Streptococcus pneumonia Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerotolerant anaerobic member of the genus streptococcus Normally found in the nasopharynx of 5-10% of healthy adults, and 20-40% of healthy children The organism causes many types of pneumococcal infections other than pneumonia These include acute sinusitis, otitis media, meningitis, bacteremia, sepsis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, peritonitis, pericarditis, cellulitis, and brain abscess S. pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in adults and young ad ults, along with Neisseria meningitidis, and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in adult the usa Attaches to nasopharyngeal cells through interaction of bacterial surface adhesins. This norm achi, Colonization can become infectious if the organisms are carried into areas such as the Eust tube or nasal sinuses where it can cause otitis media and sinusit The organisms polysaccharide capsule makes it resistant to phagocytosis, and if there is no occi. bre-existing anticapsular antibody, alveolar macrophages cannot adequately kill the pneumo The organism spreads to the blood stream and is carried to the meninges, joint spaces, bone Has several virulence factors: the polysaccharide capsule, that help it evade a hosts immune system, a pneumococcal surface proteins that inhibit complement-mediated opsonization, and se cretion of IgAl protease that will destroy secretory iga produced by the body and mediates its attach ent to respiratory mucosaStreptococcus pneumonia Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, aerotolerant anaerobic member of the genus Normally found in the nasopharynx of 5-10% of healthy adults, and 20-40% of healthy children The organism causes many types of pneumococcal infections other than pneumonia. These include acute sinusitis, otitis media, meningitis, bacteremia, sepsis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, peritonitis, pericarditis, cellulitis, and brain abscess is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in adults and young ad ults, along with , and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in adults in the USA Attaches to nasopharyngeal cells through interaction of bacterial surface adhesins. This norm al colonization can become infectious if the organisms are carried into areas such as the Eust achian tube or nasal sinuses where it can cause otitis media and sinusitis. The organism's polysaccharide capsule makes it resistant to phagocytosis, and if there is no pre-existing anticapsular antibody, alveolar macrophages cannot adequately kill the pneumoc occi. The organism spreads to the blood stream and is carried to the meninges, joint spaces, bone s, and peritoneal cavity, and may result in meningitis, brain abscess, septic arthritis, or osteom yelitis. Has several virulence factors: the polysaccharide capsule, that help it evade a host's immune system, a pneumococcal surface proteins that inhibit complement-mediated opsonization, and se cretion of IgA1 protease that will destroy secretory IgA produced by the body and mediates its attachm ent to respiratory mucosa. • • • • • • • Streptococcus S. pneumoniae Neisseria meningitidis