Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province

Background: Splenectomized patients have a higher risk compared to the general population of developing post-splenectomy infection, particularly by capsulated bacteria. Splenectomized patients need to be vaccinated against pneumococcal diseases, meningococcal disease, and heamophilus influenzae (Hib...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giuseppe Di Martino, Riccardo Mazzocca, Tania Masci, Lisa Berghella, Jacopo Del Papa, Francesco D’Aloisio, Mario Messinese, Fabrizio Cedrone, Patrizia Marani Toro, Graziella Soldato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/138
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850079505327063040
author Giuseppe Di Martino
Riccardo Mazzocca
Tania Masci
Lisa Berghella
Jacopo Del Papa
Francesco D’Aloisio
Mario Messinese
Fabrizio Cedrone
Patrizia Marani Toro
Graziella Soldato
author_facet Giuseppe Di Martino
Riccardo Mazzocca
Tania Masci
Lisa Berghella
Jacopo Del Papa
Francesco D’Aloisio
Mario Messinese
Fabrizio Cedrone
Patrizia Marani Toro
Graziella Soldato
author_sort Giuseppe Di Martino
collection DOAJ
description Background: Splenectomized patients have a higher risk compared to the general population of developing post-splenectomy infection, particularly by capsulated bacteria. Splenectomized patients need to be vaccinated against pneumococcal diseases, meningococcal disease, and heamophilus influenzae (Hib) in order to avoid invasive bacterial diseases. This study evaluated vaccination coverages among splenectomized patients in a Southern Italian province. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted evaluating all splenectomized patients from the Pescara province from 2015 to 2023. Vaccination coverages were calculated before and after splenectomy for the following vaccines: pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, Hib, and COVID-19. Results: A total of 97 patients were considered during the study period. Vaccination coverages were low before surgery, but they increased after splenectomy. Higher coverages were found against pneumococcal diseases (77.3%), meninigococcal disease (58.8%), and COVID-19 (91.8%). Conclusions: Vaccination coverages among splenectomized patients in the Pescara province are not satisfying. It is imperative to implement educational measures for patients and physicians to increase vaccination coverages.
format Article
id doaj-art-74485928d14448fbb6d8057295dd21d4
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-393X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-74485928d14448fbb6d8057295dd21d42025-08-20T02:45:11ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-01-0113213810.3390/vaccines13020138Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern ProvinceGiuseppe Di Martino0Riccardo Mazzocca1Tania Masci2Lisa Berghella3Jacopo Del Papa4Francesco D’Aloisio5Mario Messinese6Fabrizio Cedrone7Patrizia Marani Toro8Graziella Soldato9Unit of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyHospital Management, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyUnit of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Local Health Authority of Pescara, 65100 Pescara, ItalyBackground: Splenectomized patients have a higher risk compared to the general population of developing post-splenectomy infection, particularly by capsulated bacteria. Splenectomized patients need to be vaccinated against pneumococcal diseases, meningococcal disease, and heamophilus influenzae (Hib) in order to avoid invasive bacterial diseases. This study evaluated vaccination coverages among splenectomized patients in a Southern Italian province. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted evaluating all splenectomized patients from the Pescara province from 2015 to 2023. Vaccination coverages were calculated before and after splenectomy for the following vaccines: pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, Hib, and COVID-19. Results: A total of 97 patients were considered during the study period. Vaccination coverages were low before surgery, but they increased after splenectomy. Higher coverages were found against pneumococcal diseases (77.3%), meninigococcal disease (58.8%), and COVID-19 (91.8%). Conclusions: Vaccination coverages among splenectomized patients in the Pescara province are not satisfying. It is imperative to implement educational measures for patients and physicians to increase vaccination coverages.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/138vaccinesplenectomypublic healthpreventive medicineItaly
spellingShingle Giuseppe Di Martino
Riccardo Mazzocca
Tania Masci
Lisa Berghella
Jacopo Del Papa
Francesco D’Aloisio
Mario Messinese
Fabrizio Cedrone
Patrizia Marani Toro
Graziella Soldato
Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
Vaccines
vaccine
splenectomy
public health
preventive medicine
Italy
title Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
title_full Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
title_fullStr Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
title_full_unstemmed Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
title_short Vaccination Coverages Among Splenectomized Patients: A Retrospective Study from an Italian Southern Province
title_sort vaccination coverages among splenectomized patients a retrospective study from an italian southern province
topic vaccine
splenectomy
public health
preventive medicine
Italy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/138
work_keys_str_mv AT giuseppedimartino vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT riccardomazzocca vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT taniamasci vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT lisaberghella vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT jacopodelpapa vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT francescodaloisio vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT mariomessinese vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT fabriziocedrone vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT patriziamaranitoro vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince
AT graziellasoldato vaccinationcoveragesamongsplenectomizedpatientsaretrospectivestudyfromanitaliansouthernprovince