Incidental asthma prevention by immune serum globulin

Background: After a case of hepatitis A in a food handling worker in a military base, the entire exposed population was vaccinated with immune serum globulin (ISG). We analyzed the potential effects of ISG on asthma attacks and respiratory infections. Methods: The base population was observed for asthma exacerbation for the 3 months after the immunization and was compared with the population of the same base a year earlier. Rates were tested using X² statistics. Results: The vaccinated population had a highly significant decrease in the incidence of asthma attacks (rate ratio [RR] = 0.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09 to 0.45), sinusitis (RR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.58), and pneumonia (RR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.99). No significant difference was observed in the incidence rates of upper respiratory infections between the two groups. Conclusions: A single administration of ISG significantly reduces the rate of asthma attacks and respiratory infections.