What is Streptococcus pneumoniae?

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of otitis media (middleear infection) in children, and also commonly causes sinusitis (inflamed sinuses), pneumonia, and even death from pneumonia. It can also cause meningitis, bacteraemia, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s inner lining), and occasionally affects the peritoneal cavity (covering on abdominal organs) and the fallopian tubes (which run between the ovaries and the uterus).