Pneumococcal Carriage and Vaccine Coverage in Retirement Community Residents. Issue 10 (12th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Becker‐Dreps, Sylvia; Kistler, Christine E.; Ward, Kimberly; Killeya‐Jones, Ley A.; Better, Olga Maria; Weber, David J.; Zimmerman, Sheryl; Nicholson, Bradly P.; Woods, Chris W.; Sloane, Philip
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 63:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2094
• Page End: 2098
• Publication Date: 2015-10-12
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs13651-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To evaluate pneumococcal immunization in older adults living in retirement communities and to measure nasopharyngeal carriage of <italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</italic> to better assess the potential for herd protection from the 13‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV‐13) in these settings.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional observational study of adults aged 65 and older living in retirement communities to determine coverage with 23‐valent pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV‐23), coverage with PCV‐13 in immuncompromised individuals according to 2012 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines, and nasopharyngeal carriage of <italic>S. pneumoniae</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Two retirement communities in North Carolina.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>Older adults recruited between December 2013 and April 2014 (N = 21, 64.8% female, mean age 81.4).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>A survey was used to assess chronic illnesses, immunization history, and potential risk factors for pneumococcal carriage; a chart review was used to confirm immunization history and abstract chronic conditions; and a nasopharyngeal swab was collected and cultured for <italic>S. pneumoniae</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Eighty‐seven percent of participants reported receiving PPSV‐23 since age 65. Of the 16.2% of participants with an immunocompromising condition, only one had received PCV‐13. Nasopharyngeal carriage with <italic>S. pneumoniae</italic> was detected in 1.9% (95% confidence interval = 0.0–3.8%) of participants.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13651-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>In this select sample, PPSV‐23 coverage was high, but adherence to the ACIP recommendation for PCV‐13 in immunocompromised groups was low. Nasopharyngeal carriage of <italic>S. pneumoniae</italic> was present, although infrequent, suggesting that immunization with PCV‐13 could provide an individual benefit and a small degree of herd protection.</p> </sec> </abstract>