Article
Immunology
Nathaniel M. Lewis, Jessie R. Chung, Timothy M. Uyeki, Lisa Grohskopf, Jill M. Ferdinands, Manish M. Patel
Summary: This study analyzes the comparability of relative vaccine effectiveness across different studies and suggests that this comparability is dependent on the absolute vaccine effectiveness of the comparator vaccine. These findings have implications for the design of influenza vaccine studies and data reporting.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Claudia Maria Trombetta, Otfried Kistner, Emanuele Montomoli, Simonetta Viviani, Serena Marchi
Summary: Influenza is a vaccine preventable disease and vaccination is the most effective method of controlling the morbidity and mortality of seasonal influenza, especially among risk groups. The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is suboptimal, but they are still effective against morbidity and mortality in all age and risk groups, particularly in young children and older adults.
Article
Immunology
Mohana Kunasekaran, Aye Moa, Elmira Hooshmand, Mallory Trent, Christopher J. Poulos, Abrar A. Chughtai, David J. Heslop, Raina MacIntyre
Summary: During the summer outbreak in February 2019, an aged-care facility in Sydney, Australia experienced an influenza outbreak. The majority of residents had not received the 2019 influenza vaccine, but approximately 76.7% had received the 2018 vaccine about 9 months prior. The overall effectiveness of the 2018 vaccine during this outbreak was high. There were no significant differences in effectiveness between different vaccine types.
Review
Immunology
Rina Fajri Nuwarda, Abdulsalam Abdullah Alharbi, Veysel Kayser
Summary: Influenza is a major public health concern, and vaccines are an effective method for prevention and control. New vaccine platforms and advancements in vaccine manufacturing processes are being explored to improve effectiveness and stability.
Article
Immunology
Tanja Becker, Husni Elbahesh, Leslie A. Reperant, Guus F. Rimmelzwaan, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus
Summary: Influenza vaccines have been available for over 80 years and have contributed significantly to reducing morbidity and mortality. However, limitations in their effectiveness persist due to antigenic evolution and production methods. Alternative approaches are being pursued to design and produce vaccines with broader and longer-lasting immune responses.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Yan Li, Pingshu Zhang, Zhijie An, Chenyan Yue, Yamin Wang, Yunqiu Liu, Xiaodong Yuan, Ying Ma, Keli Li, Zundong Yin, Liye Wang, Huaqing Wang
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in patients with COPD. The results showed that both vaccines, when used separately or together, effectively reduced the risk of acute exacerbations, pneumonia, and hospitalizations in COPD patients, with the greatest effectiveness seen in preventing acute exacerbations.
Article
Immunology
Constantina Boikos, Lauren Fischer, Dan O'Brien, Joe Vasey, Gregg C. Sylvester, James A. Mansi
Summary: This study estimated the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of cell-propagated inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (ccIIV4) versus egg-derived inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (eIIV4) in preventing influenza-related medical encounters in the 2018-2019 US season. The results showed a statistically significantly greater reduction in influenza-related medical encounters in individuals vaccinated with ccIIV4 compared to eIIV4, supporting ccIIV4 as a potentially more effective public health measure against influenza.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Dawei Zhu, Min Lv, Yunhua Bai, Jiang Wu, Ping He
Summary: This study analyzed the cost-effectiveness of introducing quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIV) to school children, elderly adults, and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Beijing and found that it is the most cost-effective strategy.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexander Domnich, Donatella Panatto, Elena Pariani, Christian Napoli, Maria Chironna, Ilaria Manini, Caterina Rizzo, Andrea Orsi, Giancarlo Icardi
Summary: This study aimed to compare the relative vaccine effectiveness of MF59-adjuvanted trivalent vaccine and non-adjuvanted quadrivalent vaccine against severe laboratory-confirmed influenza. The results showed that the MF59-adjuvanted vaccine was more effective in preventing severe acute respiratory infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pablo Manuel Bianculli, Lucile Bellier, Ignacio Olivera Mangado, Carlos Grau Perez, Gustavo Mieres, Luis Lazarov, Audrey Petitjean, Hugo Dibarboure, Juan Guillermo Lopez
Summary: This study evaluated the cost-utility of replacing trivalent influenza vaccine with quadrivalent influenza vaccine in Uruguay. The results showed that using quadrivalent influenza vaccine could avoid a considerable number of influenza cases and healthcare consultations, and save workdays. It is cost-effective, especially for the target populations in Uruguay, particularly for older adults.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hector S. Izurieta, Michael Lu, Jeffrey Kelman, Yun Lu, Arnstein Lindaas, Julie Loc, Douglas Pratt, Yuqin Wei, Yoganand Chillarige, Michael Wernecke, Thomas E. MaCurdy, Richard Forshee
Summary: In this study, we analyzed the relative vaccine effectiveness of different types of influenza vaccines in preventing hospital encounters among Medicare beneficiaries aged >= 65 years during the 2019-2020 season. The results showed that recombinant quadrivalent vaccine was moderately more effective than other vaccines during the season, while high-dose trivalent and adjuvanted trivalent vaccines were more effective than quadrivalent vaccines, emphasizing the contributions of antigen amount and adjuvant use to vaccine effectiveness.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Economics
Desmond Loong, Ba' Pham, Mohammadreza Amiri, Hailey Saunders, Sujata Mishra, Amruta Radhakrishnan, Myanca Rodrigues, Man Wah Yeung, Matthew P. Mueller, Sharon E. Straus, Andrea C. Tricco, Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai
Summary: Older adults are at high risk of influenza-related complications or hospitalization. This systematic review evaluates the cost-effectiveness of different influenza vaccine options for older adults. The findings suggest that quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (QIV), high-dose trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV-HD), and adjuvanted trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV-ADJ) are cost-effective compared to trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV), with a willingness to pay threshold of $50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Future studies should employ robust methodologies, such as real-world evaluations or modeling studies, to account for methodological, structural, and parameter uncertainty.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zachary R. Sia, Matthew S. Miller, Jonathan F. Lovell
Summary: The combination of recombinant biotechnology and nanomedicine techniques shows promise in developing a next-generation flu vaccine with broad protection. Various nanoparticle candidates have been tested, showing protection against different influenza strains, production of antibodies with broad reactivity, and activation of potent T cell responses. The future of influenza vaccines may involve combining recombinant antigens with nanoparticle carriers.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Huong Q. McLean, Min Z. Levine, Jennifer P. King, Brendan Flannery, Edward A. Belongia
Summary: Sequential vaccination with enhanced vaccines did not reduce immunogenicity in adults aged 65 through 74 years. Serologic response to cell-propagated A/H3N2 was suboptimal for all vaccines.
Article
Immunology
Mahrukh Imran, Joan Puig-Barbera, Justin R. Ortiz, Lauren Fischer, Dan O'Brien, Machaon Bonafede, James A. Mansi, Constantina Boikos
Summary: This study assessed the relative vaccine effectiveness of adjuvanted influenza vaccine (aIIV3) compared to egg-derived quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4e) and high-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3) in preventing influenza-related medical encounters in older adults. The results showed that older adults vaccinated with aIIV3 had fewer influenza-related medical encounters compared to those vaccinated with IIV4e or HD-IIV3 during the 2019-2020 US influenza season.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yves Longtin, Hugues Charest, Caroline Quach, Patrice Savard, Mariana Baz, Guy Boivin, Judith Farfard, Jasmin Villeneuve, Michel Roger, Gaston De Serres
Summary: The viral culture of respiratory specimens was performed on 118 severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected healthcare workers (HCWs) approximately 2 weeks after symptom onset. Only 1 HCW (0.8%) had a positive culture. No factors were found to prolong viral shedding. Infectivity is resolved in almost all HCWs approximately 2 weeks after symptom onset.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fazia Tadount, Zineb Laghdir, Caroline Quach
Summary: Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are important in responding to influenza pandemics and institutional outbreaks. The current evidence on the use of NAIs among healthcare workers during an influenza pandemic needs to be further evaluated.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
V Mouajou, K. Adams, G. DeLisle, C. Quach
Summary: The hands of healthcare workers are a primary source of transmission of hospital-acquired infections. Practising hand hygiene and adhering to hand hygiene guidelines can decrease the risk of transmission. However, there is no consensus on the optimal hand hygiene compliance rate for healthcare workers. Studies suggest that lower incidence rates of hospital-acquired infections are achieved with hand hygiene compliance rates of approximately 60%. Due to flaws in study design, causality cannot be inferred, and only general trends can be discussed. High-quality evidence is needed to support the implementation of specified targets for hand hygiene compliance rates.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Nada A. Aljassim, Kim C. Noel, Christina Maratta, Ingrid Tam, Ahmed Almadani, Jesse Papenburg, Caroline Quach, Nisha Thampi, James D. McNally, Nandini Dendukuri, Marie-Astrid Lefebvre, Samara Zavalkoff, Shauna O'Donnell, Philippe Jouvet, Patricia S. Fontela
Summary: The implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program is associated with an increased likelihood of discontinuing antimicrobial treatments for pediatric patients with bronchiolitis in the PICU. However, further research is needed to determine the role of antimicrobial stewardship programs in reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use in this patient population.
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Patricia S. Fontela, Josee Gaudreault, Maryse Dagenais, Kim C. Noel, Alexandre Deragon, Jacques Lacroix, Saleem Razack, Janet Rennick, Caroline Quach, James D. McNally, Franco A. Carnevale
Summary: This qualitative study aimed to describe the reasoning processes used by pediatric intensivists to make antibiotic-related decisions. The study found that physicians use both analytical and intuitive clinical reasoning to determine the likelihood of bacterial infection, and consider patient safety factors when faced with uncertainty. However, disease severity, pressure from consultants, and the influence of colleagues can override the clinical evidence and lead to irrational antibiotic use.
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nicholas Brousseau, Laurianne Morin, Manale Ouakki, Patrice Savard, Caroline Quach, Yves Longtin, Matthew P. Cheng, Alex Carignan, Simon F. Dufresne, Jean-Michel Leduc, Christian Lavallee, Nicolas Gauthier, Julie Bestman-Smith, Maria-Jesus Arrieta, Magued Ishak, Simon Levesque, Philippe Martin, Gaston De Serres
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers in hospitals in Quebec, Canada. The results showed that healthcare workers in hospitals with outbreaks had a higher risk of infection. Factors such as the hospital, occupation, and ethnicity were associated with seroprevalence.
CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Martha Muller, Kristina A. Bryant, Claudia Espinosa, Jill A. Jones, Caroline Quach, Jessica R. Rindels, Dan L. Stewart, Kenneth M. Zangwill, Pablo J. Sanchez
Summary: This document is part of the SHEA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) White Paper Series, providing practical and expert opinions on CLABSI detection and prevention in the NICU. CLABSI is a common and serious infection in the NICU, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The document highlights the success of bundled central line care practices in reducing CLABSI rates and offers practical approaches.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Etienne Racine, Guy Boivin, Yves Longtin, Deirdre McCormack, Helene Decaluwe, Patrice Savard, Matthew P. Cheng, Marie-Eve Hamelin, Julie Carbonneau, Fazia Tadount, Kelsey Adams, Benoite Bourdin, Sabryna Nantel, Vladimir Gilca, Jacques Corbeil, Gaston De Serres, Caroline Quach-Thanh
Summary: Among unvaccinated healthcare workers, reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 following a primary infection remained rare. The duration of seropositivity was significantly longer in symptomatic individuals compared to asymptomatic ones.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Catherine Proulx, Julie Autmizgine, Olivier Drouin, Luc Panetta, Gaelle A. Delisle, Thuy Mai Luu, Caroline Quach, Fatima Kakkar
Summary: This study compares the clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infections in preschool and school-aged children, and found that rhinorrhea and sore throat were not symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Analyzing the symptoms can help guide testing and exclusion criteria in child care and school settings.
PAEDIATRICS & CHILD HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Britt McKinnon, Krystelle Abalovi, Ashley Vandermorris, Eve Dube, Cat Tuong Nguyen, Niels Billou, Genevieve Fortin, Maryam Parvez, Joyeuse Senga, Joe Abou-Malhab, Medjine Antoine Bellamy, Caroline Quach, Kate Zinszer
Summary: This project aims to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in underserved and ethnically diverse neighborhoods of Montreal, Canada, and develop strategies to enhance vaccine confidence for children and adolescents. The project combines surveys with community-based participatory action research and uses a human-centered design approach. Findings and interventions will be disseminated through various channels to engage stakeholders and foster dialogue related to COVID-19 vaccination.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ana C. Blanchard, Valerie Lamarre, Josee Lamarche, Nathalie Audy, Caroline Quach
Summary: In a pediatric healthcare center in Quebec, Canada, healthcare workers with household exposure to confirmed COVID-19 cases were allowed to work. On repeated testing, 15% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, but there was no nosocomial transmission. Being asymptomatic and receiving a booster dose at least 7 days prior to exposure were protective against becoming PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sheila F. F. O'Brien, Niamh Caffrey, Qi-Long Yi, Shelly Bolotin, Naveed Z. Z. Janjua, Mawuena Binka, Caroline Quach Thanh, Derek R. R. Stein, Amanda Lang, Amy Colquhoun, Chantale Pambrun, Cassandra N. N. Reedman, Steven J. J. Drews
Summary: Canadian blood donors, representing a healthy adult population, demonstrate disparities associated with race and material deprivation, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic gradient on SARS-CoV-2 infections in the country. The study compares the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood donors across different regions of Canada in 2021. The highest seroprevalence was observed in Alberta and the Prairies, while Atlantic Canada had significantly lower seroprevalence. Factors such as gender, age, racialization, and material and social deprivation showed varying associations with seroprevalence across different regions.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thibault Bourdin, Marie-Eve Benoit, Alizee Monnier, Emilie Bedard, Michele Prevost, Dominique Charron, Nathalie Audy, Sophie Gravel, Melanie Sicard, Caroline Quach, Eric Deziel, Philippe Constant
Summary: Compelling evidence suggests that the sink environment is a significant source of transmission of opportunistic pathogens, such as Serratia marcescens, from the hospital environment to patients in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lucila Baldassarre, Caroline Quach-Thanh, Verinsa Mouajou Feujio, Fazia Tadount, Claudia Deyirmendjian, Marie-Astrid Lefebvre, Nisha Thampi, Oliver Schneider, Isabela Fabri-Karam, Shauna O'Donnell, James Okeny-Owere, N. Audy, Nadia Desmarais
Summary: This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) in pediatric patients. A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed CDI was conducted, and it was found that the incidence proportion for rCDI was 12.9%. Immunocompromised patients had a higher risk of rCDI (17.5%) and treatment with vancomycin monotherapy did not show significant protection.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Sharifa Nasreen, Jun Wang, Manish Sadarangani, Jeffrey C. Kwong, Caroline Quach, Natasha S. Crowcroft, Sarah E. Wilson, Allison McGeer, Shaun K. Morris, James D. Kellner, Beate Sander, Julianne Kus, Linda Hoang, Fawziah Marra, Shaza A. Fadel
Summary: A population-based study in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, found a substantial burden of CAP and AOM in the region. The incidence rates of CAP and AOM varied across different age groups and provinces.
BMJ OPEN RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2022)
