Pneumococcal Septic Shock Syndrome: A Deadly Condition Despite Vaccination

Invasive pneumococcal disease is a serious infection with an elevated case-fatality rate that can be even higher among patients with asplenia. Its impact has been blunted by the widespread use of vaccines; even recently, in 2021, two new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines emerged. The authors present a case of a 58-year-old male, splenectomised with the immunisation schedule complete, who died of invasive pneumococcal disease with a fulminant course. It is highlighted that fever in a patient with impaired splenic function is an emergency, and despite the success of immunisation in reducing pneumococcal carriage and invasive disease, serotypes continue to change. Also, the local epidemiology may help guide situations where the immunisation recommendations are dubious regarding the implementation of the new vaccines.