Ellsbury et al reported a score for estimating the risk of pneumococcal infection for a person traveling to a country. The authors are from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.
Patient selection: traveler
Parameters:
(1) risk level of patient if a pneumococcal infection contracted (based on definition in the UK Green Book; age > 65 years, diabetes, heart disease, other chronic disease, post-splenectomy)
(2) risk level for country to be visited
(3) length of stay and other factors associated with increased risk of transmission
Increased risk of transmission:
(1) length of stay > 3 weeks
(2) attending a mass gathering
(3) working with local communities
(4) traveling during the flu season
If the patient is not high risk for pneumococcal infection, then vaccination is not required.
If the patient was vaccinated within the past 12 months, then a second vaccination is not required.
|
Risk Level of Country
|
Risk of Transmission
|
Vaccination
|
|
low
|
NA
|
not required
|
|
intermediate
|
not high
|
not required
|
|
|
high
|
vaccinate
|
|
high
|
not high
|
not required
|
|
|
high
|
vaccinate
|
