Authors' results and conclusions: 307 references were retrieved on autovaccines and 19 on bacterial lysates. After identifying duplicates, inclusion criteria were used for selection. At the end of this process, there were included 7 studies on autovaccines and 6 systematic reviews on bacterial lysates. The studies on autovaccines were: a clinical trial, a cohort study, and five case series. None of them provided data on safety when using autovaccines. Concerning effectiveness, the evidence obtained could be regarded as poor, due to the methodological flaws of the studies found. In addition, there can be drawn no conclusions on the possible benefits of autovaccines from the two studies with control group, since they do not provide levels of statistical signification. In the case of bacterial lysates, the review was focused on including systematic reviews. Although the latter were of a good quality, their validity is hindered by the poor quality of the clinical trials included in these reviews. In adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it was found a reduction in the prescription of antibiotics and a clinical improvement with the use of bacterial lysates (OM85BV, above all), but at the same time the use of these lysates was also associated with the appearance of a bigger number of adverse effects (skin reaction and urinary tract infections). In infant population, it was found a reduction in acute respiratory infections at short term, but the results were not presented stratified according to the quality of the clinical trials included in the reviews.

Authors' recommendations: There are no scientific evidence of good quality on the benefits and adverse effects of bacterial autovaccines in preventing recurrent respiratory infections in patients with otolaryngology and/or respiratory diseases. There cannot be drawn that the use of bacterial lysates be effective to prevent recurrent respiratory infections since, although some benefits have been found both in adult and infant population, the quality of the studies is poor and the balance between the benefits and risks is unclear.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.aetsa.org/publicacion/efectividad-y-seguridad-de-las-autovacunas-y-lisados-bacterianos-en-las-infecciones-respiratorias-de-repeticion/

Year Published: 2008

URL for published report: https://www.aetsa.org/download/publicaciones/antiguas/AETSA_P_2008_4_Autovacunas.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Area

Contact Address: Area de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias Sanitarias de Andalucia (AETSA) Avda. Innovación, s/n Edificio Arena 1. Sevilla (Spain) Tel. +34 955 006 309

Contact Name: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Contact Email: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Copyright: Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA)