Bronchopulmonary Pathology Prevalence Among Premature infants and Estimation of Prophylactic Efficacy and Reactogenicity of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Premature infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Abstract

Background. The most frequent chronic lung pathology among infants and especially in premature children with extremely low and very low body weight is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The aim of the study is to study the prevalence of bronchopulmonary pathology among premature children and justify the need to vaccinate against pneumococcal disease premature children suffering from BPD. Methods. The official statistics (Form №32) and data from annual reports of the catamnesis department of “the Honourary order” Perm Regional Clinical Hospital were used in order to measure the number of premature children born alive in Perm region in 2015-2017 yy. The estimation of prophylactic efficacy and reactogenicity of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) at immunization of premature children with BPD. Results. The study group included vaccinated premature children with BPD (n=29), the experimental group included non-vaccinated premature children with BPD (n=29) and 30 vaccinated term children. Administration of PCV13 in premature children suffering from BPD has revealed its high prophylactic efficacy (no cases of community-acquired pneumonia among vaccinated children during the prospective study for 3 years), high tolerability (no cases of broncho-obstructive syndrome or negative effects on respiratory system such as apnoea or desaturation among vaccinated children). Low reactogenicity (17.2 ± 0.57%) and similar vaccine tolerance with term children (16.5 ± 0.55%) has been revealed as well. The combination of PCV13 with other vaccines from immunisation schedule did not increase the number of vaccine-induced diseases in comparison with administration of PCV13 alone. Conclusion. The scientific necessity of vaccination of premature children with BPD against pneumococcal disease has been proved. The high prophylactic efficacy and low reactogenicity of PCV13 in this children group at tertiary neonatological care (catamnesis department of perinatal center) has been established within the national immunisation schedule.