Breastfeeding enhances the antibody response to Hib and Pneumococcal serotype 6B and 14 after vaccination with conjugate vaccines.
BACKGROUND
This study was performed in order to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and the antibody response after vaccination with conjugate vaccines against Hib and pneumococcal diseases.


METHODS
This was an open non-randomised multi-centre study enrolling 101 healthy Swedish infants. PncCRM was administered concomitantly with DTaP/IPV/Hib at 3, 5, and 12 months at separate site. Duration of breastfeeding was calculated for days of almost exclusive as well as of total (any form of) breastfeeding.


RESULTS
At 13 months of age 6 out of 83 children did not reach 0.2mug/ml against serotype 6B, and five of these were breastfed less than 90 days (Fisher's Exact test, P=0.011). Four children did not reach 1mug/ml against Hib and all those were breastfed less than 90 days (Fisher's Exact test, P=0.008). One month after the second dose, at 6 months of age, children breastfed 90 days or more showed significantly higher GMC against serotype 14 (P=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that children exclusively breastfed 90 days or more might get a better serological protection against Hib, and the pneumococcal serotypes 6B and 14 after vaccination, compared to children less breastfed.
Silfverdal
S A
SA
Department of Paediatrics, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. sven-arne.silfverdal@orebroll.se
Ekholm
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L
Bodin
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L
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate