As per a recently published study in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) alone or in combination with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and revaccination with PPSV23, offers protection against severe pneumococcal disease to the patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bryan L Love et al. performed the study and have mentioned that all individuals with IBD should be assessed for pneumococcal vaccination, specifically those receiving or anticipated to receive immunosuppressive treatment. On the basis of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9/10 codes, the individuals suffering from IBD and severe pneumococcal disease were identified from the Veterans Affairs Health Administration database.

Pneumococcal vaccination and usage of immunosuppressant medications were gathered. Utilizing an adjusted Cox proportional hazards model controlling for demographics, medications, vaccination, and comorbidities, an assessment of the risk of severe pneumococcal disease was done. Overall, 1798 cases of severe pneumococcal disease (283 pneumonia, 1,513 bacteremia, and 2 meningitis) were recognized.

Individuals having the severe pneumococcal disease were older (60.9 years vs 59.4 years), had elevated mortality (4.6% vs. 1.5%), and had greater comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index of 2.11 vs. 0.96). The risk of severe pneumococcal disease was raised in Crohn's disease (hazard ratio 1.15) and with more comorbidities (hazard ratio 1.45). The usage of immunosuppressive medications elevated the risk of severe pneumococcal disease. The receipt of PCV13 either alone or in combination with PPSV23 predicted a five-fold diminished risk of severe pneumococcal disease in comparison with no vaccination.