Key points
- People with cochlear implants are more likely to get bacterial meningitis than people without cochlear implants.
- The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) causes most cases of bacterial meningitis in people with cochlear implants.
- Due to their increased risk, CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for people who have or are candidates for cochlear implants.
- Follow the recommended immunization schedule to ensure that your patients get the pneumococcal vaccines that they need.
Risk
People with cochlear implants are more likely to get bacterial meningitis than people without cochlear implants.
In addition, some people who are candidates for cochlear implants have anatomic factors that may increase their risk for meningitis. These factors include facial and cranial abnormalities, including of the temporal bone and cochlea.
Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations
Recommendations for the timing and type of pneumococcal vaccination vary with age and vaccination history.
Children
Children who have or are candidates for cochlear implants may need pneumococcal vaccination. It depends on their age and which pneumococcal vaccines they've already received.
Adults
Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for adults who have or are candidates for cochlear implants.
Other vaccines help protect against meningitis
There's no evidence people with cochlear implants are more likely than people without cochlear implants to get meningitis due to
However, Hib and meningococcal vaccines are routinely recommended based on age and other risk factors.
Resources
Treatment and prevention
Treatment and intervention for hearing loss
Meningococcal vaccine recommendations
Patient resource
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- Wilson-Clark SD, Squires S, Deeks S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bacterial meningitis among cochlear implant recipients–Canada, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006;55(Suppl 1):20.
- Cohen N, Ramos A, Ramsden R, et al. International consensus on meningitis and cochlear implants. Acta Otolaryngol. 2005;125:916.
- Cohen NL, Roland JT Jr, Marrinan M. Meningitis in cochlear implant recipients: the North American experience. Otol Neurotol. 2004;25(3):275–81.
- Nadol JB Jr Eddington DK. Histologic evaluation of the tissue seal and biologic response around cochlear implant electrodes in the human. Otol Neurotol. 2004;25(3):257–62.
- Reefhuis J, Honein M, Whitney C, et al. Risk of bacterial meningitis in children with cochlear implants. N Engl J Med. 2003:349;5:435–45.