Pneumococcal infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Identifying risk factors in the development of PRSP infections is important for both the prevention and treatment of these infections. We undertook the study described here to determine the prevalence of invasive PRSP infections in the Colorado Front Range and to determine whether invasive PRSP infections have increased in metropolitan Denver since the earlier studies. In addition, we studied a cohort of patients who had invasive pneumococcal disease during 1994 in metropolitan Denver to ascertain risk factors for invasive PRSP infections. Data for the cohort study were collected by chart review by the principal investigator, and telephone interviews of patients were conducted by trained interviewers in the Health Statistics Survey Research Unit of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. For patients under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian was interviewed.