Researchers Close In on Ear Infection Vaccine - Page 3 of 3

Dr. Wei predicted that contraindications for the vaccine will likely be similar to those for use of Prevnar and other conjugate vaccinations. She cited immunocompromised patients as the primary example: Patients who are immune-compromised may have a reduced antibody response, and depending on how the vaccine is made, there may be potential toxicity for an immunocompromised patient that would not affect a healthy individual.

The NIDCD reports that scientists are also working on a vaccine for the third primary bacterial cause of otitis media, M. catarrhalis, in the hope of one day developing a single vaccine that will reduce the incidence of otitis media caused by S. pneumoniae, NTHi, and M. catarrhalis.

Dr. Wei commented that immunizing children against these bacterial strains may cause a synergistic benefit by having protection against common pathogens causing ear infections, but she cautioned, Vaccinations cannot obliterate all infections, since we know that acute otitis media is likely in early childhood due to poor eustachian tube function, and the pathogens isolated from middle ear effusion simply mirror the most common colonizing pathogens in the nasal cavities and nasopharynx of young children. Since it is not possible to eradicate colonizing bacterial pathogens normally found in all healthy individuals, there is always the possibility of infection.