Clinical progress note: Pneumococcal disease.

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality, particularly affecting young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying medical conditions. With over 100 serotypes, it can cause a wide spectrum of illness ranging from acute otitis media and sinusitis to life-threatening manifestations such as bacteremia, pneumonia, and meningitis. Pneumococcal vaccines target a subset of these serotypes, and the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in 2000 led to dramatic declines in the rate of colonization, transmission, and disease incidence across all populations. Hospitalists play a crucial role in treating patients with pneumococcal disease and identifying vaccine-eligible patients.