Streptococcus pneumoniae is a main cause of bacterial pneumonia worldwide. It can also cause ear and sinus infections and, in more severe cases, meningitis or sepsis. It shares the human respiratory ...

Understanding the Context

Researchers use a unique barcoding system to track K. pneumoniae bacteria as it moved throughout the body. Bacteremia, or blood poisoning, occurs when bacteria overcome the body's immune defenses. Pneumococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Key Insights

Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but certain people are at increased risk. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main cause of community acquired pneumonia and meningitis in children and the elderly, [5] and of sepsis in those infected with HIV. The organism also causes many types of pneumococcal infections other than pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive, extracellular, opportunistic pathogen that colonizes the mucosal surfaces of the human upper respiratory tract (URT). In this Review, Henriques-Normark and colleagues explore recent insights into Streptococcus pneumoniae epidemiology, clinical disease and pathogenesis, as well as new treatment and prevention ...

Final Thoughts

Pneumococcal infections are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a lancet-shaped, gram-positive, catalase-negative facultative anaerobe commonly referred to as pneumococcus. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive cocci, typically lancet-shaped, and occurs singly, in pairs (diplococci), or short chains. They are non-motile and encapsulated. S. pneumoniae is a fastidious bacterium that grows best at 35-37°C with ~5% CO2 (or in a candle jar). Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) are gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerobic, encapsulated diplococci.

Pneumococcal infection is a major cause of otitis media, pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, and death. Diagnosis is based on Gram stain and culture. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacterial cause of acute otitis media, sinusitis, community-acquired pneumonia, and pediatric conjunctivitis; pleural empyema, mastoiditis, and periorbital cellulitis also occur. Streptococcus pneumoniae are lancet-shaped, gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria with more than 100 known serotypes.