Otitis media: prospects for prevention.
Alternatives to vaccination for preventing the considerable morbidity of otitis media (OM) are limited. Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Streptococcus pneumoniae together account for approximately 80% of OM cases worldwide, so vaccines against these most serious pathogens should materially reduce the burden of OM. Early trial data for a vaccine prototype including NTHi and 11 pneumococcal serotypes, interpreted carefully in relation to other trials, suggest that OM can now be considered a vaccine-preventable disease. Despite differences of scenario according to healthcare and bacteriology circumstances of different countries, a provisional analysis of health-economic precedents and policy considerations favours vaccination.
Haggard
Mark
M
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. mph38@cam.ac.uk
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines