Pneumococcal infections pneumonia

Because patient with SCD have impaired splenic function, they are less adequately protected against encapsulated organisms such as S. pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, and Salmonella. The use of pneumococcal vaccine in SCD patients has decreased the rates of morbidity and mortality dramatically. However, there are still groups of SCD children who continue to have high rates of invasive pneumococcal infections.17 Two pneumococcal vaccines are available. The 7-valent conjugate... 

Francis KP, Yu J, Bellinger-Kawahara C, et al. Visualizing pneumococcal infections in the lungs of live mice using bioluminescent Streptococcus pneumoniae transformed with a novel Gram-positive lux transposon. Infect Iirnnun 2001 69 3350-8. 

Pneumococcal vaccine is a bacterial vaccine that induces antibodies against 23 capsular types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The type-specific antibody facilitates bacterial destruction by complement-mediated lysis. It is indicated in protection against pneumococcal pneumonia, pneumococcal bacteremia, and other pneumococcal infections. This bacterial vaccine is used for pneumococcal immunization. 

Natural penicillin Infections like streptococcal pneumonia, enterococcal and nonenterococcal group D endocarditis, diphtheria, anthrax, meningitis, tetanus, botulism, actinomycosis, syphilis, and relapsing fever, Lyme disease prophylaxis against pneumococcal infections, rheumatic fever, bacterial endocarditis... 

Francis, K. P., Yu, J., BeUinger-Kawahara, C., Joh, D., Hawkinson, M. J., Xiao, G., Purchio, T. F., Caparon, M. G., Lipsitch, M., and Contag, P. R. (2001) Visualizing pneumococcal infections in the lungs of live mice using bioluminescent Streptococcus pneumoniae transformed with a novel gram-positive lux transposon. Infect. Immun. 69, 3350-3358. 

Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended in patients with underlying cirrhosis to prevent additional liver damage from an acute viral infection.35 Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination may also be appropriate and can reduce hospitalizations due to influenza or pneumonia. 

Dowell SF, Butler JC, Giebink GS, et al. Acute otitis media Management and surveillance in an era of pneumococcal resistance—A report from the Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Therapeutic Working Group. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1999 18(l) l-9. 

Herd immunity refers to high levels of immunization in one population resulting in protection of another unvaccinated population. For example, concentrated vaccination of children with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine resulted in decreased invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection not only in the vaccinated children, but also in elderly persons within the same community. 

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired respiratory tract infections. S. pneumoniae causes approximately 3000 cases of meningitis, 50,000 cases of bacteremia, 500,000 cases of pneumonia, and over 1 million cases of otitis media each year. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae has highlighted the need to prevent infection through vaccination. Both licensed pneumococcal vaccines are highly effective in preventing disease from the common S. pneumoniae serotypes that cause human disease. 

The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine contains 23 serotypes that are responsible for causing more than 80% of invasive S. pneumoniae infections in adults. The vaccine includes those serotypes that are associated with drug resistance. Use of the vaccine will not prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae, but is likely to prevent infection from drug-resistant strains. The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine has demonstrated good immunogenicity in adults, but an individual will not develop immunity to all 23 serotypes following vaccination.10... 

The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for use in all adults 65 years of age or older and adults less than 65 years who have medical comorbidities that increase the risk for serious complications from S. pneumoniae infection, such as chronic pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, chronic renal failure, functional or anatomic asplenia, and immunosuppressive disorders. Alaskan natives and certain Native American populations are also at increased risk. Children over the age of 2 years may be vaccinated with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine if they are at increased risk for invasive S. pneumoniae infections, such as children with sickle cell anemia or those receiving cochlear implants. 

Takashima, K. et al., Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice, Infect. Immun., 65, 257, 1997. 

The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of respiratory tract infections, bacteremia, and meningitis. In this strain, the cell wall anchored pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) has been demonstrated to bind lactoferrin [181]. PspA and closely related proteins in a variety of pneumococcal isolates are most likely involved in the sequestration of iron from lactoferrins, and finally contribute to the virulence of these bacteria. However, the means by which the pneumococcus acquires iron at the mucosal surface during invasive infection is not well understood at the molecular level [182],... 

Hammerschmidt, S., Bethe, G., Remane, P. H. and Chhatwal, G. S. (1999). Identification of pneumococcal surface protein A as a lactoferrin-binding protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Infect. Immun., 67, 1683-1687. 

Pneumococcal Disease In October 2002, the FDA approved the use of Prevnar for immunization of infants and toddlers against otitis media— middle ear infection. Prevnar is a pneumococcal seven-valent conjugate vaccine. It is formulated with a sterile solution of saccharides conjugated to the antigen, Streptococcus pneumoniae. 

This vaccine is recommended for those who are at risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. A single dose of vaccine gives protection against infection. Revaccination is required at a later date. 

Chemical analysis of Mur levels has proved effective in both clinical and environmental samples, since Mur is not synthesized by eukaryotic cells. For example, it is readily detected in infected human body fluids, for example, synovial fluids from patients with staphylococcal arthritis and spinal fluids from those with pneumococcal pneumonia [7,16]. However, the most widely used method for its analysis, as an alditol acetate, is time consuming. A large number of derivatives have been tested in order to develop a simpler alternative. Unfortunately the limit of detection for these alternative approaches has not been optimal [17,18]. 

Nayak, A. R., Tinge, S. A., Tart, R. C., McDaniel, L. S., and Briles, D. E., 3rd, and Curtiss, R. (1998), A live recombinant avirulent oral Salmonella vaccine expressing pneumococcal surface protein A induces protective responses against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Infect. Immun., 66,3744—3751. 

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