Moderate Vaccine Effectiveness against Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Caused by A(H1N1)pdm09 Influenza Virus and No Effectiveness against A(H3N2) Influenza Virus in the 2018/2019 Season in Italy
VACCINES
Authors: Rizzo, Caterina; Gesualdo, Francesco; Loconsole, Daniela; Pandolfi, Elisabetta; Bella, Antonino; Orsi, Andrea; Guarona, Giulia; Panatto, Donatella; Icardi, Giancarlo; Napoli, Christian; Orsi, Giovanni Battista; Manini, Ilaria; Montomoli, Emanuele; Campagna, Ilaria; Russo, Luisa; Alfonsi, Valeria; Puzelli, Simona; Reale, Antonino; Raucci, Umberto; Piccioni, Livia; Concato, Carlo; Degli Atti, Marta Luisa Ciofi; Villani, Alberto; Chironna, Maria; Tozzi, Alberto Eugenio
Abstract
Every season, circulating influenza viruses change; therefore, vaccines must be reformulated each year. We aimed to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe influenza infection for the 2018/19 season in Italy. We conducted a test-negative design case-control study at five Italian hospitals. We estimated influenza VE against severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) requiring hospitalisation overall, and by virus subtype, vaccine brand, and age. The 2018/19 season was characterised by A(H1N1)pmd09 and A(H3N2) influenza viruses. Vaccine coverage among <18 years recruited SARI cases was very low (3.2%). Seasonal vaccines were moderately effective against type A influenza overall (adjusted VE = 40.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 18.7-56.4%) and subtype A(H1N1)pmd09 viruses (adjusted VE = 55%; 95% CI = 34.5-69.1%), but ineffective against subtype A(H3N2) viruses (adjusted VE = 2.5%; 95% CI = -50.0-36.7%). Both Fluad and Fluarix Tetra vaccines were effective against type A influenza overall and subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. VE appeared to be similar across age groups (0-64 years, >= 65 years). Seasonal influenza vaccines in the 2018/19 season were moderately effective in preventing SARI caused by A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza but ineffective against A(H3N2).
Epidemic and pandemic viral infections: impact on tuberculosis and the lung
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
Authors: Ong, Catherine Wei Min; Migliori, Giovanni Battista; Raviglione, Mario; MacGregor-Skinner, Gavin; Sotgiu, Giovanni; Alffenaar, Jan-Willem; Tiberi, Simon; Adlhoch, Cornelia; Alonzi, Tonino; Archuleta, Sophia; Brusin, Sergio; Cambau, Emmanuelle; Capobianchi, Maria Rosaria; Castilletti, Concetta; Centis, Rosella; Cirillo, Daniela M.; D'Ambrosio, Lia; Delogu, Giovanni; Esposito, Susanna M. R.; Figueroa, Jose; Friedland, Jon S.; Ho, Benjamin Choon Heng; Ippolito, Giuseppe; Jankovic, Mateja; Kim, Hannah Yejin; Klintz, Senia Rosales; Kodmon, Csaba; Lalle, Eleonora; Leo, Yee Sin; Leung, Chi-Chiu; Martson, Anne-Grete; Melazzini, Mario Giovanni; Fard, Saeid Najafi; Penttinen, Pasi; Petrone, Linda; Petruccioli, Elisa; Pontali, Emanuele; Saderi, Laura; Santin, Miguel; Spanevello, Antonio; van Crevel, Reinout; van der Werf, Marieke J.; Visca, Dina; Viveiros, Miguel; Zellweger, Jean-Pierre; Zumla, Alimuddin; Goletti, Delia
Abstract
Major epidemics, including some that qualify as pandemics, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), HIV, influenza A (H1N1)pdm/09 and most recently COVID-19, affect the lung. Tuberculosis (TB) remains the top infectious disease killer, but apart from syndemic TB/HIV little is known regarding the interaction of viral epidemics and pandemics with TB. The aim of this consensus-based document is to describe the effects of viral infections resulting in epidemics and pandemics that affect the lung (MERS, SARS, HIV, influenza A (H1N1)pdm/09 and COVID-19) and their interactions with TB. A search of the scientific literature was performed. A writing committee of international experts including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Public Health Emergency (ECDC PHE) team, the World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid), the Global Tuberculosis Network (GTN), and members of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mycobacterial Infections (ESGMYC) was established. Consensus was achieved after multiple rounds of revisions between the writing committee and a larger expert group. A Delphi process involving the core group of authors (excluding the ECDC PHE team) identified the areas requiring review/consensus, followed by a second round to refine the definitive consensus elements. The epidemiology and immunology of these viral infections and their interactions with TB are discussed with implications for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of airborne infections (infection control, viral containment and workplace safety). This consensus document represents a rapid and comprehensive summary on what is known on the topic.