PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and influenza virus vaccines have the potential to reduce the risk of acute otitis media. Several recent studies have evaluated the impact of each of these vaccines on the incidence of acute otitis media. RECENT FINDINGS: In controlled studies, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has resulted in a reduction in the incidence of acute otitis media of approximately 6%. Inactivated influenza vaccine does not appear to reduce the incidence of acute otitis media in children 6-24 months of age, but a few studies, each with design or methodological limitations, suggest that it may reduce the incidence among older children. One study reported that the live-attenuated, cold-adapted trivalent influenza vaccine reduced the incidence of febrile otitis media by 30%. Additional studies are needed to clarify the value of influenza vaccines to prevent acute otitis media. SUMMARY: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the influenza vaccines may have a limited beneficial impact on the incidence of acute otitis media. Nevertheless, at this time, these vaccines should be promoted because of their primary benefits, which are reduced serious pulmonary and invasive infections, and not because they may reduce the incidence of acute otitis media.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and influenza virus vaccines have the potential to reduce the risk of acute otitis media. Several recent studies have evaluated the impact of each of these vaccines on the incidence of acute otitis media. RECENT FINDINGS: In controlled studies, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has resulted in a reduction in the incidence of acute otitis media of approximately 6%. Inactivated influenza vaccine does not appear to reduce the incidence of acute otitis media in children 6-24 months of age, but a few studies, each with design or methodological limitations, suggest that it may reduce the incidence among older children. One study reported that the live-attenuated, cold-adapted trivalent influenza vaccine reduced the incidence of febrile otitis media by 30%. Additional studies are needed to clarify the value of influenza vaccines to prevent acute otitis media. SUMMARY: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the influenza vaccines may have a limited beneficial impact on the incidence of acute otitis media. Nevertheless, at this time, these vaccines should be promoted because of their primary benefits, which are reduced serious pulmonary and invasive infections, and not because they may reduce the incidence of acute otitis media.
Authors: Kirsty R Short; Dimitri A Diavatopoulos; Ruth Thornton; John Pedersen; Richard A Strugnell; Andrew K Wise; Patrick C Reading; Odilia L Wijburg Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2011-09-19 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Christianne L Roumie; Natasha B Halasa; Carlos G Grijalva; Kathryn M Edwards; Yuwei Zhu; Robert S Dittus; Marie R Griffin Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 5.128