Vaccines for People with Cochlear Implants

Key points

  • People with cochlear implants are more likely to get bacterial meningitis than people without cochlear implants.
  • The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) causes most cases of bacterial meningitis in people with cochlear implants.
  • Due to their increased risk, ob体育 recommends pneumococcal vaccination for people who have or are candidates for cochlear implants.
  • Follow the recommended immunization schedule to ensure that your patients get the pneumococcal vaccines that they need.
Man adjusting his cochlear implant in the mirror in his home bathroom.

Risk

People with cochlear implants are more likely to get bacterial meningitis than people without cochlear implants.

In addition, some people who are candidates for cochlear implants have anatomic factors that may increase their risk for meningitis. These factors include facial and cranial abnormalities, including of the temporal bone and cochlea.

Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations

Recommendations for the timing and type of pneumococcal vaccination vary with age and vaccination history.

Children

Children who have or are candidates for cochlear implants may need pneumococcal vaccination. It depends on their age and which pneumococcal vaccines they've already received.

Adults

Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for adults who have or are candidates for cochlear implants.

Keep Reading: Summary of Risk-based Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations

Other vaccines help protect against meningitis

There's no evidence people with cochlear implants are more likely than people without cochlear implants to get meningitis due to

However, Hib and meningococcal vaccines are routinely recommended based on age and other risk factors.

Resources

Treatment and prevention

Treatment and intervention for hearing loss

(2010)

Hib vaccine recommendations

Meningococcal vaccine recommendations

Patient resource

Cochlear implants and vaccine recommendations

Print
Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases
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