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Pneumococcal Vaccine Yields Fewer Mastoiditis Cases

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol; 2018 Jan; Cavel, et al

Since the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), the incidence of acute mastoiditis has significantly decreased, according to a recent Israeli study in children.

  • A retrospective analysis looked at all pediatric patients who developed acute mastoiditis in 1 tertiary medical center.
  • The analysis compared the incidence and severity of the disorder before the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine, and after the introduction of both PCV7 and PCV13.
  • 216 children were identified with acute mastoiditis with a mean age of 2.6 years.
  • When pre-PCV acute mastoiditis cases were compared to post-PCV-13 cases presenting at the ED, investigators found a decline of 46%.
  • A comparison of post-PCV7 and post PCV13 cases of mastoiditis did not reveal any significant differences.
  • There were no differences in acute mastoiditis complications in pre- and post-vaccine periods, nor any changes in the number of mastoidectomies.
Citation:

Cavel O, Tauman R, Simsolo E, et al. Changes in the epidemiology and clinical features of acute mastoiditis following the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;104: 54-57. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.10.025.