Pneumococcal infection (invasive)

Statutory notification alert

• Pneumococcal infection (invasive) is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications for WA Health.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Streptococcus pneumoniae ('pneumococcus').
• Transmission: Airborne or droplet.
• Incubation period: About 1 to 3 days.
• Infectious period: Until Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria are no longer present in nose and throat secretions (usually 24 hours after antibiotic commencement).
• Case exclusion: Exclude until 24 hours after commencement of antibiotics.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude. Contacts do not require antibiotic treatment or vaccination.
• Treatment: Antibiotics as recommended by doctor – refer to doctor.
• Immunisation: Recommended that children and adults be vaccinated according to the Western Australian immunisation schedule. See Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Pneumococcal disease (external site).
• Case follow-up: Is conducted by local public health units (Healthy WA).

Guidelines

• Western Australian immunisation schedule
• Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Pneumococcal disease (external site)
• Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports

Further information

• Pneumococcal disease (Healthy WA)