Streptococcus Pneumoniae Infection

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for severe diseases including pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia, particularly in children and the elderly, with limited efficacy of current pneumococcal vaccines. Over 90 serotypes have been identified based on capsular polysaccharide structure, with approximately 20 serotypes being highly virulent and causing about 90% of pneumococcal infections. In 2016, S. pneumoniae was estimated to cause around 1.2 million deaths globally. Two types of pneumococcal vaccines are currently available to combat this pathogen.