Preliminary Evaluation Of Use Pattern Of Pneumococcal Vaccine In A Developing Country: A Study Of 24 Cases In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Nepal

Abstract

Background: Respiratory diseases are a common problem in Nepal. Pneumococcal infections are a common cause of respiratory infection in Nepal and worldwide. The data regarding the use of pneumococcal vaccine is lacking in Nepal. Objectives: The present study was conducted to collect the demographic details of the patients receiving pneumococcal vaccine, to identify the basis for vaccination of the patients and to study the use pattern of the vaccine in the hospital. Methods: The patient files of all the patients who were prescribed with pneumococcal vaccine during the period from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2006 were obtained from the medical records department and the necessary details were collected as per the study objectives. Results: Altogether 24 patients received the vaccination. The mean ± SD age of the patients was 60.54 ± 20.06 years. Seventeen (47.22%) of the patients were suffering from COPD. It was found that 10 (41.67%) patients had diseases since the last 5 years. Three patients were on oral corticosteroids (prednisolone) at the time of administration of the vaccine. Conclusion: The study identified the pattern of use of the pneumococcal vaccine in a Nepalese hospital. Though the number of patients receiving the vaccine was low, there is a potential scope for improving the vaccination program. Studies covering a larger population are needed to extrapolate our findings.