Journal of Leukocyte Biology
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A more recent version of this article appeared on March 1, 2008

Published online before print December 10, 2007
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© by The Society for Leukocyte Biology
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, doi:10.1189/jlb.0607379

Received for publication June 9, 2007.
Revised October 4, 2007.
Accepted for publication October 5, 2007.

Article

A case for immunization against nosocomial infections

Alan S. Cross @, Wilbur H. Chen , and Myron M. Levine

Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

@ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: across{at}medicine.umaryland.edu.


  Abstract

Immunization is a highly effective public health measure that reduces the incidence of infectious diseases, yet there has been relatively little effort toward the development of vaccines for nosocomial infections. Many nosocomial infections originate on mucosal surfaces (e.g., respiratory or gastrointestinal mucosa). As patients who are hospitalized once are more likely to be hospitalized again, we propose a prime-boost immunization strategy, whereby a priming dose of vaccine for a nosocomial infection is administered mucosally. Upon readmission, a parenteral boost would elicit a rapid immune response locally and systemically. Such a strategy could reduce or ameliorate nosocomial infections and perhaps limit dissemination of nosocomial pathogens. Thus, a more aggressive effort to develop vaccines for nosocomial infections is warranted.

Key Words: mucosal • vaccine • prime-boost






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Copyright © 2007 by the Society for Leukocyte Biology.