Flu deaths hit record high! Doctors reveal the reason: "Streptococcus pneumoniae" is a deadly factor, 7 types of people should get vaccinated quickly
People aged 19-64 who have not received this vaccine have a 17 times risk of contracting “1 bacteria”
According to data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, this year’s (2024) influenza season has only been one month since October 1, and the epidemic has not yet entered the epidemic period. The number of severe cases and deaths has hit a 10-year high respectively; if combined with bacterial infection, it is more likely to Become a fatal factor for vulnerable groups.
“Invasive pneumococcal infection” is classified as the fourth notifiable infectious disease by the government. As of October this year, data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control show that there are nearly 200 confirmed cases of the disease, reaching a new high for the same period in five years. People under the age of 65 More than 60%. In fact, chronic people aged 19-64 who have not yet been covered by publicly subsidized vaccines have a risk of suffering from invasive pneumococcal infection up to 17 times.
Dr. Li Bingying, honorary chairman of the Taiwan Vaccine Promotion Association, said that more than 10,000 people die from pneumonia in Taiwan every year, and it has long been the third leading cause of death in Taiwan. Especially during the autumn and winter flu seasons, patients who are hospitalized with influenza and pneumonia will be affected if they are combined. Bacterial infection will increase the risk of death by nearly 3.4 times, among which Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the main pathogens causing bacterial infections.
More troublesome than cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and kidney diseases! Streptococcus pneumoniae may become a “deadly killer” for people with diabetes
Adults over 50 years old who suffer from multiple diseases may significantly increase the risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection and pneumonia. Dr. Zhang Jiaxing, executive deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Family Medicine Association, explained that compared with those without comorbidities, if there are more than 5 comorbidities, the risk of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumonia is as high as 9 times. In addition, as age increases, the risk of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease will also increase.
“People with diabetes have a weak immune system and are in a state of long-term hyperglycemia. The risk of lung function damage is 1.6 times that of healthy adults. In addition, the risk of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection for people with diabetes increases by four times!”
Dr. Zhang Jiaxing pointed out that because people with diabetes are often accompanied by comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease, the risk of “pneumonia” increases, and it has now become a fatal killer for people with diabetes. In the past 10 years, the mortality rate for men and women in Taiwan has increased by 50% and 90% respectively. Compared with the decrease in hospitalization rates for comorbidities such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases, the hospitalization rate for pneumonia is on the rise. In particular, “Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes” are more prone to serious complications, requiring more time for intubation, admission to the intensive care unit, and even Risk of death.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is “the worst of the worst”! It is the main cause of exacerbation of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease
Dr. Hsu Yong-he, secretary-general of the Taiwan Society of Nephrology, added that patients with advanced chronic kidney disease have relatively low immune function. Compared with healthy people of the same age, patients with chronic kidney disease aged 18-64 have a 17.5-fold increased risk of infection; and “infection” is Kidney disease is the third leading cause of death among patients with kidney disease. In 2020, nearly 40% of end-stage kidney disease patients hospitalized due to infection died within one month after discharge; more than 30% of kidney disease patients hospitalized due to “pneumonia” also died within one month after discharge. die. Finally, patients with chronic kidney disease infected with “Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3” are prone to an increased risk of severe disease and admission to the intensive care unit.
Due to long-term respiratory inflammation, asthma patients are more likely to have Streptococcus pneumoniae invade the body and affect lung function. Compared with healthy adults, the risk is increased by as much as four times. Dr. Zhang Jiaxing said that infection with invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae may aggravate asthma symptoms and cause a variety of serious complications, such as sepsis, meningitis, etc., and even lead to acute asthma attacks complicated by pneumonia, increasing the risk of death by 3.71 times.
In addition, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have poor lung function, and their risk of infection with invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae is up to 9-10 times higher than that of healthy adults. “Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3” is the main cause of acute exacerbation of COPD, accelerates lung function decline and disease progression, and increases the risk of further exacerbation, hospitalization, or death.
Named “Top 15 Superbugs” by WHO, 60% of Streptococcus pneumoniae are highly resistant to antibiotics
Streptococcus pneumoniae has been named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 15 superbugs that need most attention. Dr. Zhang Fengyi, chairman of the Taiwan Infectious Diseases Society, pointed out that data show that more than 10% of Streptococcus pneumoniae are highly resistant to first-line antibiotics (such as penicillin), and 60% of Streptococcus pneumoniae are resistant to common treatment drugs (such as clindamycin, erythromycin) are highly resistant, making clinical treatment of pneumonia difficult.
Dr. Qiu Zhengxun, chairman of the Taiwan Pediatric Infectious Diseases Medical Association, reminded that there are more than 10 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae that can easily cause invasive diseases. The most threatening is “Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype” because its hard shell makes the immune system It is difficult for the system to detect and resist. It has been among the top five serotypes of invasive pneumococcal infections in adults in Taiwan for many years. After vaccination with PCV13 in Taiwan, the proportion of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 remains at about 10%. Therefore, it is very important to choose the vaccine that suits you.
How to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae infection? Experts call for: 7 ethnic groups should be vaccinated as soon as possible
How to prevent invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection? Dr. Li Bingying emphasized that there are three types of pneumococcal vaccines currently approved in Taiwan for the public to choose from: the latest 15-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV15), the 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). The so-called valence refers to how many serotypes the vaccine can prevent. For example, 15 valence can prevent 15 serotypes.
According to the latest 2024 Taiwan ACIP recommendations, in addition to young children and the elderly over 65 years old, it is also recommended for adults aged over 19 to under 65 with chronic diseases (including chronic diseases: chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, People with diabetes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, alcoholics, smokers, etc.) should receive the pneumococcal vaccine.
This time, the Taiwan Academy of Family Medicine joins hands with four major medical associations: Taiwan Vaccine Promotion Association, Taiwan Society of Infectious Diseases Medicine, Taiwan Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Medicine, and Taiwan Society of Nephrology Medicine to jointly call on those aged 19-64 who are at risk for chronic diseases to be careful during the autumn and winter influenza peaks. Streptococcus pneumoniae infection can lead to severe and fatal cases. People should pay attention to their own health, consult a doctor and get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia to stay away from the fatal threat of pneumonia.
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