Influenza vaccine in the elderly and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Influenza viruses are RNA viruses that are a major determinant of morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory disease. Influenza is highly contagious and has caused epidemics and pandemics for centuries. Most influenza infections are self- limited, but lower respiratory tract and cardiac complications can result in increases in hospitalizations and deaths. The recommended composition of influenza vaccine is updated annually in order to provide a vaccine that is antigenically well matched with the new influenza virus strains that are expected to cause epidemics. Influenza vaccination significantly reduces mortality; however, approximately one third of elderly Americans are not immunized annually. The nation's goal is to increase the influenza vaccination rate among the elderly to 90%. Vaccination is the most effective measure for reducing the impact of influenza and is a cost-effective preventive health intervention for the elderly and individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Effects of annual influenza vaccination on winter mortality in elderly people with chronic pulmonary disease

“…The efficacy of influenza vaccination and the estimated impact of annual influenza epidemics on morbid mortality have been the basis for implementing influenza vaccination programmes for elderly and high-risk individuals (1)(2)(3)(4). However, the effectiveness of vaccination has been reported to decrease in older age groups and high-risk persons (20,21), and the magnitude of the clinical effectiveness of annual vaccination campaigns is controversial (22,23).…”

“…Annual influenza vaccination is generally considered a cost-effective preventative health intervention for elderly and COPD patients (1,8,9), but estimates of vaccine effectiveness are based largely on evidence from observational studies with very few randomised controlled trials focused on COPD patients (10).…”

“…Influenza viruses are a major determinant of morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory disease. The incidence of flu is higher in children and younger adults than in older individuals, but influenza-associated morbidity and mortality increase with age, especially for individuals with underlying medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1).…”

Successful thoracoscopic treatment of severe bilateral empyema in an infant

“…1,2 Once bacterial pneumonia extends to subpleural regions and penetrates the anatomical barrier of the pleura, patients may suffer from severe infection of pleural empyemas. Grewal and colleagues reported that all 25 children undergoing VATS for pyothorax had loculated parapneumonic fl uid collections.…”

“…1 Subsequently, the columnar epithelium in the respiratory tract loses ciliary movement function, resulting in susceptibility to respiratory infections by microorganisms. Abramson et al reported that viral infl uenza infection increases the risk of secondary infections due to dysfunction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.…”