Serotype 3 pneumococcal pleural empyema: a case report and review of the epidemiology

Maja Thoustrup Legardt Johansen; Frederikke Kristensen Lomholt; Jens-Ulrik Stæhr Jensen; Zitta Barrella Harboe

doi:10.1080/20018525.2025.2546685

Serotype 3 pneumococcal pleural empyema: a case report and review of the epidemiology

Maja Thoustrup Legardt Johansen^*, Frederikke Kristensen Lomholt, Jens-Ulrik Stæhr Jensen, Zitta Barrella Harboe^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

Serotype 3 pneumococcal infection can cause severe invasive disease, even in immunocompetent adults, and is potentially preventable by vaccination. Invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 3 is currently the most frequent serotype found in adults in Denmark. In this report, we present a 62-year-old immunocompetent man diagnosed with a severe pleural empyema caused by serotype 3, requiring a long course of antibiotics. The patient experienced clinical improvement, and follow-up imaging showed near-complete resolution of lung infiltrates. We also review the epidemiology of serotype 3 invasive pneumococcal disease in adults in Denmark and discuss the challenges related to serotype 3 and effective vaccines.

Original language	English
Article number	2546685
Journal	European Clinical Respiratory Journal
Volume	12
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	2546685
ISSN	2001-8525
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/20018525.2025.2546685
Publication status	Published - 2025

Keywords

IPD
Streptococcus pneumoniae
epidemiology
invasive pneumococcal disease
pneumococcal vaccine
serotype 3

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10.1080/20018525.2025.2546685

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title = "Serotype 3 pneumococcal pleural empyema: a case report and review of the epidemiology",

abstract = "Serotype 3 pneumococcal infection can cause severe invasive disease, even in immunocompetent adults, and is potentially preventable by vaccination. Invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 3 is currently the most frequent serotype found in adults in Denmark. In this report, we present a 62-year-old immunocompetent man diagnosed with a severe pleural empyema caused by serotype 3, requiring a long course of antibiotics. The patient experienced clinical improvement, and follow-up imaging showed near-complete resolution of lung infiltrates. We also review the epidemiology of serotype 3 invasive pneumococcal disease in adults in Denmark and discuss the challenges related to serotype 3 and effective vaccines.",

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author = "\{Thoustrup Legardt Johansen\}, Maja and \{Kristensen Lomholt\}, Frederikke and Jensen, \{Jens-Ulrik St{\ae}hr\} and \{Barrella Harboe\}, Zitta",

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AU - Barrella Harboe, Zitta

PY - 2025

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AB - Serotype 3 pneumococcal infection can cause severe invasive disease, even in immunocompetent adults, and is potentially preventable by vaccination. Invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 3 is currently the most frequent serotype found in adults in Denmark. In this report, we present a 62-year-old immunocompetent man diagnosed with a severe pleural empyema caused by serotype 3, requiring a long course of antibiotics. The patient experienced clinical improvement, and follow-up imaging showed near-complete resolution of lung infiltrates. We also review the epidemiology of serotype 3 invasive pneumococcal disease in adults in Denmark and discuss the challenges related to serotype 3 and effective vaccines.

KW - IPD

KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae

KW - epidemiology

KW - invasive pneumococcal disease

KW - pneumococcal vaccine

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DO - 10.1080/20018525.2025.2546685

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JO - European Clinical Respiratory Journal

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Serotype 3 pneumococcal pleural empyema: a case report and review of the epidemiology

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Keywords

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