTION. Invasive pneumococcal disease is defined as an infection confirmed by the isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a normally sterile site (eg, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and pleural, joint, or peritoneal fluid but not sputum).

What is non invasive pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal infections usually fall into one of two categories: non-invasive pneumococcal infections – these occur outside the major organs or the blood and tend to be less serious. invasive pneumococcal infections – these occur inside a major organ or the blood and tend to be more serious.

What is the most common cause of pneumococcal pneumonia?

Bacteria. The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is called pneumococcal pneumonia. Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae germ that normally lives in the upper respiratory tract. It infects over 900,000 Americans every year.

What is the best treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia?

Thus, based on current levels of resistance to penicillin and cephalosporin, most patients with mild/moderate pneumococcal pneumonia may respond to oral amoxicillin, and most with severe pneumonia may be successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.

How does pneumococcal pneumonia spread?

How is pneumococcal disease spread? It spreads from person-to-person by coming into contact with fluids like the saliva or mucus of someone who is sick. Many people, especially children, can have this bacteria in their nose or throat without being ill and can still transmit the disease to others.

What is the difference between pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung disease. Pneumococcal pneumonia, a kind of pneumonia, can infect the upper respiratory tract and can spread to the blood, lungs, middle ear, or nervous system.

Is pneumococcal disease the same as pneumonia?

Symptoms. The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia (which are similar to pneumonia caused by other organisms) include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. The symptoms of pneumococcal meningitis include stiff neck, fever, mental confusion and disorientation, and coma.

Who is at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia?

Adults at Risk for Pneumococcal Disease Adults 65 years or older are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. Adults of all ages are also at increased risk for pneumococcal disease if they have: Sickle cell disease, no spleen, HIV infection, cancer, or another condition that weakens the immune system.

Who gets pneumococcal pneumonia?

Pneumococcal pneumonia mainly causes illness in children younger than 5 years old and adults 65 years of age or older. The elderly are especially at risk of getting seriously ill and dying from this disease.

How do I know if I have pneumococcal pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia, a lung infection, include: Fever and chills. Cough. Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing.

How does a person get pneumococcal pneumonia?

Pneumococcus is spread through contact with people who are ill or who carry the bacteria in their throat. You can get pneumococcal pneumonia from respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person. It is common for people, especially children, to carry the bacteria in their throats without being sick.