title: Missed opportunities in vaccination of patients with subsequent pneumococcal bacteraemia.
abstract: A 10-year survey was undertaken to determine whether patients who developed pneumococcal bacteraemia had previously been given pneumococcal vaccine, and whether they had previously had the opportunity of being vaccinated. Fifty-two per cent of the patients were candidates for vaccine. Of these, only 14% had been vaccinated. In the preceding five years, 97% of non-vaccinated patients had the opportunity of being assessed for, and administered, vaccine. Guidelines for the use of pneumococcal vaccine are not being followed, despite opportunities to do so.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 IJG. Nigel.Weightman@stees.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Nigel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Weightman
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines