Vacuna conjugada contra el neumococo. ¿es una prevención universal adecuada de la enfermedad neumocócica?

Abstract

Introduction: in primary care consultations we have to make recommendations on conjugate vaccines. Heptavalent vaccine exists since 2000, today we have 10-valent vaccine and soon 13-valent vaccine will be available. Method: bibliographic search in MEDLINE and revision of published papers about the evolution of the pneumococcal disease after the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Also, the Spanish Epidemiologic Bulletin is revised. The analysed information refers to invasive pneumococcal disease and cases of pneumococcal meningitis and parapneumonic pleural effusions. Conclusions: there are doubts on the vaccine being the adequate method to combat pneumococcal disease.