Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is a bacterium that can cause several infectious diseases including pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. An outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia occurred in 2011 at a pediatric psychiatric unit in Rhode Island. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that has symptoms like cough, fever, and chest pain. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Prevention methods include vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae with pneumococcal vaccines.