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BMC Infectious Diseases Aug 2006Inanimate surfaces have often been described as the source for outbreaks of nosocomial infections. The aim of this review is to summarize data on the persistence of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Inanimate surfaces have often been described as the source for outbreaks of nosocomial infections. The aim of this review is to summarize data on the persistence of different nosocomial pathogens on inanimate surfaces.
METHODS
The literature was systematically reviewed in MedLine without language restrictions. In addition, cited articles in a report were assessed and standard textbooks on the topic were reviewed. All reports with experimental evidence on the duration of persistence of a nosocomial pathogen on any type of surface were included.
RESULTS
Most gram-positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus spp. (including VRE), Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), or Streptococcus pyogenes, survive for months on dry surfaces. Many gram-negative species, such as Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, or Shigella spp., can also survive for months. A few others, such as Bordetella pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus vulgaris, or Vibrio cholerae, however, persist only for days. Mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and spore-forming bacteria, including Clostridium difficile, can also survive for months on surfaces. Candida albicans as the most important nosocomial fungal pathogen can survive up to 4 months on surfaces. Persistence of other yeasts, such as Torulopsis glabrata, was described to be similar (5 months) or shorter (Candida parapsilosis, 14 days). Most viruses from the respiratory tract, such as corona, coxsackie, influenza, SARS or rhino virus, can persist on surfaces for a few days. Viruses from the gastrointestinal tract, such as astrovirus, HAV, polio- or rota virus, persist for approximately 2 months. Blood-borne viruses, such as HBV or HIV, can persist for more than one week. Herpes viruses, such as CMV or HSV type 1 and 2, have been shown to persist from only a few hours up to 7 days.
CONCLUSION
The most common nosocomial pathogens may well survive or persist on surfaces for months and can thereby be a continuous source of transmission if no regular preventive surface disinfection is performed.
Topics: Bacterial Infections; Cross Infection; Fomites; Fungi; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Hospitals; Humans; Mycoses; Virus Diseases; Viruses
PubMed: 16914034
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-130 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Dec 2021Pertussis (whooping cough) epidemics persist globally despite high vaccine coverage among infants and young children. The resurgence of pertussis in high-income... (Review)
Review
Pertussis (whooping cough) epidemics persist globally despite high vaccine coverage among infants and young children. The resurgence of pertussis in high-income countries is partly due to waning vaccine immunity, resulting in a pool of unprotected adolescents and adults. However, pertussis is generally less severe in adolescents and adults, and this difference in presentation means it can often be unrecognised by healthcare professionals, meaning that it is largely under-diagnosed in older populations. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and BIOSIS was undertaken to identify studies published between 1 January 1990 and 17 June 2019, with information on pertussis epidemiology and mortality in school-aged children, adolescents and adults in Europe. A formal statistical comparison (e.g. using meta-analyses) was not possible because of the mix of methodologies reported. There were 69 epidemiological studies and 19 mortality studies identified for review. Over the past decade, the reported incidence of notified pertussis cases varied widely between European countries, which is likely associated with differences in surveillance systems, diagnostic techniques and reporting regulations. However, several studies show that pertussis is circulating among adolescents and adults in Europe, and although pertussis-related morbidity and mortality are highest in infants, there is evidence that adults aged > 50 years are at increased risk. For example, in a hospital-based surveillance study in Portugal, between 2000 and 2015, 94% of hospitalised pertussis cases were infants aged < 1 year, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.8%; however, among hospitalised adult cases of pertussis, the CFRs were 11.5% (aged 18-64 years) and 17.4% (aged > 65 years). Very few European countries currently include pertussis boosters for adults in the national immunisation strategy. In addition to increasing pertussis vaccination coverage in adolescents and adults, mitigation strategies in European countries should include improved diagnosis and treatment in these populations.
PubMed: 34435338
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00520-9 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Sep 2021Cyclic epidemics of pertussis (whooping cough) have been observed globally over the past twenty years despite high infant vaccine coverage. The resurgence of pertussis... (Review)
Review
Cyclic epidemics of pertussis (whooping cough) have been observed globally over the past twenty years despite high infant vaccine coverage. The resurgence of pertussis in high-income countries is partly due to waning vaccine immunity in older children and adults, as well as better surveillance and diagnostics. Moreover, in adolescents and adults, pertussis symptoms are mild and similar to common cough syndromes, meaning that it is under-diagnosed in older populations. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and BIOSIS was undertaken to identify studies published between 1 January 1990 and 17 June 2019, with information on pertussis epidemiology, burden of illness, and mortality in school-aged children, adolescents, and adults in Asia. Studies identified for inclusion were reviewed narratively because a statistical comparison was not possible due to the mix of methodologies used. The results showed that in East Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan, pertussis is circulating in older children and adults. Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP4) coverage is high in East Asia, yet outbreaks observed in Japan and South Korea suggest that vaccine-acquired immunity had waned in adolescents and adults. Several school outbreaks in China show that pertussis is circulating in young children, with continued circulation in adolescents and adults. There was a lack of information from Southeast/South Asian countries, although pan-Asian serosurveys showed that recent pertussis infection was common in adolescents and in adults with persistent cough. To conclude, the circulation of pertussis in Asian countries with high DTP4 coverage supports the expansion of routine vaccination to include booster doses for children at school entry and adolescents. However, surveillance is weak or absent in many countries, meaning that the true burden of pertussis, particularly among older populations, is unknown.
PubMed: 33928533
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00439-1 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Sep 2021The Global Pertussis Initiative recommends diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccination of infants aged < 1 year for all African countries, and recommends the... (Review)
Review
The Global Pertussis Initiative recommends diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccination of infants aged < 1 year for all African countries, and recommends the vaccination of pregnant women as a primary prevention strategy. However, the role of older children and adults in the transmission of pertussis in Africa is not clear. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and BIOSIS was undertaken to identify studies published between 1 January 1990 and 17 June 2019, with information on pertussis epidemiology, burden of illness, and mortality in school-aged children, adolescents, and adults in Africa. Studies identified for inclusion were reviewed narratively because a statistical comparison was not possible because of the mix of methodologies used.Studies from North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria) reported that although DTP4 vaccine coverage is high, severe pertussis-related complications persist in young children, vaccine-acquired immunity wanes in adolescents, and household contacts are important transmitters of infection. A serosurvey in Gambia showed that 6% of the general population had pertussis antibody levels suggesting recent infection, and studies from Senegal showed that pertussis infection was endemic despite high DTP3 coverage. During a pertussis outbreak in Ethiopia, the case fatality rate was 3.7% overall, and 6.3% among children aged 5-9 years. In a case-surveillance study in South Africa, the incidence of pertussis among hospitalized children was 526/100,000, and infection rates were higher in HIV-exposed and -infected children compared with uninfected children. In conclusion, the highest burden of pertussis in Africa is among infants, and surveillance is lacking in many African countries meaning that the burden of pertussis among infants and infection rates among older children and adults are not well reported, and likely underestimated.
PubMed: 33881713
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00442-6 -
Journal of Preventive Medicine and... Dec 2020In industrialized countries, the routine use of Bordetella pertussis vaccines has shifted the burden of Bordetella pertussis disease from children to infants,... (Review)
Review
Immunogenicity and antibody persistence of diphteria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination in adolescents and adults: a systematic review of the literature showed different responses to the available vaccines.
INTRODUCTION
In industrialized countries, the routine use of Bordetella pertussis vaccines has shifted the burden of Bordetella pertussis disease from children to infants, adolescents and adults, leading to the necessity for booster doses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prepared a review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) with the aims of: a) describing the immunogenicity of the main available vaccines for adolescents and adults; b) describing antibody persistence after immunization with the main vaccines available in childhood and adults and, also, possible co-administration; and c) identifying the gold standard for adolescent and adult immunizations.
RESULTS
We identified 6906 records. After removing duplicate records, we included 12 RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial) (people aged 11-73): 7 of these studies had only 1 control group, 4 had 2 control groups and 1 had 5 control groups; moreover, of the 12 studies included, only 2 regarded co-administration, while all concerned immunogenicity. Nine of the 12 studies had a Jadad score above 3 points, and 10 out of 12 met the criteria of Cochrane Back Review Group Criteria List for Methodological Quality Assessment.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
We found a limited number of good-quality RCTs investigating our object. The 5-component vaccines, although containing a lower dose of antigen, proved more effective than the 1-component vaccine. Evidence supports the use of 5-component vaccines for booster sessions in adolescence and adulthood.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial; Diphtheria; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tetanus; Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 33628957
DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2020.61.4.1832 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Jun 2021Despite modern diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines and high vaccine coverage, a resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) has been observed globally. In North... (Review)
Review
Despite modern diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines and high vaccine coverage, a resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) has been observed globally. In North America and Europe, high vaccine coverage in children has led to a shift in the age-specific peak incidence of infection away from infants and towards older children and adolescents. However, much less is known about the prevalence of pertussis in older children and adults in the Middle East. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and BIOSIS was undertaken to identify studies published between 1 January 1990 and 17 June 2019, with information on pertussis epidemiology, burden of illness, and mortality in school-aged children, adolescents, and adults in the Middle East. Studies identified for inclusion were reviewed narratively because a statistical comparison was not possible because of the mix of methodologies used. The results showed that surveillance data are weak or missing in most Middle Eastern countries, and among 24 epidemiological studies identified, most were from Iran (14), Israel (4), and Turkey (3), with single studies from the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. Despite various surveillance periods, clinical definitions, and antibody cut-off values used across the studies, the reported seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies suggested that adolescents and adults are commonly exposed to pertussis in the community and that vaccine-acquired immunity from childhood wanes. Few countries in the Middle East include a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster for adolescents on the national schedule. Israel was the only country with epidemiological data in a population that received Tdap, and the study showed that after the introduction of the adolescent booster dose, there was decrease in pertussis among children aged 5-14 years. To conclude, results from the Middle East suggest that in common with other regions, pertussis is widely circulating and that it might be shifting towards older age groups.
PubMed: 33905101
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00440-8 -
Journal of the American Board of Family... 2017(BP) is a common cause of prolonged cough. Our objective was to perform an updated systematic review of the clinical diagnosis of BP without restriction by patient age. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
(BP) is a common cause of prolonged cough. Our objective was to perform an updated systematic review of the clinical diagnosis of BP without restriction by patient age.
METHODS
We identified prospective cohort studies of patients with cough or suspected pertussis and assessed study quality using QUADAS-2. We performed bivariate meta-analysis to calculate summary estimates of accuracy and created summary receiver operating characteristic curves to explore heterogeneity by vaccination status and age.
RESULTS
Of 381 studies initially identified, 22 met our inclusion criteria, of which 14 had a low risk of bias. The overall clinical impression was the most accurate predictor of BP (positive likelihood ratio [LR+], 3.3; negative likelihood ratio [LR-], 0.63). The presence of whooping cough (LR+, 2.1) and posttussive vomiting (LR+, 1.7) somewhat increased the likelihood of BP, whereas the absence of paroxysmal cough (LR-, 0.58) and the absence of sputum (LR-, 0.63) decreased it. Whooping cough and posttussive vomiting have lower sensitivity in adults. Clinical criteria defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were sensitive (0.90) but nonspecific. Typical signs and symptoms of BP may be more sensitive but less specific in vaccinated patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The clinician's overall impression was the most accurate way to determine the likelihood of BP infection when a patient initially presented. Clinical decision rules that combine signs, symptoms, and point-of-care tests have not yet been developed or validated.
Topics: Age Factors; Clinical Decision-Making; Cough; Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vomiting; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 28484063
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2017.03.160330 -
Chest Aug 2017Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly infective cause of cough that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Existing case definitions include paroxysmal cough,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly infective cause of cough that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Existing case definitions include paroxysmal cough, whooping, and posttussive vomiting, but diagnosis can be difficult. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of clinical characteristics of pertussis-associated cough.
METHODS
We systematically searched CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and SCI-EXPANDED/CPCI-S up to June 2016. Eligible studies compared clinical characteristics in those positive and negative for Bordetella pertussis infection, confirmed by laboratory investigations. Two authors independently completed screening, data extraction, and quality and bias assessments. For each characteristic, RevMan was used to produce descriptive forest plots. The bivariate meta-analysis method was used to generate pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity.
RESULTS
Of 1,969 identified papers, 53 were included. Forty-one clinical characteristics were assessed for diagnostic accuracy. In adult patients, paroxysmal cough and absence of fever have a high sensitivity (93.2% [CI, 83.2-97.4] and 81.8% [CI, 72.2-88.7], respectively) and low specificity (20.6% [CI, 14.7-28.1] and 18.8% [CI, 8.1-37.9]), whereas posttussive vomiting and whooping have low sensitivity (32.5% [CI, 24.5-41.6] and 29.8% [CI, 8.0-45.2]) and high specificity (77.7% [CI, 73.1-81.7] and 79.5% [CI, 69.4-86.9]). Posttussive vomiting in children is moderately sensitive (60.0% [CI, 40.3-77.0]) and specific (66.0% [CI, 52.5-77.3]).
CONCLUSIONS
In adult patients, the presence of whooping or posttussive vomiting should rule in a possible diagnosis of pertussis, whereas the lack of a paroxysmal cough or the presence of fever should rule it out. In children, posttussive vomiting is much less helpful as a clinical diagnostic test.
Topics: Adult; Bordetella pertussis; Child; Cough; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 28511929
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2017.04.186 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Sep 2021Pertussis is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis. Although the burden of pertussis is highest in children, available data... (Review)
Review
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis. Although the burden of pertussis is highest in children, available data suggests that pertussis in the elderly and those with underlying chronic conditions or illnesses can result in significant morbidity, mortality and costs. We undertook a comprehensive review to assess the association between pertussis and chronic conditions/illnesses. A search was undertaken on 17 June 2019 across EMBASE, Medline and BIOSIS. Citations were limited to those in English, in humans and published since 1 January 1990. There were 1179 papers identified with an additional 70 identified through a review of the reference lists. Of these, 34 met the inclusion criteria. Papers included were categorised in groups, those which reported: associations between prior pertussis and subsequent chronic conditions or illnesses; a link between chronic conditions/illnesses and subsequent risk of pertussis; and those which reported on the effect of the chronic conditions/illnesses on pertussis complications or exacerbations. Pertussis appears to increase the likelihood of developing some chronic conditions/illnesses, but also appears to decrease the likelihood of developing some haematological cancers. There were several chronic conditions/illnesses where the study results were mixed, and several studies that found no association with previous pertussis. There were also studies which showed that having some comorbid health condition(s) might increase the risk of developing pertussis. Three studies showed pertussis can lead to increased exacerbations of chronic conditions/illnesses and associated hospitalisations, although one study showed it reduced the effects of chronic bronchitis. Previous pertussis appears to contribute to the increased likelihood of developing some respiratory conditions like asthma, and conversely those with asthma or COPD are at increased risk of severe pertussis requiring further intervention. Further research is required to confirm or disprove these associations, and to characterise the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the potential associations with pertussis.
PubMed: 34117998
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00465-z -
Toxins Feb 2023As a tribute to Louis Pasteur on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, this article summarizes the main contributions of scientists from Pasteur Institutes... (Review)
Review
As a tribute to Louis Pasteur on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth, this article summarizes the main contributions of scientists from Pasteur Institutes to the current knowledge of toxins produced by . The article therefore focuses on publications authored by researchers from Pasteur Institutes and is not intended as a systematic review of toxins. Besides identifying as the causative agent of whooping cough, Pasteurians have made several major contributions with respect to the structure-function relationship of the lipo-oligosaccharide, adenylyl cyclase toxin and pertussis toxin. In addition to contributing to the understanding of these toxins' mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels and their role in pathogenesis, scientists at Pasteur Institutes have also exploited potential applications of the gathered knowledge of these toxins. These applications range from the development of novel tools to study protein-protein interactions over the design of novel antigen delivery tools, such as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine candidates against cancer and viral infection, to the development of a live attenuated nasal pertussis vaccine. This scientific journey from basic science to applications in the field of human health matches perfectly with the overall scientific objectives outlined by Louis Pasteur himself.
Topics: Humans; Bordetella pertussis; Whooping Cough; Pertussis Toxin; Virulence Factors, Bordetella; Adenylate Cyclase Toxin; Pertussis Vaccine
PubMed: 36977067
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030176