Insights From the Current Practice of Pneumococcal Disease Prevention for Diabetic Patients in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Pneumonia is the most frequent cause of hospitalization, resulting in a high risk of mortality. Diabetic patients are at high risk of aquatinting pneumococcal infections with their consequent complications. Despite the fact that glycemic control of the patients reduces the risk of diabetic complications and enhances their immunity, pneumococcal vaccination should still be given irrespective of the patients' glycemic control. The purpose of this review is to address the present situation of pneumococcal disease prevention in diabetic patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to gather professional recommendations to overcome the vaccination-related barriers. Onsite insights of scientific leaders in family medicine, endocrinology, and internal medicine in Riyadh and Jeddah were gathered and linked with the available literature to tackle the current practice of pneumococcal disease prevention in diabetic patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pneumococcal vaccination importance is still not well recognized among endocrinologists across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, despite the availability of established local recommendations and the National Immunization Program. The prevention of serious and fatal pneumococcal diseases should be one of the treatment pillars for diabetic patients, and it is not less important than controlling other risk factors.