Peer-reviewed article
Local Lidocaine–Prilocaine for Immunisation in Infants
Claudia-Felicia Pop, Alina Petronela Bouari-Coblișan, Valentina Sas, Cătălina Drugă, Paraschiva Cherecheș-Panța ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic review examined whether a lidocaine–prilocaine cream reduces pain during vaccinations in infants aged 0–12 months. The review included nine studies with a total of 704 infants and found that the cream significantly reduced pain scores compared to other interventions or no treatment. Infants who received the cream also cried less and cried later after vaccination. The authors recommend routine use of this cream in healthcare settings and suggest training healthcare workers on its proper application.
Key points
- Lidocaine–prilocaine cream reduced mean pain scores by 1.719 points compared to control conditions
- Infants treated with the cream showed reduced crying duration and delayed onset of first cry after vaccination
- Nine studies involving 704 participants were included in the systematic review
- Healthcare worker training on cream application and pain assessment scales was identified as important
- Parent engagement was noted as a factor that could enhance vaccination adherence
Limitations
This is a systematic review that summarises existing studies; it cannot establish definitive causation or provide new primary data. The review does not report on long-term behavioural effects or compare effectiveness across different vaccination schedules or age groups within the 0–12 month range.
Abstract
Introduction: Lidocaine–prilocaine cream effectively reduces vaccination pain, improving vaccination adherence and advocating for its routine use in healthcare settings. Methods: This review used PRISMA guidelines and the PICOT format to structure the analysis. The focus was on paediatric patients aged 0–12 months requiring intramuscular vaccinations, comparing the application of lidocaine–prilocaine cream to other interventions or no treatment. Data sources included MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, BMC, Research GATE, and Cochrane Library. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with data extracted regarding participant demographics, pain assessment scales, and study conclusions. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool assessed study quality, while statistical analyses evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: Fifty studies were identified, with nine ultimately included in the analysis, involving 704 participants. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of lidocaine–prilocaine cream in reducing pain after vaccinations. Results showed a significant mean difference of −1.719 in pain scores for infants treated with lidocaine–prilocaine compared to those receiving other interventions. Behavioural indicators, such as crying duration and latency to the first cry, favoured the lidocaine–prilocaine group. Conclusions: Lidocaine–prilocaine cream effectively reduces vaccination pain, supporting its routine use in healthcare settings. Engaging parents can enhance vaccination adherence. Training healthcare professionals on lidocaine–prilocaine cream application and pain scales is vital for improving patient satisfaction. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of lidocaine–prilocaine cream on vaccination experiences and infant behavioural health.