Enhancing Pneumococcal Vaccination Response

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, adding a toll-like receptor 9 agonist significantly increased the immunogenicity of 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine in HIV-infected patients.

The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease is up to 40-fold higher in persons with HIV infection than in those without such infection. Unfortunately, immunocompromised individuals are often hyporesponsive to pneumococcal and other vaccines. Might adding a stimulator of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), which activates B cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, increase immunogenicity of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (7vPnC) in such individuals?

To find out, researchers in Denmark and Canada (1 of whom is employed by Pfizer) conducted a randomized, double-blind study among adults with HIV infection. The 97 participants received double doses of 7vPnC at the start of the study and at 3 months. With each vaccine dose, they also rece…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Enhancing Pneumococcal Vaccination Response

Topics

Reviewing Author