肺炎链球菌作为病原体认识已有100多年。该菌是引起肺炎的主要原因,在诺丁汉人群中获得性肺炎四分之三的病原体是该菌。在爱丁堡肺炎患者虽然痰培养阴性,但用对流免疫电泳(CLE)检测其抗原,69%的痰与37%的血清可获阳性。菌血症患者继发肺炎球菌肺炎的死亡率亦高达30～40%(如有肾或肝机能不全的患者死亡率高达68%)。肺炎球菌性脑膜炎可继发于菌血症或乳突炎、鼻窦炎或颅骨骨折。是10岁以下小儿脑膜炎第三位病因,其死亡率高于脑膜炎球菌和嗜血流感杆菌所引起的疾病。2岁以下小儿和60岁以上的老人发病率和死亡率更高。在健康人群中,鼻咽常携带该菌、大多数肺炎球菌疾患可能是与带菌者接触所致。家族中有成员患 Streptococcus pneumoniae has been recognized as a pathogen for more than 100 years. The bacteria are the main cause of pneumonia, and three-quarters of the pathogens in acquired non-pneumonia in the Nottingham population are the bacteria. Although sputum cultures were negative in patients with pneumonia in Edinburgh, the antigen was detected by convective immunoelectrophoresis (CLE), with 69% of sputum and 37% of sera being positive. Mortality secondary to pneumococcal pneumonia in patients with bacteremia is as high as 30-40% (up to 68% in patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency). Pneumococcal meningitis may be secondary to bacteremia or mastoiditis, sinusitis or skull fracture. Is the third cause of childhood meningitis in children under 10 with a higher mortality rate than those caused by meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae. Children under 2 and older than 60 years old have higher morbidity and mortality. In healthy people, nasopharynx often carry the bacteria, most of the pneumococcal disease may be caused by contact with carriers. Members of the family suffering from