[Assessment of the effectiveness of an intervention to improve immunization coverage in splenectomy patients]

Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2019 Apr 22:93:e201904019.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Objective: Splenectomized patients have an increased risk of sepsis caused by encapsulated bacteria. Pneumococcal, meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae B vaccination is recommended in this group. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the introduction of an immunization hospital clinic on their immunization coverages.

Methods: Quasi-experimental study. The control group included patients splenectomized between January 2012-April 2014, and the intervention group included patients splenectomized between May 2014-December 2016. The global and specific immunization coverages were compared between both groups using a Chi-square test.

Results: 80 patients were analyzed. The most commonly administered vaccine was the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (65.0%). A significant improvement was observed both in the global immunization rate (17.1% in the pre-intervention study vs. 57.8% in the post-intervention study) (RR: 3.37; 95% CI: 1.56-7.27) and in the specific immunization rate for the Haemophilus influenzae B, meningococcal C and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Conclusions: Introducing an immunization hospital clinic is an effective measure to improve the immunization coverage of splenectomy patients.

Objetivo: Los pacientes esplenectomizados presentan riesgo elevado de sepsis por bacterias encapsuladas, motivo por el que se recomienda vacunarles frente a neumococo, meningococo y Haemophilus infl uenzae B. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue evaluar el impacto de implementar una consulta hospitalaria de vacunas en sus coberturas de vacunación.

Metodos: Estudio cuasiexperimental. Constituyeron el grupo control los esplenectomizados entre enero 2012-abril 2014, y el grupo intervención los operados entre mayo 2014-diciembre 2016. Se compararon las coberturas vacunales global y específica para cada vacuna según grupo utilizando la prueba chi-cuadrado.

Resultados: Se analizaron 80 pacientes. La vacuna más administrada fue la antineumocócica polisacárida 23-valente (65,0%). Hubo una mejora significativa en la tasa de vacunación global (17,1% en el periodo preintervención versus 57,8% en el postintervención) (RR=3,37; IC95%:1,56-7,27) así como específicamente para las vacunas frente a Haemophilus influenzae de tipo B, antimeningocócica C y antineumocócica conjugada 13-valente.

Conclusiones: Implementar una consulta hospitalaria de vacunas representa una medida efectiva para mejorar las coberturas vacunales de estos pacientes.

Keywords: Malnutrition; Outpatient clinics; Preventive medicine; Risk Groups; Spain; Splenectomy; Vaccination Coverage.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs* / organization & administration
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Postoperative Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Spain
  • Splenectomy*
  • Vaccination Coverage / statistics & numerical data*