Administer PCV13, PPSV23 to protect against pneumococcal disease

HealthDay News — A revised recommendation for routine pneumococcal vaccination in older patients has been published in the Center for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

After reviewing current evidence for use of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in adults, Sara Tomczyk, MSc, of the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues revised the pneumococcal vaccination guidelines for patients aged 65 years and older.

Results of a recent randomized placebo-controlled trial showed a moderate level of evidence for the efficacy of PCV13 in preventing community-acquired pneumonia in adults aged 65 years and older.

“Approximately, 20% to 25% of invasive pneumococcal disease cases and 10% of community-acquired pneumonia cases in adults aged ≥65 years are caused by PCV13 serotypes and are potentially preventable with the use of PCV13 in this population,” wrote the investigators.

In 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) approved recommendations that all individuals should be vaccinated with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at age 65 years.

The revised recommendations are that both PCV13 and PPSV23 be routinely administered in series to all patients aged 65 years and older. If vaccine-naive, or have an unknown vaccination history, PCV13 should be administered first, and PPSV23 should be administered six to12 months later. Patients who have already received PPSV23 should receive PCV13 at least one year following the most recent dose of PPSV23.

ACIP recommendations for routine use of PCV13 in adults, aged 19 years or older, who have immunocompromising conditions, functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or cochlear implants, remain unchanged.