[Is an active immunization against pseudomonas aeruginosa in burns justifiable?]

The critical evaluation of active immunisation against infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in severely burned patients was carried out. Two group,s were tested: 1. 120 burned patients vaccinated, 2. 68 persons as control group vaccinated. In the healthy control group, the vaccination resulted in an almost linear rise of the antibody titer. In contrast thereto, vaccination in patients resulted initially in a raised titer which was followed in the 3rd and 4th week by a sharp fall. Due to the fact that an infected burn wound can also be considered as a vaccination, we examined the antibody titer in a 2nd group of patients which were not vaccinated. Similarly after a short rise there was a definite lowering in the 3rd and 4th week. The research included a total of 239 persons. In order to obtain a polyvalent vaccine, we carried out an epidemiological study involving serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa over a period of several years.