Pathogens
Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Precautions

Standard Precautions

General Information

  • Encapsulated
  • Lancet-shaped
  • Aerobic
  • Gram positive diplococci
  • Alpha-hemolytic

Normal flora and important cause of invasive disease.

Often vaccine preventable.

  • Community-acquired pneumonia
  • Bacteremia
  • Meningitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Otitis media

Vaccine

  • One dose of Pneumococcal polysaccharide 23-valent vaccine is recommended for:

    • All adults 65 years or older regardless of risk factors or history of vaccination
    • Patients with high risk of invasive pneumonoccal disease (i.e. smoker, alcoholism, homelessness, illicit drug users)
  • Pneumonococcal conjugate 13-valent vaccine is recommended for:

    • Adults with immunocompromised conditions with high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease - administer 1 dose 1 year after pneu-23
    • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: 3 doses of Pneu-13 at least 4 weeks apart starting 3-9 months after HSCT