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Pneumococcal Vaccination for Cochlear Implant Candidates and
Recipients: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices
In October 2002, CDC recommended that all persons with cochlear implants receive age-appropriate pneumococcal vaccination with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) (Prevnar®), 23-valent pneumococcal
polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23)
(Pneumovax®), or both according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
schedules for persons at high risk (1). CDC issued these recommendations on the basis of preliminary data suggesting an increased risk for pneumococcal meningitis in persons with cochlear implants. Findings of a recent investigation by CDC, the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health departments support this recommendation. Children aged <6 years with a cochlear implant had a substantially greater risk for having pneumococcal meningitis, compared with children in the general U.S. population of the same age (2). Some children who are candidates for cochlear implants have
pre-existing anatomic factors that might contribute to an increased risk for meningitis; however, the recent study was not designed to assess
this association (2).
Because the rate for pneumococcal meningitis is higher in children with cochlear implants and
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common pathogen causing bacterial meningitis in cochlear implant recipients of all ages with meningitis of known etiology (2,3), ACIP recommends the following for persons who have or are scheduled to receive a cochlear
implant (Table):
Children with cochlear implants aged <24 months should receive PCV7, as is universally recommended; children with
a lapse in vaccination should be vaccinated according to the catch-up schedule issued after the PCV7 shortage
resolved (4,5).
Children aged 24--59 months with cochlear implants who have not received PCV7 should be vaccinated according to
the high-risk schedule; children with a lapse in vaccination should be vaccinated according to the catch-up schedule
for persons at high risk issued after the PCV7 shortage resolved
(3,4). Children who have completed the PCV7 series
should receive PPV23 >2 months after vaccination with PCV7
(3).
Persons aged 5--64 years with cochlear implants should receive PPV23 according to the schedule used for persons with chronic illnesses; a single dose is indicated
(6).
Persons planning to receive a cochlear implant should be up-to-date on age-appropriate pneumococcal vaccination >2 weeks before surgery, if possible.
Health-care providers should review vaccination records of their patients who are cochlear implant recipients or
candidates to ensure that they have received pneumococcal vaccinations based on the age-appropriate schedules for persons at high risk. In addition, all cases of meningitis should be reported to state health departments according to state requirements. Because information about Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotypes causing pneumococcal meningitis in persons with cochlear implants
is limited, providers are encouraged to send isolates to their state health department, which can forward isolates to CDC,
where serotyping can be performed to determine whether the type is included in the vaccines.
To send an isolate, contact CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, telephone 404-639-2215. Providers also
are encouraged to report cases of meningitis in cochlear implant recipients to FDA's MedWatch. Reports can be submitted online at
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch; by telephone, 800-332-1088; by fax, 800-332-0178; or by
mail, MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, HF-2, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Cases also can be
reported directly to the device manufacturer.
Reefhuis J, Honein MA, Whitney CG, et al. Risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cochlear implants, USA 1997--2002. N Engl J
Med 2003;349:433--43.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Public health web notification: cochlear implant recipients may be at greater risk for meningitis. Available
at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/cochlear.html.
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