Epidemiology: Open Access

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Antibiotic Resistance in Streptococcus pneumonia: A Disaster in the making

Mirza Shaper

Sir William Osler once called S. pneumoniae "the Captain of the men of death". Streptococcus pneumonia, the most common cause of community acquired pneumoniae, otitis media and meningitis is the sixth leading cause of death in the world. Children under the age of 5, elderly individuals and individuals with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immuncompromised individuals are at the highest risk of acquiring pneumococcal infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 11 and 18 million cases of pneumococcal infection in children under the age of 5 and approximately 826,000 deaths globally. Pneumococcal infections account for approximately 11% of all deaths that occur in children under the age of 5 yrs. S. pneumoniae is also the most frequent cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) accounting for 20-60% cases of CAP and 11-20% of CAP associated mortality.