液囊空肠管预防急性脑卒中患者卒中相关性肺炎的观察

目的探讨液囊鼻肠管对急性脑卒中患者卒中相关性肺炎(SAP)的预防作用。方法以2014年5月-2015年4月符合条件的80例急性脑卒中患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组(留置胃管)和观察组(留置液囊空肠管)。记录一般临床资料,观察至置管后2周,比较两组的白蛋白水平和SAP发生情况。结果两组之间的白蛋白水平差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组发生SAP 5例(20.0%),对照组发生SAP 13例(32.5%),两组SAP发生率差异有统计学意义(χ~2=4.588,P=0.032)。结论液囊空肠管能够减少需要肠内营养的急性脑卒中患者SAP的发生,值得在临床中进一步推广。     

Near real-time surveillance for Guillain-Barré syndrome after influenza vaccination among the Medicare population, 2010/11 to 2013/14

BackgroundGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious acute demyelinating disease that causes weakness and paralysis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began collaborating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop near real-time vaccine safety surveillance capabilities in 2006 and has been monitoring for the risk of GBS after influenza vaccination for every influenza season since 2008.MethodsWe present results from the 2010/11 to 2013/14 influenza seasons using the Updating Sequential Probability Ratio Test (USPRT), with an overall 1-sided α of 0.05 apportioned equally using a constant alpha-spending plan among 20 consecutive weekly tests, 5 ad hoc tests, and a 26th final end of season test. Observed signals were investigated using the self-controlled risk interval (SCRI) design.ResultsOver 15 million people were vaccinated in each influenza season. In the 2010/11 influenza season, we observed an elevated GBS risk during the season, with an end of season SCRI analysis finding a nonsignificant increased risk (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.96–1.63). A sensitivity analysis applying the positive predictive value of the ICD-9 code for GBS from the 2009/10 season estimated a RR = 1.98 (95% CI: 1.42–2.76). Although the 2010/11 influenza vaccine suggested an increased GBS risk, surveillance of the identical vaccine in the 2011/12 influenza season did not find an increased GBS risk after vaccination. No signal was observed in the subsequent three influenza seasons.ConclusionsConducting near real-time surveillance using USPRT has proven to be an excellent method for near real-time GBS surveillance after influenza vaccination, as demonstrated by our surveillance efforts during the 2010/11–2013/14 influenza seasons. In the 2010/2011 influenza season, in addition to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, using near real-time surveillance we were able to observe a signal early in the influenza season and the method has now become routine.     

Doses per vaccine vial container: An understated and underestimated driver of performance that needs more evidence

The widespread use of multidose vaccine containers in low and middle income countries’ immunization programs is assumed to have multiple benefits and efficiencies for health systems, yet the broader impacts on immunization coverage, costs, and safety are not well understood. To document what is known on this topic, how it has been studied, and confirm the gaps in evidence that allow us to assess the complex system interactions, the authors undertook a review of published literature that explored the relationship between doses per container and immunization systems. The relationships examined in this study are organized within a systems framework consisting of operational costs, timely coverage, safety, product costs/wastage, and policy/correct use, with the idea that a change in dose per container affects all of them, and the optimal solution will depend on what is prioritized and used to measure performance.Studies on this topic are limited and largely rely on modeling to assess the relationship between doses per container and other aspects of immunization systems. Very few studies attempt to look at how a change in doses per container affects vaccination coverage rates and other systems components simultaneously. This article summarizes the published knowledge on this topic to date and suggests areas of current and future research to ultimately improve decision making around vaccine doses per container and increase understanding of how this decision relates to other program goals.     

Yellow fever live attenuated vaccine: A very successful live attenuated vaccine but still we have problems controlling the disease

Yellow fever (YF) is regarded as the original hemorrhagic fever and has been a major public health problem for at least 250 years. A very effective live attenuated vaccine, strain 17D, was developed in the 1930s and this has proved critical in the control of the disease. There is little doubt that without the vaccine, YF virus would be considered a biosafety level 4 pathogen. Significantly, YF is currently the only disease where an international vaccination certificate is required under the International Health Regulations. Despite having a very successful vaccine, there are occasional issues of supply and demand, such as that which occurred in Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016 when there was insufficient vaccine available. For the first time fractional dosing of the vaccine was approved on an emergency basis. Thus, continued vigilance and improvements in supply and demand are needed in the future.     

Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis as a manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease, which is characterized by recurrent and paroxysmal fever, peritonitis, arthritis, myalgia, and skin rashes. Although various skin lesions such as “erysipelas‐like erythema”, urticaria, nonspecific purpura, and subcutaneous nodules have been described, cutaneous vasculitis is rare. We report a Japanese case of sporadic FMF accompanied by cutaneous arteritis at the time of febrile attacks of FMF. Gene analysis revealed M694I mutation in a single allele of the MEFV gene, and oral colchicine successfully controlled both periodic fever and subcutaneous nodules of arteritis. Cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis repeatedly emerging with febrile attacks should be included among the skin manifestations of FMF.     

Effectiveness of a commercial leptospiral vaccine on urinary shedding in naturally exposed sheep in New Zealand

L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo and L. interrogans serovar Pomona are endemic in New Zealand sheep. An effective vaccine and vaccination strategy would protect both humans and livestock.Four to 12 lambs were selected from each of eight farms (total = 84, vaccinated group), while four to 16 lambs (total = 98) served as unvaccinated controls. A commercial Hardjo/Pomona vaccine was given at 1–6 weeks of age, 5–11 weeks later and 33–67 weeks later on seven farms and at 18 weeks of age and 5 weeks later on the eighth farm. Vaccinates and controls were grazed together. Blood was regularly collected from the control group to assess flock exposure. Urine was collected from both groups 26–82 weeks after the second vaccination and tested by quantitative PCR.Seroprevalence in controls at the time of urine sampling ranged from 2.7 to 98.2% for Hardjo and from 0 to 54.1% for Pomona with seroconversion occurring 13 to 67 weeks after the second vaccination in all but one farm where exposure had happened by the time of vaccination. The shedding prevalence adjusted for clustering in farms was 45.1% [95% CI 17.6–72.7] (for an observed number of 50/98) in the control animals and 1.8% [95% CI 0.0–10.1] (for an observed number of 5/84) in the vaccinated animals. The vaccine was 100% effective on five farms where animals were vaccinated before 12 weeks of age and before natural exposure occurred, but the effectiveness was 80% [0–97] on one farm where the lambs were exposed before vaccination and 65% [9–87] to 80% [0–97] on one farm where the animals were fully vaccinated by 24 weeks of age. The overall vaccine effectiveness was 86.3% [63.6–94.8%] despite maternal antibodies in some flocks at first vaccination. Vaccination timing seemed to be crucial in achieving optimum reduction in shedding in urine in vaccinated sheep.     

Influenza vaccination in older people with diabetes and their household contacts

BackgroundPeople with diabetes are at a higher risk of influenza infections and severe complications. The vaccination of close contacts could offer indirect protection to people with diabetes; this is known as “herd immunity.” The aim of this study is to investigate the vaccination rates of people with diabetes and their household contacts in Hong Kong.Research design and methodsFace-to-face interviews with 158 patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and aged ⩾65 years were conducted in clinics. Telephone interviews were then conducted with 281 adult household contacts.ResultsSeasonal influenza vaccination rates were 54.5% and 27.4%, in people with diabetes and their contacts, respectively. The vaccination status of patients was not significantly associated with the vaccination of their household contacts (p = 0.073). Among household contacts, children or the elderly, the partners or couples of patients, and those with more hours of daily contact, or with chronic conditions, were associated with higher vaccination rates. However, only age remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors in logistic regression models.ConclusionsThe low vaccination rates of people with diabetes and their close contacts highlight the need to promote vaccination in susceptible populations and to educate the public about herd immunity.