Enhanced surveillance of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in England, 1990 to 1996: impact of conjugate vaccines

We report an enhanced prospective survey of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections that has defined the pattern of invasive disease in five English regions for 2 years before and 4 years after the introduction of the H. influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination program. During the prevaccination period the majority of cases of invasive H. influenzae were caused by type b; most (89%) of these infections occurred in children <5 years of age and the most common presentation was meningitis. Since the introduction of routine immunization of infants with conjugate Hib vaccine, there has been a 16-fold reduction in the annual attack rate of invasive Hib disease recorded in children <5 years of age. This reduction is of a magnitude similar to that observed in other countries with Hib vaccination programs. The number of infections caused by non-type b H. influenzae has shown a small but progressive increase over the same period, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance. There was no increase in the number of infections caused by other serotypes. Diagnostic category varied with both age and serotype but was not affected by vaccine introduction; meningitis was the most common presentation overall but pneumonia and bacteremia were more common in adults and with noncapsulated isolates.

Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections in England and Wales in the pre-vaccination era (1990-2)

This survey defined the pattern of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections during 1990-2 in six regions in England and Wales during the pre-vaccination era providing a baseline against which any changes in patterns of disease due to the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination programme can be monitored. A total of 946 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae were recorded during the survey period of which almost 90% were due to type b and most of the remainder were non-typeable. Type b infections occurred predominantly in children less than 5 years of age (88%) with the highest attack rate in male infants in the 6-11 month age group. Diagnostic category varied with both age and serotype; meningitis was the commonest presentation overall but pneumonia and bacteraemia were more common in adults and non-typeable isolates. Mortality was highest in neonates and the elderly (over 65 years of age) who were more likely to have an underlying predisposing condition than older children and adults. Children under 5 years of age had a higher case fatality rate for non-typeable than for type b infections. Ampicillin resistance was 15% and there were no cefotaxime resistant type b isolates.

Immunological factors and risk of infection in plateau phase myeloma

AIMS

A series of patients with myeloma were investigated to assess whether immunological risk factors predisposing to serious infection could be identified.

METHODS

Patients (n = 102) with predominantly plateau phase myeloma were monitored prospectively for infections. Immunological parameters including total non-paraprotein immunoglobulins and specific antibody titres were measured in all patients and compared with a control population of healthy individuals of a similar age; response to immunisation with Pneumovax II, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and IgG subclasses were measured in a subgroup of 41 patients. Other characteristics investigated for any association with infection included age, sex, paraprotein type, disease stage, and chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Specific antibody titres to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides and tetanus and diphtheria toxoids were significantly reduced compared with the control population. Low antipneumococcal and anti Escherichia coli titres correlated with risk of serious infection and low anti-pneumococcal titres with severity of non-paraprotein immunosuppression. In 41 immunised patients responses to Pneumovax II, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids were poor; IgG subclass levels were significantly reduced and a poor IgG response to Pneumovax II immunisation was associated with an increased risk of septicaemia and low IgG2 levels. The overall serious infection rate was 0.92 infections per patient year and was four times higher during periods of active disease (1.90) compared with plateau phase myeloma (0.49). The predominant site of infection was the respiratory tract. Clinical and laboratory parameters showed only male sex and reduced non-paraprotein IgG and IgA levels to be significantly associated with at least one serious infection.

CONCLUSIONS

A subgroup of patients with myeloma with poor IgG responses to exogenous antigens, who are at increased risk of serious infection, can be identified and may benefit from replacement immunoglobulin therapy to reduce the risk of infection.

Myoglobin depletion in childhood iron deficiency

Serum concentrations of myoglobin are significantly lower in iron-deficient than in non-iron-deficient children. In the iron-deficient subjects there is a correlation between haemoglobin concentration and serum myoglobin suggesting that the synthesis of both haem compounds is affected in parallel. No abnormality of serum myoglobin concentration was found in adults with iron deficiency anaemia.