[Prevention of pneumococcal infections in the elderly by vaccination]

Streptococcus pneumoniae still causes serious infections especially in elderly people, despite relevant antibiotic treatment and intensive therapy. At present, Statens Serum-institut annually receives about 650 pneumococcal strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid for typing from the departments of Clinical Microbiology in Denmark. Of these strains about 55% were isolated from persons aged 60 years or older. The incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in elderly people is said to be 4-8/1000 persons/year in countries similar to Denmark. In the USA, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for groups at risk including immunocompetent adults > or = 65 years old. Since 1978, pneumococcal vaccine has been available in Denmark, where the only indication for vaccination has been and still is intended or already performed splenectomy in persons older than two years of age. According to the literature, the protective efficacy of vaccination of elderly persons is 60-70%. Since vaccination is, furthermore, without risks we believe that vaccination of elderly people in Denmark should be advised.