Publication

The role of vaccines in preventing bacterial antimicrobial resistance

Authored by:

Jansen KU, Knirsch C, Anderson AS

Full Citation:

Jansen KU, Knirsch C, Anderson AS 2018. The role of vaccines in preventing bacterial antimicrobial resistance. Nature Medicine. 24.

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

The use of vaccines is a critical step in controlling the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Key Evidence: Shortly after its introduction of Hib vaccine in the United Kingdom, a decrease in resistant (ᵝ-lactamase-positive) strains were documented. In the U.S., following introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, including PCV13, there was a decrease in both antibiotic use and in the prevalence of pneumococcal strains not susceptible to antibiotics.

Use of vaccines decreases the need to use antibiotics to treat disease, thus reducing the opportunity for the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Key Evidence: Vaccines against influenza reduce the use of antibiotics that drive drug resistance in bacteria in two ways. First, they prevent secondary bacterial infections caused by influenza, such as pneumonia and otitis media; in Ontario, Canada, the rate of prescribing for influenza-associated antibiotics declined around 64% after universal introduction of influenza vaccination compared to other Canadian provinces with more limited use of the vaccine. Second, they help prevent inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections caused by influenza and other viruses, which account for half of all respiratory illnesses for which antibiotics are prescribed in the U.S.