Adult pneumococcal vaccination – new opportunities

Abstract

Pneumococcal infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae) remain a significant epidemiological problem globally. Although an invasive pneumo-coccal disease (IPD), which includes meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia with bacteremia, is the most severe form of pneumococcal infection, the main bur-den in terms of morbidity and mortality is associated with community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly. The epidemiology of infections caused by S. pneumoniae serotypes can change naturally in time and by universal vaccination implementation. The proportion of infections caused by serotypes not contained in any available vaccines is constantly increasing. These changes stimulate the development of new vaccines and ensure the broadest possible protection against S. pneumoniae infections. There is a need to raise awareness of the burden of pneumococcal disease in adults and the vaccines used for prophylaxis for pneumococcal infection. The article discusses the pneumococcal infection burden in the adult population and the factors that raise the risk of infections. We characterised available vaccines for adults, highlighting the significant differences between the conjugated and unconjugated polysaccharide vaccines. Current epidemiological data on pneumococcal infections in Europe and Poland is presented. The latest 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) is described, and the most recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations on primary prevention and the current implementation of vaccination against pneumococcal infections in the adult population in Poland are discussed.

Keywords

• streptococcus pneumoniae
• pneumococcal vaccines
• adult.