[Pneumococcus in the elderly: from the diabetologist view]

People living with diabetes not only have a significantly increased risk of pneumonia but also a higher risk of severe forms leading to hospitalization or even death, especially among older adults or those with comorbidities such as obesity or chronic complications of diabetes. The spectrum of pathogens responsible for pneumonia does not appear to differ from that observed in the general population, with Streptococcus pneumoniæ remaining the most common cause. Nevertheless, pneumococcal vaccine coverage remains very low in this population. Next-generation conjugate vaccines effectively reduce the incidence of invasive infections, hospitalizations, and mortality. French guidelines therefore recommend systematic vaccination of all at-risk adults, making preventive vaccination a key component of diabetes management.