Pneumococcal Bacteremia

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Abstract
The clinical significance of pneumococcal bacteremia was evaluated from the hospital records of 111 infants and children. Focal infections other than nasopharyngitis were recognized in 96 patients (86%). Pneumonia and otitis were equally frequent, together accounting for 71% of the infections. More than one focus was recognized in 30 patients (27%). In 30 patients, no focus of pneumococcal infection was detected before the positive result of the blood culture was reported; a focus was subsequently found in 15 of them. In 11 patients "upper-respiratory tract infections," and in 4 patients fever provided the only clinical evidence of infection. There were four deaths among the 111 patients: one in a newborn, one with terminal leukemia, and two with meningitis.