Pneumonia at Marine Corps Recruit Depots: Current Trends in Ambulatory Encounters and Inpatient Discharges

Acute respiratory infections are recognized as a significant source of morbidity for military populations, particularly for recruits. This analysis aims to describe the pneumonia burden at Marine Corps Recruit Depots (MCRD) in Parris Island and San Diego during 2007-2014, as these two depots maintain noteworthy comparisons in vaccine and prophylaxis policies. First, both depots reinstated the adenovirus vaccine in October 2011. Second, San Diego provides the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to all recruits within the first 2 days of arrival, although Parris Island does not routinely vaccinate for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Third, recruits at San Diego routinely receive three doses of penicillin G benzathine for group A Streptococcus bacterium prophylaxis, although those at Parris Island receive one dose year-round and a second dose during the winter months when group A Streptococcus bacterium burden is expected to increase.