IMMUNIZATION OF NONCOLONIZED CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS AGAINST PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

The long-term safety and immunogenicity of a polyvalent Pseudomonas ae ruginosa conjugate vaccine was evaluated in 30 noncolonized cystic fib rosis patients. Four doses were administered over 3 years, and patient s were followed for a mean of 38 months. No acute or long-term adverse effects were noted. Immunization engendered a significant antibody re sponse to all vaccine components. A decline in titers during year 3 of observation was associated with a marked rise in the isolation of P. aeruginosa. This organism was isolated repeatedly from the respiratory tract of 4 patients and only once from 7 patients. The remaining pati ents were repeatedly culture-negative. Only 1 patient showed clinical deterioration associated with multiple isolations of P. aeruginosa.