Infection with pneumococcal bacteria causes a range of diseases including meningitis, pneumonia and middle ear infection. Infections are more common in winter and spring. Small children, and the elderly are most at risk. Infection is treated with antibiotics. Immunisation can prevent infection.
Pneumococcal disease is caused by infection with the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infection can cause a variety of diseases including: pneumonia (infection of the lungs), otitis media (infection of the middle ear) and meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms depend on the site of infection and the age of the person.
The bacteria often live harmlessly in the throat of healthy people. Occasionally these bacteria will cause an infection.
People most at risk for the infection include:
Pneumococcal infections are more common in winter and early spring. These are also the times when outbreaks in childcare centres, nursing homes, and other institutions are more common.
Pneumococcal vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection. Pneumococcal vaccines are provided free for the following groups.
Pneumococcal vaccine (20 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-20vPCV) is free for all children at 2, 4 and 12 months of age as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule (children can receive their first dose as early as 6 weeks of age).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children medically at risk for a severe pneumococcal infection are recommended to receive an extra dose of 20vPCV at 6 months of age (i.e. at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months).
Children aged 12 months to <18 years medically at risk for a severe pneumococcal infection are recommended to receive a single dose of 20vPCV at diagnosis.
Pneumococcal vaccine (21 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine- 21vPCV) is free and should be given to:
Please see the Australian Immunisation Handbook and Pneumococcal vaccination for all Australians for further information.
Your doctor can diagnose pneumococcal disease by the symptoms, an examination, and by doing some tests. Tests may include a chest x-ray and taking samples to look for the bacteria (e.g. blood, phlegm (sputum), urine or cerebrospinal fluid).
Treatment includes antibiotics, medicine to control the fever and pain, and fluids to prevent dehydration.
Laboratories must confidentially notify cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (where the bacteria is located in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid or other sterile site) to the local public health unit.
Public health unit staff will talk to the treating doctor and patient or their family to identify risk factors that the patient may have, and to enquire about vaccination history. Close contacts of cases are not usually at increased risk of infection and don't require follow up.
Please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
For further information please call your local public health unit on 1300 066 055.
If you, or your child, have symptoms of pneumococcal disease and you are concerned, speak to your doctor right away, or in an emergency call 000. For health advice you can also call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free 24-hour health advice or speak to your local pharmacist.