Streptococcus pneumoniae (or pneumococcus) is a frequent colonizer of the
nasopharynx and an important cause of infectious diseases, with a high rate of
morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly among young children, the elderly and
the immunocompromised. Despite this high burden of morbidity and mortality, invasive
pneumococcal disease is incidental. Nasopharyngeal colonization is the preferred
lifestyle for the pneumococcus, its prevalence being particularly high among young
children.(...)
