Vaccinations in pneumology: Pneumococci, influenza, and BCG

This article provides an overview regarding practical issues of three relevant vaccinations in pneumology: pneumococcal, influenza, and BCG vaccination. Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae are responsible for 2 million deaths per year worldwide. The current German vaccination guidelines (STIKO) recognize patients with respiratory diseases as an important target group for pneumococcal vaccination. These include - Among others - Patients with asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. Respiratory physicians should be especially aware of considering vaccination of patients facing immunosuppressive treatment. Influenza virus infections appear in Germany mainly between January and March. The main preventive measure against influenza is vaccination. Bacille Calmette-Guérin is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. BCG vaccination generally provides protection of 80% or more against meningeal and miliary tuberculosis if given before acquisition of infection with M. tuberculosis. The protective efficacy is considerably smaller against other forms of tuberculosis; it is highest in infants and generally decreases with increasing age. It rarely protects against pulmonary tuberculosis in the adult. Where indicated, BCG should be given at birth or as early in life as possible. In Germany BCG vaccination is not recommended. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2006.