Prevention of Pneumococcal Infection in Children with Chronic Diseases of the Nasopharynx Reduces the Incidence of Other Respiratory Tract Infections: Results of a Comparative Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: A promising approach to solving the problem of widespread infections of the respiratory tract in children is the use ofspecific prophylaxis against the pneumococcus.Objective: Our aim was to examine the clinical efficacy of PCV13 of children with chronic foci of infection in the nasopharynx and the changes of local factors of protection of the upper respiratory tract.Methods: We have evaluated the incidence of respiratory tract and ENT infections in children with chronic diseases of the nasopharynx. Research period: January 2011 — January 2015. Upper airway function examination included cytologic analysis — counting the main cell populations ratio in the common cytoplasm, lysozym activity and secretory immunoglobulin of class A (sIgA) in nasal secretions.Results: The study involved 876 children 2–5 years old. Main group (PCV13) amounted to 448 patients, and the control group (unvaccinated) 428. Annual dynamic observation showed a significant reduction of acute morbidity by 2 times (p < 0.001), pneumonia by 2.4 times (p = 0.042), acute bronchitis by 2.5 times (p = 0.008), concomitant ENT pathology (acute otitis media and acute exacerbations of chronic sinusitis) by 2.2 times (p = 0.001) and 2.3 times (p = 0.004), respectively. There was a positive effect of vaccination on the level of local factors of protection of the upper respiratory tract (lysozyme, sIgA, the somatic cell count in nasal secretions).Conclusion: PCV13 vaccination reduces the risk of developing acute respiratory infections and ENT infections in children with chronic diseases of the nasopharynx. This is against the background of recovery in the levels of factors of local immunity.

Keywords

• chronic diseases of the nasopharynx
• vaccination
• pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• local immunity
• child of pre-school age