Is pneumococcal vaccine effective in nursing home patients?

Abstract

Evidence from clinical trials supports the use of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for prevention of pneumonia in nursing home patients (strength of recommendation: B, based on randomized, nonblinded clinical trials). Case-control studies have consistently shown the efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease and bacteremia for patients with chronic medical illnesses and the elderly, patients typically found in nursing home populations (SOR: B, based on consistent case-control studies).