What are the risk factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae?
The incidence of pneumococcal disease is the highest in children < 2 years of age and in adults > 65 years of age. Other important risk factors are chronic heart and lung disease, cigarette smoking, and asplenia.
How is S. pneumoniae most commonly transmitted?
Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae occurs as the result of direct person-to-person contact via respiratory droplets. The pneumococcal serotypes most often responsible for causing infection are those most frequently found in carriers.
What is the transmission of pneumococcal pneumonia?
People spread pneumococcal bacteria to others through direct contact with respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus. Many people, especially children, have the bacteria in their nose or throat at one time or another without being ill.
How does Streptococcus pneumoniae spread to lungs?
The bacteria is spread by aerosol from the nasopharynx of carriers. The pneumococcus can spread from the nasopharynx to a number of different tissues. In children the bacteria most commonly causes otitis media.
Who are at risk for pneumonia?
The people most at risk are infants and young children, adults 65 or older, and people who have other health problems. Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization in both children and adults. Most cases can be treated successfully, although it can take weeks to fully recover.
What are the major risk factors for the pneumococcal disease?
Conditions that increase the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease include:
- Decreased immune function from disease or drugs.
- Functional or anatomic asplenia.
- Chronic heart, lung (including asthma), liver, or renal disease.
- Cigarette smoking.
- Alcoholism.
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak.
- Cochlear implant.
What conditions would allow S pneumoniae to become an opportunistic pathogen?
pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that takes advantage of hosts with underdeveloped, weakened, and or deteriorating immune systems. Because of this, S. pneumoniae has greater incidence rates in children under the age of two, the immunocompromised, and the elderly (28).
How do you prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae from spreading?
The best way to prevent the spread of the bacteria is by frequent handwashing and by covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
How do you prevent S pneumoniae?
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal vaccines are routinely recommended in the United States. Some groups may need multiple doses or booster shots. Talk with your or your child’s clinician about what is best for your specific situation.
Is S. pneumoniae contagious?
Streptococcus pneumoniae is spread from person to person by the inhalation of respiratory droplets (e.g. coughing, sneezing) from an infected person. It is not known why certain individuals develop invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae disease while others do not.
How does Streptococcus pneumoniae move around?
Spread of pneumococcal disease Many people carry Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria in their nose and throat. The bacteria are transferred to another person through droplets of saliva or mucus, such as when a ‘carrier’ sneezes, coughs, shares toys or kisses someone.
Can a person get m.pneumoniae from another person?
Most people who spend a short amount of time with someone who is sick with M. pneumoniae do not get infected. However, the bacteria often spread between people who live together since they spend a lot of time together.
How does pneumococcal transmission, colonization and invasion work?
Transmission, colonization and invasion depend on the remarkable ability of S. pneumoniaeto evade or take advantage of the host inflammatory and immune responses. The different stages of pneumococcal carriage and disease have been investigated in detail in animal models and, more recently, in experimental human infection.
How do you spread Mycoplasma pnuemoniae to other people?
People spread M. pnuemoniae by coughing or sneezing, which creates small respiratory droplets in the air that contain the bacteria. Other people then breathe in the bacteria.
How does Mycoplasma pneumoniae affect the respiratory system?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that causes illness by damaging the lining of the respiratory system (throat, lungs, windpipe). People spread Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria to others by coughing or sneezing.