Influence of environmental conditions and pollution on the incidence of<i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>infections

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes a large percentage of the population and while it can cause mild respiratory infections it is also responsible for more severe illnesses, such as invasive pneumococcal disease. Patient co-morbidities, concomitant viral infection, low temperature and environmental pollutants all have a synergistic effect that predisposes to pneumococcal infection, exerting deleterious effects on respiratory epithelium and local immune system, diminishing bacterial clearance and favouring infection [1]. Fossil fuel derived pollutants (SO2, NO), dry air and cold increase the incidence of S. pneumoniae infections <http://ow.ly/RnLW30gogb1> The authors would like to express their gratitude to José Luis Pisón and Ana Viciano Pastor from the Acoustic Pollution Service of the city of Valencia for providing environmental data.