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- Volume 29, Issue 45, 07/Nov/2024
Eurosurveillance - Volume 29, Issue 45, 07 November 2024
Volume 29, Issue 45, 2024
- Editorial
- Rapid communication
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Detection of circulating type 3 vaccine-derived polioviruses in French Guiana, May to August 2024
Circulating type 3 vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV3s) were detected in three wastewater samples collected in French Guiana from May through August 2024. As the oral polio vaccine is not used in French Guiana, this event involved an import either of cVDPV3s themselves or of a vaccine strain from which the cVDPV3s emerged in French Guiana. This highlights the importance of environmental surveillance for the detection of silent poliovirus circulation. Eliminating any pockets of cVDPVs is crucial for the polio eradication programme.
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Setting thresholds to determine COVID-19 activity levels using the mean standard deviation (MSD) method, England, 2022–2024
We developed a new activity level setting threshold method, the mean standard deviation (MSD) method to quantify COVID-19 activity levels. This has been validated against the moving epidemic method (MEM), which has been used for influenza for many years, and we observed very similar results. The MSD method can prove to be a tool to use for respiratory viruses with limited historical data or seasonality to quantify activity levels when other respiratory viruses are also circulating.
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- Outbreaks
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Candida auris fungaemia outbreak in a tertiary care academic hospital and emergence of a pan-echinocandin resistant isolate, Greece, 2021 to 2023
After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid rise in reported numbers and wide geographic spread of Candida auris-related invasive infections has been observed globally. However, the contemporary epidemiology of C. auris fungaemias in Greece remains unknown. An outbreak of C. auris bloodstream infections has been ongoing for almost 3 years in a Greek tertiary care academic hospital, with 89 C. auris-driven episodes appearing in five waves every 6–7 months following peaks in colonisation rates by 3–4 months. All isolates clustered in clade I and were genetically related, 84% were fluconazole-resistant and all were non-resistant to amphotericin B and echinocandins, except one pan-echinocandin-resistant isolate (FKS1S639F mutant) recovered from a patient on empiric therapy with anidulafungin. Notably, C. auris was in 2023 the most prevalent (34%) cause of candidaemia in our hospital. The accelerated and long-term transmission dynamics of C. auris fungaemia underscore the need for rigorous infection control measures, while antifungal stewardship is warranted to contain the selection of echinocandin-resistant isolates.
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- Research
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Self-reported hepatitis A and B vaccination coverage among men who have sex with men (MSM), associated factors and vaccination recommendations in 43 countries of the WHO European Region: results from the European MSM Internet Survey, EMIS-2017
BackgroundHepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM), given their increased risk of infection. However, data on vaccination programmes are scarce.
AimTo use information on vaccination recommendations and vaccine uptake among MSM in the WHO European Region to guide prevention.
MethodsFrom a large pan-European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2017), we analysed data on self-reported hepatitis A and B vaccination status by age, education, financial coping, settlement size, outness (disclosure of sexual behaviour), migration history and diagnosis with hepatitis C or HIV, using multivariable logistic regression. Additionally, we collected information on national hepatitis A and B vaccination recommendations.
ResultsWe present data of 113,884 MSM, median age 36 years (IQR: 27–47). Vaccination for hepatitis A and B was recommended and free for MSM in 7 and 18 of 43 countries, respectively. Of all respondents, 48% (n = 50,966) reported ever being vaccinated against hepatitis A, and 53% (n = 56,889) against hepatitis B. Odds for being vaccinated against hepatitis A increased with outness (‘out to (almost) all’ aOR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.72–1.85 vs ‘out to none’) and were higher in countries where vaccination was recommended and free for MSM (aOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.29–3.82 vs ‘no recommendation’). Results for hepatitis B were similar (outness: aOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.75–1.88 and MSM-specific vaccination recommendation: aOR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.54–3.85).
ConclusionLarge proportions of MSM in Europe remain vulnerable to hepatitis A and B, despite available vaccination. Implementation of MSM-specific vaccination recommendations and greater efforts to improve the societal climate for MSM are needed to address gaps in vaccine coverage.
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Viral hepatitis knowledge and vaccination awareness among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 43 countries of the WHO European Region: results from the European MSM Internet Survey, EMIS-2017
BackgroundRecent hepatitis A virus outbreaks in Europe affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) and ongoing hepatitis B virus transmission among MSM underscore the ongoing need for viral hepatitis prevention in this population.
AimTo describe viral hepatitis knowledge and associated factors among MSM in the WHO European Region to inform targeted prevention.
MethodsIn the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2017), basic knowledge was defined as correctly identifying at least 4 of 5 statements about viral hepatitis and vaccination. We described basic knowledge by country. In a multilevel logistic regression model, we estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for having basic knowledge and explanatory variables: sociodemographic characteristics, history of hepatitis C and/or HIV diagnosis, sexual orientation disclosure at last sexually transmitted infections (STI) test and outness.
ResultsOf 113,884 participants across 43 WHO European Region countries, 68% demonstrated basic knowledge, ranging from 50% in Israel to 80% in the Netherlands. Basic knowledge was significantly associated with older age (≥ 40 years vs < 25 years, aOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.7–3.0), a history of hepatitis C and/or HIV diagnosis (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.7–1.9) and sexual orientation disclosure at last STI test (aOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.3), among other factors.
ConclusionsWe found a knowledge disparity regarding viral hepatitis and hepatitis vaccination awareness among MSM across Europe, highlighting a need to address these gaps. A non-judgemental, accepting climate that allows individuals attending medical services to safely disclose their sexual orientation is fundamental to enable healthcare professionals to target information and preventative measures more effectively.
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Non-invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are associated with different serotypes than invasive infections, Belgium, 2020 to 2023
BackgroundDespite widely implemented pneumococcal vaccination programmes, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a global risk for human health. Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause invasive (IPD) or non-invasive pneumococcal disease (NIPD). Surveillance is mainly focusing on IPD, assessing the full impact of pneumococcal vaccination programmes on pneumococcal disease is challenging.
AimWe aimed to prospectively investigate serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of S. pneumoniae isolates from patients with NIPD and compare with data on IPD isolates and with a 2007–2008 dataset on NIPD.
MethodsBetween September 2020 and April 2023, we collected isolates and patient data from patients with NIPD from 23 clinical laboratories in Belgium. Capsular typing was performed by a validated Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopic method, and AMR was assessed with broth microdilution, using the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) clinical breakpoints.
ResultsWe received S. pneumoniae isolates from 1,008 patients with lower respiratory tract infections (n = 760), otitis media (n = 190) and sinusitis (n = 58). Serotype 3 was the most prevalent serotype among the NIPD isolates. Serotypes not included in the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) were significantly more common among the NIPD than among the IPD isolates. Antimicrobial resistance levels were significantly higher among the NIPD isolates (n = 539; 2020–2022) compared with the IPD isolates (n = 2,344; 2021–2022). Resistance to several β-lactam antimicrobials had increased significantly compared with 15 years before.
ConclusionsThe NIPD isolates were strongly associated with non-vaccine serotypes and with increased AMR levels. This underlines the importance of continued NIPD surveillance for informed policy making on vaccination programmes.
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- Perspective
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Post-disappearance scenarios: policy implications following the potential disappearance of B/Yamagata lineage influenza viruses
The COVID-19 pandemic and related preventive measures reduced influenza virus circulation, notably causing the disappearance of the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza viruses. In this Perspective, we discuss the implications that this development may have for global influenza epidemiology, and the adjustments that may need to be implemented concerning surveillance strategies and practices, laboratory safety protocols, and influenza vaccine formulations. The disappearance of the B/Yamagata lineage might indeed alter the dynamics of the influenza disease burden (although in a way that is difficult to predict at the moment), and associated diagnostic practices, and may also necessitate updated biosafety levels and revised influenza surveillance strategies. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended in September 2023 the exclusion of B/Yamagata antigens from future vaccines, with a shift towards trivalent vaccines or modified quadrivalent vaccines; this new scenario underscores the importance of robust global respiratory virus surveillance, effective communication with healthcare professionals and the population to maintain trust in vaccines, and a collaborative approach among health policymakers and vaccine manufacturers to navigate this epidemiological change.
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Volumes & issues
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Volume 29 (2024)
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Volume 28 (2023)
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Volume 27 (2022)
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Volume 26 (2021)
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Volume 25 (2020)
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Volume 24 (2019)
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Volume 23 (2018)
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Volume 22 (2017)
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Volume 21 (2016)
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Volume 20 (2015)
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Volume 19 (2014)
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Volume 18 (2013)
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Volume 17 (2012)
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Volume 16 (2011)
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Volume 15 (2010)
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Volume 14 (2009)
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Volume 13 (2008)
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Volume 12 (2007)
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Volume 11 (2006)
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Volume 10 (2005)
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Volume 9 (2004)
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Volume 8 (2003)
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Volume 7 (2002)
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Volume 6 (2001)
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Volume 5 (2000)
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Volume 4 (1999)
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Volume 3 (1998)
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Volume 2 (1997)
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Volume 1 (1996)
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Volume 0 (1995)
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Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by real-time RT-PCR
Victor M Corman , Olfert Landt , Marco Kaiser , Richard Molenkamp , Adam Meijer , Daniel KW Chu , Tobias Bleicker , Sebastian Brünink , Julia Schneider , Marie Luisa Schmidt , Daphne GJC Mulders , Bart L Haagmans , Bas van der Veer , Sharon van den Brink , Lisa Wijsman , Gabriel Goderski , Jean-Louis Romette , Joanna Ellis , Maria Zambon , Malik Peiris , Herman Goossens , Chantal Reusken , Marion PG Koopmans and Christian Drosten
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