Pneumococcal

An expert discusses how pneumococcal disease presents differently across age groups, with children primarily experiencing ear infections, whereas adults face more serious, invasive complications such as bacteremia and meningitis, though vaccination efforts have significantly reduced overall incidence rates.

Six years following vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in a Chinese population, antibody levels remained high, although not as high as 28 days following vaccination.

The expansion of pneumococcal vaccine recommendations would ultimately lead to economic and health benefits, especially for underserved populations.

Accurate utility estimates are critical to providing a comprehensive view of quality of life for children impacted by pneumococcal disease.

Low uptake of vaccination to protect against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was observed both before and after a pneumococcal-related hospitalization, with countless missed vaccination opportunities documented.

Implementation of the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle in health system retail pharmacies significantly increased uptake of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine among eligible adults.

V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), provided better protection against serotypes 22F and 33F compared with 13-valent PCV (PCV13).

Interventions such as educational brochures, provider-delivered educational programs, and computerized reminders were found to help improve pneumococcal vaccine uptake in older adults.

Experts emphasize the importance of tailored vaccination strategies for pneumococcal based on individual risk factors.

A systematic review reveals declining pediatric pneumococcal complicated pneumonia rates following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13.

A new study reveals that heart failure patients with implantable devices are more likely to receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13, impacting vaccination rates and mortality.

Like other high-risk groups, children with sickle cell disease have a heightened risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, even if they receive proper pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage.

The study found that only 38% of nations have risk-based pneumococcal vaccine policies.

The American Lung Association is raising awareness about updated pneumococcal vaccine guidelines, emphasizing prevention and patient education for at-risk populations.

Invasive pneumococcal disease trends have fluctuated greatly over the past 2 decades, with older adults remaining at the center of disease burden.

These results suggest that individuals who are immunocompromised with type 2 diabetes (T2D) may need multiple doses of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to sustain their protection.

Patients who received a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccination had slightly lower incidence of severe COVID-19 outcomes, but the directions of these associations were mixed.

In a survey among community pharmacists in South Carolina, many pharmacists were unable to correctly identify proper pneumococcal vaccination guideline, raising concerns.

These new phase 3 results indicate the effectiveness of the 2-dose 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and 1-dose PCV20 regimens.

Pharmacist-led interventions significantly improve antibiotic prescribing practices, optimize therapy, and improve patient outcomes.

Individuals who refused a pneumococcal vaccine were associated with low collective responsibility and confidence in vaccine efficacy and safety.

A collaborative health care approach enhances patient outcomes and supports informed decision-making in antibiotic management.

The study authors add that the validation improved the risk score in additional community-acquired pneumonia cohorts, and clinical studies would assess the broad clinical applicability.

Results suggest that patients commonly receive more than 5 days of treatment, which could be an opportunity for an antimicrobial stewardship initiative.

The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23, Pneumovax 23; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp) demonstrates effective reductions in the risk of hospitalizations.