title: Flu and pneumococcal immunisations in HIV-infected children: methodological quality of current recommendations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of guidelines, consensus statements and systematic reviews on flu and pneumococcal immunisations in HIV-infected children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors screened PubMed and Embase databases until the year 2009 for guidelines, consensus statements and systematic reviews on flu and pneumococcal immunisations in HIV-infected patients. The authors also explored relevant websites of agencies/institutions involved with HIV infection, immunisation or guidelines. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation instrument and the checklists of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network were used to evaluate the scientific quality of guidelines and systematic reviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen articles were identified. Only one guideline was of good overall quality. Generally the weakest domains were 'Applicability' and 'Editorial Independence.' Although of poor methodological quality, the main recommendations on flu and pneumococcus vaccinations were similar. There were minor differences in the type of pneumococcal vaccines in relation to patient's age, namely based on the settings in which recommendations were produced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although guidelines and systematic reviews on flu and pneumococcal vaccination in HIV-infected children came from authoritative institutions, their overall quality is poor, with the weakest fields being the methodological domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Vecchio
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giacomet
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbarino
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarino
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines