Safety and immunogenicity of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in HIV-1 infected former drug users

The immunogenicity of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine was assessed in 57 HIV-1 infected former intravenous drug users and in 20 HIV-1 negative controls. The effect of vaccination on HIV-1 infection was studied in a subgroup of 38 patients, 60% of whom under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Antibody to capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 3, 4, 6B, 19F, 23 F, and changes in CD4+ count, HIV-1 RNA, proviral DNA and HIV-1 phenotype were measured in pre- and post-vaccination samples. Vaccinations were well-tolerated. The rate of responders was higher (P<0.05) in HIV-1 negative than in HIV-1 infected individuals. No difference in antibody response was found within HIV-1 infected patients stratified according to CD4+ counts. Post-vaccination antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) to the five antigens were higher (P<0.05) than baseline in HIV-1 negative subjects, but not in HIV-1 positive individuals. Those with CD4+ >500 cells/mm(3) showed a significant increase of antibody against type 3 only. Immunisation caused no significant changes in CD4+ counts and in either plasma HIV-1 RNA nor proviral DNA levels. Pneumococcal vaccination does not induce virological or immunological deterioration in HIV infected patients, but the antibody response to a single dose of vaccine is poor.