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PLoS One 2019 19;14(2):e0212408. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Public Health, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: We characterize the risk factors for delayed polio dose 1, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) dose 1, pentavalent dose 1, and measles dose 1 in Ethiopian infants. We also examine the interaction between institutional delivery and demographic factors on the birth doses of the BCG and polio vaccines to better understand factors influencing vaccination.

Methods: Using the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, we calculated the distribution of the study population across different demographic and vaccination characteristics. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Lao-Lux Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Background: Lao PDR continues to sustain a considerable burden of vaccine preventable diseases because of incomplete vaccine coverage and weak vaccine responses. We have assessed seroconversion after routine vaccination with DTPw-HepB-Hib to capture weaknesses of vaccine management at the different levels of the health care system.

Methods: 1151 children (8-28 months) with three documented doses of the pentavalent vaccine delivered at Central hospitals in Vientiane and the Provincial hospital, 3 district hospitals and 10 health centers in Bolikhamxay province were enrolled. Read More

Am J Prev Med 2019 Mar;56(3):429-436

Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.

Introduction: Many non-pregnant women see obstetrician-gynecologists as their sole source of medical care, yet little is known about vaccination practices of obstetrician-gynecologists for non-pregnant patients. The objectives were to assess, among a national sample of obstetrician-gynecologists, practices related to vaccine delivery in non-pregnant patients and factors associated with stocking and administering more than three different vaccines to non-pregnant patients.

Methods: E-mail and mail surveys were administered July-October 2015, with analyses performed during October-November 2015 and April-June 2018. Read More

Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2019 Jan 31;8(1):35-42. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Vaccine Bio Research Institute, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: There is no standard method for confirming the immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccines. We tried to develop a local standard method for evaluating the immunogenicity of the three-component of acellular pertussis vaccines which was developed by a Korean local company.

Materials And Methods: The developed pertussis antigens (pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin) were evaluated by in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 189 negative sera, 25 positive sera, and 73 paired sera (pre- and post-Tdap [tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis] vaccinated sera). Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 15;9(2):e026093. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.

Introduction: Immune reconstitution after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex and dynamic process, varying from a state of nearly complete immunosuppression to an expected full immune recovery. Specific vaccination guidelines recommend reimmunisation after HSCT but data regarding vaccine efficacy in this unique population are scarce. New immune functional assays could enable prediction of vaccine response in the setting of HSCT. Read More

Anaerobe 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA. Electronic address:

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a Gram negative, rod-shaped and aero tolerant anaerobe. In animals, it is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with necrotic infections, generally called necrobacillosis, such as calf diphtheria, foot rot and liver abscesses in cattle. Two subspecies exist: subsp. Read More

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UERJ, Av. 28 de Setembro, 87 - Fundos, 3° andar. Vila Isabel, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20.551, Brazil.

Diphtheria by Corynebacterium ulcerans is increasingly occurring in children, adolescents and adults. In addition to diphtheria toxin (DT), phospholipase D (PLD) is considered a virulence factor of C. ulcerans. Read More

Prev Med 2019 Feb 11;121:68-73. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0587, USA. Electronic address:

Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination and influenza vaccination are recommended during pregnancy primarily to prevent influenza and pertussis in mothers and their infants. This study examines associations between prenatal Tdap vaccination and influenza vaccination of mothers and hepatitis B vaccination of their infants. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from electronic medical records from 15,468 deliveries to 14,925 mothers occurring April 2, 2014-December 3, 2016 at a university hospital in Texas. Read More

Public Health Rep 2019 Feb 14:33354919826558. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

1 Graduate School of Journalism and Center for Science, Technology, Medicine, and Society, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.

The modern era of vaccination was heralded with the licensure of the first 2 measles vaccines in 1963. This new era was distinct from the preceding era of vaccination for 4 main reasons. First, federal leadership in support of immunization at the local level grew. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Jul 26. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital of Geneva, University Hospitals of Geneva.

Background: Protection induced by acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines is partial and short-lived, especially in teenagers, calling for novel immunization strategies.

Methods: We conducted an investigator-driven proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial in aP-primed adolescents in Geneva to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a novel recombinant aP (r-aP) vaccine including recombinant pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) coadministered with tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (Td), compared to a licensed tetanus-diphtheria-aP vaccine containing chemically detoxified PT (cd/Tdap). The primary immunological endpoints were day 28/365 geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of total and neutralizing anti-PT antibodies. Read More

PLoS One 2019 13;14(2):e0211784. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

PT. Bio Farma, Bandung, Indonesia.

Introduction: There is a high global incidence of typhoid fever, with an annual mortality rate of 200,000 deaths. Typhoid fever also affects younger children, particularly in resource-limited settings in endemic countries. Typhoid vaccination is an important prevention tool against typhoid fever. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK.

The maternal Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccination program in the UK has successfully reduced cases of pertussis in young infants. In addition to prevention of pertussis cases, it is also important to investigate persistence of maternal antibody during infancy and possible interference of maternal antibodies with infant responses to vaccines. We recruited mother-infant pairs from vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnancies and measured concentrations of IgG against pertussis toxin (PTx), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (Prn), diphtheria toxin (DTx), tetanus toxoid (TTx) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in mothers and infants at birth, and in infants at 7 weeks and at 5 months. Read More

Euro Surveill 2019 Feb;24(6)

Chief Scientist, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.

BackgroundChildhood vaccination schedules recommend vaccine doses at predefined ages.AimWe evaluated vaccination completeness and timeliness in Jerusalem, a district with recurrent vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.MethodsVaccination coverage was monitored by the up-to-date method (vaccination completeness at age 2 years). Read More

Indian Pediatr 2018 Dec;55(12):1050-1055

Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur, Mumbai, India. Correspondence to: Dr Himanshu Dubey, Sanofi House, CTS No. 117-B, L and T Business Park, Saki Vihar Road, Powai, Mumbai 400 072, India.

Objective: Evaluation of tolerability, safety and immunogenicity of a two-dose series of a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide diptheria toxoid conjugate (ACYW-D) vaccine in Indian and Russian infants/toddlers.

Design: Open-label, single-arm, phase III multi-national trial.

Study Participants: 300 children aged 9-17 months, previously unvaccinated against meningococcal disease from four sites each in India (n=200) and the Russian Federation (n=100). Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 6;37(10):1277-1283. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Immunization Action Coalition, St. Paul, MN, United States.

Despite recommendations for vaccinating adults and widespread availability of immunization services (e.g., pharmacy venues, workplace wellness clinics), vaccination rates in the United States remain low. Read More

PLoS One 2019 8;14(2):e0212052. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A Streptococcus (GAS), and Staphylococcus aureus in asymptomatic elderly people and to unravel risk factors leading to colonization.

Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted including 677 asymptomatic adults aged 65 years or more, living at home or in nursing homes. Study areas were Greater Aachen (North-Rhine-Westphalia) and Wuerzburg (Bavaria), both regions with medium to high population density. Read More

J Vis Exp 2019 Jan 20(143). Epub 2019 Jan 20.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The guinea pig has played a pivotal role as a relevant small animal model in the development of vaccines for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, diphtheria, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. We have demonstrated that plasmid-DNA (pDNA) vaccine delivery into the skin elicits robust humoral responses in the guinea pig. However, the use of this animal to model immune responses was somewhat limited in the past due to the lack of available reagents and protocols to study T cell responses. Read More

Gates Open Res 2018 Dec 16;2:71. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

The effect of immunization does not only depend on its completeness, but also on its timely administration. Routine childhood vaccinations schedules recommend that children receive the vaccine doses at specific ages. This article attempts to assess timeliness of routine vaccination coverage among a sub-sample of children from a survey conducted in 2016. Read More

Hosp Pharm 2019 Feb 18;54(1):45-50. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

The University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, USA.

Tetanus vaccinations for wound prophylaxis are routinely administered in emergency departments (ED). Current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding tetanus administration for wound prophylaxis differentiate between the tetanus and diphtheria (Td) and the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) formulations and when they should be administered. Lack of knowledge regarding these recommendations, different formulations, and techniques to locate patient immunization history can lend to increased duplicate and inappropriate vaccinations. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Feb 4;116(8):3100-3105. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231;

Denileukin diftitox (DAB-IL-2, Ontak) is a diphtheria-toxin-based fusion protein that depletes CD25-positive cells including regulatory T cells and has been approved for the treatment of persistent or recurrent cutaneous T cell lymphoma. However, the clinical use of denileukin diftitox was limited by vascular leak toxicity and production issues related to drug aggregation and purity. We found that a single amino acid substitution (V6A) in a motif associated with vascular leak induction yields a fully active, second-generation biologic, s-DAB-IL-2(V6A), which elicits 50-fold less human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayer permeation and is 3. Read More

BMC Microbiol 2019 Feb 1;19(1):28. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.

Background: Diphtheria toxin (DT) is produced by toxigenic strains of the human pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae as well as zoonotic C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2018 ;63(6):375-378

Federal State Educational Institution of Higher Education «Rostov State Medical University» Ministry of Health of Russia, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation.

Сorynebacteria non-diphtheria of С. pseudodiphtheriticum strains, despite the absence of the ability to produce toxin, can be associated with the development of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory and urogenital tract, skin, purulent-septic processes of various localization, etc. This indicates the presence of other pathogenicity factors, in addition to toxin, which may be adhesive and invasive activity. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 29;9(1):e025113. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Medical Directorate, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Introduction: Childhood vaccination programmes have been established in all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries; however, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) as well as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (Tdap-IPV) vaccination rates are not optimal in adolescents. Education in combination with easy access vaccination may be a promising approach to improve vaccination rates. We aim at improving MMR and Tdap-IPV rates in a school setting in the context of a planned cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT), the present paper describes the detailed protocol of this trial. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Jan 29;16(3). Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, Chengdu 610041, China.

Despite the importance of health vulnerability in disaster risk assessment, most of the existing disaster vulnerability indicators only emphasize economic and social vulnerability. Important underlying health risks such as non-communicable disease are not included in vulnerability measures. A three-phase methodology approach was used to construct a disaster risk model that includes a number of key health indicators which might be missing in global disaster risk analysis. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018 ;118(10. Vyp. 2):67-71

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.

This literature review addresses the risk of vaccination complications including neurological ones. Some vaccines associated with vaccine-induced febrile seizures (FS), e.g. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 Apr 17;25(4). Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Venezuela's tumbling economy and authoritarian rule have precipitated an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hyperinflation rates now exceed 45,000%, and Venezuela's health system is in free fall. The country is experiencing a massive exodus of biomedical scientists and qualified healthcare professionals. Read More

Circulation 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) elicits an inflammatory response that drives tissue repair and adverse cardiac remodeling. Inflammatory cell trafficking after MI is controlled by C X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) and its receptor, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). CXCR4 antagonists mobilize inflammatory cells and promote infarct repair, but the cellular mechanisms are unclear. Read More

Se Pu 2019 Feb;37(2):155-161

Shimadzu Scientific Instrument Company, Beijing 100020, China.

Tracheal cytotoxin (TCT) is a toxic glycopeptide, which contribute to the adverse effects of pertussis toxin (PT) and related vaccines. Although pharmacopeias limit the amount of TCT in PT product, there is no recommended TCT determination method in any pharmacopeia. In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to determine TCT. Read More

Neurochem Int 2019 Mar 25;124:256-263. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan. Electronic address:

Sleep and wakefulness are controlled by a wide range of neuronal populations in the mammalian brain. Activation of adenosine A receptor (AR)-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core promotes slow-wave sleep (SWS). The neuronal mechanism by which activation of NAc AR neurons induces SWS, however, is unknown. Read More

Methods 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, 212/2, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra, 411028, India. Electronic address:

We describe here a magnetic bead-based multiplex (pentaplex) immunoassay (MIA) platform developed as an alternative to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) used in immunogenicity testing of DTaP/TdaP vaccine in animals. MIA simultaneously measures the concentration of serum (IgG) antibodies against B. Pertussis antigens; pertussis toxin, , filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (PRN) and tetanus (T) and diphtheria (D) toxoid in the Tdap vaccine immunized animals. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2019 Jan 16;34(4):e31. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Pediatrics, Seoul St. Mary's Hosptial, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the immunogenicity and safety of GC1107 (adult tetanus diphtheria [Td] vaccine). The primary goal was to evaluate the non-inferiority of the immunogenicity of GC1107 compared to the control vaccine. Additionally, the safety profiles of GC1107 and the control vaccine were compared. Read More

J Am Assoc Nurse Pract 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Approximately 27,000 men and women are affected by human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer every year. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) routinely recommend that adolescents receive HPV, tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis [Tdap]) and meningococcal (MCV) vaccines at age 11-12 years. Although the CDC and professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics make national vaccine recommendations, according to the National Vaccine Information Center, it is the responsibility of "state health departments to make and enforce vaccine mandates for school entry. Read More

Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

a Hubert Department of Global Health , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta GA , USA.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake consistently lags behind that of other adolescent vaccines. In 2017, uptake of a single HPV vaccine dose and HPV vaccine series completion was 66% and 49%, respectively, compared to uptake of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (89%) and quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (85%). Reasons for not vaccinating adolescents again HPV are varied, and in many cases, are rooted in commonly spread myths and misperceptions about the vaccine. Read More

Eur J Gen Pract 2019 Jan 23:1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

a Conseil Scientifique du Collège National des Généralistes Enseignants (CNGE) , Paris , France.

In this opinion paper, the authors argue that the extension of mandatory immunization of infants up to two years of age from three diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis) to 11 diseases, introduced in France in January 2018, is not a sustainable response to the challenge of controlling vaccine-preventable diseases. In France in 2017, infant immunization coverage (IC) rates were sufficiently high or increasing (hepatitis B), except for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and meningococcus C disease. Even if vaccination obligation makes it possible to achieve the MMR IC objectives among infants, communication programmes and supported advice from GPs are essential for the catch-up of susceptible adults to obtain herd immunity. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 19;37(8):1016-1020. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Discovery Drive, Swiftwater, PA 18370, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address:

One dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) was first recommended for US adolescents (ages 11-12 years) in 2005 to protect against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In 2010, after evidence emerged about waning protection within 5 years after MenACWY vaccination, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended a MenACWY booster at age 16 years. We used a serum bactericidal assay with human complement (hSBA) to evaluate antibody persistence after a MenACWY-D booster in a sample of 110 participants who received the booster 4 years earlier in a phase 2 study. Read More

Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

e Department of Pediatrics , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea.

Infanrix-IPV (GSK, Belgium) is a diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated poliovirus combination vaccine (DTaP-IPV) licensed in many countries including Korea. In accordance with Korean regulations, we conducted a post-marketing surveillance (PMS) to evaluate the safety of DTaP-IPV administered to Korean children in routine immunization schedules. Children aged <7 years receiving at least one dose of DTaP-IPV either as part of a primary (3-dose) vaccination series or as a subsequent booster were enrolled. Read More

Patient Prefer Adherence 2019 8;13:91-99. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada,

Background: Immunizations represent a successful and cost-effective public health strategy in preventing common childhood diseases. Ethiopia has made remarkable progress in increasing its full immunization coverage, but significant gaps remain. This study aims to measure the preference in the use of full immunizations for children aged 12-23 months in Ethiopia and examine the role of key maternal health services. Read More

Kidney Int 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address:

Tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis are the hallmarks of chronic kidney disease. While recent studies have verified that proximal tubular injury triggers interstitial fibrosis, the impact of fibrosis on tubular injury and regeneration remains poorly understood. We generated a novel mouse model expressing diphtheria toxin receptor on renal fibroblasts to allow for the selective disruption of renal fibroblast function. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Center for Cardiovascular Research, Washington University School of Medicine.

Rationale: Paradigm shifting studies have revealed that the heart contains functionally diverse populations of macrophages derived from distinct embryonic and adult hematopoietic progenitors. Under steady state conditions, the heart is largely populated by CCR2- macrophages of embryonic descent. Following tissue injury, a dramatic shift in macrophage composition occurs whereby CCR2+ monocytes are recruited to the heart and differentiate into inflammatory CCR2+ macrophages that contribute to heart failure progression. Read More

J Hum Lact 2019 Jan 18:890334418823539. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

1 National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Background: In Italy, there is no widespread standardized national monitoring system for breastfeeding practices.

Research Aims: To estimate breastfeeding indicators according to World Health Organization recommendations and associated socioeconomic factors, highlighting the potential and limitations of vaccination centers as sources of data.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the vaccination centers of 13 Local Health Districts in Italy. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: Rotavirus vaccines (RVVs) were included in the US immunization program in 2006 and are coadministered with the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, yet their coverage lags behind DTaP. We assessed timing, initiation, and completion of the RVV series among children enrolled in active gastroenteritis surveillance at 7 US medical institutions during 2014-2016.

Methods: We compared coverage and timing of each vaccine series and analyzed characteristics associated with RVV initiation and completion. Read More

Euro Surveill 2019 Jan;24(2)

These authors contributed equally to this paper.

In September 2018, a child who had returned from Somalia to Germany presented with cutaneous diphtheria by toxigenic biovar The child's sibling had superinfected insect bites harbouring also toxigenic . Next generation sequencing (NGS) revealed the same strain in both patients suggesting very recent human-to-human transmission. Epidemiological and NGS data suggest that the two cutaneous diphtheria cases constitute the first outbreak by toxigenic in Germany since the 1980s. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Dec 7;1(8):e185152. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Importance: Previous work has underscored subnational inequalities that could impede additional health gains in Kenya.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive assessment of the burden, distribution, and change in inequalities in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) interventions in Kenya from 2003 to 2014.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the 2003, 2008, and 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 11;37(6):833-838. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Immunization Systems Branch, Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.

Background: In November 2017, the World Health Organization received initial reports of suspected diphtheria cases in camps established for displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh. By January 11, 2018, over 4,000 suspected cases of diphtheria and 30 deaths were reported. The Bangladesh government and partners implemented a diphtheria vaccination campaign in December 2017. Read More

Public Health 2019 Feb 9;167:41-49. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: Using 542,159 vaccination records from children born between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2012, in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry and data from the American Community Survey, we determine if neighbourhood-level characteristics at the Census tract level and block level are associated with low uptake of the fourth dose of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP4).

Study Design: This study was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: We used exploratory factor analysis to determine important socio-economic factors at the Census block level and tract level. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2019 Feb 10;26(2):56-64. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Association française de pédiatrie ambulatoire (AFPA), 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France; Association Clinique et thérapeutique infantile du Val-de-Marne (ACTIV), 94100 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Service de néonatologie, unité Court Séjour, Petits Nourrissons, centre hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, 94010 Créteil France; Université Paris Est, IMRB-GRC GEMINI, 94010 Créteil, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: The vaccine schedule was changed in 2013 in France, which resulted in fewer vaccinations. However, to maintain disease protection, both vaccine timeliness and high coverage should be respected. In the context of growing vaccine hesitancy, we aimed to describe compliance with the immunization program according to the age recommended for each dose for non-preterm children less than 2 years old. Read More

Trop Doct 2019 Jan 12:49475518823657. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

3 Professor, Department of Pediatrics (Emergency and Critical Care), PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

Diphtheria, a vaccine preventable disease in children, is still being reported from India. Details of 99 children with a clinical diagnosis of diphtheria admitted to a paediatric tertiary care teaching and referral hospital between January 2008 and December 2015 were collected retrospectively and analysed. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of the study group was 7. Read More

Stem Cell Res Ther 2019 Jan 11;10(1):14. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan road, Hefei, 230032, China.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO), either acquired (aHO) or hereditary, such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), is a serious condition without effective treatment. Understanding of the core process of injury-induced HO is still severely limited.

Methods: Double-pulse thymidine analog labeling was used to explore the distinctive domains evolved in injury-induced lesions in an animal model of HO (Nse-BMP4). Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 7;37(8):1030-1037. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Centro de Referencia para Imunobiologicos Especiais, Divisão de Clinica de Molestias Infecciosas e Parasitarias, Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Molestias Infecciosas e Parasitarias da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

During the last decades pertussis incidence raised globally. Several vaccination strategies targeting adults to reduce pertussis among young infants have been proposed, including vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs). The aim of this study was to analyse, by performing a systematic review of literature, published papers that evaluated Tdap coverage among HCWs, variables associated with vaccine uptake and efforts implemented to raise vaccination rates. Read More