A preventable illness? Purulent pericarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae complicated by haemolytic uraemic syndrome in an infant

A previously healthy eight-month-old infant presented with shortness of breath and pyrexia. He was found to have purulent pericarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, complicated by acute renal failure due to haemolytic uraemic syndrome. He received peritoneal dialysis and recovered with normalisation of renal function. This case highlights two important complications of pneumococcal infection in one individual and illustrates the need for rapid diagnosis and treatment of invasive pneumococcal disease. It is anticipated that introduction of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccination to the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule from 2005 will reduce the incidence of pneumococcal infection and its associated morbidity and mortality.