Invasive meningococcal disease in Italy: from analysis of national data to an evidence-based vaccination strategy

Introduction. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is one of the most severe vaccine-preventable diseases not yet under control. In Italy, although different anti-meningococcal vaccines are available, their offer among regions is heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of IMD in Italy based on analysis of national surveillance data for 2011–2017 to optimize the vaccination strategy. Methods: IMD surveillance data from the Italian National Health Institute were analysed. Microsoft Excel was used to present trend analysis, stratifying by age and serogroups. Results: In Italy, during the period 2011–2017, the incidence of IMD increased from 0.25 cases/100,000 inhab…

The 2014 lifetime immunization schedule approved by the Italian scientific societies. Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. Italian Society of Pediatrics. Italian Federation of Pediatric Physicians. Italian Federation of General Medical Physicians. Arezzo Service of Legal Medicine,Il calendario vaccinale per la vita 2014 predisposto dalle società scientifiche italiane

Culture and Real-time Polymerase Chain reaction sensitivity in the diagnosis of invasive meningococcal disease: Does culture miss less severe cases?

BackgroundInvasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a highly lethal disease. Diagnosis is commonly performed by culture or Realtime-PCR (qPCR).AimsOur aim was to evaluate, retrospectively, whether culture positivity correlates with higher bacterial load and fatal outcome. Our secondary aim was to compare culture and qPCR sensitivity.MethodsThe National Register for Molecular Surveillance was used as data source. Cycle threshold (CT), known to be inversely correlated with bacterial load, was used to compare bacterial load in different samples.ResultsThree-hundred-thirteen patients were found positive for Neisseria meningitidis by qPCR, or culture, or both; 41 died (case fatality rate 13.1%); 1…

VP7 and VP4 Sequence Analyses of Rotavirus Strains From Italian Children With Viraemia and Acute Diarrhoea

Background: Rotavirus has a high genetic variability. Point mutations, accumulating at a high rate, and genetic reassortment events have been well-documented. Viremia occurs commonly in children with acute rotavirus diarrhoea. However, information on genetic characterization of strains associated with systemic infection is poor. Objective: We evaluated prospectively children hospitalized for acute rotavirus diarrhoea and genotyped strains obtained from blood and stool samples. Nucleotide sequences within the VP4 ad VP7 genes of strains obtained from blood and stool specimens of the same patient were compared. Methods: Study subjects were 11 children admitted with acute rotavirus diarrhoea, …