The full text of Original Articles is available to subscribers only after logging on . However, you can order the complete article. Efficacy of a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine against Acute Otitis Media Juhani Eskola, Terhi Kilpi, Arto Palmu, Jukka Jokinen, Mervi Eerola, Jaason Haapakoski, Elja Herva, Aino Takala, Helena Kayhty, Pekka Karma, Robert Kohberger, Stephen Lockhart, George Siber, P. Helena Makela, for the Finnish Otitis Media Study Group Abstract Background.
Ear infections are a common cause of illness during the first two years of life.
New conjugate vaccines may be able to prevent a substantial portion of cases of acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The clinical diagnosis of acute otitis media was based on predefined criteria, and the bacteriologic diagnosis was based on a culture of middle-ear fluid obtained by myringotomy. Of the children who were enrolled, 95.1 percent completed the trial. There were 2596 episodes of acute otitis media during the follow-up period between 6.5 and 24 months of age. The number of episodes attributed to serotypes that are cross-reactive with those in the vaccine was reduced by 51 percent, whereas the number of episodes due to all other serotypes increased by 33 percent.