C. Cornu et al., Efficacy of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in immunocompetent adults:a meta-analysis of randomized trials, VACCINE, 19(32), 2001, pp. 4780-4790
The use of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is low in some countri
es, maybe because of doubts regarding its efficacy. This meta-analysis aims
at combining evidence from randomized trials of PPV assessing its efficacy
in preventing Streptococcus pneumoniae related diseases in immunocompetent
adults. In the fourteen trials totalling 48,837 patients retrieved, PPV pr
events definite pneumococcal pneumonia by 71%, presumptive pneumococcal pne
umonia by 40%, and mortality due to pneumonia by 32%, but not all-cause pne
umonia or death. No preventive effect was seen in the subgroup of patients
aged 55 years or more, possibly due to a lack of statistical power. (C) 200
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