Preventing pneumococcal disease in children

In the past decade, Streptococcus pneumoniae has replaced Haemophilus influ enzae type b (Hib) as the most significant childhood bacterial pathogen. Th e approximately 90 serotypes of S. pneumoniae are associated with pneumonia , bacteremia, meningitis, sinusitis, and otitis media, some of which can be fatal. S. pneumoniae in children is worrisome for the following reasons. h igh rates of nasopharyngeal colonization, increased risk of infection in da y-care settings, rising prevalence and degree of antibiotic-resistant serot ypes, geographic and age variations in serotype prevalence, and a polysacch aride vaccine ineffective in children younger than 2 years of age. Thus, S. pneumoniae has become a focus of research to improve methods of control. R esults from recent and ongoing clinical trials suggest that pneumococcal co njugate vaccines (similar to that for Hib) may protect against this pathoge n.