Vulnerable Patients and the Burden of Pneumococcal Disease

Epidemiology and High-Risk Populations for Pneumococcal Disease

Panelists discuss how pneumococcal disease affects adults through both non-invasive infections like pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), with current U.S. data showing over 33,000 IPD cases and 3,600 deaths in 2023, particularly impacting adults aged 50 and older who face increased risk due to age-related immunosenescence and underlying medical conditions such as compromised immune systems, chronic diseases, and social factors like…

Vulnerable Patients and the Burden of Pneumococcal Disease

An expert discusses how pharmacists can identify high-risk patients for pneumococcal disease by reviewing medication profiles for immunosuppressants and using electronic medical record vaccine tracking tools, while emphasizing that vulnerable populations face higher morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization rates compared with healthy individuals.