AI Article Synopsis
- Pneumococcal infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis, commonly affect toddlers, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, with healthy toddlers acting as primary carriers of the bacteria in their nasopharynx.* -
- There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines: the older polysaccharide vaccine, which offers limited immunity especially in children under two due to their immature immune systems, and a newer conjugate vaccine that effectively stimulates both T and B cell responses.* -
- The introduction of the conjugate vaccine has led to significant reductions in pneumococcal disease rates through "herd protection," benefiting both vaccinated children and the broader population while also helping lower rates of antibiotic resistance.*
Article Abstract
Pneumococcal infections (pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis, meningitis) are common and usually involve toddlers, immunocompromised and the elderly. Main reservoir of pneumococci is the nasopharyngeal zone of healthy carriers, especially of toddlers. Currently, two types of pneumococcal vaccines are in clinical use, which induce production of antibodies against capsular polysaccharides. The older vaccine consists of pure capsular polysaccharides. It induces a limited immunity, because polysaccharides are poor antigens that stimulate mainly B-cells. In children under two years of age this vaccine is not used, because it does not induce a sufficient immunologic response, presumably because of the immaturity of their immune system. In 2000, a vaccination program with a novel pneumococcal vaccine was launched in the USA. This vaccine contains capsular polysaccharides, that are conjugated with a highly immunogenic protein. It induces both a T cell and B cell response that results in specific humoral and mucosal immunity. U.S. data demonstrate, that serotypes covered by the conjugated vaccine can be reduced in the whole population by vaccination of children being the main reservoir of pneumococci. This so called ,,herd protection" results in a decrease in invasive pneumococcal diseases in vaccinees and non-vaccinees as well as in a reduction of antibiotic resistance rates by reducing resistant pneumococcal cones.
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