Despite good access to effective antibiotics, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is still a major cause of disease and death in both developing and developed countries. Pneumococci are the main cause of bacterial respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, middle ear infection, and sinusitis, in all age groups.
This document sets out the strategic priorities for all six ECDC disease-specific programmes from 2010 to 2013 based on a short description of the epidemiological background, the context in which ECDC works on that specific disease or disease group, and defined gaps that require action at the EU level.