title: Vaccines for Healthcare-associated Infections: Promise and Challenge.
abstract: As antibiotic resistance increases and the rate of antibiotic development slows, it is becoming more urgent to develop novel approaches to prevent and mitigate serious bacterial and fungal infections. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including those caused by Clostridium difficile, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida species, are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. HAIs are also a key driver of antibiotic use. Vaccines directed toward these pathogens could help prevent a large number of HAIs and associated antibiotic use if administered to targeted populations. Despite numerous scientific and operational challenges, there are vaccine candidates in late-stage clinical development for C. difficile, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa Basic, preclinical, and early clinical research to develop vaccines for other types of HAIs is also under way. In addition, other prophylactic immune interventions, such as monoclonal antibodies, for several of these pathogens are in advanced development. Here we describe the promise, challenges, and current pipeline of vaccines to prevent HAIs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Knisely
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Baoying
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ranallo
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Lanling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Staphylococcus aureus; antibiotic resistance; healthcare-associated infections; vaccines