Pneumococcal disease is a very serious illness in high-risk populations such as children, smokers, the elderly, and patients who are immunocompromised. Although the best defense against pneumococcal infection is vaccination, the pneumococcal vaccine remains underutilized in the inpatient setting. Clinicians must be alert to the risk factors for pneumococcal disease, and the high-risk conditions associated with pneumococcal infection for which vaccination is recommended. Guidelines for the prevention and management of pneumococcal disease emphasize the importance of vaccination as well as the need for appropriate and timely antimicrobial therapy. Accurate diagnosis of pneumococcal infection is imperative for early and effective treatment. In this interactive CME Outfitters Live and On Demand activity, faculty will discuss the importance of vaccination for high-risk populations, highlight methods to improve early recognition and diagnosis of pneumococcal disease, and propose practical strategies that can be utilized to advance prevention and treatment for patients at high-risk for pneumococcal infection. This activity also includes a special "After the Show" segment during which the faculty answers additional audience questions in an informal Q&A session.
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