OBJECTIVE To estimate hospitalization rates for pneumococcal disease based on the Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH). METHODS Descriptive study based on the Hospital Information System of Brazilian National Health System data from January 2004 to December 2006: number of hospitalizations and deaths for pneumococcal meningitis, pneumococcal sepsis, pneumococcal pneumonia and Streptoco...

Pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid (Forssman antigen) added to the medium of growing pneumococcal cultures caused chain formation, prevented culture lysis in the stationary phase of growth, and inhibited lysis by penicillin and by the pneumococcal bacteriophage Dp-1.

Welders are more susceptible to pneumococcal pneumonia. The mechanisms are yet unclear. Pneumococci co-opt the platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR) to infect respiratory epithelial cells. We previously reported that exposure of respiratory cells to welding fumes (WF), upregulates PAFR-dependent pneumococcal infection. The signaling pathway for this response is unknown, however, in intesti...

BACKGROUND In the general population, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV) decrease the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) whereas the impact on the prevention of noninvasive pneumococcal disease is less clear. As compared with PPV, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) provoke a higher, longer-lasting immune response resulting in a 45% decreased incidence in vaccine-type pn...

OBJECTIVES To describe our statewide, pharmacist-led education campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of pneumococcal immunization recommendations. SETTING Immunization providers and residents in the state of Rhode Island. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION A clinical pathway (i.e., decision-support tool) was developed to educate health professionals about appropriate indications, administration sc...

OBJECTIVE New vaccines that offer protection against otitis media caused by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and by Moraxella catarrhalis are under development. However, the potential health benefits and economic effects of such candidate vaccines have not been systematically assessed. METHODS We created a computerized model to compare the projected benefits and costs of (1) the currently a...

We modelled the epidemiology and cost of pneumococcal disease in children in the UK and the cost-effectiveness of immunisation with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). We estimated the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis, pneumococcal septicaemia, all-cause pneumonia and all-cause otitis media (OM). We further estimated the impact of vaccination with associated costs and outcomes. V...

Worldwide, invasive pneumococcal disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is most common in young children. In adults, disease rates decline following intermittent colonization and the acquisition of naturally acquired immunity. We characterized mucosal and systemic pneumococcal-specific T-cell responses in African children and adults who contend with intense rates of colonization, up to 100%...

HIV-patients have excess of pneumococcal infection. We immunized 40 HIV-patients twice with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar, Pfizer) +/- a TLR9 agonist (CPG 7909). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with pneumococcal polysaccharides and cytokine concentrations measured. The CPG 7909 adjuvant group had significantly higher relative cytokine responses than the placebo grou...

INTRODUCTION Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of severe bacterial infections globally. A full understanding of the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) on pneumococcal disease burden, following its introduction in 2009 in South Africa, can support national policy on PCV use and assist with policy decisions elsewhere. METHODS We developed a model to estimate the national b...