title: Pneumococcal vaccination of HIV-infected individuals: safety and efficacy.
abstract: The finding of an increased risk of HIV-infected individuals for contracting pneumococcal diseases has led to the recommendation of antipneumococcal vaccination of HIV-infected individuals. However, due to reports of increased viral replication following immune stimulation, the vaccination policy has been called into question. The literature on changes in viral load and CD4 T cells following vaccination and the studies on the clinical efficacy of antipneumococcal vaccination is evaluated. It is concluded that the prevailing data do not lend support to the concern of a lasting effect of vaccination on viral load. Data on the clinical efficacy and serological responses of vaccination are too scanty to support the recommendation of antipneumococcal vaccination to HIV-infected individuals. In addition to the issue of clinical efficacy; many question remain to be addressed; for example, the protective antibody level, optimal timing and vaccination regimen are yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Katzenstein
mesh_terms: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines