Patients with cirrhosis are immunocompromised and have an increased risk of infection, with a worse outcome. Some of those infections may be prevented by vaccination. Immunization can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cirrhosis. Immunizations against hepatitis A and B viruses, influenza and pneumococcus are recommended by the French Haute Autorité de Santé since 2007. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended in non-immunized cirrhotic patients. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended in every cirrhotic patient with no serological markers, and post-vaccinal antibodies titer should be checked. Annual influenza immunization can be done in cirrhotic patients, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination should be repeated after 5 years. Few data regarding vaccination coverage are available, but studies suggest that immunization rates are too low in this population.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lpm.2008.11.015 | DOI Listing |
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