Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, sometimes referred to as pneumococcus. Pneumococcus can cause many types of illnesses. There are vaccines to prevent pneumococcal disease in children and adults.

Pneumococcus is the most common cause of bloodstream infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and middle ear infections in young children.

Other than pneumonia, pneumococcus can cause other types of infections, including:

• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord)
• Bacteremia (bloodstream infection)

Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, however, some people are at greater risk for the disease than others. Age and pre-existing medical conditions can increase your risk for pneumococcal disease.

Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for invasive pneumococcal disease. It is important to know if it is a pneumococcal disease because the treatment will change depending on the cause. In the case of pneumococcal disease, antibiotics can help prevent severe illness.

Vaccine

The best way to prevent pneumococcal disease is to get the vaccine(s). Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against some of the more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13®) protects against the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause most of the severe illness in children and adults. The vaccine can also help prevent some ear infections. CDC recommends PCV13 for all children at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months old. CDC also recommends PCV13 for adults 19 years or older with certain medical conditions and for all adults 65 years or older.

The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax 23®) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. CDC recommends this vaccine for all adults 65 years or older. It is also recommended for children and adults 2 through 64 years old who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. For more information on who should get either of these pneumococcal vaccines, see the childhood and adult immunization schedules, or talk to your doctor or nurse.

It is also important to get an influenza vaccine every year because having the flu increases your chances of getting pneumococcal disease.