Do you understand the appropriate use of pneumococcal vaccines?
Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that has more than 90 serotypes. Most pneumococci are encapsulated in a complex polysaccharide (sugar) that forms the basis for classification of serotypes. Serotype-specific antibody to capsular polysaccharide is protective against disease. Most serotypes cause disease, but only a few produce the majority of invasive pneumococcal disease. […]
