INDIGENOUS VACCINE FOR PNEUMONIA

INDIGENOUS VACCINE FOR PNEUMONIA GETS NOD

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the first fully indigenously developed conjugate vaccine for pneumonia developed by the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Pune

Serum Institute first obtained the DGCI approval to conduct Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine in India

Earlier the demand for such vaccine was substantially met by licensed importers since the manufacturers were all based outside India 

Used for active immunisation against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by ‘streptococcus pneumonia’ in infants

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the small air sacs known as alveoli

Edwin Klebs was the first to observe bacteria in the airways of persons having died of pneumonia in 1875

Sir William Osler, known as "the father of modern medicine", appreciated the death and disability caused by pneumonia, describing it as the "captain of the men of death" in 1918, as it had overtaken tuberculosis as one of the leading causes of death in this time

Viral pneumonia was first described by Hobart Reimann in 1938

Pneumonitis refers to lung inflammation; pneumonia refers to pneumonitis, usually due to infection but sometimes non-infectious, that has the additional feature of pulmonary consolidation

Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and less commonly by other microorganisms, certain medications or conditions such as autoimmune diseases

Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing

Pneumonia can cause respiratory failure by triggering acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The lungs quickly fill with fluid and become stiff. Other causes of circulatory failure are hypoxemia, inflammation, and increased coagulability 

Vaccines to prevent certain types of pneumonia are available. Other methods of prevention include hand washing and not smoking 

Factors that predispose to pneumonia: Smoking, immunodeficiency, alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sickle cell disease (SCD), asthma, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and old age. Additional risks in children include not being breastfed, exposure to cigarette smoke and other air pollution, malnutrition, and poverty. The use of acid-suppressing medications – such as proton-pump inhibitors or H2 blockers – is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia

Bacteria are the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in nearly 50% of cases. Other include Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Staphylococcus aureus; Moraxella catarrhalis; and Legionella pneumophila

Streptococcus pneumoniae is more common in the winter 

Viruses include rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, and parainfluenza

Different viruses predominate at different times of the year; during flu season, for example, influenza may account for more than half of all viral cases

Fungal pneumonia is uncommon, but occurs more commonly in individuals with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, immunosuppressive drugs, or other medical problems. Caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces, Cryptococcus neoformans, Pneumocystis jiroveci, and Coccidioides immitis

A variety of parasites can affect the lungs, including Toxoplasma gondii, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Plasmodium malariae. These organisms typically enter the body through direct contact with the skin, ingestion, or via an insect vector

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia or noninfectious pneumonia is a class of diffuse lung diseases Lipoid pneumonia is another rare cause due to lipids entering the lung.