Acute respiratory infections (ARI), particularly pneumonia, are the major cause of mortality in children under 5 years of age in developing countries. Bacteria cause the majority of pneumonia cases, and probably more than half of these cases are due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. A control program, which promotes the early diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia with antibiotics in young children, reduces pneumonia mortality. However, an increase in the prevalence of pneumococcal isolates resistant to antibiotics in several countries has prompted investigators to look into new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines to prevent pneumonia morbidity and mortality. This vaccine has recently been shown to increase immunity in young children who are at high risk of getting pneumonia and dying from the illness. It has also been found to be nearly 100% efficacious against invasive pneumococcal disease.
A phase 3, randomized, double blind, controlled, clinical trial (RCT) of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to determine its efficacy in preventing x-ray proven pneumonia in young children is being conducted in 6 municipalities in the island of Bohol, Philippines. The trial, named ARIVAC (Acute Respiratory Infection Vaccine) commenced in July 2000 and lasted until 2005. The main research results were presented on June 16, 2006 at the 12th International Congress on Infectious Diseases in Lisbon by the ARIVAC Principal Investigator Marilla Lucero (RITM).
The project is registered with Current Controlled Trials, reference ISRCTN62323832.
The trial is a joint venture of the ARIVAC consortium
For more information please see the international ARIVAC website at
http://hisdu2.sph.uq.edu.au/arivac/