Reductions in otitis and other respiratory tract infections following childhood pneumococcal vaccination.

Reductions in otitis and other respiratory tract infections following childhood pneumococcal vaccination.

Acta Paediatr. 2018 Mar 30;:

Authors: Johansson Kostenniemi U, Palm J, Silfverdal SA

Abstract
AIM: Streptococcus pneumoniae commonly causes respiratory tract infections including acute otitis media and pneumonia. In this study, we evaluated the impact of general infant pneumococcal vaccination, introduced in Sweden in 2009, on respiratory tract infections.
METHODS: We studied the incidence of respiratory tract infections and antibiotic consumption in Västerbotten County, Sweden, during 2005-2014 by using the County Council's diagnosis register.
RESULTS: Comparing the pre-vaccination period of 2005-2008 to 2014, the incidences of all-cause acute otitis media decreased significantly in children aged 0-4 and 5-17 years, by 41.5% and 20.9% respectively. In addition, we also noted significant reductions for sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract infections, and some reductions in adults. Antibiotic consumption for upper respiratory tract infections decreased by 37.1%, with the largest decrease occurring in children aged 0-4 years. For pneumonia, the incidence significantly decreased by 28.6% for children aged 0-4 years, with no significant changes in older children or adults.
CONCLUSION: Pneumococcal vaccination was followed by reduced incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and antibiotic consumption in vaccinated children, with some indications of possible herd immunity. For pneumonia a major reduction was noted limited to the youngest children. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 29603797 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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