Otitis media (middle ear infection) is a common childhood infection caused by the bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. These disease-causing bacteria also cause lower respiratory tract infections. Otitis media accounts for over 20 million pediatrician visits yearly. Now research reports that an experimental vaccine may help prevent middle ear infection in children under two years of age.
The study, published in The Lancet, investigated the effectiveness of an experimental vaccine containing proteins derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in young children. Researchers at the University of Defence in the Czech Republic, administered either the experimental vaccine or hepatitis A vaccine (the control group) to 4968 infants, ages 3 to 15 months. The experimental vaccine contained 11 different strains of S. pneumoniae attached to H. influenzae-derived protein D. The children were followed up through the age of 2. Researchers obtained middle-ear fluid for bacteriological culture and serotyping from infants who had symptoms of middle ear infection.
The researchers found that there were 333 cases of ear infection in the experimental vaccine group and 499 in the control group. This showed a significant reduction in the overall incidence of otitis media. The findings also revealed that the experimental vaccine protected against middle ear infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae
"These results confirm that using the H influenzae-derived protein D as a carrier protein for pneumococcal polysaccharides not only allowed protection against pneumococcal otitis, but also against acute otitis media due to non-typable H influenzae," the study authors conclude. "Whether this approach would also allow improved protection against lower respiratory tract infections warrants further investigation."
REFERENCES:
1. Prymula R et al. Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides conjugated to protein D for prevention of acute otitis media caused by both Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae: a randomised double-blind efficacy study. Lancet 2006 Mar 4;367(9512):740-8.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on November 24, 2006 02:56 PM
