1
|
Dyda A, Broome A, Rawlinson W, Mahimbo A, Saha A, Kefalas B, Seale H, Macintyre CR, Zwar N, Gidding HF, Heywood AE. Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella antibodies among international and domestic university students. J Travel Med 2024; 31:taae004. [PMID: 38195239 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaccine-preventable infections are generally well controlled in Australia. However, gaps in immunity can lead to outbreaks and are important to identify. Young adults are a highly mobile population and a potential source of imported infections. We aimed to evaluate anti- measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR&V) IgG seroprevalence and explore factors relating to antibody seropositivity. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among students from a large Australian university to collect demographic, vaccination, infection and travel characteristics. Blood samples were collected to measure MMR&V seroprevalence. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with seropositivity. RESULTS Among 804 university students, seroprevalence (positive or equivocal) for measles was 82.3% (95% CI 79.6-84.8%), mumps 79.5% (95% CI 76.7-82.3%), rubella 91.5% (95% CI 89.6-93.5%) and varicella 86.2% (95% CI 84.1-88.8%), with 452 (56.2%, 95% CI 52.8-59.6) seropositive to all four viruses. Varicella seropositivity was highest in the older birth cohort (born 1988-1991). Measles seropositivity was higher for international students compared to domestic students. Among international students, mumps seroprevalence was significantly lower than measles and rubella seroprevalence. International travel in the previous 12 months was reported by 63.1% of students, but only 18.2% of travellers reported seeking pre-travel health advice prior to most recent international travel. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study suggests immunity to MMR&V is sub-optimal. We found the university student population to be highly mobile and unlikely to seek pre-travel advice; thus, they are a potential source of infection importation. The implementation of university immunization policies could address the gaps identified and our findings can inform the development of targeted vaccination campaigns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amalie Dyda
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Audrey Broome
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - William Rawlinson
- Serology and Virology Division (SAViD), NSW Health Pathology, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Abela Mahimbo
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Amit Saha
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Bill Kefalas
- UNSW Health Service, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Holly Seale
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - C Raina Macintyre
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Nicholas Zwar
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia
| | - Heather F Gidding
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Anita E Heywood
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bloom DE, Bonanni P, Martinón-Torres F, Richmond PC, Safadi MAP, Salisbury DM, Charos A, Schley K, Findlow J, Balmer P. Meningococcal Disease in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Time to Prepare. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:2649-2663. [PMID: 38048020 PMCID: PMC10746601 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00888-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The global invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) landscape changed considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by decreased incidence rates due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as limited social contact, physical distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing. Vaccination rates were also lower during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic levels. Although policymakers may have shifted their focus away from IMD vaccination programs to COVID-19 vaccination programs, strong arguments support implementation and prioritization of IMD vaccination programs; IMD cases have increased in some countries and IMD rates may even have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Additional concerns include increased susceptibility due to vaccination coverage gaps, increased incidence of other respiratory pathogens, immunity debt from lockdown restrictions, and increased IMD epidemiologic variability. The full range of benefits of widely available and effective meningococcal vaccines needs to be considered, especially in health technology assessments, where the broad benefits of these vaccines are neither accurately quantified nor captured in implementation policy decisions. Importantly, implementation of meningococcal vaccination programs in the current IMD climate also appeals to broader healthcare principles, including preparedness rather than reactive approaches, generally accepted benefit-risk approaches to vaccination, historical precedent, and the World Health Organization's goal of defeating meningitis by 2030. Countries should therefore act swiftly to bolster existing meningococcal vaccination strategies to provide broad coverage across age groups and serogroups given the recent increases in IMD incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David E Bloom
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paolo Bonanni
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Pediatrics Department, Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, de Compostela, Spain
- Genetics, Vaccines and Infections Research Group (GENVIP), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter C Richmond
- Division of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute and Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Marco A P Safadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David M Salisbury
- Programme for Global Health, Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, UK
| | | | | | - Jamie Findlow
- Vaccines, Antivirals and Evidence Generation, Pfizer Ltd, Tadworth, UK
| | - Paul Balmer
- Vaccines, Antivirals and Evidence Generation, Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Doggen K, van Hoek AJ, Luyten J. Accounting for Adverse Events Following Immunization in Economic Evaluation: Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations of Pediatric Vaccines Against Pneumococcus, Rotavirus, Human Papillomavirus, Meningococcus and Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2023; 41:481-497. [PMID: 36809673 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-023-01252-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Economic evaluations of vaccines should accurately represent all relevant economic and health consequences of vaccination, including losses due to adverse events following immunization (AEFI). We investigated to what extent economic evaluations of pediatric vaccines account for AEFI, which methods are used to do so and whether inclusion of AEFI is associated with study characteristics and the vaccine's safety profile. METHODS A systematic literature search (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Systematic Reviews and Trials, Database of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the University of York, EconPapers, Paediatric Economic Database Evaluation, Tufts New England Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, Tufts New England Global Health CEA, International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment Database) was performed for economic evaluations published between 2014 and 29 April 2021 (date of search) pertaining to the five groups of pediatric vaccines licensed in Europe and the United States since 1998: the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, the meningococcal vaccines (MCV), the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) combination vaccines, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) and the rotavirus vaccines (RV). Rates of accounting for AEFI were calculated, stratified by study characteristics (e.g., region, publication year, journal impact factor, level of industry involvement) and triangulated with the vaccine's safety profile (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP] recommendations and information on safety-related product label changes). The studies accounting for AEFI were analyzed in terms of the methods used to account for both cost and effect implications of AEFI. RESULTS We identified 112 economic evaluations, of which 28 (25%) accounted for AEFI. This proportion was significantly higher for MMRV (80%, four out of five evaluations), MCV (61%, 11 out of 18 evaluations) and RV (60%, nine out of 15 evaluations) compared to HPV (6%, three out of 53 evaluations) and PCV (5%, one out of 21 evaluations). No other study characteristics were associated with a study's likelihood of accounting for AEFI. Vaccines for which AEFI were more frequently accounted for also had a higher frequency of label changes and a higher level of attention to AEFI in ACIP recommendations. Nine studies accounted for both the cost and health implications of AEFI, 18 studies considered only costs and one only health outcomes. While the cost impact was usually estimated based on routine billing data, the adverse health impact of AEFI was usually estimated based on assumptions. DISCUSSION Although (mild) AEFI were demonstrated for all five studied vaccines, only a quarter of reviewed studies accounted for these, mostly in an incomplete and inaccurate manner. We provide guidance on which methods to use to better quantify the impact of AEFI on both costs and health outcomes. Policymakers should be aware that the impact of AEFI on cost-effectiveness is likely to be underestimated in the majority of economic evaluations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kris Doggen
- Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Belgian Intermutualistic Agency, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Albert Jan van Hoek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Luyten
- Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gofrit SG, Pikkel YY, Levine H, Fraifeld S, Kahana Merhavi S, Friedensohn L, Eliahou R, Ben-Hur T, Honig A. Characterization of Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis in the Israeli Defense Forces From 2004 to 2015: A Population-Based Study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:887677. [PMID: 35847223 PMCID: PMC9279563 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.887677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meningitis and meningoencephalitis (MME) are potential medical emergencies. Mandatory reporting of all MME cases in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) allows accurate characterization of MME incidence and course. In the present study, we described the epidemiology of MME in soldiers. Methods Medical charts of 860,000 combat and non-combat soldiers serving during the years 2004–2015, accounting for 2,256,060 patient years, were retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis of MME was based on signs of meningeal irritation and a count of > 5 white blood cells (WBC) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Data on the diagnosis of bacterial or aseptic MME, significant sequelae, and associated mortality were collected. Results Approximately 273 cases of MME were diagnosed. Overall, MME incidence was 12.1/100,000 patient-years. Bacterial and viral pathogens were identified in 31/273 (11.4%) and 52/273 (19%) cases, respectively. Combat soldiers had higher incidence of bacterial meningitis [14/40 (35%) vs. 31/212 (14.6%); p = 0.002] and meningoencephalitis [13/40 (32.5%) vs. 33/212 (15.6%); p = 0.023] compared to non-combat soldiers. Their clinical presentation was more severe, including confusion [10/40 (25%) vs. 22/212 (10.4%); p = 0.018], focal neurological deficits [12/40 (30%) vs. 11/212 (5.2%); p < 0.0001], and status epilepticus [3/40 (7.5%) vs. 0/212 (0.0%); p < 0.01]. Mortality among combat soldiers was higher [5/40 (15%) vs. 1/212 (0.5%); p < 0.001]. N. meningitidis was the most frequently isolated bacteria, despite universal preventative vaccination. Conclusion The incidence of bacterial MME in the IDF is higher than in the civilian population. Combat soldiers present with higher incidence of meningoencephalitis and bacterial meningitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoav Yechezkel Pikkel
- Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hagai Levine
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shifra Fraifeld
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Radiology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Limor Friedensohn
- Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces, Haifa, Israel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ruth Eliahou
- Department of Radiology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tamir Ben-Hur
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Asaf Honig
- Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- *Correspondence: Asaf Honig
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Redenbaugh V, Flanagan EP. Understanding the etiology and epidemiology of meningitis and encephalitis: now and into the future. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2022; 20:100380. [PMID: 35112093 PMCID: PMC8789588 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vyanka Redenbaugh
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Eoin P. Flanagan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang LP, Yuan Y, Liu YL, Lu QB, Shi LS, Ren X, Zhou SX, Zhang HY, Zhang XA, Wang X, Wang YF, Lin SH, Zhang CH, Geng MJ, Li J, Zhao SW, Yi ZG, Chen X, Yang ZS, Meng L, Wang XH, Cui AL, Lai SJ, Liu MY, Zhu YL, Xu WB, Chen Y, Yuan ZH, Li MF, Huang LY, Jing HQ, Li ZJ, Liu W, Fang LQ, Wu JG, Hay SI, Yang WZ, Gao GF. Etiological and epidemiological features of acute meningitis or encephalitis in China: a nationwide active surveillance study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2022; 20:100361. [PMID: 35036977 PMCID: PMC8743210 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute meningitis or encephalitis (AME) results from a neurological infection causing high case fatality and severe sequelae. AME lacked comprehensive surveillance in China. METHODS Nation-wide surveillance of all-age patients with AME syndromes was conducted in 144 sentinel hospitals of 29 provinces in China. Eleven AME-causative viral and bacterial pathogens were tested with multiple diagnostic methods. FINDINGS Between 2009 and 2018, 20,454 AME patients were recruited for tests. Based on 9,079 patients with all-four-virus tested, 28.43% (95% CI: 27.50%‒29.36%) of them had at least one virus-positive detection. Enterovirus was the most frequently determined virus in children <18 years, herpes simplex virus and Japanese encephalitis virus were the most frequently determined in 18-59 and ≥60 years age groups, respectively. Based on 6,802 patients with all-seven-bacteria tested, 4.43% (95% CI: 3.94%‒4.91%) had at least one bacteria-positive detection, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis were the leading bacterium in children aged <5 years and 5-17 years, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected in adults aged 18-59 and ≥60 years. The pathogen spectrum also differed statistically significantly between northern and southern China. Joinpoint analysis revealed age-specific positive rates, with enterovirus, herpes simplex virus and mumps virus peaking at 3-6 years old, while Japanese encephalitis virus peaked in the ≥60 years old. As age increased, the positive rate for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli statistically significantly decreased, while for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus suis it increased. INTERPRETATION The current findings allow enhanced identification of the predominant AME-related pathogen candidates for diagnosis in clinical practice and more targeted application of prevention and control measures in China, and a possible reassessment of vaccination strategy. FUNDING China Mega-Project on Infectious Disease Prevention and the National Natural Science Funds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ping Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yuan
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Lu-Sha Shi
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Ren
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Xia Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hai-Yang Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Ai Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng-Hong Lin
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Cui-Hong Zhang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Jie Geng
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Li
- Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Wen Zhao
- Yunnan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Yi
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zuo-Sen Yang
- Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, China
| | - Lei Meng
- Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xin-Hua Wang
- Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ai-Li Cui
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng-Jie Lai
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Yang Liu
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Liang Zhu
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Bo Xu
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Liu-Yu Huang
- The Institute for Disease Prevention and Control of PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Huai-Qi Jing
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Jie Li
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Peking University, Beijing, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | | | - Simon I Hay
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
| | - Wei-Zhong Yang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - George F Gao
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schaffer DeRoo S, Torres RG, Fu LY. Meningococcal disease and vaccination in college students. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021; 17:4675-4688. [PMID: 34613863 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1973881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing rapidly progressing illness from nonspecific symptoms to end-organ failure or death in a matter of hours to days. Despite the availability of meningococcal vaccines, there remains a notable disease incidence peak among individuals aged 18-19 years, with college students at increased risk for disease relative to non-college students. Between 2007 and 2017, as many as one in five colleges in the United States experienced an outbreak of meningococcal disease at their own or a nearby institution. Evidence-based strategies to promote meningococcal vaccination among students can be adapted for the college setting, but barriers exist that limit widespread implementation of these strategies by colleges. In this article, we review meningococcal disease characteristics and epidemiology among US college students, vaccination indications and coverage levels among US college students, as well as college vaccination policies and practices that can impact students' vaccine uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel G Torres
- Center for Translational Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Linda Y Fu
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Translational Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|