PNEUMOCOCCAL INFECTION

Streptococcus pneumoniae prevails as the most common pathogen of commu nity-acquired pneumonia. In bacteremic disease, case fatality rates av erage 20% and they approach 40% in older people, especially those with underlying diseases. Pneumococcal serotypes exhibiting decreased sens itivity to penicillin or resistance to other antibiotics complicate it s treatment. Polysaccharide vaccine can prevent serious infection in i mmunocompetent people.