Pneumococcal Pneumonia and

Pandemic H1N1

Dr. George Nelson

Public health doctor specializing in respiratory
disease
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Based on the article

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Pandemic (H1N1)
2009,
Denver,Kenneth
George E. Nelson, Colorado,A. USA
Gershman, David
L. Swerdlow, Bernard W. Beall, and Matthew R.
Moore

Emerging Infectious Diseases

June 2012

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Emerging Infectious Diseases
 What is pneumonia?

 Pneumonia
 Infection of the lungs.
 Alveoli (air sacs of lungs) fill with fluid and pus,
making breathing more difficult.

 Pneumococcal pneumonia
 Caused by bacteria called pneumococcus
(Streptococcus pneumoniae).

 Can also be caused by other bacteria,

viruses, fungi, parasites.
 How is pneumonia spread?

 Most cases of pneumonia are spread

person-to-person by coughing out of tiny
droplets.
 Some pathogens can live in nose and throat without
causing disease.
 But when inhaled into lungs, they can cause
pneumonia.
 While many people are exposed to pneumococcus,
usually only those with underlying health issues
develop pneumonia.
 Who is at higher risk for pneumonia?

 People with some medical conditions are at

higher risk for pneumonia, including: heart
disease, lung disease, diabetes, etc.

 Smoking also increases risk of developing

pneumonia.
 What is invasive pneumococcal
disease?
 Occurs when pneumococcus gets into part
of the body normally free of bacteria.
 Pneumococcus in blood = bacteremia.
 Pneumococcus in spinal fluid = meningitis.
 People with bacteremia and meningitis can become
very sick, disabled, and in 10-15% of adult cases
they die.
 What is the relationship between flu
and pneumonia?
 During flu pandemics before 2009, up to 1
in 3 flu victims developed pneumonia.
 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic
 Study found more than 3 times the number of
cases of invasive pneumococcal disease than
expected during the month that the flu peaked in
Denver.
 Up to 62% of the cases of pneumococcal
pneumonia may have been associated with
pandemic H1N1.
 What vaccines will help protect you
from pneumonia?
 In the United States, there are several
vaccines available for preventing
pneumonia:
 2 pneumococcal vaccines
 vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b
(Hib), whooping cough, chickenpox, measles, and
flu

 Adults should check with their doctors –

they may need vaccines or boosters to
vaccinations that they got as children.
Recommended public health strategies

 Raise awareness
 Let patients and healthcare providers know about
the relationship between flu and pneumococcal
pneumonia.
 Alert people to look for complications of bacterial
pneumonia after flu infection.

 Advocate for vaccination

 Especially with flu and pneumococcal vaccines.
 Thank you to all authors
George E. Nelson, Kenneth A. Gershman,
David L. Swerdlow, Bernard W. Beall, and
Matthew R. Moore

For more information please contact, Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D61, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

Telephone: 1-404-639-1960/Fax: 1-404-639-1954
E-mail: eideditor@cdc.gov Web: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Emerging Infectious Diseases