Antigenuria in Gambian infants following immunization with a Haemophilus influenzae type b polyribosylribitol phosphate-tetanus toxoid protein conjugate (PRP-T) vaccine.

During a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)-conjugate vaccine trial, the prevalence and duration of antigenuria after vaccination was studied in 102 Gambian infants aged 51 to 175 days. Urine samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days postvaccination and tested for Hib antigen by latex agglutination using Biomérieux and Directigen reagent kits. Biomérieux positive reactions were found in 6 of 247 (2.4%) samples from vaccinated children and in 8 of 199 (4.0%) from nonvaccinated children (chi 2 = 0.47; 1 df; p = 0.5). In contrast, Directigen positive reactions were obtained with 86/242 samples (35.5%) from vaccinated children and from 28/190 (14.7%) from non-vaccinated children (chi 2 = 22.7; 1 df; p < 0.0001). The highest rate of antigenuria was detected in samples collected on Day 7 after vaccination when 24 of 30 (80%) were positive. Antigenuria following vaccination was frequent and may complicate the use of this test as a means of diagnosing invasive Hib disease in vaccinated children.