tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Joint Bone Spine. 2010 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print]
The uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination among immunocompromised patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics.
Haroon M, Adeeb F, Eltahir A, Harney S.
Department of Rheumatology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Abstract
PURPOSE AND
OBJECTIVES: The patients using immunosuppressive agents are considered at high risk for acquiring different infections. Accordingly, international guidelines recommend vaccinating such patients against influenza and pneumococcal organisms. The aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to assess the influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake among our rheumatology outpatients who are immunosuppressed; (2) to identify the factors influencing immunisation uptake among our sample of patients.
METHODS: This was a questionnaire-based study. Patients were eligible to partake in this study if they were using immunosuppressive drugs. During the study period (4weeks), 337 patients were screened, and 110 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion.
RESULTS: Positive vaccination uptake of our cohort was as follows: common influenza alone (34%, 37 out of 110), pneumonia alone (11%, 12 out of 110), and both pneumococcal and influenza vaccination (11%). The status of influenza A (H1N1) vaccination was not recorded as a part of this audit. The two most common reasons cited by patients for non-uptake of vaccinations were: 'not offered' and 'thought it was unnecessary'. Of 37 patients who had influenza vaccination, 33 patients (89%) had additional risk factors, and there were only four patients who had influenza vaccine solely because they were taking immunosuppressive drugs. All pneumococcal vaccinated patients (n=12) were noted to have additional risk factors.
CONCLUSION: There is suboptimal uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations among immunosuppressed patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics. These results are a cause of concern given the morbidity and mortality of associated infections.
Copyright ? 2010 Soci?t? fran?aise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21169045 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21169045
The uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination among immunocompromised patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics.
Haroon M, Adeeb F, Eltahir A, Harney S.
Department of Rheumatology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
Abstract
PURPOSE AND
OBJECTIVES: The patients using immunosuppressive agents are considered at high risk for acquiring different infections. Accordingly, international guidelines recommend vaccinating such patients against influenza and pneumococcal organisms. The aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to assess the influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake among our rheumatology outpatients who are immunosuppressed; (2) to identify the factors influencing immunisation uptake among our sample of patients.
METHODS: This was a questionnaire-based study. Patients were eligible to partake in this study if they were using immunosuppressive drugs. During the study period (4weeks), 337 patients were screened, and 110 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion.
RESULTS: Positive vaccination uptake of our cohort was as follows: common influenza alone (34%, 37 out of 110), pneumonia alone (11%, 12 out of 110), and both pneumococcal and influenza vaccination (11%). The status of influenza A (H1N1) vaccination was not recorded as a part of this audit. The two most common reasons cited by patients for non-uptake of vaccinations were: 'not offered' and 'thought it was unnecessary'. Of 37 patients who had influenza vaccination, 33 patients (89%) had additional risk factors, and there were only four patients who had influenza vaccine solely because they were taking immunosuppressive drugs. All pneumococcal vaccinated patients (n=12) were noted to have additional risk factors.
CONCLUSION: There is suboptimal uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations among immunosuppressed patients attending rheumatology outpatient clinics. These results are a cause of concern given the morbidity and mortality of associated infections.
Copyright ? 2010 Soci?t? fran?aise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21169045 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21169045