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Vaccinations Lessen Pneumonia Effects

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 18:00 CST

Scientists say adults who are given pneumococcal vaccine are at a lower risk of dying from pneumonia than those who haven't been vaccinated.

Pneumococci, or Streptococcus pneumoniae, are bacteria that colonize in one's nose and throat, often without causing harm. But when they do cause infection it can be serious.

Researchers from Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Jersey analyzed data from nearly 63,000 patients hospitalized for pneumonia between 1999 and 2003. Twelve percent of the patients had received pneumococcal vaccination prior to being hospitalized, 23 percent were unvaccinated, and the rest had unknown vaccine status.

Vaccinated patients were 40 percent to 70 percent less likely to die during hospitalization and also had a lower risk of developing respiratory failure, kidney failure, heart attack, or other ailments.

Adult pneumococcal vaccination is somewhat controversial, said lead author Dr. David Fisman of Princeton University, because it's been very hard to show it prevents pneumonia, especially in older adults.

However, he says the benefits of vaccination seem evident in the new study.

The research appears in the April 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

Source: United Press International

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