Pneumonia is an infectious disease that develops due to various microorganisms in the lung tissue. It can be examined in two groups: community-acquired and hospital-acquired. Our topic today is community-acquired pneumonia. Various microorganisms cause it. Often bacteria and viruses play a role. Streptococcus pneumoniae  is just one of the bacteria that cause community-acquired pneumonia. However, it ranks first among the causes of community-acquired pneumonia all over the world.

What is the Prevalence of Pneumonia?

Among the microorganisms that cause community-acquired pneumonia, the most common cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus. Although its incidence has decreased all over the world with the pneumococcal vaccine, the cause of pneumonia remains the most common causative microorganism. Some factors affect the incidence and severity of the disease. These can be counted as influenza, smoking, and alcohol consumption, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart disease, spleen removal (splenectomy) or inability of the spleen to function adequately due to some blood diseases (hypersplenism), diabetes patients, diseases and medications that cause suppression of the immune system, especially HIV infection. These people are also called the risk group for pneumococcal diseases. The incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in the world may differ from country to country and even within regions within the same country. It is reported to be between 5-15% of the causes of pneumonia in the United States. Higher rates are also reported in different countries. The World Health Organization reports its incidence in the adult age group between 10 and 100 per 100.000 people in Europe and the United States.

Does Pneumonia Cause Loss of Life?

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes a wide variety of diseases. Bacteria colonizing the nasopharynx may settle in the sinus, middle ear, lower respiratory tract, and even the central nervous system and cause sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia, meningitis, and even sepsis. While there may be a complete recovery from the disease, sometimes recovery with sequelae and death may develop in all age groups, especially in children, the elderly, and people with some underlying chronic diseases.

Is Vaccination the Best Way to Prevent Pneumonia?

One of the most effective ways to reduce the incidence of pneumonia and prevent serious consequences is vaccination against pneumococcal bacteria. It is an important method because it reduces the negative consequences of the disease, especially in people in the risk group.

Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Pneumonia?

People under the age of 65 and who do not have an underlying chronic disease do not need to be vaccinated against pneumonia. People who should be vaccinated: Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for people aged 65 and over, people with chronic heart, lung, liver, kidney disease, diabetes, splenectomy, hypersplenism cases, regardless of age group, HIV-infected patients, those who have undergone solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and those who have been using immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids for a long time.

Are There Types of Pneumonia Vaccines?

Two types of pneumococcal vaccines are currently available. One is the polysaccharide vaccine, and the other is the conjugate vaccine. The polysaccharide vaccine is a vaccine obtained from the capsule of the bacterium and contains 23 pneumococcal polysaccharides (PPSA23). These 23 serotypes can protect against approximately 50-60% of the strains that cause pneumococcal disease in adults. On the other hand, the efficiency of the conjugated vaccine was tried to be increased by binding the pneumococcal capsule polysaccharides with a protein, and thus, protection against certain types of pneumococcal disease could be provided with the conjugate vaccine in newborns and young children who did not respond to the polysaccharide vaccine. The conjugate vaccine contains 13 pneumococcal polysaccharides (PKA13), and protection against other subspecies of pneumococcal bacteria has been provided with the administration of this vaccine in adults. It is sufficient for people aged 19-64 in the risk group for pneumococcus to be vaccinated with 1 dose of the PPSA23 vaccine and to have a repeat dose administered every 5 or 10 years. On the other hand, regardless of age and condition, if there is a history of invasive pneumococcal disease and if no pneumococcal vaccine has been received before, such cases should first be administered 1 dose of PKA 13, and after 8 weeks, they should be vaccinated with 1 dose of PPSA23 and 1 dose of PPSA23 vaccine should be administered every 5 or 10 years.

Side Effects of the Pneumonia Vaccine

The side effects of the pneumonia vaccine are extremely low. They are usually local side effects that occur at the injection site. The most common is pain at the injection site. There may also be redness and swelling. These side effects disappear within 3-4 days. Sometimes, in addition to these side effects, systemic side effects such as fever, chills, and pain in the muscles and joints can be seen. The only contraindication to the vaccine is respiratory distress that occurs in the form of anaphylaxis after a short time when vaccinated before and facial swelling.

Is Pneumococcal Vaccine Effective Against Covid-19 Disease?

The pneumococcal vaccine does not protect the person against Covid-19 disease.