"Pneumococcal" refers to something related to a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bacteria can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections. Full definition
A team led by Ron Dagan, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Soroka University Medical Center in Beer - Sheva, Israel, wanted to know if a new pneumococcal vaccine based on tetanus toxoid would change infants» immune responses to the standard regimen of vaccines, including those for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), and Haemophilus influenzae type B, which protects against meningitis. (sciencemag.org)
Varieties of S. pneumoniae not covered by current immunizations are responsible for a small portion — for example, 7 to 10 percent among U.S. children — of pneumonia, meningitis and other cases of pneumococcal disease. (infectioncontroltoday.com)
«As a result, we can extend beyond the 13 types of sugars, potentially providing universal coverage against bacteria that cause pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis and other types of pneumococcal disease. (infectioncontroltoday.com)