Arthritis. Inflammation of the joints. Pneumococcal infection can cause arthritis.

Bacteraemia. The presence of bacteria in the blood.

Black Triangle. A symbol on the vaccine pack (▼) which is usual for new medicines or new combinations of medicines. The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) intensively monitor new products so that their continuing safety can be assured. You can find out more from the MHRA in Further learning.

Capsule. The cover which surrounds a bacterium, e.g. the pneumococcus.  See also Polysaccharide.

Cochlear implant. A device used to help people with nerve-impaired deafness (sensori-neural hearing loss) to recognise sound. The electrical device sits externally on the head with wires entering the skull to connect with the cochlear.

Conjugate. To join together. A conjugated vaccine is made by joining part of a bacterium’s polysaccharide capsule with another substance, usually a protein. This process greatly enhances the effectiveness of the vaccine, which is why only conjugate vaccines are used in the UK routine childhood immunisation programme. Prevenar 13® is the only conjugate vaccine available to protect infants and children against the most common types of pneumococcal infection.

Encapsulated. Referring to the cover which surrounds a bacterium. See also Polysaccharide.

Faeco-oral route. The spread of infection from faecal particles of one person to the mouth of another, e.g. due to inadequate hand hygiene and food preparation, or by drinking from a faecally-contaminated water supply.

Gram-positive bacteria. Classification of bacteria based on a laboratory method of staining bacteria to help with their identification. Bacteria such as pneumococci show a dark blue colouring in their cell wall due high peptidoglycan content, and therefore, are classed as  “Gram-positive” bacteria.

Green Book. This is the common name for Immunisation Against Infectious Disease produced by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI provide formal advice to all four UK-country departments of health. See Further Learning to access it online.
Health Protection Agency. A Department of Health special health authority to provide support and advice on public health issues, including infectious diseases.

Health Protection Scotland. Established by the Scottish Government in 2005 to strengthen and co-ordinate health protection in Scotland, including infectious diseases.

Herd effect. When a sufficient number of a population is immune to an infectious disease (e.g. through vaccination), the spread from person to person becomes less likely. Unvaccinated individuals gain some protection because the disease has little opportunity to spread within the community. Also known as population immunity.

Herd immunity. See herd effect

Homogeneous. The same throughout; all parts alike.

Hyporesponsiveness. In relation to booster doses of vaccine, hyporesponsiveness means a failure of the booster dose to produce an immune response of the same magnitude as the primary dose . This is particularly recognised in bacterial polysaccharide vaccines and is overcome by the use of conjugate vaccines.

Immune; Immunity. Protected against disease. This may be innate, e.g. we are born with protective mechanisms such as intact skin, skin fatty acids, digestive enzymes and phagocytic cells to help prevent infections. Acquired immunity is gained from having had the infection, or by being vaccinated.

Immune memory. The ability of cells (such as memory B and T helpercells) to help the body defend itself against disease by remembering previous exposure to specific organisms, and responding quickly when these organisms repeatedly threaten the body.

Immunisation. To become protected from a disease. The term is often used interchangeably with ‘vaccination’. However, it is possible to be vaccinated but not immunised: not all vaccines or people produce 100% protection from the disease.

Immunisation Against Infectious Disease. Known as the ‘Green Book’, this publication is written by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI provide formal advice to all four UK-country departments of health. See Further Learning to access it online.

IPD: Invasive pneumococcal disease. Invasion of the bloodstream or tissues by pneumococcal bacteria. The three main resulting diseases are bacteraemia, meningitis and pneumonia.

Meningitis. Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis, particularly from bacterial infections, can cause death or long-term damage and health problems.

Morbidity. A state of disease or illness.

Mortality. Death; death rate.

Nasopharyngeal carriage. The asymptomatic presence of pathogens in the nasopharynx. A person carrying these bacteria can also spread them to others, e.g. by coughing or sneezing.

Nasopharynx. The back of the throat connecting with the nose, mouth and ears. It is a site where bacteria such as pneumococci may spread to cause local infections such as sinusitis and acute otitis media. A person carrying these bacteria can also spread them to others, e.g. by coughing or sneezing.

NICE. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

NMC. Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Peritonitis. Inflammation of the peritoneum, the connective tissue lining the abdomino-pelvic cavity. Pneumococcal infection is one cause of this condition.

PCV. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Pneumococcal pneumonia. An inflammation of the lungs caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Symptoms include a high temperature, chills, cough and difficulty breathing, a rapid pulse and chest discomfort.

PPV. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Pneumococcus. A bacterium also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Plural terms: pneumococci bacteria.

Polysaccharide. The capsule surrounding a bacterium such as a pneumococcus is made of carbohydrate. It can be broken down into many (poly) different sugar (saccharide) molecules. Parts of this polysaccharide capsule can be used to make vaccines.

Posology. Knowledge of the correct dose and schedule (frequency) of pharmaceutical products such as vaccines.

Prescription Only Medicine (POM). This is a legal category of medicines, and a prescription is needed from an authorised prescriber (or sometimes a PGD), before a POM is administered.

Prevenar 13^®. A pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine providing protection against 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F). Manufactured by Pfizer Ltd, it is the only licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the UK. Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (the Green Book) stipulates its use in the national routine childhood immunisation schedule.

PGD. Patient Group Direction.

PSD. Patient Specific Direction.

Serotype. A specific type of an organism. Many have multiple versions, for instance there are over 90 serotypes of pneumococci bacteria.

Sinusitis. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of a sinus, which is an air-filled cavity in the facial bones. Sinusitis can be caused by pneumococcal bacterial infection.

Streptococcus pneumoniae. A bacterium also known as the pneumococcus. Plural terms: pneumococci bacteria.

Vaccination. The process of giving a vaccine. The term is often used interchangeably with ‘immunisation’. However, it is possible to be vaccinated but not immunised: not all vaccines or people produce 100% protection from the disease.

Vaccine. A product made from a killed or weakened infectious organism, or a fragment of the organism, intended to stimulate immunity and prevent future infection by that organism.