IntroductionStreptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium, which takes a spherical shape, normally present in pairs. These bacteria exist naturally in the respiratory tract, but they can become pathogenic if their density increases. These bacteria are associated with different types of infections, such as pneumonia, chronic middle ear infections, meningitis, bacteremia. Pneumonia is one of the six leading causes of death in the United States and the leading cause of death from infectious diseases (Garibaldi, 1995; Niederman et al. 1998 cited in American Thoracic Society, 2001). Diseases caused by pneumonia were not clearly diagnosed before, therefore information about its pathological effects was based on simple estimates (Garibaldi, 1995; Niederman et al 1998 cited in American Thoracic Society, 2001). Whitney (2000) studies that strains of bacteria have resistance to antibiotics which makes treatment more complicated. The main problem is that pneumococci are becoming more resistant to common antibiotics. Whitney (2000) primarily argued that there was a dramatic increase in the proportion of pneumococci resistant to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents tested. This essay will first summarize this article, then follow by rationale and finally discuss the impact.SummaryIt will summarize Whitney's article, (2000) Increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae in the United States (Whitney et al 2000) . The main problem is that pneumococci are becoming more resistant to antibiotics. In the early 90s of the last century, the United States was experiencing a serious crisis and was concerned about the emergence of strains of S. Pneumoniae that have a high level of...... middle of paper .... ..on pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1455-1463.- Whitney CG, Farley MM, Hadler J et al. Decline of invasive pneumococcal disease after introduction of protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1737-46.- Whitney CG, Farley MM, Hadler J et al. Increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumonia in the United States. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1917-24.- Niederman MS, Mandell LA, Anzueto A, et al. Guidelines for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia: diagnosis, assessment of severity, antimicrobial treatment and prevention. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 163:1730–1754.- Spellberg B, Powers JH, Brass EP, Miller LG, Edwards JE Jr. Trends in antimicrobial drug development: implications for the future. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38:1279–86.