Abstract

Although most pneumococcal infection responds well to antibiotic therapy, there are conditions which place patients at a higher risk of more serious infection. Pneumococcal bacteraemia is rare, but kills about 25% of cases.¹ Strains of pneumococci resistant to most antibiotics have recently appeared in Africa but are very rare in Europe. Antibody to the polysaccharide capsule of the organism is protective. A polyvalent vaccine of polysaccharides is now available for prophylactic active immunisation (Pneumovax - Thomas Morson).