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Community-acquired pneumonia: pneumococcal vaccine
1Departments of Pathology & Molecular Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
BMJ Clinical Evidence
|December 5, 2015
Summary
Pneumococcal vaccines, including conjugated and polysaccharide types, are effective in preventing community-acquired pneumonia. This systematic overview evaluates their effectiveness and safety for public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Community-acquired pneumonia affects approximately 12/1000 individuals annually in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is the primary causative agent of pneumonia.
- Mortality rates vary from 5% to 35%, with higher risks in older adults, males, and those with chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effects of pneumococcal vaccines in preventing community-acquired pneumonia.
- To provide an updated overview of vaccine effectiveness and safety.
Main Methods:
- A systematic overview was conducted, searching major databases including Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library up to April 2014.
- Inclusion criteria involved studies on pneumococcal vaccines for community-acquired pneumonia prevention.
- GRADE evaluation was performed for specific PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) combinations.
Main Results:
- The search identified 651 studies, with 55 full publications reviewed.
- Eight systematic reviews and one randomized controlled trial (RCT) were added in this update.
- The efficacy of conjugated and polysaccharide vaccines was categorized based on effectiveness and safety data.
Conclusions:
- Pneumococcal vaccines, both conjugated and polysaccharide, demonstrate efficacy in preventing community-acquired pneumonia.
- The findings support the use of pneumococcal vaccines as a public health intervention.
- Further updates are periodically available on the Clinical Evidence website.
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