Pneumococcal disease prevention for high-risk groups

Abstract

<p>肺炎鏈球菌會潛伏在人類鼻咽部並引起疾病，常見的感染包括中耳炎、鼻竇炎和肺炎。肺炎鏈球菌有時會造成侵襲性肺炎鏈球菌感染症，尤其是在高危險族群的病人。肺炎鏈球菌疫苗被認為是預防感染最有效的方法，目前台灣臨床上可供使用的有1種多醣體疫苗PPV 23和2種結合型疫苗PCV13及PCV15。高危險族群可依照疾病管制署之肺炎鏈球菌疫苗接種建議，接受預防注射以保護自己不受肺炎鏈球菌感染。除此之外，流感感染後的繼發性細菌感染，最常見的菌種之一即為肺炎鏈球菌，因此每年接種流感疫苗亦是重要的預防方法。</p> <p> </p><p>Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria are common inhabitants of the respiratory tract and can cause various diseases, including otitis media, sinusitis, and pneumonia. S. pneumoniae bacteria also cause invasive pneumococcal disease, especially in high-risk groups, and vaccines are regarded as the most effective method for preventing pneumococcal infection. The pneumococcal vaccines currently available in Taiwan are PPV 23, which is a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and PCV13 and PCV15, which are pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. High-risk groups should follow the vaccine recommendations of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control to obtain protection from pneumococcal infections. S. pneumoniae is the most identified pathogen in patients with secondary bacterial infection following a primary influenza virus infection. Consequently, annual influenza vaccination is crucial for preventing pneumococcal infections.</p> <p> </p>