Vaccine
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Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most common bacterial causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, causing life threatening infections such as meningitis, pneumonia and febrile bacteremia, particular among young children. The severity and frequency of S. pneumoniae infection and emergence of drug-resistant isolates have highlighted the need for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) as the best method for controlling disease; to better achieve this, more information is needed about serotype distribution and patterns of antibiotic resistance in children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Cases of pneumococcal infections in children aged <5 years, recorded in hospitals throughout KSA from 2005 to 2010 were reviewed for serotyping and for antibiotic susceptibility. ⋯ A total of 66% of IPD isolates were penicillin-resistant, and 62% were erythromycin-resistant. Continued surveillance is critical to measure the emerging of new serotypes and antibiotic resistance strain, and the potential impact of new PCVs. PCV13, recently introduced into the national immunization schedule in place of PCV7, provides the widest coverage among all IPD serotypes across KSA.
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Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae are a major worldwide public health problem. The seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in Kuwait in August 2006 and the 13-valent vaccine, PCV13, in August 2010, for children aged <2 years, with catch-up programs for those from 2 to 5 years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of vaccination on vaccine and non-vaccine serotype distribution in invasive and noninvasive S. pneumoniae isolates obtained in Kuwait from August 2006 through December 2011, as compared with previously published data. ⋯ A similar trend was noticed in adults, with coverage rates in the 51- to 65-years age group of 45.8%, 62.5% and 70.8% respectively. Compared with previously published findings, from the period prior to vaccine introduction, this represented an increased incidence in some non-PCV7 serotypes that are included in PCV13 (serotypes 1, 6A, and 3). In conclusion, with the emergence of new pneumococcal serotypes, broader vaccine coverage will aid in the prevention of IPD in children.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized comparative study of the serum antihemagglutinin and antineuraminidase antibody responses to six licensed trivalent influenza vaccines.
Serum antibody to the hemagglutinin (HA) surface protein of influenza virus induced by influenza vaccination is a correlate of protection against influenza. The neuraminidase (NA) protein is also on the surface of the virus; antibody to it has been shown to impair virus release from infected cells and to reduce the intensity of influenza infections in animal models and in humans challenged with infectious virus. Recently we have shown that NA inhibiting antibody can independently contribute to immunity to naturally-occurring influenza immunity in the presence of antibody to the HA. ⋯ Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines with similar HA dosage induce similar serum anti-HA antibody responses in healthy adults. Current inactivated vaccines all induce serum anti-NA antibody to the N1 and N2 NA proteins but some are better than others for N1 or N2. The live vaccine, Flumist, was a poor inducer of either anti-HA or anti-NA serum antibody compared to inactivated vaccine in the healthy adults. In view of the capacity for contributing to immunity to influenza in humans, developing guidelines for NA content and induction of NA antibody is desirable.
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Pneumococcal vaccines based on conserved protein antigens have the potential to offer expanded protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae. ⋯ All dose levels were safe and immunogenic. The frequency of solicited reactions was highest at the 100 μg dose. Administration of a second injection significantly increased the levels of anti-PhtD antibodies (ClinicalTrials.gov registry no. NCT01444001).
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There is concern about a possible association between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination and narcolepsy. In this study, we assessed the incidence and incidence rate of narcolepsy in the South Korean population before and after the implementation of an A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination campaign to see if vaccination led to a change in the occurrence of narcolepsy. ⋯ No increase in cases or incidence rate for narcolepsy during the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination campaign was found in South Korea. Our data do not support the use of MF59-adjuvanted or non-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine as a trigger for narcolepsy on a population level.