Determinants of vaccine immunity in the cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children living in Switzerland.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children are at increased risk of infections caused by vaccine preventable pathogens, and specific immunization recommendations have been issued.


METHODS
A prospective national multicenter study assessed how these recommendations are followed in Switzerland and how immunization history correlates with vaccine immunity.


RESULTS
Among 87 HIV-infected children (mean age: 11.1 years) followed in the 5 Swiss university hospitals and 1 regional hospital, most (76%) had CD4 T cells >25%, were receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (79%) and had undetectable viral load (60%). Immunization coverage was lower than in the general population and many lacked serum antibodies to vaccine-preventable pathogens, including measles (54%), varicella (39%), and hepatitis B (65%). The presence of vaccine antibodies correlated most significantly with having an up-to-date immunization history (P<0.05). An up-to-date immunization history was not related to age, immunologic stage, or viremia but to the referral medical center.


CONCLUSIONS
All pediatricians in charge of HIV-infected children are urged to identify missing immunizations in this high-risk population.
Myers
Catherine
C
Department of Pediatrics, Geneva Medical School and University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
Posfay-Barbe
Klara M
KM
Aebi
Christoph
C
Cheseaux
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Kind
Christian
C
Rudin
Christoph
C
Nadal
David
D
Siegrist
Claire-Anne
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014612:Vaccines