Cochlear implant provider awareness of vaccination guidelines

Guidelines for vaccination of cochlear implant (CI) recipients have been promulgated and updated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to mitigate bacterial meningitis risk. The objective of this study was to survey current CI specialists on: 1) knowledge of current CDC CI recipient immunization recommendations, and 2) impediments to implementation of those guidelines.

A survey to assess knowledge of the CI recipient vaccination guidelines was administered to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery (AAO-HNS), the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA), and the American Neurotology Society (ANS). The members of the AAO-HNS and ACIA were invited to participate in the survey via an e-mail. The members of the ANS were polled during a session of their fall meeting.

A total of 256 individuals participated: 64 from AAO, 59 from ACIA, and 133 from ANS. Participants reported knowledge of the vaccination guidelines as high among all groups and statistically similar. The survey indicated that the participants noted difficulty in obtaining age-group-specific immunizations. Vaccination status was not consistently reported.

Cochlear implant providers have high awareness of vaccination guidelines but less detailed knowledge of age-specific recommendations. Obtaining age-specific vaccines is a challenge, as is consistent documentation of vaccination. Future efforts should be focused on improving knowledge of age-specific recommendations, easing access of age-specific vaccines, and improving documentation.

NA. Laryngoscope, 128:2145-2152, 2018.