Introduction

Gram positive bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important pathogen that affects mainly children and elderly and can cause life-threatening diseases. S. pneumoniae infection leads to many clinical manifestations including meningitis, septicaemia, bacteraemia, pneumonia, acute otitis media, and sinusitis. It has caused great morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in children. Pneumococcal infection annually has caused approximately 14.5 million cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and 0.7–1 million deaths in children under five years old, mostly in developing and underdeveloped countries. Based on differences in the polysaccharide capsules of the pneumococcal cell wall, S. pneumoniae is classified into over 90 serotypes, which present different antigenic properties and induce different inflammatory responses. PneumoGnost Test Panel allows for early diagnosis of S. pneumoniae infection through detection of a specific soluble antigen present in the urine of patients with S. pneumoniae infection. S. pneumoniae cell wall polysaccharide antigen has been detected in urine as early as three days after the onset of symptoms.