Respiratory viral and pneumococcal coinfection of the respiratory tract: implications of pneumococcal vaccination.

The interactions between Streptococcus pneumoniae and other respiratory pathogens have been studied in vitro, in animal models and in humans - including epidemiologic and vaccine probe studies. Interactions of pneumococcus with respiratory viruses are common, and many mechanisms have been suggested to explain this phenomenon. The aim of this review is to explore pneumococcal interactions with respiratory viruses and consider the potential role that the pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine may play in modifying pneumococcal-respiratory viral interactions.