Pediatria pre prax 1/2007
Childhood pneumococcal vaccination
Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, causes invasive disease (IPD), e. g., bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, and upper respiratory tract infection (e. g., otitis media, sinusitis). There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine, 23-valent polysaccharide and 7-valent conjugated vaccine. The conjugated vaccine is very effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease from early infant age and its introduction significantly reduces rate of these life-threatening infections. This vaccine is to a certain extent effective in preventing noninvasive upper airway infections, e. g. otitis media.
Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, pneumococcus, pneumococcal polysacharide vaccine, PPV23, pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, PCV7, invasive pneumococcal disease, IPD, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis.
