Immunogenicity of a new Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (meningococcal protein conjugate) (PedvaxHIB)
Vella, P.P.; Staub, J.M.; Armstrong, J.; Dolan, K.T.; Rusk, C.M.; Szymanski, S.; Greer, W.E.; Marburg, S.; Kniskern, P.J.; Schofield, T.L.
Pediatrics 85(4 Part 2): 668-675
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 2107517 Document Number: 353562
Haemophilus influenzae type b is responsible for an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 cases of meningitis per year in the United States, mainly in children 2 months to 5 years old. The mortality rate from meningitis due to H influenzae type b infections ranges from 5% to 10%. Despite antibiotic treatment, up to 35% of survivors have permanent neurologic sequelae. In addition to meningitis, H. influenzae type b is responsible for other invasive infections, including epiglottitis, septicemia, cellulitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, pericarditis, and otitis media; approximately 30,000 cases H influenzae diseases occur annually in the United States. The diseases peak in incidence between 6 and 12 months of age, with almost one half of the cases occurring before 1 year of age. About 75% of disease caused by H influenzae type b occurs in children younger than 24 months old. The incidence of disease is higher in children of certain groups, including blacks, Hispanics, Eskimos and Native Americans, young children attending day-care facilities, patients with asplenia or antibody-deficiency syndromes, and children of lower socioeconomic status. There is considerable evidence that antibody to the capsular polysaccharide (polyribosylribitol-phosphate [PRP] of H influenzae type b is protective.