PNEUMOCOCCAL

What is pneumococcal disease?
The term ‘pneumococcal disease’ is used to describe infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). This includes common and relatively minor conditions such as ear infection as well as more serious life threatening conditions such as pneumonia, meningitis or blood poisoning (septicaemia). 

Who gets pneumococcal disease?
Anyone can get pneumococcal disease. However, some individuals are at particularly high risk: infants and young children, those aged 65 years and older, individuals with weakened immune systems (for example, cancer, leukaemia, HIV infection), those with sickle cell disease or without a functioning spleen and individuals who have a chronic illness such as lung, heart, kidney disease or diabetes.1

How common is pneumococcal disease?
Rates of pneumococcal disease peak in children and the elderly. Before the introduction of an immunisation programme for UK babies in 2006, approximately 5,000-6,000 confirmed cases of serious pneumococcal disease were reported to the Health Protection Agency each year from patients of all ages in England & Wales. ,  Similarly, Health Protection Scotland received between 500 and 800 reports each year.  

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the commonest form of pneumonia in any age group and accounts for about 40,000 hospital admissions and a similar number of GP consultations each year. 3

Data suggest that all children experience an ear infection before their third birthday, and half of them have a second such episode within 2 years . Ear infections are caused by a range of bacteria and viruses but those which are severe or recurrent are likely to be due to the pneumococcus.

Can Pneumococcal disease be prevented?
Protection from pneumococcal disease is provided through vaccination. Although over 90 different types of pneumococcus have been identified, a subset of these are responsible for causing disease and vaccines are available which help to protect against the majority of infections.

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine currently available1:
•    Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely available for all UK babies as part of the childhood immunisation programme. This vaccine is given as a 3 dose schedule at 2, 4 and around 13 months of age.
•    Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for all adults over the age of 65 years as well as individuals aged 2-65 years who have various underlying medical conditions placing them at higher risk from infection. Generally a single dose of this vaccine is given although some may need a repeat dose.

In the UK, the Department of Health estimates that, in the first 30 months of the childhood pneumococcal immunisation programme, up to 959 cases of serious illness and 53 deaths caused by the pneumococcus were prevented . Pneumococcal vaccination of adults with the polysaccharide vaccine has been shown to be effective in the prevention of serious pneumococcal disease, offering protection against 23 of the most prevalent pneumococcal types .

To find out more:
www.immunisation.nhs.uk

www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1203008863939?p=1203008863939

www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/

www.meningitis-trust.org/

www.meningitis.org