One of the pathogens that causes the highest number of deaths is pneumococcus or Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumonia or pneumococcal disease invasive is responsible for 10,000 deaths only in Spain. In developing countries, 65% of victims of pneumococcal pneumonia are children, but in our country they are adults over 65 years of age.
An underlying disease such as COPD makes pneumococcus difficult to treat with antibiotic therapy. The only way to change the morbidity and mortality from pneumococcal disease is to improve vaccination coverage against pneumococcus.
These are some conclusions of the scientific session of the Royal National Academy of Medicine organized by Prof. Angelo Gil of the URJC Chair of Vaccinology-Pfizer.
Use and resistance to antibiotics
The Dr AS Giovanni Emily Slabinfectious disease specialist at the Fundación Alcorcón hospital, tells us about a “perfect storm” that consists of more resistance, fewer antibiotics and little social awareness of the problem of pneumococcal pneumonia.
About 20% of pneumococci have reduced sensitivity to penicillin. With the difficulty of etiologic diagnosis, empiric treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia remains the least negative option. The expert assures that the COVID-19 triggered pneumonia and its invasive disease from pneumococcus, and also increased the necessary consumption of third-generation cephalosporins, which provided more resistant pneumococci.
For him Doctor José Yustefrom the Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory of CISIII, the pneumococcal family includes more than 100 serotypes. It shows two videos in which a vaccinated individual is observed to engulf pneumococci from their neutrophils, while an unvaccinated individual does not. The specialist confirms that in 2022 there is a rebound in invasive pneumococcal disease and that lethality is affected by increase in resistance.
The most common serotypes are 8 and 3 (one third of invasive pneumococcal disease). For this reason, the expert states that vaccination is a tool to reduce resistant strains and the burden of pneumococcal disease on the one hand.
A preventable infection
For the Dr. Isabel Jimeno, of the SEMG vaccination group, it is the responsibility of family doctors to ensure the correct vaccination and protection of their patients. Interestingly, sequential regimens (which include more than one vaccination) against pneumococcus provide only 15% of people with successful vaccination, and 45% do not complete the regimen. That’s why he insists that pneumococcal vaccines must be a single dose that provides lifelong immunogenicity. For Dr. Jimeno good health is not only about diet, exercise and emotional stability in general, but he must also include proper vaccination in general.
Bacterial resistance is a far-reaching problem, with great concern and priority in the European Unionaffecting the way of life of citizens.
Beyond the plans developed at the legislative level against bacterial resistance, in collaboration with the innovative and preventive industry at different levels, a correct vaccination strategy can facilitate the fight against certain bacteria.
Pneumococcus, impacting morbidity and mortality earlier than preventable bacterial infections, should be the target of effective vaccination strategies.
