Immunisation of preterm infants.

Immunisation of preterm infants.

In 1993, there were 16,207 preterm births (37 weeks gestation) in Australia, representing 6.3% of all confinements. The majority of preterm births were delivered at 32 36 weeks (5.1% of all confinements), but 0.7% and 0.6% of all confinements occurred at 28-31 weeks and 20 -27 weeks respectively. Improvements in neonatal care have resulted in the survival of more infants of lower gestational ag...

Routine immunisation of preterm infants.

Fifty one preterm infants (26-36 weeks' gestation) were enrolled in a study of their immunological responses to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio antigens eight to 12 weeks after their primary courses had been completed. Samples from 21 infants born at full term were also analysed. Many infants were able to start immunisation at 3 months of age. Premature infants who are immunised as so...

DTP immunisation of steroid treated preterm infants.

DT5aP-Hib-IPV and MCC vaccines: preterm infants' response to accelerated immunisation.

AIMS To describe the immune response of preterm infants to combined diphtheria/tetanus/5 component acellular pertussis-Haemophilus influenzae type b inactivated polio vaccine (DT5aP-Hib-IPV) and meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine (MCC) under accelerated schedule. To compare results with term infants immunised with DT5aP-Hib-IPV and with historical data from preterm infants immunised wi...

Severe apnoeas following immunisation in premature infants.

Four premature infants developed apnoeas severe enough to warrant resuscitation after immunisation with diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT), and Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib). One required re-intubation and ventilation. Although apnoeas after immunisation are recognised, they are not well documented. It is time for further research to elucidate the best time to immunise such infants.