scholarly journals The Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance (IRIS) Initiative reveals significant reductions in invasive bacterial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela B Brueggemann ◽  
Melissa J Jansen van Rensburg ◽  
David Shaw ◽  
Noel McCarthy ◽  
Keith A Jolley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Time Series Modelling ◽  
Invasive Diseases ◽  
Containment Measures

AbstractBackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis are leading causes of invasive diseases including bacteraemic pneumonia and meningitis, and of secondary infections post-viral respiratory disease. They are typically transmitted via respiratory droplets. We investigated rates of invasive disease due to these pathogens during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsLaboratories in 26 countries across six continents submitted data on cases of invasive disease due to S pneumoniae, H influenzae and N meningitidis from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2020. Weekly cases in 2020 vs 2018-2019 were compared. Streptococcus agalactiae data were collected from nine laboratories for comparison to a non-respiratory pathogen. The stringency of COVID-19 containment measures was quantified by the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. Changes in population movements were assessed by Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports. Interrupted time series modelling quantified changes in rates of invasive disease in 2020 relative to when containment measures were imposed.FindingsAll countries experienced a significant, sustained reduction in invasive diseases due to S pneumoniae, H influenzae and N meningitidis, but not S agalactiae, in early 2020, which coincided with the introduction of COVID-19 containment measures in each country. Similar impacts were observed across most countries despite differing stringency in COVID-19 control policies. There was no evidence of a specific effect due to enforced school closures.InterpretationThe introduction of COVID-19 containment policies and public information campaigns likely reduced transmission of these bacterial respiratory pathogens, leading to a significant reduction in life-threatening invasive diseases in many countries worldwide.

scholarly journals Infant Pneumococcal Carriage in Belgium Not Affected by COVID-19 Containment Measures

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Willen ◽  
Esra Ekinci ◽  
Lize Cuypers ◽  
Heidi Theeten ◽  
Stefanie Desmet
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Colonization ◽  
Carriage Rate ◽  
Pneumococcal Carriage ◽  
Invasive Diseases ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Restrictive Measures

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important and frequently carried respiratory pathogen that has the potential to cause serious invasive diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. Young children and older adults are among the most vulnerable to developing serious disease. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant restrictive measures, invasive disease cases caused by respiratory bacterial species, including pneumococci, decreased substantially. Notably, the stringency of the containment measures as well as the visible reduction in the movement of people appeared to coincide with the drop in invasive disease cases. One could argue that wearing protective masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, also led to a reduction in the person-to-person transmission of respiratory bacterial species. Although plausible, this conjecture is challenged by novel data obtained from our nasopharyngeal carriage study which is performed yearly in healthy daycare center attending children. A sustained and high pneumococcal carriage rate was observed amid periods of stringent restrictive measures. This finding prompts us to revisit the connection between nasopharyngeal colonization and invasion and invites us to look closer at the nasopharyngeal microbiome as a whole.

scholarly journals Comparison of NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel and Anyplex II RV16 Tests for Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Hospitalized Children

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2900-2904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Brotons ◽  
Desiree Henares ◽  
Irene Latorre ◽  
Antonio Cepillo ◽  
Cristian Launes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infection ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Acute Lower Respiratory Infection ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Parallel Testing ◽  
Percent Agreement

Multiplex molecular techniques can detect a diversity of respiratory viruses and bacteria that cause childhood acute respiratory infection rapidly and conveniently. However, currently available techniques show high variation in performance. We sought to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the novel multiplex NxTAG respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) RUO test versus a routine multiplex Anyplex II RV16 assay in respiratory specimens collected from children <18 years of age hospitalized with nonspecific symptoms of acute lower respiratory infection. Parallel testing was performed on nasopharyngeal aspirates prospectively collected at referral Children's Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Barcelona, Spain) between June and November 2015. Agreement values between the two tests and kappa coefficients were assessed. Bidirectional sequencing was performed for the resolution of discordant results. A total of 319 samples were analyzed by both techniques. A total of 268 (84.0%) of them yielded concordant results. Positive percent agreement values ranged from 83.3 to 100%, while the negative percent agreement was more than 99% for all targets except for enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV; 94.4%). Kappa coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 1.00. Discrepancy analysis confirmed 66.0% of NxTAG RPP RUO results. A total of 260 viruses were detected, with EV/RV ( n = 105, 40.4%) being the most prevalent target. Viral coinfections were found in 44 (14.2%) samples. In addition, NxTAG RPP RUO detected single bacterial and mixed viral-bacterial infections in seven samples. NxTAG RPP RUO showed high positive and negative agreement with Anyplex II RV16 for main viruses that cause acute respiratory infections in children, coupled with an additional capability to detect some respiratory bacteria.

scholarly journals A retrospective database analysis of burden of IPD and pneumonia in children <15y in Veneto region

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Barbieri ◽  
A Cantarutti ◽  
G Porcu ◽  
T Hu ◽  
T Petigara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Average Cost ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Healthcare Resource Utilization ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Regional Population

Abstract Background IPD and pneumonia are associated with high mortality and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). This analysis assessed incidence, HCRU and costs of IPD and pneumonia following PCV13 introduction in 2010 in Veneto. Methods IPD, unspecified invasive disease episodes, outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia episodes were identified in Pedianet, a pediatric primary care database from 2010-2017. HCRU includes primary care and specialist visits, antibiotic prescriptions, diagnostics, ER visits and hospitalizations. Incidence rates (IRs) were numbers of episodes/1,000 person-years. Standardized regional incidence rates (SRIRs) were calculated by standardizing IRs with regional population data by age and year. Regional expenditures (€/1,000 person-years) were calculated by multiplying SRIRs with average costs per episode. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses assessed trends in annual IRs in the early and late PCV13 (2010-2013, 2014-2017) periods. Results During 2010-2017, IPD and unspecified invasive disease incidence decreased from 0.40 to 0.31/1,000 person-years. While incidence was numerically lower in 2017 than in 2010, ITS analysis did not detect a significant trend in the early (coef=1.97; p = 0.63) or late PCV13 (coef=0.50; p = 0.90) periods. Average cost per episode was €4206 and average regional expenditure was €171/1,000 person-year. SRIR for outpatient pneumonia decreased from 13.35 to 5.48/1,000 person-year during 2010 to 2017. Pneumonia episodes were associated with 0.29 ER visits and 0.15 short stay and 0.06 long stay hospitalization. Average cost per episode was €345, majority of which was associated with ER visits (€50.8) and hospitalizations (€243.9). Regional expenditures decreased from €12852.31 to €5351.98/1,000 person-year. Conclusions IPD and unspecified invasive disease burden did not change significantly following PCV13 introduction, while disease burden declined for outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia. Key messages IPD and unspecified invasive disease burden did not change significantly following PCV13 introduction. Disease burden declined for outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia following PCV13.

scholarly journals Evaluating Specimen Quality and Results from a Community-Wide, Home-Based Respiratory Surveillance Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley E. Kim ◽  
Elisabeth Brandstetter ◽  
Naomi Wilcox ◽  
Jessica Heimonen ◽  
Chelsey Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Pathogen Screening

AbstractIntroductionWhile influenza and other respiratory pathogens cause significant morbidity and mortality, the community-based burden of these infections remains incompletely understood. The development of novel methods to detect respiratory infections is essential for mitigating epidemics and developing pandemic-preparedness infrastructure.MethodsFrom October 2019 to March 2020, we conducted a home-based cross-sectional study in the greater Seattle area, utilizing electronic consent and data collection instruments. Participants received nasal swab collection kits via rapid delivery within 24 hours of self-reporting respiratory symptoms. Samples were returned to the laboratory and were screened for 26 respiratory pathogens and a human marker. Participant data were recorded via online survey at the time of sample collection and one week later.ResultsOf the 4,572 consented participants, 4,359 (95.3%) received a home swab kit, and 3,648 (83.7%) returned a nasal specimen for respiratory pathogen screening. The 3,638 testable samples had a mean RNase P CRT value of 19.0 (SD: 3.4) and 1,232 (33.9%) samples had positive results for one or more pathogens, including 645 (17.7%) influenza-positive specimens. Among the testable samples, the median time between shipment of the home swab kit and completion of laboratory testing was 8 days [IQR: 7.0-14.0].DiscussionHome-based surveillance using online participant enrollment and specimen self-collection is a feasible method for community-level monitoring of influenza and other respiratory pathogens, which can readily be adapted for use during pandemics.

scholarly journals Seattle Flu Study - Swab and Send: Study Protocol for At-Home Surveillance Methods to Estimate the Burden of Respiratory Pathogens on a City-Wide Scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley E. Kim ◽  
Elisabeth Brandstetter ◽  
Chelsey Graham ◽  
Jessica Heimonen ◽  
Audrey Osterbind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Nasal Swab ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
List Type ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Home Based

AbstractIntroductionWhile seasonal influenza and other respiratory pathogens cause significant morbidity and mortality each year, the community-based burden of these infections remains incompletely understood. Understanding the prevalence, epidemiology, and transmission dynamics of respiratory pathogen infections among community-dwelling individuals is essential during pandemic and epidemic settings and for developing pandemic-preparedness infrastructure.Methods and AnalysisWe present the protocol for a novel, city-wide home-based cross-sectional study in the Seattle Metropolitan area, utilizing rapid delivery systems for self-collection of a nasal swab and return to the laboratory for respiratory pathogen testing. All participation takes place electronically, including recruitment, consent, and data collection. Within 48 hours of participants self-reporting respiratory symptoms, a nasal swab kit is delivered to the household via a courier service. Demographic and illness characteristics are collected at the time of sample collection and recovery and behavioral information collected one week later. Specimens are tested in the laboratory for multiple respiratory pathogens, and results are available on a public website for participants.Ethics and DisseminationThe study was approved by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (Protocol #00006181). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, talks at conferences, and on the Study Website (www.seattleflu.org).Article SummaryThe findings of this study will inform whether a home-based approach to city-wide respiratory surveillance is possible in epidemic settingsA key strength of this study is that it is conducted across diverse neighborhoods spanning a major metropolitan areaClinical findings may not be generalizable, as they are reliant on self-report (vaccination status, symptoms, healthcare utilization, etc.)

scholarly journals The Influence of Propolis on Dental Plaque Reduction and the Correlation between Dental Plaque and Severity of COVID-19 Complications—A Literature Review

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (18) ◽  
pp. 5516
Author(s):  
Anna Kurek-Górecka ◽  
Karolina Walczyńska-Dragon ◽  
Rafael Felitti ◽  
Aleksandra Nitecka-Buchta ◽  
Stefan Baron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dental Plaque ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Oral Biofilm ◽  
Cariogenic Bacteria ◽  
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia ◽  
Hospital Acquired

Current studies suggest that cariogenic bacteria in dental plaque influence the severity of COVID-19 complications since the oral cavity is a reservoir for respiratory pathogens potentially responsible for the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia. This article focuses on the association between dental plaque and COVID-19 concerning the influence of altered oral biofilm on the risk of increased severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, it concentrates on the usefulness of propolis, with its apitherapeutic antibacterial properties, for treating oral bacterial infections co-occurring with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A review of the literature on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Medline between 2000 and 2021 revealed 56 published articles indicating that a link between dental plaque and COVID-19 complications was probable. Furthermore, they indicated that propolis may minimize COVID-19 severity by reducing dental plaque accumulation. The possibility that improved oral health could reduce the risk of COVID-19 complications should be of interest to scientists.

scholarly journals Case report of congenital asplenia presenting with Haemophilus influenzae type a (Hia) sepsis: an emerging pediatric infection in Minnesota

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Albrecht ◽  
Kristina Poss ◽  
Satja Issaranggoon Na Ayuthaya ◽  
Lori Triden ◽  
Katherine L. Schleiss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
American Indian ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Type A ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Haemophilus Influenzae Type ◽  
Uneventful Recovery ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Indian Children ◽  
Disease Manifestation

Abstract Background In the pre-vaccine era, invasive disease with Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib) commonly presented with osteoarticular involvement. Haemophilus influenzae, type a (Hia) sepsis is a rare but emerging problem in recent years. Here, we report a case of sepsis with concomitant osteoarthritis due to Hia that was the presenting infectious disease manifestation of isolated asplenia in a young child. This unique observation adds to our understanding of sepsis and asplenia in children. Case presentation A five-year-old girl developed acute Hia bacteremia and sepsis. The patient developed arthritis shortly after onset of septic shock. Arthrocentesis was culture-negative, but given the difficulty differentiating between septic and reactive arthritis, prolonged antibiotic administration was provided for presumed osteoarticular infection, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. The finding of Howell-Jolly bodies on blood smear at the time of presentation prompted an evaluation that revealed isolated congenital asplenia. Evaluation for known genetic causes of asplenia was unrevealing. Investigation by the Minnesota Department of Health revealed an emergence of Hia infections over the past 5 years, particularly in children with an American Indian background. Conclusions Hia is an important pathogen in the differential diagnosis of invasive bacterial infections in children and shares overlap in clinical presentation and pathogenesis with Hib. Invasive Hia disease can be a presenting manifestation of asplenia in children. Hia is an emerging pathogen in American Indian children.

Lactobacilli intra-tracheal administration protects from Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection in mice – a proof of concept

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 893-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Fangous ◽  
Y. Alexandre ◽  
N. Hymery ◽  
S. Gouriou ◽  
D. Arzur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cell ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
Respiratory Pathogen ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens

The spreading of antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue, which requires alternative treatments to antibiotics. Lactobacilli have shown abilities to prevent pneumonia in clinical studies when given by oral route, certainly through the gut-lung axis involvement. Rationally, respiratory administration of lactobacilli has been developed and studied in murine model, to prevent from respiratory pathogens. It allows a direct effect of probiotics into the respiratory system. To our knowledge, no study has ever focused on the effect of probiotic intra-respiratory administration to prevent from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) pneumonia, a major respiratory pathogen associated with high morbidity rates. In this study, we evaluated the beneficial activity of three Lactobacillus strains (Lactobacillus fermentum K.C6.3.1E, Lactobacillus zeae Od.76, Lactobacillus paracasei ES.D.88) previously screened by ourselves and known to be particularly efficient in vitro in inhibiting PAO1 virulence factors. Cytotoxic assays in alveolar epithelial cell line A549 were performed, followed by the comparison of two lactobacilli prophylactic protocols (one or two administrations) by intra-tracheal administration in a C57BL/6 murine model of PA pneumonia. A549 cells viability was improved from 23 to 75% when lactobacilli were administered before PAO1 incubation, demonstrating a protective effect (P<0.001). A significant decrease of 2 log of PAO1 was observed 4 h after PAO1 instillation (3×106 cfu/mouse) in both groups receiving lactobacilli (9×106 cfu/mouse) compared to PAO1 group (P<0.05). One single prophylactic administration of lactobacilli significantly decreased the secretion by 50% in bronchoalveolar lavages of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α compared to PAO1. No difference of secretion was observed for the IL-10 secretion, whatever the prophylactic study design. This is the first study highlighting that direct lung administration of Lactobacillus strains protect against PA pneumonia. Next step will be to decipher the mechanisms involved before developing this novel approach for human applications.

scholarly journals Cerebrospinal fluid neopterin as a biomarker of neuroinflammatory diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Molero-Luis ◽  
Didac Casas-Alba ◽  
Gabriela Orellana ◽  
Aida Ormazabal ◽  
Cristina Sierra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Canonical Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Csf Biomarkers ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens

Abstract The elevation of neopterin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been reported in several neuroinflammatory disorders. However, it is not expected that neopterin alone can discriminate among different neuroinflammatory etiologies. We conducted an observational retrospective and case–control study to analyze the CSF biomarkers neopterin, total proteins, and leukocytes in a large cohort of pediatric patients with neuroinflammatory disorders. CSF samples from 277 subjects were included and classified into four groups: Viral meningoencephalitis, bacterial meningitis, acquired immune-mediated disorders, and patients with no-immune diseases (control group). CSF neopterin was analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. Microbiological diagnosis included bacterial CSF cultures and several specific real-time polymerase chain reactions. Molecular testing for multiple respiratory pathogens was also included. Antibodies against neuronal and glial proteins were tested. Canonical discriminant analysis of the three biomarkers was conducted to establish the best discriminant functions for the classification of the different clinical groups. Model validation was done by biomarker analyses in a new cohort of 95 pediatric patients. CSF neopterin displayed the highest values in the viral and bacterial infection groups. By applying canonical discriminant analysis, it was possible to classify the patients into the different groups. Validation analyses displayed good results for neuropediatric patients with no-immune diseases and for viral meningitis patients, followed by the other groups. This study provides initial evidence of a more efficient approach to promote the timely classification of patients with viral and bacterial infections and acquired autoimmune disorders. Through canonical equations, we have validated a new tool that aids in the early and differential diagnosis of these neuroinflammatory conditions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document