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Infectious disease

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Treatment of pneumococcal infection

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021

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In severe forms, antibiotics must be prescribed.

In light and medium-sized forms (nasopharyngitis, bronchitis, otitis, etc.), phenoxymethylpenicillin (vepicombe) can be administered at 5000-100 000 units / kg per day in 4 doses or penicillin at the same dose 3 times a day intramuscularly for 5- 7 days.
Patients with croupous pneumonia or meningitis are prescribed cephalosporin, a new antibiotic of the third or fourth generation. In the course of treatment with antibiotics, it is desirable to check the sensitivity of isolated pneumococci to the prescribed preparation and, if necessary, replace it. Simultaneously with antibiotic therapy, probiotics are administered (acipol, etc.). In the last 2 years, the pneumococcus strains that are resistant to many antibiotics have become increasingly common. To enhance the effect of antibacterial therapy, it is recommended to prescribe polyenzymatic preparation vobenzim.

In severe forms of pneumococcal infection, in addition to antibiotics, an infusion, pathogenetic, general restorative and symptomatic therapy is prescribed, the principles of which are the same as for other infectious diseases.

Forecast

With pneumococcal meningitis, mortality is about 10-20% (in the preantibiotic era - 100%). In other forms of the disease, lethal cases are rare. They occur, as a rule, in children with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, long-term treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, in children with congenital malformations.