Fortnightly Review: The pneumococcal problem

Mortality from bacteraemic pneumonia has remained unchanged at 25% over the last 40 years Globally, Streptococcus pneumoniae causes over 1 million deaths in children under the age of 5 years Antibiotic resistant strains of S pneumoniae are increasing world wide. In Spain over 50% of isolates are resistant to one or more antibiotics Patients at increased risk of severe pneumococcal infection should be.