0000000000524109
AUTHOR
Thomas Verstraeten
NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS IS AN IMPORTANT CAUSE OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS IN GERMANY
Noroviruses are the most important global cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Testing for norovirus in patients hospitalized with AGE is incentivized in Germany because a positive diagnosis impacts reimbursement. We estimated the number of nosocomial infections overall and by age-group for norovirus gastroenteritis (NGE) using federal German databases. All hospitalizations in Germany are registered with the German Federal Statistics Office (DESTATIS). We extracted aggregate data for patients hospitalized with NGE (ICD-10 codes A08.1) as primary or non-primary diagnosis for the period 2007–2012. Cases with a non-primary diagnoses were assumed to be due to nosocomial infection.
The burden of norovirus disease in children in the European Union.
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.
Review of 8 years of experience with Infanrix hexa (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib hexavalent vaccine).
Combination vaccines that include multiple antigens within one formulation are now widely accepted as an effective means of eliciting protection against several diseases at the same time. Owing to improvements in quality and convenient modes of administration, they have become part of routine pediatric practice. Hexavalent vaccines, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens represent the latest advance in the development of combination vaccines. Over 8 years since its first licensure, this review looks at the immunogenicity, efficacy and safety profile of the only hexavalent pediatric vaccine currently in use--Infanrix hexa (diph…
Four and One-Half-Year Follow-up of the Effectiveness of Diphtheria-Tetanus Toxoids-Acellular Pertussis/Haemophilus influenzae Type b and Diphtheria-Tetanus Toxoids-Acellular Pertussis-Inactivated Poliovirus/H. influenzae Type b Combination Vaccines in Germany
Background: Recently an increase in the number of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) cases was observed in the United Kingdom, which coincided with a temporary change from diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-wild-type pertussis to diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis (DTaP) Hib vaccines. A study in Germany based on approximately 2 years of follow-up, estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of DTaP/Hib and DTaP-inactivated poliovirus/Hib combination vaccines against invasive Hib disease to be high. Objectives: To assess VE of DTaP-containing Hib vaccines against Hib in Germany with the use of extended follow-up of case surveillance and vaccine uptake. Subjects and Methods: Cases with…
Prospective Multinational Study of Pertussis Infection in Hospitalized Infants and Their Household Contacts
Increased incidence of pertussis has been noted among infants too young to be immunized. We studied the disease burden of pertussis in pediatric intensive care units and the source of infection in several Asian, European and Latin American countries.The study was conducted in 7 countries from September 2001 to January 2004. Children1 year of age were enrolled from pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and pediatric wards if they presented with respiratory failure, apnea, bradycardia, or cough accompanied by paroxysms, vomiting, whoop or cyanosis. Household members of pertussis-positive index cases were asked to answer a questionnaire and provide diagnostic specimens.Pertussis was confirmed …