Effects of pneumococcal vaccination on tonsillo-pharyngitis and upper respiratory tract flora

The effect of a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine on upper respiratory tract infections and carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci was studied in a double-blind prospective study of 405 children 0.5-5 years of age. In the children under 2 years of age at vaccination, the cases of acute tonsillitis were more frequent among the vaccinees than among the controls (p less than 0.01). In contrast, among the children over 2 years of age at vaccination, fewer episodes of acute tonsillitis were reported among the vaccinees than among the controls (p less than 0.01). In the older age group, the total rate of upper respiratory tract infections was also significantly reduced. Similarly, an increase in asymptomatic carriage of group A streptococci was registered in children vaccinated at 2-5 years of age (p less than 0.01). Inversely, the carriership of group C streptococci diminished among the vaccinated children (p less than 0.05). Some possible mechanisms underlying these unexpected findings, including non-specific mitogenic features and cross-protection due to antigenic similarities, were explored.