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BMC Public Health Sep 2023Infant vaccination has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of transmittable diseases worldwide. Its coverage is high (85%); however, partial or suboptimal...
INTRODUCTION
Infant vaccination has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of transmittable diseases worldwide. Its coverage is high (85%); however, partial or suboptimal vaccination has been an important public health problem. This study aimed (1) to design and explore the psychometric features of a questionnaire to determine the reasons for this partial or suboptimal vaccination; and 2) to determine the factors associated with delaying Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis (DTaP) vaccination.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study contained two parts. In Part One, a questionnaire was created by the research team and then validated by a committee of experts in the field and a group of parents. It included the following contents: sociodemographic variables, features of the vaccination services, history of vaccination, and attitudes and perceptions about vaccination. Part Two was a cross-sectional study, recruiting private and public healthcare centers to explore the psychometrics features of the instrument, performing exploratory factor analysis, and determining the associated factors with DTaP vaccination delay throughout multivariable regression models.
RESULTS
Initially, six experts validated the questionnaire. For instance, on a scale of 1 to 5, the general evaluation of the questionnaire was ≥ 4 for all the experts. Additionally, five experts considered that most of the questions were easy to understand, and all thought the questionnaire had a clear and logical organization. The resulting questionnaire included the "Trust and positive attitude towards vaccination" scale, which had a good structure of items and internal consistency (α = 0.7918). Six healthcare centers were recruited in the second part of the study, and 715 people answered the questionnaire. Not being the mother who brings the child to the health center, having more than one child, and having a history of previous vaccination delays increased the risk of delaying vaccination. Attending the healthcare center for a reason other than only vaccination, obtaining information about vaccines from the Internet, and having higher trust and positive attitudes to vaccination reduced the risk of delay.
CONCLUSIONS
First study during the pandemic to explore the role of different factors on the risk of DTaP vaccination delay in Latin America. The findings highlighted the importance of trust in the vaccination system. The instrument presented in this article may help the scientific community evaluate future interventions to increase trust and positive attitudes toward the vaccination process.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Infant; Cross-Sectional Studies; Chile; Vaccination; Mothers; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Poliomyelitis; Tetanus; Diphtheria
PubMed: 37770902
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16769-3 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023The polioviruses (PVs) are mainly transmitted by direct contact with an infected person through the fecal-oral route and respiratory secretions (or more rarely via... (Review)
Review
The polioviruses (PVs) are mainly transmitted by direct contact with an infected person through the fecal-oral route and respiratory secretions (or more rarely via contaminated water or food) and have a primary tropism for the gut. After their replication in the gut, in rare cases (far less than 1% of the infected individuals), PVs can spread to the central nervous system leading to flaccid paralysis, which can result in respiratory paralysis and death. By the middle of the 20th century, every year the wild polioviruses (WPVs) are supposed to have killed or paralyzed over half a million people. The introduction of the oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs) through mass vaccination campaigns (combined with better application of hygiene measures), was a success story which enabled the World Health Organization (WHO) to set the global eradication of poliomyelitis as an objective. However this strategy of viral eradication has its limits as the majority of poliomyelitis cases today arise in individuals infected with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) which regain pathogenicity following reversion or recombination. In recent years (between January 2018 and May 2023), the WHO recorded 8.8 times more cases of polio which were linked to the attenuated OPV vaccines (3,442 polio cases after reversion or recombination events) than cases linked to a WPV (390 cases). Recent knowledge of the evolution of RNA viruses and the exchange of genetic material among biological entities of the intestinal microbiota, call for a reassessment of the polio eradication vaccine strategies.
Topics: Humans; Poliomyelitis; Central Nervous System; Behavior Therapy; Poliovirus Vaccines; Vaccines
PubMed: 38259741
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1284337 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Mar 2024Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections are associated with severe respiratory disease and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). The European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network (ENPEN)...
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections are associated with severe respiratory disease and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). The European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network (ENPEN) aimed to investigate the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of EV-D68 and its clinical impact during the fall-winter season of 2021/22. From 19 European countries, 58 institutes reported 10,481 (6.8%) EV-positive samples of which 1,004 (9.6%) were identified as EV-D68 (852 respiratory samples). Clinical data was reported for 969 cases. 78.9% of infections were reported in children (0-5 years); 37.9% of cases were hospitalised. Acute respiratory distress was commonly noted (93.1%) followed by fever (49.4%). Neurological problems were observed in 6.4% of cases with six reported with AFM. Phylodynamic/Nextstrain and phylogenetic analyses based on 694 sequences showed the emergence of two novel B3-derived lineages, with no regional clustering. In conclusion, we describe a large-scale EV-D68 European upsurge with severe clinical impact and the emergence of B3-derived lineages.
PubMed: 38547499
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae154 -
Risk Analysis : An Official Publication... Feb 2024Due to the very low, but nonzero, paralysis risks associated with the use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), eradicating poliomyelitis requires ending all OPV use... (Review)
Review
Due to the very low, but nonzero, paralysis risks associated with the use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), eradicating poliomyelitis requires ending all OPV use globally. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) coordinated cessation of Sabin type 2 OPV (OPV2 cessation) in 2016, except for emergency outbreak response. However, as of early 2023, plans for cessation of bivalent OPV (bOPV, containing types 1 and 3 OPV) remain undefined, and OPV2 use for outbreak response continues due to ongoing transmission of type 2 polioviruses and reported type 2 cases. Recent development and use of a genetically stabilized novel type 2 OPV (nOPV2) leads to additional potential vaccine options and increasing complexity in strategies for the polio endgame. Prior applications of integrated global risk, economic, and poliovirus transmission modeling consistent with GPEI strategic plans that preceded OPV2 cessation explored OPV cessation dynamics and the evaluation of options to support globally coordinated risk management efforts. The 2022-2026 GPEI strategic plan highlighted the need for early bOPV cessation planning. We review the published modeling and explore bOPV cessation immunization options as of 2022, assuming that the GPEI partners will not support restart of the use of any OPV type in routine immunization after a globally coordinated cessation of such use. We model the potential consequences of globally coordinating bOPV cessation in 2027, as anticipated in the 2022-2026 GPEI strategic plan. We do not find any options for bOPV cessation likely to succeed without a strategy of bOPV intensification to increase population immunity prior to cessation.
Topics: Humans; Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; Serogroup; Poliovirus; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; Global Health; Disease Eradication
PubMed: 37344934
DOI: 10.1111/risa.14158 -
Revista Espanola de Cirugia Ortopedica... 2023Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with residual poliomyelitis (RP) is a surgical challenge. Dysplastic morphology, osteoporosis and gluteal weakness hinder...
INTRODUCTION
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with residual poliomyelitis (RP) is a surgical challenge. Dysplastic morphology, osteoporosis and gluteal weakness hinder orientation, increase fracture risk and reduce implant stability. The aim of this study is to describe a series of patients with RP treated by THA.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Retrospective descriptive study of patients with RP treated with THA between 1999 and 2021 in a tertiary hospital, with clinical and radiological follow-up and functional and complication evaluation until present or death, with a minimum of 12months.
RESULTS
Sixteen patients underwent surgery, with 13THA implanted in the paretic limb, 6 for fracture and 7 for osteoarthritis, while the remaining 3 were implanted in the contralateral limb. Four dual mobility cups were implanted as an antiluxation measure. At 1year postoperatively, 11 had complete range of motion with no increase in Trendelenburg cases. The Harris hip score (HHS) improved 32.1points, the visual analog scale (VAS) 5.25 points, and the Merlé-d'Augbiné-Poste scale 6 points. The length discrepancy correction was 13.77mm. Median follow-up was 3.5years (1-24). Two cases were revised for polyethylene wear and two for instability, with no infections, periprosthetic fractures, or cup or stem loosening.
CONCLUSIONS
THA in patients with RP allows improvement of the clinico-functional situation with an acceptable complication rate. The risk of dislocation could be minimized with dual mobility cups.
PubMed: 37011859
DOI: 10.1016/j.recot.2023.03.012 -
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology Jan 2024Children lose their vaccine-induced protection and are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases after chemotherapy. However, revaccination guidelines are...
BACKGROUND
Children lose their vaccine-induced protection and are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases after chemotherapy. However, revaccination guidelines are heterogeneous, and there is often a lack of revaccination post-treatment.
AIMS
We conducted a retrospective study of children with hematologic cancer to evaluate vaccine immunity before and after the end of treatment and to determine whether the current institutional revaccination program based on vaccine serology results was followed and effective.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data of all children treated by chemotherapy between April 2015 and July 2021 were extracted from hospital medical records for analysis. Serum antibody levels and time of vaccination were evaluated for diphtheria, tetanus, Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), measles, varicella, and hepatitis B.
RESULTS
We included 31 patients (median age, 9 years). At cancer diagnosis, 90% of children were protected against tetanus, diphtheria, and measles; 65% to 67% were protected against pneumococcus and varicella; and 25% against hepatitis B. At the end of chemotherapy, 67% to 71% of patients were protected against tetanus, varicella, and measles; 40% remained protected against hepatitis B; and 27% to 33% against pneumococcus and diphtheria. Patients were revaccinated at various times after the end of treatment but not systematically. During the first-year post-treatment, 20% to 25% of children remained unprotected against pneumococcus, measles, and hepatitis B, one third against diphtheria, but all were protected against tetanus and varicella.
CONCLUSIONS
An effective individualized vaccination program post-cancer based on serology results should be accompanied by an appropriate serology tracking method and follow-up to assess if booster doses are necessary. Our study supports vaccinating all children with a dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate at cancer diagnosis and at 3 months post-treatment with the combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis/poliomyelitis vaccine/hepatitis B virus plus or minus Hib and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate and meningococcal vaccine, including measles/mumps/rubella-varicella zoster virus vaccine if good immune reconstitution is present.
Topics: Child; Humans; Infant; Retrospective Studies; Tetanus; Diphtheria; Chickenpox; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hepatitis B; Neoplasms; Measles
PubMed: 37922437
DOI: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002774 -
Atencion Primaria Feb 2024The clinical interview of immigrant patients requires cultural competence to ensure good understanding and correct communication, in addition to collecting specific...
The clinical interview of immigrant patients requires cultural competence to ensure good understanding and correct communication, in addition to collecting specific information that differs from that of native patients, such as origin and migratory route or cultural identity. Screening for latent tuberculosis infection is recommended in certain cases and screening for other infections, both cosmopolitan with a higher prevalence in migrants (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C) and imported (Chagas, intestinal parasites, strongyloidiasis, schistosomiasis), depending on origin. It is essential to check the vaccination status and complete the vaccination schedule, adapting it to the current calendar, prioritizing vaccines such as measles, rubella and poliomyelitis. We propose preventive activities to be carried out when traveling to countries of origin, due to their special characteristics and risks: general advice, exploring the risk of malaria, assessing specific vaccinations, advice regarding sexually transmitted infections and special considerations if they have chronic diseases; and addressing, if appropriate, the risks of female genital mutilation.
PubMed: 38417201
DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2024.102896 -
Microorganisms Sep 2023Widely distributed and ticks transmit many pathogens of both medical and veterinary significance. The ranges of these tick species overlap and form large sympatric...
Widely distributed and ticks transmit many pathogens of both medical and veterinary significance. The ranges of these tick species overlap and form large sympatric areas in the East European Plain and Baltic countries. It has previously been shown that crossing and is possible, resulting in the appearance of sterile hybrids. In the present study, we analyzed the features of this hybrid's life cycle under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, virgin females of and ticks were obtained in the laboratory, and hybrid generations of ticks were bred from the reciprocal crossings of these two tick species. According to our data, mating the females of and with the males of another species leads to a decrease in the engorgement success of the females, a decrease in the number of hatched larvae, and the appearance of a hybrid generation in which both females and males are sterile. Under laboratory conditions at a constant room temperature and under natural daylight, the morphogenetic diapause of the engorged larvae began in September. For nymphs, it occurred earlier than for , in October and November, respectively. The hybrids generally repeated the features of the life cycle of the mother species.
PubMed: 37764095
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092252 -
Expert Review of Vaccines 2024Despite multiple revisions of targets and timelines in polio eradication plans since 1988, including changes in supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) that increase... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Despite multiple revisions of targets and timelines in polio eradication plans since 1988, including changes in supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) that increase immunity above routine immunization (RI) coverage, poliovirus transmission continues as of 2024.
METHODS
We reviewed polio eradication plans and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) annual reports and budgets to characterize key phases of polio eradication, the evolution of poliovirus vaccines, and the role of SIAs. We used polio epidemiology to provide context for successes and failures and updated prior modeling to show the contribution of SIAs in achieving and maintaining low polio incidence compared to expected incidence for the counterfactual of RI only.
RESULTS
We identified multiple phases of polio eradication that included shifts in targets and timelines and the introduction of different poliovirus vaccines, which influenced polio epidemiology. Notable shifts occurred in GPEI investments in SIAs since 2001, particularly since 2016. Modeling results suggest that SIAs play(ed) a key role in increasing (and maintaining) high population immunity to levels required to eradicate poliovirus transmission globally.
CONCLUSIONS
Shifts in polio eradication strategy and poliovirus vaccine usage in SIAs provide important context for understanding polio epidemiology, delayed achievement of polio eradication milestones, and complexity of the polio endgame.
Topics: Poliomyelitis; Humans; Disease Eradication; Global Health; Poliovirus Vaccines; Immunization Programs; Incidence; Poliovirus
PubMed: 38813792
DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2361060 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2023The resurgence of poliovirus infection in previously polio free regions and countries calls for renewed commitment to the global polio eradication efforts including...
BACKGROUND
The resurgence of poliovirus infection in previously polio free regions and countries calls for renewed commitment to the global polio eradication efforts including strengthening of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance systems. Zambia is one of the countries substantially at risk for the importation of poliovirus infection from neighbouring countries including Malawi, Mozambique, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study describes a seven-year AFP surveillance, assesses the surveillance indicators, and highlights areas for improvement.
METHODS
We conducted retrospective analysis of the routinely collected AFP surveillance data from January 2015 to December 2022. The AFP surveillance indicators performance was assessed using the World Health Organisation's recommended minimum AFP surveillance indicators performance.
RESULTS
Cumulatively, a total of 1715 AFP cases were reported over the study period. More than half, 891 (52%) of reported cases were aged < 5 years with 917 (53.5%) of males. More than half, 1186 (69.2%) had fever at onset, 718 (41.9%) had asymmetric paralysis and 1164 (67.9%) had their paralysis progressed within 3 days of onset. The non-polio AFP rate ranges from 3.4 to 6.4 per 100,000 children < 15 years old and stool adequacy ranging from 70.9% to 90.2% indicating sensitive surveillance with late detection of cases. The percentage of cases with early stool collection, timely transportation was above the World Health Organisation (WHO) minimum of 80% but with declining proportion of stools arriving in the laboratory in optimal condition. Completeness of 60-days follow-up evaluation was suboptimal ranging from 0.9% to 28.2%.
CONCLUSION
The AFP surveillance system in Zambia is doing well. However, additional efforts are needed to improve early detection of cases; stool sample collection, transportation and monitoring to ensure arrival in good condition in the laboratory; and improve 60-days follow-up evaluation for evidenced-based classification of inadequate AFP cases and proper care.
Topics: Child; Male; Humans; Adolescent; Poliomyelitis; Zambia; Retrospective Studies; alpha-Fetoproteins; Population Surveillance; Poliovirus; Paralysis
PubMed: 37951902
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17141-1