Pneumonia is the medical term for pneumonia. Pneumococci are a type of bacteria. Pneumococcal pneumonia is therefore a bacterial pneumonia caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. The disease usually starts with symptoms of a cold but quickly develops into serious symptoms such as breathing problems and chest pain. Prompt treatment with antibiotics is required otherwise the disease will lead to death. Finally, a vaccine prevents pneumococcal pneumonia.

• Epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia
• Causes: Due to bacterium S. pneumoniae

• Pneumococcal infections
• Spread

• Risk factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and examinations
• Antibiotic treatment
• Prognosis of bacterial pneumonia
• Complications
• Prevention of pneumococcal infection

Epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia

Pneumococcal pneumonia worldwide mainly causes a disease in children under the age of five and in people over the age of 65.

Causes: Due to bacterium S. pneumoniae

Pneumococcal infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a gram-positive bacterium responsible for many infections:

• a blood infection (pneumococcal sepsis)
• an inflammation of the stomach (peritonitis) (rare)
• joint inflammation (arthritis) (rare)
• an inflammation of the heart valve (endocarditis) (rare)
• meningitis (pneumococcal meningitis)
• pneumonia (pneumococcal pneumonia)
• a middle ear infection (otitis media)
• a sinus infection (sinusitis)
• an inflammation of the tracheal branches (bronchitis)
• an inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis)

Spread

The pneumococcal bacteria spread through contact with sick patients or patients who are not sick but carry the bacteria in their throat, which is the case in approximately 40% of the general population. The transmission of the infection is via droplet infection. This means that respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected patient end up in another person who then also contracts the infection. This happens, for example, by coughing, sneezing, intimate kissing or contact with objects contaminated by the mouth or nose (such as cutlery or lipstick).Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for pneumococcal pneumonia / Source: Jarmoluk, Pixabay

Risk factors

Older people are especially at risk of becoming seriously ill and dying from this disease. Influenza infection (flu) contributes significantly to secondary pneumococcal pneumonia. In addition, patients with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart disease, lung disease (such as asthma), or liver disease (such as cirrhosis), diabetes mellitus, or sickle cell anemia (red blood cell disease) are also at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. Patients with HIV/AIDS or those who have had an organ transplant and are taking medications that lower their resistance to infections are also at high risk of developing this disease. A weaker immune system also generally increases the risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia, such as with leukemia, lymphoma or other cancers, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, kidney failure, an absent spleen (for example due to surgical removal of the spleen) or a poorly functioning spleen. Alcoholism is also an important risk factor for pneumococcal pneumonia.Chest pain occurs with the bacterial infection / Source: Pexels, Pixabay

Symptoms

The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia appear suddenly. The patient first shows signs of a severe cold. The infection then spreads to the lungs. The bacterial infection is then characterized by severe fever, chills, coughing (sometimes coughing up rusty or mucoid sputum), shortness of breath, rapid breathing (tachypnea) and chest pain. Other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue and muscle pain sometimes also accompany the infection. Pleural effusion (fluid accumulation between the pleura and the lining of the lungs) appears in approximately one in four patients.

Diagnosis and examinations

The doctor performs a physical examination. A saliva culture and blood test reveal the presence of pneumococcal bacteria. The doctor also takes an X-ray of the chest (chest X-ray).

Antibiotic treatment

The doctor prescribes antibiotics. The symptoms therefore reduce or disappear after 12 and 36 hours after taking the medication.

Prognosis of bacterial pneumonia

Most antibiotics are effective in treating bacterial pneumonia, but some bacteria are resistant to the antibiotics given, making symptoms worse. This antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide because these medicines have been overused or misused. In addition, the age and health of the infected patient also contribute to the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Approximately ten percent of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia die from it.

Complications

In approximately thirty percent of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream of the lungs. This causes bacteremia, a very serious complication of pneumococcal pneumonia that also causes other lung problems and certain heart problems.

Prevention of pneumococcal infection

A vaccine is available to prevent pneumococcal infection. This vaccine is recommended for children under five years of age and people over 65, as well as for patients belonging to risk groups.

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