0000000000137776
AUTHOR
Marialuisa Maniglia
VACCINATION AND IMMUNIZATION STATUS AGAINST VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES IN AN ITALIAN SAMPLE OF HEALTH-CARE WORKERS OPERATING IN GYNAECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are an important group of professionals exposed to infectious diseases transmitted through several ways. Nevertheless, vaccination coverages of HCWs are often lower than standards recommended by international Public Health authorities. Recently, the Italian Ministry of Health has issued the guidelines for recommended vaccination during pregnancy, child-bearing age and feeding-time. This study aimed at investigating knowledge, attitudes, practices and immunization status in a sample of Italian HCWs employed in gynaecology and obstetrics departments. A survey was conducted between November 2017 and February 2018 throughout an online self-administered questionnaire, p…
Healthcare-associated infections over an eight year period in a large university hospital in Sicily (Italy, 2011–2018)
Background: Up to 7% of hospitalised patients acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). The aim of the present study was to quantify the burden of HAIs in an Italian hospital, identifying involved risk factors. Methods: Prevalence point study carried out from 2011 to 2018. For each recruited patient, a data entry form was compiled including information on demographics, hospital admission, risk factors, antimicrobial treatment, and infection if present. Results: A total of 2844 patients were included and 218 (7.03%) reported an infection. HAI prevalence rates showed a significant increase (average annual per cent change (AAPC) +33.9%; p=0.018) from 2011 to 2014 whereas from…
Methodological issues in a cross-sectional survey on cervical cancer screening using telephone interviews in Sicily (Italy): a SWOT analysis
Objective A cross-sectional study on knowledge, perceptions, and adherence to cervical cancer screening was conducted using telephone interviews of Sicilian women that were performed in 2016. This study aimed to identify areas that need to be addressed to improve the validity of data collection and to minimize possible biases. Methods We performed a qualitative study through SWOT analysis, which is a multidimensional method based on evaluation of Strengths (S), Weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O), and Threats (T) of the research project. The contents of the SWOT forms underwent categorical, inductive, and deductive data analysis using the long table analysis method. Results The full availabil…
Influenza vaccine effectiveness among high-risk groups: a systematic literature review and metaanalysis of case-control and cohort studies
Vaccination represents the most effective intervention to prevent infection, hospitalization and mortality due to influenza. This meta-analysis quantifies data reporting influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) on influenza visits and hospitalizations of case-control and cohort studies among high-risk groups. A systematic literature review including original articles published between 2007 and 2016, using a protocol registered on Prospero with No. 42017054854, and a meta-analysis were conducted. For three high-risk groups (subjects with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and health care workers) only a qualitative evaluation was carried out. The VE quantitative analysis demonstrated a…