[Correspondence] Reassessing the 1 + 1 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are approved and given to populations on the basis of large immunogenicity and safety databases after meeting strict prespecified immunological non-inferiority criteria in appropriately powered clinical studies. David Goldblatt and colleagues1 describe the response to a single dose of PCV in the first year of life followed by a booster in the second year (1 + 1 schedule), and compare this to the standard 2 + 1 schedule. Based on previous experience in the clinical setting, the results were not surprising. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Raul Isturiz, Bradford D Gessner, Harish Madhava, Peter Paradiso, Luis Jodar Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Reassessing the 1 + 1 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedule
The primary endpoint selected by David Goldblatt and colleagues,1 which was used to support a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) programme consisting of one primary dose and one booster dose (1 + 1), is a poor indicator of protection during the first year of life, and contrary to O'Brien's Comment,2 this programme is not likely to be feasible for implementation in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Stephanie Perniciaro, Mark van der Linden Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Extended infusion —putting the benefit into context
In their meta-analysis, Konstantinos Vardakas and colleagues found a significant decrease in all-cause mortality, the most challenging clinical endpoint, by using prolonged rather than short-term infusion for antipseudomonal β-lactams.1 On the basis of mortality in both groups (159 [19·8%] of 805 events with short-term infusion vs 108 [13·6%] of 792 events with prolonged infusion), we can calculate an absolute risk reduction of 6·1% and a number needed to treat of 16·4. This estimate implies that we have to use ext ended infusions in the described setting in approximately 17 patients to save one human life. (Source: T...
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Markus Zeitlinger Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] The fourth HIV epidemic
In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Ravindra Gupta and colleagues1 present alarming results on the development of pre-treatment viral resistance to the most commonly used drugs to treat HIV infection in resource-limited countries. These findings complete the bleak picture of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment failure that is gradually emerging in these countries. An increase in virological failure rates among adults has been reported in Africa, ranging from 5% to 31% after 12 months and up to 38% beyond 48 months of treatment. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gabri èle Laborde-Balen, Bernard Taverne, Cheikh Tidiane Ndour, Charles Kouanfack, Martine Peeters, Ibra Ndoye, Eric Delaporte Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Hepatitis C virus treatment as prevention in people who inject drugs
Alexei Zelenev and colleagues presented an elegant analysis of treatment-as-prevention (TasP) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in people who inject drugs (PWID),1 using a model capturing the dynamics of the injecting-partnership network, which is superior to the more common approaches of compartmental modelling (omitting network structure) and static network modelling (omitting changes in partnerships over time). (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Peter J White, Ibrahim Abubakar Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Post-exposure prophylaxis in Ebola virus disease: don't forget the psychological factors
In their Article on post-exposure prophylaxis in Ebola virus disease, William Fischer and colleagues1 exhaustively reviewed the medical countermeasures that could be used after accidental exposure, and their indications according to the risk of transmission. On the basis of our experience of 77 accidental exposures in the health-care workers' treatment centre in Conakry, Guinea,2 we would like to highlight the importance of psychological and psychiatric factors in the management of accidental exposures in Ebola treatment centres. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: H élène Savini, Cécile Ficko, Fabrice Simon Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Tuberculosis on Lesvos: barriers to treatment
We read with interest the molecular epidemiological study by Timothy Walker and colleagues,1 as well as the accompanying Comment by Masoud Dara and Rony Zachariah.2 As health workers on the Greek island of Lesvos, we have encountered inadequate screening and diagnostic methods and denial of tuberculosis treatment to clinically diagnosed patients. Of particular concern are two Congolese asylum seekers in our care: one had a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis in his home country by sputum smear and received appropriate therapy for a month before fleeing to Europe; and the other developed symptoms en route and was diagnosed ...
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jacob Clary, Richard Dean Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Correspondence] EUSeqMyTB to set standards and build capacity for whole genome sequencing for tuberculosis in the EU
In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Timothy Walker and colleagues1 reported on the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for the investigation of a cross-border outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among migrants.1 The results showed how WGS can be applied in cross-border cluster investigations and the authors concluded that it needs to be integrated as a routine component of outbreak response efforts. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Elisa Tagliani, Daniela Maria Cirillo, Csaba K ödmön, Marieke J van der Werf, EUSeqMyTB Consortium Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
[Comment] Impact of enhanced viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance on outbreak detection and response in Uganda
The recent outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Kween District, eastern Uganda, reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases,1 marks the 13th independent viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak identified and confirmed via laboratory test by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)'s viral haemorrhagic fever surveillance and laboratory programme since 2010. This Marburg virus disease outbreak was followed closely by three independent confirmations of human Rift Valley fever virus infection in three districts in central Uganda, and now brings the total viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak detections to 16. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Trevor R Shoemaker, Stephen Balinandi, Alex Tumusiime, Luke Nyakarahuka, Julius Lutwama, Edward Mbidde, Aaron Kofman, John D Klena, Ute Str öher, Pierre E Rollin, Stuart T Nichol Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[Comment] Pigs, pathogens, and public health
On Nov 8, 2017, Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping announced a US$8 billion trade agreement, part of which will further increase US pork and animal feed exports to China. Given this expansion of global pork trade, now seems an appropriate time to consider emerging pathogen threats that accompany modern pork production, particularly in China. China has been implicated as the site of origin of the 1957 and 1968 influenza pandemics1 and is thought to be an epicentre for future novel influenza virus emergence. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gregory C Gray, James A Merchant Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[Editorial] Lassa fever and global health security
Seeing the terms “viral haemorrhagic fever” and “west Africa” together will conjure grave images for our readers. The 2013–16 Ebola virus disease epidemic was an unprecedented event, not only in terms of illness and death but also for showing the frailties of international preparedness for infectious disea se outbreaks. Nigeria is in the midst of its largest ever outbreak of Lassa fever. At the same time, a mooted 80% cut to the US CDC's Global Health Security Agenda threatens to create a vacuum in essential epidemic mitigation activities. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: The Lancet Infectious Diseases Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
[Media Watch] Deadly delays and disparities
The HIV/AIDS epidemic changed our world. WHO estimates that 35 million people have died since it began in 1981, and another 36 ·7 million still live with the disease. We see its impact, too, in our response to it. An entirely new field—global health—emerged. The US Food and Drug Administration created a provisional accelerated approval pathway for potentially life-saving drugs to enter the market with preliminary evide nce of efficacy. And societally, explicit and implicit tolerance of homophobia has rightly declined, although much work still needs to be done. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Mohsin Ali Tags: Media Watch Source Type: research
[Corrections] Corrections
Discussion, the sentence ‘whereas in the UK only two doses and a booster dose are recommended for all infants and children after age 5 months. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 22, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Corrections Source Type: research
[Corrections] Corrections
Okokhere P, Colubri A, Azubike C, et al. Clinical and laboratory predictors of Lassa fever outcome in a dedicated treatment facility in Nigeria: a retrospective, observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2018; published online March 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30121-X —In this Article, in the eleventh paragraph of the Results, the sentence beginning on the ninth line should have read “This difference in case-fatality rate is considerably smaller than that for creatinine (25% vs 62%)”. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 16, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Corrections Source Type: research
[Articles] Sustained transmission of high-level azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in England: an observational study
Sustained transmission of a successful HL-AziR clone was seen across England. Mutation 2059A →G was found in isolates with lower azithromycin MICs. Azithromycin exposure might have provided the selection pressure for one or two mutated copies of the 23S rRNA gene to recombine with wild-type copies, leading to three or four mutated copies and the HL-AziR phenotype. HL-AziR could emerge in isolates with low azithromycin MICs and eliminate the effectiveness of azithromycin as part of dual therapy for the treatment of gonorrhoea. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - March 6, 2018 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Helen Fifer, Michelle Cole, Gwenda Hughes, Simon Padfield, Christa Smolarchuk, Neil Woodford, Adrian Wensley, Nazim Mustafa, Ulf Schaefer, Richard Myers, Kate Templeton, Jill Shepherd, Anthony Underwood Tags: Articles Source Type: research
