Prevention of paediatric respiratory tract infections: emphasis on the role of OM-85

The burden of respiratory tract infections in paediatrics is extremely high, in both industrialised and developing countries. Because adequate diagnosis and causative therapies of these often recurrent respiratory tract infections bear substantial limits, preventive measures deserve priority. The mainstays are parent education, active immunisation strategies and nonspecific immunostimulation with bacterial products. This article summarises the five key studies on the use of the immunoactive agent OM-85 (Broncho-Vaxom) for prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children. Such bacterial immunostimulants are especially indicated for young infants and children who are known and/or expected to suffer from at least three respiratory tract infections per winter season.