A 78-year-old man is brought to the emergency department due to fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The patient recently moved into an assisted living facility after living with his family that owned several pets. He has a 40-pack-year smoking history. Temperature is 39.4 C (103 F), blood pressure is 106/62 mm Hg, pulse is 112/min, and respirations are 28/min. There is dullness to percussion and bronchial breath sounds over the left lung. Chest x-ray reveals a left lower lobe consolidation. Sputum microscopy shows gram-positive diplococci. Which of the following would have been most helpful in preventing this patient's lung infection?

Question

A 78-year-old man is brought to the emergency department due to fever, cough, and shortness of breath.  The patient recently moved into an assisted living facility after living with his family that owned several pets.  He has a 40-pack-year smoking history.  Temperature is 39.4 C (103 F), blood pressure is 106/62 mm Hg, pulse is 112/min, and respirations are 28/min.  There is dullness to percussion and bronchial breath sounds over the left lung.  Chest x-ray reveals a left lower lobe consolidation.  Sputum microscopy shows gram-positive diplococci.  Which of the following would have been most helpful in preventing this patient's lung infection?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccination reduces the risk of invasive disease and is recommended for young patients and the elderly.  The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is an unconjugated vaccine that induces a T-cell-independent humoral immune response.  In contrast, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine contains polysaccharide material attached to a protein antigen, which creates a robust T-cell-mediated humoral immune response.

A 78-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department Due