0000000001086444
AUTHOR
Nicolò Casuccio
showing 9 related works from this author
Post-vaccine measles in a child with concomitant influenza, Sicily, Italy, March 2015
2015
We describe the occurrence of measles in an 18 month-old patient in Sicily, Italy, in March 2015, who received the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine seven days before onset of prodromal symptoms. Measles virus infection was confirmed by PCR and detection of specific immunoglobulin; viral genotyping permitted the confirmation of a vaccine-associated illness. The patient had a concurrent influenza virus infection, during a seasonal epidemic outbreak of influenza.
Increased Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents and Young Adults in the District of Palermo as a Result of a Public Health Strategy to Counteract an…
2018
During the summer of 2016 four cases of invasive meningococcal disease in rapid succession among young adults in the district of Palermo, Italy, resulting in one death, were widely reported by local and national mass media. The resultant ‘epidemic panic’ among the general population overloaded the vaccination units of the Palermo district over the following months. Strategies implemented by the Sicilian and local public health authorities to counteract ‘meningitis fear’ included the following: (a) extension of active and free-of-charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12–18 to 12–30 years old; (b) implementation of vaccination units during normal clinic hours in roo…
Real life hexavalent vaccination among children as a practical guide for public health professionals: Four years (from 2016 to 2019) of clinical prac…
2022
Hexavalent (HV) vaccination is a priority for newborn protection and in Italy is included in the National Immunization Plan with a three doses cycle at 61, 121 and 301 days of age. A retrospective clinical study has been conducted to evaluate real life clinical practice of HV vaccination in the fourth most populous Italian Region. Data on the completion of the HV cycle, on the interchangeability between the two HV adopted in 2016–2017 (DTaP3-IPV-HB/Hib) and 2018–2019 (DTaP5-IPV-HB-Hib) and on the use above the established age, were collected in five Sicilian Local Health Authorities. Data showed an average 91.5% completion of the vaccination cycle at 24 months of age. The average age of adm…
HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents of female adolescents: a pre-post interventional study
2017
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in female adolescents. The highest infection rate is found among individuals aged 15-24 years, and the HPV vaccine represents an opportunity to reduce the burden of cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18. The World Health Organization has defined girls aged 9e13 years as the priority target for HPV vaccination. In Italy, in accordance with international public health guidelines, HPV vaccination wasfree and actively offered to all girls during their 12th year of life (from the completion of 11 years until the age of 12 years) between 2007 and 2008, establishing a target vaccination coverage of 95% within 5 ye…
Vaccination Coverage Increase among Adolescent and Young Adults of the Palermo District (Italy) as a Result of a Public Health Strategy to Contrast a…
2018
During summer 2016 in the District of Palermo, Italy, the rapid succession of four cases of invasive meningococcal disease among young adults, with one death, have had an extraordinary emphasis by Local and National mass media. The resultant “epidemic of panic” among general population overloaded vaccination Units of the Palermo District during following months. Strategies implemented by Sicilian and Local Public Health Authorities to counteract “meningitis fear” were: a) extension of active and free of charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12–18 to 12–30 years old; b) implementation of vaccination units …
Precise reply and clarifications on behalf of Sicilian Public Health Authorities to the case report published by La Rosa and collegues
2016
The intussusception is one of the most frequent causes of occlusive syndrome in infants and in children.1 The mesenteric lymphadenopathy, wich is very rare post rotavirus vaccination, can cause intussusception,2-5 especially in genetically predisposed individuals.6 There is an association between intussusception and some classes of genotype.7-9 Two infants aged 3 months, vaccinated against rotavirus. After about a week, one of the 2 identical infants presented inconsolable crying, vomiting, loose stools mixed with blood, and was diagnosed with bowel obstruction with intussusception. He was operated in urgency. After a few hours, his brother presented vomiting, and was admitted to our Hospit…
Factors Associated with HPV Vaccine Refusal among Young Adult Women after Ten Years of Vaccine Implementation
2018
In Italy, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was implemented for twelve years old girls in 2007, but its coverage was lower than the recommended level. Sicily is one of the Italian administrative regions with lower vaccination coverage, with a value of 59% for those born in 1996 increasing to 62% coverage for those born in 1999. The aim of the study was to investigate factors associated with the refusal of HPV vaccination among young adult women of Palermo, Italy. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Policlinico “Paolo Giaccone” Hospital (Palermo 1) and the questionnaire was validated in a convenience sample representing 10% of the young women. A cross-s…
Allattamento al seno in Sicilia: analisi della prevalenza, delle disuguaglianze di contesto e di altri fattori di rischio associati
2018
OBJECTIVES: to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding in Sicily Region (Southern Italy) and to analyze the socioeconomic status and other major risk factors on the attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding.DESIGN: information on the practice of breastfeeding in Sicily have been collected from a Regional survey on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). An index of socioeconomic position was created by using data from the 2011 Census of the Italian National Institute of Statistics.SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: in May 2015, a questionnaire was distributed to all mothers accessing to immunization services in Sicily for the first vaccination of their children. Two hundred seventy-three (273) vaccina…
Malaria da importazione in Sicilia: scenario epidemiologico e indicazioni di prevenzione
2015
This study analysed cases of imported malaria notified to the District Health Units of Palermo from 1998 to 2014. The aim was to assess epidemiological differences among cases, related to their reasons for travel. Eighty one cases were reported: 83% developed symptoms following a trip to Africa while 17% had travelled to Asia. Seventy-three percent of cases had travelled to visit family or friends in malaria-endemic countries (Visiting Friends and Relatives: VFRs), confirming the need for preventive measures targeted towards this at-risk population group.