Interchangeability of conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines in infants

Article Abstract:

Infants vaccinated with a combination of two conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines appear to be more effectively protected against the disease than when the vaccines are used separately. A total of 242 two-month-old infants were randomly assigned to one of five vaccination schedules. Infants in two of the groups received either polysaccharide polyribosyl-ribitol phosphate conjugated to the meningococcal outer membrane protein (PRP-OMP) or a vaccine derived from Corynebacterium diphtheriae (HbOC). Infants in a third group received PRP-OMP on an alternative schedule while infants in the fourth and fifth groups received a combination of the two vaccines. At the end of the vaccination series blood tests were done to determine the infants' immunity to the disease. Infants who received a combination of PRP-OMP and HbOC had significantly higher markers of disease immunity than the infants who received only one type of vaccine. Side effects were minimal and were similar between the groups.

Standards, Evaluation, Children, Vaccination of children, Vaccination, Hib vaccines

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Pertussis infection in adults with persistent cough

Article Abstract:

Some adults who have persistent coughs may be suffering from pertussis infection. Pertussis infection or whooping cough is a respiratory disease that most often occurs in children. Patients have severe coughing attacks that end with a whooping sound on inspiration. Researchers took blood samples and nasopharyngeal swabs from 75 adults who had coughing symptoms for at least two weeks. All nasopharyngeal cultures were negative for the Bordetella pertussis bacterium that causes pertussis infection. Blood samples from 16 patients revealed evidence of pertussis infection. The average concentration of antibody to pertussis toxin was more than 14 times higher in patients with pertussis infection than in the other patients. Patients' demographic characteristics, white blood cell counts, and clinical sign and symptoms did not assist in separating those with pertussis infection from those without the infection.

Diagnosis, Causes of, Cough

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Adult immunization with acellular pertussis vaccine

Article Abstract:

Many adults might benefit from a booster diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) shot using the new acellular pertussis vaccines. These vaccines do not contain the entire bacterial cell and consequently have fewer side effects. Of 118 healthy adult volunteers, 30 were vaccinated against diphtheria-tetanus only and the rest received varying strengths of acellular pertussis vaccine in addition to diphtheria-tetanus. Blood samples were tested for antibodies to the pertussis bacterium before, one month after and one year after vaccination. All individuals who received the acellular pertussis vaccine had elevated antibody levels against the bacterium. This was still true one year later, although the levels had dropped 50%. None of the individuals experienced any severe reaction. Adults can contract pertussis (whooping cough) and may also transmit it to susceptible children.

Usage, Prevention, DPT vaccine, Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines

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