EnglishStreptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia and may be the most important agent in community-acquired pneumonia of unknown etiology.1,2 Pneumococcal pneumonia has a mortality rate as high as 30%, depending on bacteremia, age, and underlying diseases.1,3 Pneumococcal meningitis, a condition that frequently leads to permanent brain damage or death, can occur as a complication of other pneumococcal infection or may arise spontaneously without any preceding illness.4
1. Plouffe JS, Moore R, Davis R, et al. Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae blood culture isolates from adults in Franklin County, Ohio. J Clin Microbiol 1994;32:1606-1607.
2. Ruiz-Gonzalez A, Falguera M , Nogues A, et al. Is Streptococcus pneumoniae the leading cause of pneumonia of unknown etiology? A microbiologic study of lung aspirates in consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Am J Med 1999;106:385-390.
3. Schrag SJ, Beall B, Dowell S. Resistant pneumococcal infections. WHO, 2001.
4. Johnston, Jr, R. Pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia. Rev Infect Dis 1991;13(Suppl6):S509-S517.