Respiratory viral and pneumococcal coinfection of the respiratory tract: implications of pneumococcal vaccination

Abstract

The interactions between Streptococcus pneumoniae and other respiratory pathogens have been studied in vitro, in animal models and in humans – including epidemiologic and vaccine probe studies. Interactions of pneumococcus with respiratory viruses are common, and many mechanisms have been suggested to explain this phenomenon. The aim of this review is to explore pneumococcal interactions with respiratory viruses and consider the potential role that the pneumococcal polysaccharide–protein conjugate vaccine may play in modifying pneumococcal–respiratory viral interactions.

Keywords::

• coinfection
• effectiveness
• efficacy
• pneumococcus
• respiratory viruses
• vaccination

Financial & competing interests disclosure

DP Moore holds a research scholarship awarded by the DST/NRF Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Respiratory & Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand. R Dagan has received, in the last 5 years, grants/research support from Berna/Crucell, Wyeth/Pfizer, MSD and Protea; has been a scientific consultant for Berna/Crucell, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Wyeth/Pfizer, Protea and MSD; he is also a speaker for Berna/Crucell, GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth/Pfizer; and is a shareholder of Protea/NasVax. SA Madhi has received grants from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Pfizer; honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer and Merck; has been an investigator in clinical vaccine trials for GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth, Novartis and MedImmune; and is a consultant, lecturer and member of the advisory boards of GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Merck and Abbott. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.