
The recent events of the SARS-COVID-19 pandemic have taught us and continue to teach us the importance of adhering to general prevention measures against infections, especially in vulnerable groups.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a clear increase in the incidence of infections compared to the general population.
These infections can be either bacterial or viral and are the second leading cause of death in this population. However, control and reduction of a large percentage of the above infections can be achieved by implementing vaccination and prevention measures.
Regarding vaccinations of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, vaccines with inactivated viruses are administered. More specifically, the vaccines that are recommended are the following:
- Pneumococcal or streptococcal pneumonia.
It is a Gram (+) positive granule that can make a variety of clinical manifestations with a wide range of severity from simple sinusitis to aggressive meningitis.
Vaccination against pneumococcus in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease provides protection of up to 80%.
An initial dose of the protein-conjugated PCV 13 vaccine is given to increase immunogenicity. It is then administered after 4-8 weeks of unpaired polysaccharide PCV 23. A repeat dose of PCV 23 is given every five years.
- Influenza: Thisis a virusthat belongs to the orthoxomyxoviridae family and is represented by 3 types-genera A,B and C that cause highly contagious respiratory infection with high mortality in extreme ages older than 65 years and less than one year.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be vaccinated with a single dose before the onset of seasonal flu as the second dose does not appear to be of particular benefit.