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Improving preterm infants' immunisation status: A follow‐up audit
Author(s) -
Crawford Nigel W,
Barfield Charles,
Hunt Rod W,
Pitcher Helen,
Buttery Jim P
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12481
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , audit , pregnancy , lung disease , lung , management , economics , biology , genetics
Aim Preterm infants are at increased risk of vaccine preventable diseases. An audit in 2007 identified suboptimal immunisation status of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to complete the ‘audit loop’, reviewing preterm infants' immunisation status at a single tertiary paediatric hospital. Methods A retrospective follow‐up immunisation audit was conducted at The R oyal C hildren's H ospital, M elbourne, neonatal unit. The ‘audit loop’ included a preterm infants' reminder sticker and feedback of the original audit findings to R oyal C hildren's H ospital health‐care professionals. Immunisation status was determined using the A ustralian C hildhood I mmunisation R egister record for all admitted preterm infants born <32 weeks gestation ( J uly 2008– J une 2009). Results Conducted in M arch 2011, the median age of participants ( n = 57) was 2.5 years (range 1.7–3.1 years). Forty‐four per cent (25/57) had a history of chronic lung disease, 86% (49/57) were <1500 g and 42% (24/57) <28 weeks gestation. The majority (96% (55/57)) were up to date with routine immunisations at 12 months of age. There was a 2.4‐fold increase, compared with the original audit, for receipt of the additional recommended hepatitis B vaccine at 12 months of age, as well as influenza vaccine in infants with chronic lung disease. Conclusion This study showed that a simple reminder combined with education strategies can improve vaccine delivery in special risk groups such as preterm infants.