Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination administered early after neurotrauma or neurosurgery

• Objectives: Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended to lower the risk of posttraumatic meningitis, and early vaccination may be of importance. After both trauma and central nervous system injury, immune suppression may occur, which could affect T-cell function and the response to T-cell dependent vaccines. We therefore aimed to investigate the response to early vaccination with a T-cell independent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV). Methods: Thirty-three patients with basilar skull fracture and 23 patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary gland surgery were vaccinated with PPSV within 10 days after neurotrauma or neurosurgery. Twenty-nine neurosurgical patients vaccinated >= 3 weeks after neurotrauma or neurosurgery served as controls. Serotype-specific anti-polysaccharide binding IgG antibody levels to serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Results: The vaccination was safe and a highly significant antibody response was found against all serotypes in all groups (p < 0.001 for each of the serotypes). There were no differences between groups or in the group by time interaction in any of the serotypes. After early and late vaccination, protective levels were found in >80% for serotypes 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F and in 70% and 50% for serotypes 6B and 4, respectively. Conclusion: Patients vaccinated with PPSV within 10 days after neurotrauma or neurosurgery respond similarly to those vaccinated after >= 3 weeks, indicating that PPSV can be administered early after neurotrauma or neurosurgery.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Infektionsmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Infectious Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Neurotrauma

Neurosurgery

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)