Effect of selective vaccination on rubella susceptibility and infection in pregnancy

The effect of school and adult vaccination on susceptibility to rubella in women of childbearing age was assessed in the Manchester area, where the population attending antenatal clinics is over 40 000 a year. Between 1979 and 1984 the proportion susceptible fell from 6.4% to 2.7%. In 1984, 4.2% of nulliparous women were susceptible compared with 1.4% of women in their second or subsequent pregnancy. Eighty five per cent of pregnant women screened and found to be non-immune were vaccinated post partum before leaving hospital. Requests for prevaccination screening of non-pregnant women increased in response to a national campaign and at the time of local outbreaks of rubella but only two thirds of those found to be nonimmune were subsequently vaccinated. During 1983 and 1984 infection was confirmed in 57 pregnant women--2% of those non-immune. Selective vaccination has reduced susceptibility to rubella in the childbearing population, but it is suggested that mass vaccination of children of both sexes should be added to the existing policy to control circulation of wild rubella virus and reduce the risk of infection to pregnant women who remain susceptible.     

Susceptibility to rubella among pregnant women and the serological evidence of congenital rubella in newborn babies at Colombo South Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To determine the susceptibility to rubella infection in early pregnancy and the incidence of seropositivity of cord blood for rubella specific IgM among the newborn babies at Colombo South Teaching Hospital. METHODS: 1000 cord blood samples and 500 maternal blood samples from pregnant women before the 16th week of gestation were taken from the labour room and the antenatal clinic of the University Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital during the period of February 1999 to February 2001. These samples were tested for rubella specific IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA. A detailed questionnaire was filled during the time of sampling. RESULTS: Of the 500 antenatal blood samples 82% were positive for rubella specific IgG. 373(75%) women gave a history of vaccination against rubella before their present pregnancy. Among the vaccinated 2(0.5%) were negative for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Out of 127 unvaccinated women 12(9%) gave a history of past infection with rubella and of this 3(25%) were seronegative for rubella specific IgG. 18% of pregnant women at 16 weeks of gestation were at risk of giving birth to a baby with congenital rubella syndrome. Among the tested 1000 cord blood samples three were seropositive (0.3%) for rubella specific IgM. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of pregnant women were susceptible to rubella infection in the studied population. The present strategy of selective rubella vaccination should be reconsidered if we are to get closer to eliminating rubella syndrome in Sri Lanka.     

A large rubella outbreak with spread from the workplace to the community

CONTEXT: Childhood vaccination has reduced rubella disease to low levels in the United States, but outbreaks continue to occur. The largest outbreak in the past 5 years occurred in Nebraska in 1999. OBJECTIVES: To examine risk factors for disease, susceptibility of the risk population, role of vaccine failure, and the need for new vaccination strategies in response to the Nebraska rubella outbreak. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Investigation of 83 confirmed rubella cases occurring in Douglas County, Nebraska, between March 23 and August 24, 1999; serosurvey of 413 pregnant women in the outbreak locale between October 1998 and March 1999 (prior to outbreak) and April and November 1999 (during and after outbreak). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Case characteristics, compared with that of the general county population; area childhood rubella vaccination rates; and susceptibility among pregnant women before vs during and after the outbreak. RESULTS: All 83 rubella cases were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status and fell into 3 groups: (1) 52 (63%) were young adults (median age, 26 years), 83% of whom were born in Latin American countries where rubella vaccination was not routine. They were either employed in meatpacking plants or were their household contacts. Attack rates in the plants were high (14.4 per 1000 vs 0. 19 per 1000 for general county population); (2) 16 (19%), including 14 children (9 of whom were aged <12 months) and 2 parents, were US-born and non-Hispanic, who acquired the disease through contacts at 2 day care facilities (attack rate, 88.1 per 1000); and (3) 15 (18%) were young adults (median age, 22 years) whose major disease risk was residence in population-dense census tracts where meatpacking-related cases resided (R(2) = 0.343; P<.001); 87% of these persons were born in Latin America. Among pregnant women, susceptibility rates were 13% before the outbreak and 11% during and after the outbreak. Six (25%) of 24 susceptible women tested were seropositive for rubella IgM. Rubella vaccination rates were 90.2% for preschool children and 99.8% for school-aged children. CONCLUSIONS: A large rubella outbreak occurred among unvaccinated persons in a community with high immunity levels. Crowded working and living conditions facilitated transmission, but vaccine failure did not. Workplace vaccination could be considered to prevent similar outbreaks. JAMA. 2000;284:2733-2739.     

Seroepidemiologic study of rubella in selected Chinese female

To have a better understanding of rubella seroepidemiology among female population in Taiwan, we report a serologic survey of 4030 examinations for 2030 school girls and 2000 pregnant women, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of rubella specific IgG. RA 27/3 vaccines were given to susceptible volunteer students and postpartum women for the evaluation of vaccine efficiency and its side effects. The results showed that the rubella susceptible female among 8 to 22-year-old girl students was 44.97%, which was higher than expected, as most of them experienced the outbreak of rubella in 1977. The susceptibility rate among the pregnant women was 19.35%, which was also higher than expected for an age group having been through two outbreaks in the past. All the vaccinees showed good tolerance to the vaccine and the seroconversion rate was 100%. With such high susceptibility rate among women of child bearing age and girl students, plus the endemic property of rubella infection in Taiwan, we can expect a high risk of congenital rubella syndrome. Mass vaccination against rubella should be brought into effect immediately.     

Immunity to rubella in prepubertal girls in Prince Edward Island.

A survey of rubella immunity was conducted among prepubertal girls in Prince Edward Island. Of the 431 girls enrolled in grade 4 in a random sample of schools 83% had a school record of having been vaccinated after their first birthday. A screening test of finger-prick samples revealed that 95% of the girls with a written history of vaccination after their first birthday were immune, 79% of those vaccinated before their first birthday or for whom the date of vaccination was uncertain were immune, and 40% of unvaccinated girls were immune. Of the 49 susceptible girls 43 were vaccinated; all but 2 were found to be immune on retesting. The findings support the recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to vaccinate all prepubertal girls without a written history of rubella vaccination after their first birthday.     

Preventing early-onset group B streptococcal sepsis: clinical risk factor-based screening or culture-based screening?

INTRODUCTIONTwo strategies are available for prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis – clinical risk factor-based screening and routine culture-based screening of pregnant women for GBS colonisation. In our hospital, we switched from the former to the latter approach in 2014.METHODSWe compared the incidence of early-onset GBS sepsis during 2001–2015 between infants born to pregnant women who were screened for GBS colonisation and those born to women who were not screened.RESULTSAmong 41,143 live births, there were nine cases of early-onset GBS sepsis. All infants with GBS sepsis were born to pregnant women who were not screened for GBS colonisation. The incidence of early-onset GBS sepsis among infants of women who were not screened was 0.41 per 1,000 live births (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19–0.77) when compared to infants of women who were screened, for whom the sepsis incidence was zero per 1,000 live births (95% CI 0–0.19; p = 0.005).CONCLUSIONOur data suggests that routine culture-based screening of pregnant women for GBS colonisation is a better preventive strategy for early-onset GBS sepsis in neonates when compared to clinical risk factor-based screening.     

Congenital rubella in babies of south Asian women in England and Wales: an excess and its causes

The incidence of congenital rubella was found to be 2.3 times higher in Asian than non-Asian births in England and Wales. This was attributed in part to higher susceptibility to rubella in Asian than non-Asian women, as shown by antenatal serological data from public health laboratories in Leeds, Luton, and Manchester. Examination of the ethnic origin of pregnant women requesting laboratory testing after contact with rubella or rash and of women with laboratory confirmed rubella in pregnancy also suggested that the disease was being underdiagnosed in pregnant Asian women. Failure to prevent congenital rubella by termination of infected pregnancies may therefore contribute to the increased incidence of the syndrome in Asians. Health education programmes about the dangers of rubella in pregnancy and of the need for vaccination can readily be promoted in the Asian community through existing ethnic organisations. Protection of other ethnic minorities likely to be at similar increased risk may require a vaccination programme aimed at national elimination of rubella.     

Relationship between prepregnancy anthrax vaccination and pregnancy and birth outcomes among US Army women

CONTEXT: Substantial concern surrounds the potential health effects of the anthrax vaccine, particularly the potential adverse effects on reproductive processes. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether receipt of anthrax vaccination by reproductive-aged women has an effect on pregnancy rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Cohort study, based on information from a computer database, of women aged 17 to 44 years who were stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga, or Hunter Army Airfield, Ga, from January 1999 through March 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy and birth rates and adverse birth outcomes. RESULTS: Of a total of 4092 women, 3136 received at least 1 dose of the anthrax vaccine. There was a total of 513 pregnancies, with 385 following at least 1 dose of anthrax vaccine. The pregnancy rate ratio (before and after adjustment for marital status, race, and age) comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated women was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-1.2; P =.60). There were 353 live births and 25 pregnancies lost to follow-up. The birth odds ratio after anthrax vaccination (before and after adjustment for marital status and age) was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.5-1.4; P =.55). After adjusting for age, the odds ratio for adverse birth outcome after receiving at least 1 dose of anthrax vaccination was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.4-2.4; P =.88). However, this study did not have sufficient power to detect adverse birth outcomes. CONCLUSION: Anthrax vaccination had no effect on pregnancy and birth rates or adverse birth outcomes.     

风疹易感人群婚前风疹疫苗接种预防先天性风疹综合征

目的探讨婚前风疹易感人群风疹疫苗接种在提高孕妇对风疹的免疫力,预防先天性风疹综合征中的作用.方法对10 913例婚前风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者给予国产风疹减毒活疫苗注射.3个月随防671例,比较风疹疫苗接种前后该地区孕妇近期风疹感染的发病率.结果818例风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者接种后抗体转阳率为99.8%.风疹疫苗接种前后3年孕妇近期风疹感染率分别为0.37%及0.08%,有明显下降,有非常显著差异(P＜0.001).结论应用国产风疹减毒活疫苗对婚前易感人群作预防接种可提高育龄妇女对风疹的免疫力,降低孕期风疹感染的发生率,是预防先天性风疹综合征及风疹致畸的有效、安全措施.     

重庆市璧山区孕期人群地中海贫血流行病学研究

目的：探讨重庆市璧山区孕妇产前地中海贫血筛查状况。方法采集孕妇外周静脉血作血红蛋白成分分析,进行产前地中海贫血筛查,对怀疑地中海贫血的孕妇及其丈夫进行基因诊断检查。结果对2100名孕妇进行地中海贫血筛查,筛查阳性94例,筛查阳性率4．48％。其中,进行基因诊断而确诊地中海贫血者68例,阳性率为72．34％,占总筛查孕妇比例为3．24％。对94例孕妇的配偶均建议行地中海贫血基因检测,其中基因异常者8例,阳性率为8．51％。结论强化孕妇地中海贫血筛查,可避免重型地中海贫血患儿活产。     

邯郸市孕妇甲型H1N1流感疫苗接种意愿调查

目的了解孕妇接种甲型H1N1流行性感冒(简称甲流)疫苗的意愿,为采取有效干预措施,提高孕妇接种率提供参考。方法在邯郸市选取两所出生医院,按随机抽样的方法抽取孕妇221人,问卷调查其对甲型H1N1流行性感冒疫苗(简称甲流疫苗)接种的认识及意愿。结果不同孕期、不同年龄段孕妇接种意愿比较差异无统计学意义。拒绝接种甲流疫苗的孕妇中76.2%的人担心疫苗的安全性。82%的孕妇知道有关甲流疫苗的信息,其对甲流疫苗的知识主要来自于电视(62.4%),通过医生介绍的仅为3%。结论孕妇拒绝接种甲流疫苗主要是担心疫苗的安全性,为提高孕妇的接种意愿和甲流疫苗的实际接种率,应加大对甲流疫苗安全性的宣传,并加强医生在医疗保健过程中对孕妇接种甲流疫苗的宣传。     

Employee rubella screening programs in Arizona hospitals

One year after voluntary guidelines on rubella screening of hospital employees were issued by the Arizona Department of Health, a survey of 68 members of the Arizona Hospital Association was conducted, with an 81% response. Some form of employee rubella screening was present in only 49% of responding hospitals. Of the screening hospitals, 70% of programs had a mandatory aspect for selected employees. Administrative logistics, cost, problems encountered, and the quality and coverage of the program varied substantially among the different hospitals. Fewer than half of the screening hospitals had programs for physicians, students, or volunteers. Verbal histories of immunization or serological tests, although notoriously unreliable, were accepted by 14% of the screening hospitals. Half of the nonscreening hospitals plan to implement programs in the future. Reasons given for not establishing rubella screening programs include cost, no pediatric or obstetric service, liability issues, high turnover, and no previous case of rubella in an employee. Three hospitals (all screening) reported they had had a case of rubella in an employee. The data suggest slow partial compliance with recommendations for rubella screening in hospitals.     

Prevention of congenital rubella.

The vaccine of choice for rubella vaccination is considered to be RA 27/3, based on frequency of side effects, duration of immunity, antigenic potential and rate of reinfection by wild virus. The most appropriate individuals to be vaccinated are prepubertal schoolgirls and susceptible members of other high-risk groups, and a nationwide immunization program is suggested. Premarital determination of rubella-immune status should be mandatory for all women of childbearing age. A favourable cost/benefit ratio for rubella vaccination seems highly probable. The use of a rubella "fact sheet" to provide education and information for those at risk is strongly recommended.     

Epidemiology of congenital rubella syndrome. The role of maternal parity.

Rubella vaccination policies are primarily directed at control of congenital rubella syndrome. In the United States, vaccination of children of both sexes, ages 1 theough 12 years, has been recommended. This policy depends on the hypothesis that children are the major source of infection for pregnant women. If true, then as maternal parity increases one would expect an increasing prevalence of rubella antibody or an increase in the frequence of rubella syndrome in babies. A serologic survey of 3,081 pregnant women has failed to show an increase in prevalence of rubella antibody with increasing parity. Case-control studies comparing groups of children with rubella syndrome to birth certificate and hospital control groups also have failed to show an excess of multiparae among the mothers of babies with rubella syndrome. Thus, these results do not support the hypothesis that children are the major source of infection for pregnant women.     

Absence of cell-mediated immunity to rubella virus 5 years after rubella vaccination.

The long-term effectiveness of rubella vaccination in childhood is particularly important because the ultimate goal of immunization is the prevention of infection during pregnancy. Of 25 healthy children tested 4 to 5 years after rubella vaccination, 19 showed no evidence of cell-mediated immunity (CM) to rubella virus despite the presence of hemagglutination-inhibition or complement-fixation antibodies or both. Twenty-two of 25 seropositive, naturally infected young adults showed evidence of CMI. These results indicate that fetuses of women who have been vaccinated against rubella may not be protected against damage by wild rubella infection during the pregnancy, when CMI is physiologically depressed.     

Swedish experience of two dose vaccination programme aiming at eliminating measles, mumps, and rubella

In 1982 a two dose regimen was introduced in Sweden for the combined vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella of children aged 18 months and 12 years. Since 1977 about half of the preschool children were vaccinated against measles annually, and since 1974 about 80% of 12 year old girls were vaccinated against rubella. During the period 1982 to 1985 90-93% of the eligible age cohorts of 18 month old children and 88-91% of the 12 year old children were immunised with the new combined vaccine. A study in 1982 of about 140 18 month old children who were nearly all seronegative before vaccination showed that 96%, 92%, and 99% seroconverted against measles, mumps, and rubella, respectively. A second study was carried out in 1983 of 247 12 year old children, of whom 11% lacked antibodies to measles, 27% to mumps, and 45% to rubella. This showed seroconversion in 82% and 80% against measles and mumps, respectively, and all children seroconverted against rubella. In the latest study in 1985 of 496 12 year olds 9% and 13% were seronegative against measles and mumps before vaccination, and 41% against rubella. Of these, 88% seroconverted to measles and 80% to mumps, and all converted to rubella when sera were tested by the haemolysis in gel method. After a neutralisation test against measles as well all children showed immunity to the disease. A low incidence of measles and declining figures for mumps and rubella were reported in 1984 to 1986. An outbreak of rubella during 1985 affected mainly boys in age cohorts in which only the girls had been vaccinated during the 1970s.     

A 12-month prospective survey of perinatal outcome of liveborn neonates in Julu County, China

Background Population based epidemiologic study on the main diseases and birth status of liveborn neonates remains scarce in China, especially in rural areas where a large number of neonates are born. The aim of this study was to establish an epidemiological basis of live births in Julu County, a representative of the northern and mid-western parts of China in terms of demography, disease pattern and women and children＇s health care infrastructure.Methods The perinatal data of all live births were prospectively collected in three participating county-level hospitals from September 1, 2007 to August 30, 2008.Results There were 5822 live births in these hospitals. Among all live births, 53.7% were male and 4.5% were bornprematurely. Mean （SD） birth weight （BW） was （3348±503） g. The low （〈2500 g） and very low BW （〈1500 g） infants accounted for 3.8% and 0.5% of the total births, with 6.5% as small for gestational age and 2.8% as multi-births.Cesarean section rate was 30.2%, of which 68.6% were elective. There were 745 infants （12.8% of the live births）admitted to local neonatal wards within 7 days of postnatal life, in which 48.3% and 19.3% were due to perinatal asphyxia and prematurity, respectively. The incidences of perinatal aspiration syndrome, transient tachypnea and respiratory distress syndrome were 4.9%, 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Neonatal mortality was 7.6%. （44/5822）, with 16 in delivery room and 28 in neonatal ward before discharge.Conclusions This study provided a population-based perinatal data of live births and neonatal mortality in a northern China county with limited resources. Neonatal disorders related to perinatal asphyxia remain a serious clinical problem,which calls for sustained education of advanced neonatal resuscitation and improvement in the quality of perinatal-neonatal care.     

Rubella vaccination programme in Malaysia: analysis of a seroprevalence study in an antenatal clinic

In many developed countries, the incidence of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is considered to be negligible due to the availability of an effective vaccine. However, in Malaysia, several CRS cases are seen every year. This casts doubt on the effectiveness of the rubella vaccination programme. Very few seroprevalence studies were done over the years, making it difficult to discuss the effectiveness of the vaccination programme. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of rubella immunity among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in a local teaching hospital. The hospital database on rubella immunity was assessed retrospectively from August 2001 to June 2002. A cross-sectional study of interviewed method as well as determination of rubella immunity by laboratory tests were carried out in July 2002. A total of 414 women were included, of whom 134 women were interviewed. The rubella immunity status was 92.3%. Based on this figure, rubella vaccination programme in Malaysia is a success despite the presence of CRS cases. Malaysia must ensure rubella vaccine coverage among target groups is high in order to minimise CRS cases.     

Routine prenatal screening for HIV in a low-prevalence setting

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of British Columbia's June 1994 guidelines for prenatal HIV screening on the rate of maternal-fetal HIV transmission and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of such screening. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of pregnancy and delivery statistics, HIV screening practices, laboratory testing volume, prenatal and labour management decisions of HIV-positive women, maternal-fetal transmission rates and associated costs. RESULTS: Over 1995 and 1996, 135,681 women were pregnant and 92,645 carried to term. The rate of HIV testing increased from 55% to 76% of pregnancies on chart review at one hospital between November 1995 and November 1996. On the basis of seroprevalence studies, an estimated 50.2 pregnancies and 34.3 (95% confidence interval 17.6 to 51.0) live births to HIV-positive women were expected. Of 42 identified mother-infant pairs with an estimated date of delivery during 1995 or 1996, 25 were known only through screening. Of these 25 cases, there were 10 terminations, 1 spontaneous abortion and 14 cases in which the woman elected to carry the pregnancy to term with antiretroviral therapy. There was one stillbirth. One instance of maternal-fetal HIV transmission occurred among the 13 live births. The net savings attributable to prevented infections among babies carried to term were $165,586, with a saving per prevented case of $75,266. INTERPRETATION: A routine offer of pregnancy screening for HIV in a low-prevalence setting reduces the rate of maternal-fetal HIV transmission and may rival other widely accepted health care expenditures in terms of cost-effectiveness.