Pneumococcal Disease

What we know:

•  Pneumococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infectious disease that causes inflammation of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord. These layers are called the meninges - they help to protect the brain from injury and infection. 
• Prevenar 13 is the current conjugated vaccine given to infants and children. It covers 13 of the most common strains of pneumococcus bacteria.
• There are over 90 strains of pneumococcus bacteria that exist. 
• Most people carry pneumococcus in their nose and throat, where the bacteria do not cause any symptoms. However, sometimes the bacteria grow and spread to other parts of the body which causes sickness.
• The bacteria affect the lungs, ears, sinuses and brain, leading to: pneumonia, swelling and infection of the brain (meningitis), infection of the blood (septicaemia), coma and death.
• Prevenar 20 is under development. It is not yet approved for use in children by the TGA in Australia (see Pfizer press release relating to FDA approval in the US). This vaccine contains the strain (10A) that caused Mabel's illness. The current vaccine (Prevenar 13) does not.
• Pneumovax 23 is available for children over two years of age.  This vaccine covers 23 strains of pneumococcus (including 10A). Currently this vaccine is not part of the childhood immunisation schedule in Queensland, and is generally only given to children/adults who are immunocompromised or over 65 years. It is a polysaccaride vaccine so does not work effectively in children under two due to the development of their spleen.  My daughter Ruby, 5, has now had this vaccination. You have to specifically ask for this vaccine and pay for it (not covered by Medicare). In my experience, and all others I have spoken with, this vaccine is never offered by GPs.
• Important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Those which the hospital doctors, in our case, treated like gastroenteritis or a UTI. 
• Currently, the only way to conclusively test for pneumococcal (or meningococcal) bacteria is via lumbar puncture. I believe there are some possible alternative diagnostic tests being trialled, but have no details at this stage.

For more information and resources, please see Meningitis Centre Australia.