Abstract
Pneumococcal disease can be divided into invasive disease, i.e. when bacteria are detected in normally sterile body fluids, and noninvasive disease. Pneumococcal disease occurs more frequently in younger children and older adults. It is estimated that, in 2050, 30.3% of the European population will be ≥65 yrs old, compared with 15.7% in 2000. Preventive medicine, including vaccination, is essential for the promotion of healthy ageing. Uptake rates for influenza vaccination in the elderly are generally low, despite recommendations in many countries. In addition, it has been reported that influenza infections can make people more susceptible to pneumococcal infections. Despite pneumococcal vaccination, case fatality rates for patients hospitalised with invasive pneumococcal disease have remained at around 12% since the 1950s. Even when effective antibiotic therapy is administered, mortality can be high amongst immunocompetent patients in intensive care. Timely and accurate diagnosis of pneumococcal disease and identification of patients at high risk of poor outcome is essential to ensure that adequate treatment, including hospitalisation when necessary, is implemented as early as possible. Improved diagnostic techniques and more efficacious treatments may help to reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease, but preventive measures, such as influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, should be promoted in order to avoid preventable disease, particularly in the elderly.
- Adults
- community-acquired pneumonia
- immunisation programmes
- invasive pneumococcal disease
- pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- pneumococcal pneumonia
Footnotes
Provenance
Publication of this peer-reviewed article was supported by Pfizer, France (article sponsor, European Respiratory Review issue 123).
Statement of Interest
E. Luwig has received support for participation in conferences, and honoraria for lecturing and consulting from Pfizer. P. Bonanni has received financial support for staff involved in studies on pneumococcal vaccination and for taking part as a speaker in symposia sponsored by different vaccine producers. G. Rohde has received fees for speaking and consulting from Pfizer. A. Sayiner has participated as a speaker in a symposium organised by Pfizer. He has also been on the advisory board of Pfizer, Turkey. A. Torres has received research grants from Pfizer and Covidien. He has participated on the advisory boards of Astellas and Sanofi-Aventis.
- Received December 12, 2011.
- Accepted January 12, 2012.
- ©ERS 2012