Vaccines vs. Bacteria
One alternative, at least for some types of bacteria, is vaccination. Since Hib vaccines were introduced, the number of new cases of invasive Hib infections—both drug-sensitive and resistant—in infants and children in the U.S. has decreased by 99%.

Also, vaccination against pneumococci is now routinely recommended for infants and young children so that children will not get serious pneumococcal infections such as meningitis or bloodstream infection.

The children’s vaccine, PCV7, was approved in the United States in February 2000 and contains the 7 most common pneumococcal serotypes causing invasive (serious) infections in children in North America. Thus the PCV7 vaccine only protects against infection with these 7 serotypes. These 7 serotypes are also the most likely to be resistant to the antibiotics used to treat these infections. A recent study (1) showed that PCV7 has been successful in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in children and has resulted in the added benefit of a decrease in penicillin resistance among pneumococcal isolates from children with infection. Another study showed that rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) due to vaccine serotypes declined after PCV7 introduction in all age groups. However, the rate of IPD due to serotypes not present in the vaccine increased as a cause of IPD in older children and adults. (2)

These vaccines provide immunity against bacteria that have become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat them. However, there is a viral vaccine that indirectly combats antibiotic-resistant bacteria: varicella vaccine.

Children with varicella (chickenpox) frequently develop skin infections with S. aureus or group A streptococci, both of which may invade the blood stream. By being protected against varicella with the vaccine, children are protected against an infection with these bacteria, including those that are antibiotic-resistant. (3)