Study finds vaccine brings big drop in pneumococcal bacteremia

Children are known to be at increased risk of acquiring pneumococcal disease, but now a new study shows that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectively and significantly reduces the incidence of these infections, especially in children. Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause pneumococcal illnesses such as ear infections, sinus infections, bacteremia, and even meningitis. Those at highest risk of catching these infections are adults ages 65 and older, along with children under 2 years of age, particularly those in group childcare or with certain preexisting illnesses. While pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common illness caused by S. pneumoniae, pneumococcal bacteremia is a blood infection marked by fever and chills. In children these infections can lead to complications, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in 100 children under 5 years of age who have pneumococcal bacteremia die from their infection. To prevent pneumococcal disease, the CDC recommends the pneumococcal...