Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) remains one of the most common causes
of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), encompassing infections mild enough to
be treated on an outpatient basis, as well as those requiring hospital care, or even intensive
care unit admission. This microorganism is associated with a significant burden of disease,
causing substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, and generating considerable health-
care costs. The reason that pneumococcal CAP remains such a common cause of disease …

With the notable exceptions of the United States and Canada in particular, the global burden
of disease in adults due to invasive infection with the dangerous respiratory, bacterial
pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) remains. This situation prevails
despite the major successes of inclusion of polysaccharide conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in
many national childhood immunization programs and associated herd protection in adults,
as well as the availability of effective antimicrobial agents. Accurate assessment of the …