Medical pediatric inpatients and outpatients are at risk of influenza and pneumococcal disease

Abstract

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for certain risk groups. All children admitted to the Children's wards or attending Children's Outpatients were studied for these risk factors. Risk factors for influenza were present in 78 (41%) of 193 admissions and 93 (27%) of 348 outpatients. Risk factors for pneumococcal infection were present in 22 (11.5%) admissions and 42 (12%) outpatients. Only 29 of these children had been given influenza (n = 19) or pneumococcal (n = 10) vaccines. Pediatricians could improve the coverage of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines by identifying children with risk factors in hospital discharge summaries and outpatient clinic letters. ©2009 Landes Bioscience.