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Vaccine Aug 2014Measles transmission has been well documented in healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel who are unvaccinated and who lack other evidence of measles immunity put... (Review)
Review
Measles transmission has been well documented in healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel who are unvaccinated and who lack other evidence of measles immunity put themselves and their patients at risk for measles. We conducted a systematic literature review of measles vaccination policies and their implementation in healthcare personnel, measles seroprevalence among healthcare personnel, measles transmission and disease burden in healthcare settings, and impact/costs incurred by healthcare facilities for healthcare-associated measles transmission. Five database searches yielded 135 relevant articles; 47 additional articles were found through cross-referencing. The risk of acquiring measles is estimated to be 2 to 19 times higher for susceptible healthcare personnel than for the general population. Fifty-three articles published worldwide during 1989-2013 reported measles transmission from patients to healthcare personnel; many of the healthcare personnel were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Eighteen articles published worldwide during 1982-2013 described examples of transmission from healthcare personnel to patients or to other healthcare personnel. Half of European countries have no measles vaccine policies for healthcare personnel. There is no global policy recommendation for the vaccination of healthcare personnel against measles. Even in countries such as the United States or Finland that have national policies, the recommendations are not uniformly implemented in healthcare facilities. Measles serosusceptibility in healthcare personnel varied widely across studies (median 6.5%, range 0-46%) but was consistently higher among younger healthcare personnel. Deficiencies in documentation of two doses of measles vaccination or other evidence of immunity among healthcare personnel presents challenges in responding to measles exposures in healthcare settings. Evaluating and containing exposures and outbreaks in healthcare settings can be disruptive and costly. Establishing policies for measles vaccination for healthcare personnel is an important strategy towards achieving measles elimination and should be a high priority for global policy setting groups, governments, and hospitals.
Topics: Health Personnel; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Measles; Measles Vaccine; Vaccination
PubMed: 24280280
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.11.005 -
International Journal of Environmental... Oct 2020Prison inmates are highly susceptible for several infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a systematic international literature review...
Prison inmates are highly susceptible for several infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable diseases. We conducted a systematic international literature review on vaccination coverage against hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), combined HAV/HBV, tetanus-diphtheria, influenza, pneumococcal, and combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) in prison inmates, according to the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases were used Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cinhal. No language or time limit were applied to the search. We defined vaccination coverage as the proportion of vaccinated prisoners. There were no limitations in the search strategy regarding time period or language. Of 1079 identified studies, 28 studies were included in the review. In total, 21 reported on HBV vaccine coverage (range between 16-82%); three on HAV (range between 91-96%); two studies on combined HAV/HBV (77% in the second dose and 58% in the third); three studies on influenza vaccine (range between 36-46%), one of pneumococcal vaccine coverage (12%), and one on MMR coverage (74%). We found that data on vaccination coverage in prison inmates are scarce, heterogeneous, and do not include all relevant vaccines for this group. Current published literature indicate that prison inmates are under-immunized, particularly against HBV, influenza, MMR, and pneumococci. Strengthen immunization programs specifically for this population at risk and improvement of data record systems may contribute to better health care in prisoners.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza Vaccines; Male; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Prisoners; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Vaccination; Vaccination Coverage; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
PubMed: 33086513
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207589 -
Vaccine Mar 2023Immunization is an essential component of national health plans. However, the growing number of new vaccine introductions, vaccination campaigns and increasing... (Review)
Review
Immunization is an essential component of national health plans. However, the growing number of new vaccine introductions, vaccination campaigns and increasing administrative costs create logistic and financial challenges, especially in resource-limited settings. Sub-national geographic targeting of vaccination programs is a potential strategy for governments to reduce the impact of infectious disease outbreaks while optimizing resource allocation and reducing costs, promoting sustainability of critically important national immunization plans. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature to identify studies that investigated the cost-effectiveness of geographically targeted sub-national vaccination programs, either through routine immunization or supplementary immunization activities. A total of 16 studies were included in our review, covering nine diseases of interest: cholera, dengue, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis, measles, rotavirus, Shigella and typhoid fever. All studies modelled cost-effectiveness of geographically targeted vaccination. Despite the variation in study design, disease focus and country context, studies generally found that in countries where a heterogenous burden of disease exists, sub-national geographic targeting of vaccination programs in areas of high disease burden was more cost-effective than a non-targeted strategy. Sensitivity analysis revealed that cost-effectiveness was most sensitive to variations in vaccine price, vaccine efficacy, mortality rate, administrative and operational costs, discount rate, and treatment costs. This systematic review identified several key characteristics related to geographic targeting of vaccination, including the vaccination strategy used, variations in modelling parameters and their impact on cost-effectiveness. Additional research and guidance is needed to support the appropriateness and feasibility of geographically targeted vaccination and to determine what country context would make this a viable complement to routine immunization programs.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Vaccination; Immunization Programs; Immunization; Vaccines
PubMed: 36781333
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.006 -
Revista Espanola de Salud Publica Mar 2023Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases are a cause of morbidity and mortality in transplanted children. The main objective of this study was to synthesize the available... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases are a cause of morbidity and mortality in transplanted children. The main objective of this study was to synthesize the available evidence of vaccination coverage in children and adolescents who are candidates or transplant recipients and to analyze beliefs, attitudes, and experiences about vaccination.
METHODS
A mixed-methods systematic review was performed (Open Science Framework registration: https://osf.io/auqn3/). Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, IBECS and LILACS (from January 2000 to August 2021) and in gray literature. Quantitative and qualitative studies reported information on coverage, beliefs, attitudes and/or experiences about recommended vaccines in children who are candidates or recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic progenitor transplantation. Quality assessment was undertaken using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A narrative synthesis of the studies was carried out.
RESULTS
A total of thirty-two studies in thirty-five publications were included. The most studied interventions were vaccines against measles (n=21; 66%) and hepatitis B (n=20; 62%). Vaccination rates showed a high variability for the most represented vaccines (specifically, 2%-100% for measles, 0.4%-100% for hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and rubella), with coverages lower than 90% in at least 70% of the studies. The lowest rates were reported in post-transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Only one qualitative study was identified reporting information on beliefs and/or attitudes, although nine quantitative studies explored cognitive aspects.
CONCLUSIONS
This review shows a high variability in vaccination coverage in children and adolescents who are transplant candidates or recipients, with rates lower than those recommended. Further studies would be needed to identify beliefs and attitudes about immunization in this context.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Vaccination Coverage; Spain; Vaccines; Vaccination; Measles; Hepatitis B; Attitude
PubMed: 36999242
DOI: No ID Found -
Vaccine Mar 2019To systematically review literature on uptake and timeliness of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, and/or polio-containing vaccines ininfants who were... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Completeness and timeliness of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, and polio vaccines in young children with chronic health conditions: A systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review literature on uptake and timeliness of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles-mumps-rubella, and/or polio-containing vaccines ininfants who were born preterm, with a low birth weight, and/or with chronic health conditions that were diagnosed within the first 6 months of life.
METHODS
Using a standardized search strategy developed by a medical librarian, records were extracted from MEDLINE, Embase, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and CINAHL up to May 8, 2018.
RESULTS
Out of the 1997 records that were screened, we identified 21 studies that met inclusion criteria. Eleven studies assessed vaccine coverage and/or timeliness in preterm infants, 6 in low birth weight infants, and 7 in children with chronic health conditions. Estimates of coverage in these populations were highly variable, ranging from 40% to 100% across the vaccines and population groups.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of studies reporting coverage and timeliness of routine immunizations in special populations of children.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Our review suggests a need for improved surveillance of immunization status in special populations of infants, as wellas aneed for standardization of reporting practices.
Topics: Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; Global Health; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Premature; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Poliovirus Vaccines; Public Health Surveillance; Vaccination Coverage
PubMed: 30814030
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.031 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Nov 2022Globally, an estimated 23 million children missed vaccination in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We analyzed vaccination coverage trends...
Globally, an estimated 23 million children missed vaccination in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We analyzed vaccination coverage trends and catch-up strategies/recommendations implemented in Latin America during the pandemic. We performed a national administrative database analysis and a systematic literature review to evaluate vaccination coverage data and identify catch-up strategies for missed vaccinations in selected countries in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru). Data were extracted from national health ministry vaccination coverage and supranational databases to identify coverage of rotavirus (RV), pentavalent/hexavalent, measles, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) at country level before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic literature review of published papers was conducted to identify vaccination catch-up strategies published in January 2020-June 2021. National administrative database-reported data showed that vaccination coverage trends were declining prior to 2020. The change in vaccination coverage before and during the COVID-19 pandemic ranged from 2.5% to -11.5% (RV), -3.0% to -11.0% (measles), 1.5% to -7.5% (PCV), 9.0% to -14.0% (pentavalent/hexavalent), and 3.0% to -18.5% (BCG). Among 696 identified studies, 14 studies were included in this review. Catch-up vaccination strategies included prioritizing routine vaccinations as per the national immunization schedule. Overall vaccination coverage declined by varying degrees among the countries investigated. This trend was observed prior to 2020, suggesting multifactorial reasons for declining vaccination rates in Latin America.
Topics: Child; Humans; Pandemics; COVID-19; Vaccination; Immunization Schedule; Measles; Vaccines, Conjugate; Immunization Programs
PubMed: 36084255
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2102353 -
PloS One 2013Infectious diseases after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are one of the major complications in transplantation medicine. Vaccination-based prevention is desirable,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Infectious diseases after solid organ transplantation (SOT) are one of the major complications in transplantation medicine. Vaccination-based prevention is desirable, but data on the response to active vaccination after SOT are conflicting.
METHODS
In this systematic review, we identify the serologic response rate of SOT recipients to post-transplantation vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A and B, influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitides, tick-borne encephalitis, rabies, varicella, mumps, measles, and rubella.
RESULTS
Of the 2478 papers initially identified, 72 were included in the final review. The most important findings are that (1) most clinical trials conducted and published over more than 30 years have all been small and highly heterogeneous regarding trial design, patient cohorts selected, patient inclusion criteria, dosing and vaccination schemes, follow up periods and outcomes assessed, (2) the individual vaccines investigated have been studied predominately only in one group of SOT recipients, i.e. tetanus, diphtheria and polio in RTX recipients, hepatitis A exclusively in adult LTX recipients and mumps, measles and rubella in paediatric LTX recipients, (3) SOT recipients mount an immune response which is for most vaccines lower than in healthy controls. The degree to which this response is impaired varies with the type of vaccine, age and organ transplanted and (4) for some vaccines antibodies decline rapidly.
CONCLUSION
Vaccine-based prevention of infectious diseases is far from satisfactory in SOT recipients. Despite the large number of vaccination studies preformed over the past decades, knowledge on vaccination response is still limited. Even though the protection, which can be achieved in SOT recipients through vaccination, appears encouraging on the basis of available data, current vaccination guidelines and recommendations for post-SOT recipients remain poorly supported by evidence. There is an urgent need to conduct appropriately powered vaccination trials in well-defined SOT recipient cohorts.
Topics: Antibodies; Antibody Formation; Cohort Studies; Humans; Organ Transplantation; Vaccines
PubMed: 23451126
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056974 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Aug 2013Measles is the leading killer among vaccine-preventable diseases; it is responsible for an estimated 44% of the 1.7 million vaccine-preventable deaths among children... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Measles is the leading killer among vaccine-preventable diseases; it is responsible for an estimated 44% of the 1.7 million vaccine-preventable deaths among children annually.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of antibiotics given to children with measles to prevent complications and reduce pneumonia, other morbidities and mortality.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL 2013, Issue 4, MEDLINE (1966 to May week 4, 2013) and EMBASE (1980 to May 2013).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing antibiotics with placebo or no treatment, to prevent complications in children with measles.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality.
MAIN RESULTS
Seven trials with 1263 children were included. The methodological quality of most studies was poor. Only two studies were randomized, double-blind trials. There was variation in antibiotics used, their doses, schedule and evaluation of outcome. Pooled study data showed that the incidence of pneumonia was lower in the treatment group compared to the control group. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Of the 654 children who received antibiotics, 27 (4.1%) developed pneumonia; while out of 609 children in the control group, 59 (9.6%) developed pneumonia (odds ratio (OR) 0.35; 95% confidence interval (0.12 to 1.01). The one trial that showed an increase in the rate of pneumonia with antibiotics was conducted in 1942 and compared oral sulfathiazole with symptomatic treatment. If the results of this trial are removed from the meta-analysis, there is a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of pneumonia in children receiving antibiotics (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.60). The incidence of other complications was significantly lower in children receiving antibiotics: purulent otitis media (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.73) and tonsillitis (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.72). There was no difference in the incidence of conjunctivitis (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.15 to 1.0), diarrhea (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.23 to 1.22) or croup (OR 0.16; 95% CI 0.01 to 4.06). No major adverse effects attributable to antibiotics were reported.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The studies reviewed were of poor quality and used older antibiotics. This review suggests a beneficial effect of antibiotics in preventing complications such as pneumonia, purulent otitis media and tonsillitis in children with measles. On the basis of this review, it is not possible to recommend definitive guidelines on the type of antibiotic, duration or the day of initiation. There is a need for more evidence from high-quality RCTs to answer these questions.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Conjunctivitis, Bacterial; Croup; Diarrhea; Humans; Measles; Otitis Media; Pneumonia; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tonsillitis
PubMed: 23943263
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001477.pub4 -
Vaccine: X Dec 2022In the pre-vaccination era, all adults acquired immunity status due to natural infections during childhood and adolescence, whereas universal mass vaccination has...
INTRODUCTION
In the pre-vaccination era, all adults acquired immunity status due to natural infections during childhood and adolescence, whereas universal mass vaccination has changed the seroepidemiology of rubella among adults, showing lack of immunity in some subgroups. National and international guidelines recommend evaluating all healthcare workers (HCWs) for their immune status to rubella and possibly vaccinating those who are seronegative. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the susceptibility rate to rubella among HCWs in Italy and to explore possible options for the management of those found to be susceptible.
METHODS
Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, selected from scientific papers available in the MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar (till page 10) databases between January 1, 2015 and November 30, 2021. The following terms were used for the search strategy: (sero* OR seroprevalence OR prevalence OR susceptibilit* OR immunit* OR immunogenict*) AND (healthcare worker* OR health personnel OR physician* OR nurse OR student*) AND (rubella OR german measles OR TORCH) AND (Italy).
RESULTS
The prevalence of rubella-susceptible HCWs was 9.0 % (95 %CI: 6.4-12.1 %). In a comparison of female vs. male serosusceptible HCWs, the RR was 0.67 (95 %CI = 0.51-0.88). Occupational medicine examinations for rubella screening with possible subsequent vaccination of seronegatives and exclusion of susceptible HCWs from high-risk settings were common management strategies.
CONCLUSIONS
HCWs susceptible to rubella are an important epidemiological concern in Italy, and efforts to identify and actively offer the vaccine to this population should be increased.
PubMed: 36032697
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100195 -
BMC Infectious Diseases May 2023As countries move towards or achieve measles elimination status, serosurveillance is an important public health tool. However, a major challenge of serosurveillance is...
Comparison of measles IgG enzyme immunoassays (EIA) versus plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for measuring measles serostatus: a systematic review of head-to-head analyses of measles IgG EIA and PRNT.
BACKGROUND
As countries move towards or achieve measles elimination status, serosurveillance is an important public health tool. However, a major challenge of serosurveillance is finding a feasible, accurate, cost-effective, and high throughput assay to measure measles antibody concentrations and estimate susceptibility in a population. We conducted a systematic review to assess, characterize, and - to the extent possible - quantify the performance of measles IgG enzyme-linked assays (EIAs) compared to the gold standard, plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT).
METHODS
We followed the PRISMA statement for a systematic literature search and methods for conducting and reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses recommended by the Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Tests Methods Group. We identified studies through PubMed and Embase electronic databases and included serologic studies detecting measles virus IgG antibodies among participants of any age from the same source population that reported an index (any EIA or multiple bead-based assays, MBA) and reference test (PRNT) using sera, whole blood, or plasma. Measures of diagnostic accuracy with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were abstracted for each study result, where reported.
RESULTS
We identified 550 unique publications and identified 36 eligible studies for analysis. We classified studies as high, medium, or low quality; results from high quality studies are reported. Because most high quality studies used the Siemens Enzygnost EIA kit, we generate individual and pooled diagnostic accuracy estimates for this assay separately. Median sensitivity of the Enzygnost EIA was 92.1% [IQR = 82.3, 95.7]; median specificity was 96.9 [93.0, 100.0]. Pooled sensitivity and specificity from studies using the Enzygnost kit were 91.6 (95%CI: 80.7,96.6) and 96.0 (95%CI: 90.9,98.3), respectively. The sensitivity of all other EIA kits across high quality studies ranged from 0% to 98.9% with median (IQR) = 90.6 [86.6, 95.2]; specificity ranged from 58.8% to 100.0% with median (IQR) = 100.0 [88.7, 100.0].
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of currently available measles IgG EIAs is variable, insufficient, and may not be fit for purpose for serosurveillance goals. Additional studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of measles EIAs, including MBAs, should be conducted among diverse populations and settings (e.g., vaccination status, elimination/endemic status, age groups).
Topics: Humans; Neutralization Tests; Measles; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Measles virus; Sensitivity and Specificity; Antibodies, Viral; Immunoglobulin G
PubMed: 37259032
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08199-8