Comment in:

J Travel Med. 2007 Nov-Dec;14(6):416; author reply 417.

Current perceptions of travelers' diarrhea treatments and vaccines: results from a postal questionnaire survey and physician interviews.

Beremans Ltd, Cambridge, UK. nm01@beremans.com

BACKGROUND: Travelers' diarrhea (TD) occurs at high frequency in individuals from industrialized countries visiting destinations in nonindustrialized countries and may result in chronic complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. METHODS: We distributed a questionnaire requesting information on physicians' perceptions of currently available TD products, hypothesized TD vaccines, and aspects of travelers' behavior. Some physicians also were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: We obtained completed questionnaires from named individuals at 68 UK/US clinics. These individuals reported seeing a total of approximately 76,500 travelers per year, and estimated that 61% (UK) and 77% (US) of travelers present 2 weeks or more predeparture. More US (92%) than UK (43%) travelers are advised to purchase TD products. In both countries, 85% of travelers would be prescribed an ideal TD vaccine, but only approximately 47% (UK) and approximately 65% (US) would purchase this vaccine. About 80% of physicians would recommend an hypothesized 100% effective Campylobacter vaccine for travelers visiting regions where 30% of TD cases are caused by Campylobacter. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians support the concept of TD vaccines, including campylobacteriosis vaccines. An ideal TD vaccine might be purchased by up to 16% (UK) and 28% (US) of relevant travelers. A 100% effective Campylobacter vaccine might be purchased by over 2 million UK/US travelers per year.

PMID: 17437471 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]