Because Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are common in the community, there is no effective way to reduce exposure to these bacteria. However, evidence that adverse clinical outcomes are associated with this transient increase is lacking.
Most experts believe that the benefit of pneumococcal vaccination outweighs the potential risk.
The duration of the protective effect afforded by primary pneumococcal vaccination is unknown. The incidence of H. influenzae type B infection in adults is low. Similarly, clarithromycin administered daily and azithromycin administered weekly are effective in preventing bacterial respiratory infections. However, preliminary data suggest that G-CSF can provide benefit for selected patients. However, providers should be cautious about use of antibiotics for this purpose because of the potential for development of drug-resistant microorganisms.