MedWorm: Meningitis Vaccine

FDA approves new quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:34:55 +0100

Authors: Thompson CA PMID: 20237372 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP)

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Theme: Acute bacterial meningitis

Emergency Medicine Journal — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:45:06 +0100

(Source: Emergency Medicine Journal)

Study Shows Prevenar 13 Is Immunogenic In Young Children Previously Vaccinated With Prevenar

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

According to results from a Phase III safety and immunogenicity study presented today, Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, [13-valent, adsorbed]) was shown to be immunogenic and generally well tolerated in healthy young children who had received at least three prior doses of Prevenar (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed). These data were presented today at the 7th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) in Tel Aviv, Israel... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Study Shows Prevenar 13 Is Immunogenic In Young Children Previously Vaccinated With Prevenar

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

According to results from a Phase III safety and immunogenicity study presented today, Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, [13-valent, adsorbed]) was shown to be immunogenic and generally well tolerated in healthy young children who had received at least three prior doses of Prevenar (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed)... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today)

Menveo® meningococcal vaccine approved in the EU

NeLM - News — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: PharmaLive Area: News According to PharmaLive, the European Commission has approved Menveo® (Meningococcal Group A, C, W135 and Y conjugate vaccine) in all 27 European member states. Menveo® is indicated for the active immunisation of adolescents (from 11 years of age) and adults at risk of exposure to Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, W135 and Y, to prevent invasive disease. Menveo® is the first conjugate vaccine commercially available in Europe that helps protect against four major groups of meningococcal disease. Novartis intends to submit additional data to the EMEA to support the use of Menveo in other age groups (it is currently in Phase III clinical studies in infants and toddlers). (Source: NeLM - News)

EU approves meningococcal vaccine

Pharmacy Europe — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:11:22 +0100

Swiss drug giant Novartis has won approval from Europe's health regulator for its new meningococcal vaccine following support from US authorities last month. (Source: Pharmacy Europe)

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Effectiveness of the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine against invasive pneumococcal disease in people 60 years or older.

BMC Infectious Diseases — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: These findings confirm the effectiveness of the 23-valent PPV against IPD, and they also support the benefit of vaccination in preventing invasive infections among high-risk and older people. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)

Dairy proteins and the response to pneumovax in senior citizens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

With the progressive aging of the world's population, immunosenescence is rapidly becoming a clinical concern as it accounts for a higher incidence of severe infections and poor response to vaccines. To identify nutritional approaches that may counteract immunosenescence is of obvious importance in clinical practice. Dairy products in general and whey proteins in particular share the capacity to stimulate the immune system within the digestive tract while the antibody response to Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine is a good marker of the immune function. We performed a controlled, randomized, double-blind pilot study to determine if an eight-week supplementation with whey protein (or soy protein used as control) could enhance the serum response to pneumococcal vaccine in healthy senior citiz...

GAVI Alliance Reaches Agreement With Drugmakers On Reduced-Price Pneumococcal Vaccines

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Several drugmakers have reached an agreement "to supply up to 200 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations," according to GAVI Alliance, Reuters reports. A formal announcement of the deal is expected "in the next couple of weeks," GAVI's Deputy Chief Executive Officer Helen Evans told the news service Thursday. "Pneumococcal disease is one of the world's biggest killers of children, claiming up to 1.6 million lives each year... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

GAVI Alliance Reaches Agreement With Drugmakers On Reduced-Price Pneumococcal Vaccines

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Several drugmakers have reached an agreement "to supply up to 200 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations," according to GAVI Alliance, Reuters reports. A formal announcement of the deal is expected "in the next couple of weeks," GAVI's Deputy Chief Executive Officer Helen Evans told the news service Thursday... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today)

CDC Advisers Issue Guidance on Use of New Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Physician's First Watch current issue — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:55:13 +0100

(Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)

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Use Shot that Targets 13 Strains of Pneumococci (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:13:14 +0100

Giving kids the new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may further decrease disease burden, researchers have found. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Nigeria: Meningitis Ravages Kano LGs

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:30 +0100

Cerebrospinal Meningitis has hit 18 local government areas in Kano State where 50 cases have been reported.Speaking with our correspondent on phone, Kano State Commissioner for Health Hajiya Aishatu Kiru confirmed the figure of cases and the number of affected areas, saying health officials had been sent to the areas and house-to-house vaccination had begun. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Young Kids to Benefit From Broader Pneumococcal Vaccine

MedicineNet Senior Health General — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Young Kids to Benefit From Broader Pneumococcal VaccineCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/11/2010 12:10:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 3/12/2010 (Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General)

Young Kids to Benefit From Broader Pneumococcal Vaccine

MedicineNet Hepatitis C General — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Young Kids to Benefit From Broader Pneumococcal VaccineCategory: Health NewsCreated: 3/11/2010 12:10:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 3/12/2010 (Source: MedicineNet Hepatitis C General)

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Young Children Before Licensure of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine --- United States, 2007

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Licensure of a 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) and Recommendations for Use Among Children --- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Licensure of a Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Menveo) and Guidance for Use --- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

PREVNAR 13 (Pneumococcal 13-Valent Conjugate Vaccine) Injection, Suspension [Wyeth Pharmaceutical Division Of Wyeth Holdings Corporation]

DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Updated Date: Mar 12, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))

Licensure of a Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Menveo) and Guidance for Use --- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the approved indications for MenACWY-CRM and provides guidance from ACIP for its use. The following guidance for use of MenACWY-CRM is consistent with licensed indications and ACIP recommendations for meningococcal conjugate vaccines. PMID: 20224545 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

Licensure of a 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) and Recommendations for Use Among Children --- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes recommendations approved by ACIP on February 24, 2010, for 1) routine vaccination of all children aged 2--59 months with PCV13, 2) vaccination with PCV13 of children aged 60--71 months with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for pneumococcal disease or complications, and 3) PCV13 vaccination of children who previously received 1 or more doses of PCV7. CDC guidance for vaccination providers regarding transition from PCV7 to the PCV13 immunization program also is included. PMID: 20224542 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

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Invasive pneumococcal disease in young children before licensure of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine --- United States, 2007.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which found that among 427 IPD cases with known serotype in children aged <5 years, 274 (64%) were caused by serotypes contained in PCV13. In 2007, an estimated 4,600 cases of IPD occurred in children in this age group in the United States, including approximately 2,900 cases caused by serotypes covered in PCV13 (versus 70 cases caused by PCV7 serotypes). PCV13 use has the potential to further reduce IPD in the United States. Post-licensure monitoring will help characterize the effectiveness of PCV13 in different populations and track the potential changes in disease burden caused by non-PCV13 serotypes. PMID: 20224541 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

Article Outlines Use of PCV13 Vaccine in Young Children

Modern Medicine — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was recently licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is recommended for all children ages 2 to 59 months, as well as some older children with underlying conditions, according to a report in the March 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. According to another report in the same issue, the vaccine could greatly reduce the prevalence of pneumococcal disease in children younger than 5 years. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Drugmakers agree on landmark vaccines deal for poor

Reuters: Health — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:19:26 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Several drug firms have agreed on a landmark deal to supply up to 200 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations, according to the global immunization alliance that is overseeing the deal. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Young Kids to Benefit from Broader Pneumococcal Vaccine

MedlinePlus Health News — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0100

CDC study found newest vaccine lowered chances of those under 5 getting the disease Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Childhood Immunization, Streptococcal Infections (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

The pneumococcal Eukaryotic-Type Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase StkP co-localizes with the cell division apparatus and interacts with FtsZ in vitro.

Microbiology — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Giefing C, Jelencsics KE, Gelbmann D, Senn BM, Nagy E The importance of serine/threonine phosphorylation in signalling and regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes has been widely recognized. Driven by our interest in StkP, the pneumococcal serine/threonine kinase homologue, for vaccine development, we studied its cellular localization. We found that the C-terminally located PASTA (Penicillin-binding protein And Serine Threonine kinase Associated) domains, but not the N-terminal kinase domain of StkP, were surface located on live pneumococcal cells grown in vitro and also accessible to antibodies during pneumococcal infection in mice and man. Most importantly, we discovered by immunofluorescence microscopy that StkP co-localized with the cell division apparatus. StkP and F...

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Nigeria: Guarding Against Meningitis

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:40:17 +0100

Thirteen persons were killed in Jigawa state by cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) disease between January and March this year. Reports of the CSM outbreak came as shortage of vaccines was said to have marred vaccination efforts in the affected areas. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

The effect of age on the response to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

BMC Infectious Diseases — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. To prevent invasive pneumococcal diseases, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is recommended in subjects over 65 years of age. Although it provides approximately 50-80% protection against invasive disease in the general elderly population, there is still controversy as to the effectiveness of the PPV in the elderly. Methods: To evaluate the immune response to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the elderly, samples from young adults and elderly were obtained before and one month after vaccination. The quantitative and qualitative response to the vaccine were measured by the ELISA and opsonophagocytic killing assay for eight vaccine type serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18...

Updated post-licensure surveillance of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in England and Wales: effectiveness, validation of serological correlate of protection and modelling predictions of the duration of herd immunity.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Campbell H, Andrews N, Borrow R, Trotter C, Miller E Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccines were licensed in the UK more than 10 years ago based on correlates of protection that had previously been established for serogroup C containing polysaccharide vaccines using the serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assay. These correlates of protection were subsequently validated against post licensure estimates of observed vaccine effectiveness up to 7-9 months after the administration of MCC vaccine. Vaccine effectiveness was however shown to fall significantly more than one year after the administration of a 3 dose course in infancy. Despite this finding the marked impact on serogroup C disease has been sustained with the lowest ever recorded incidence (0.02 per 100,000 pop...

Efficacy of 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumonia and improving survival in nursing home residents

NeLM - News — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: BMJ Area: News The effects of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in nursing home residents has been assessed in a double blind, randomised and placebo controlled trial conducted in Japan. The study involved 1006 nursing home residents who were randomised to either 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (n=502) or placebo (n=504). The primary end points were the incidence of all cause pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia. Secondary end points were deaths from pneumococcal pneumonia, all cause pneumonia, and other causes. The following findings were reported: . Pneumonia occurred in 63 (12.5%) participants in the vaccine group and 104 (20.6%) in the placebo group. . Pneumococcal pneumonia was diagnosed in 14 (2.8%) par...

Documentation of preventive screening interventions by general practitioners: a retrospective chart audit

BMC Family Practice — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Documentation of preventive screening interventions by general practitioners was relatively low compared to the number of patients eligible for preventive screening. Some physicians opt to screen for PSA and DRE which is not recommended by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive HealthCare. (Source: BMC Family Practice)

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UK Food Standards Agency Workshop Report: Diet and Immune Function.

The British Journal of Nutrition — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of the workshop was to review this research and to establish priorities for future research. Several of the trials presented at the workshop showed some effect of nutritional interventions (e.g. vitamin D, Zn, Se) on immune parameters. One trial found that increased fruit and vegetable intake may improve the antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination in older people. The workshop highlighted the need to further clarify the potential public health relevance of observed nutrition-related changes in immune function, e.g. susceptibility to infections and infectious morbidity. PMID: 20211037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Nutrition)

Cellular CD4 T Cell Responses to the Diphtheria‐Derived Carrier Protein of Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccine and Antibody Response to Pneumococcal Vaccination in HIV‐Infected Adults

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:02:29 +0100

Conclusions. The PCV prime‐elicited memory T cell responses were associated with better and sustained humoral SPP specific IgG responses. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier. NCT00148824. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Efficacy of 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumonia and improving survival in nursing home residents: double blind, randomised and placebo controlled trial

BMJ Online First — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:02:29 +0100

Objective To determine the efficacy of a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in people at high risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. Design Prospective, randomised, placebo controlled double... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in high risk adults

BMJ Online First — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:02:29 +0100

(Source: BMJ Online First)

Study Finds Pfizer's Pneumonia, Meningitis Vaccine Protects Against Recurrent Pneumonia In HIV Patients

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

Pfizer's Prevnar 7 vaccine, which protects against pneumonia and meningitis, has been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent pneumococcal infection in patients living with HIV in Malawi, according to a study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Reuters reports. "In HIV-infected patients, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the risk of developing [invasive pneumococcal disease] IPD ... is between 30 and 100 times higher, the scientists said in their study," Reuters writes... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Study Finds Pfizer's Pneumonia, Meningitis Vaccine Protects Against Recurrent Pneumonia In HIV Patients

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

Pneumococcal Vaccine Offers Protection To HIV-infected African Adults In Clinical Trial

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

A clinical trial of a vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis has shown that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa. The trials, conducted in Malawi and funded by the Wellcome Trust, studied the efficacy of a vaccine against infection with the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. These bacteria are a primary cause of pneumonia and when they invade the blood stream and brain - so called invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) - they cause the serious and often fatal illnesses of septicaemia and meningitis... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Pneumococcal Vaccine Offers Protection To HIV-infected African Adults In Clinical Trial

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children prior to implementation of the conjugate vaccine in the Zurich region, Switzerland

Acta Paediatrica — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: IPD is a serious disease with a high complication rate and mortality. The clinical signs tachycardia, tachypnea, and meningism were highly predictive for severe IPD. The initial clinical presentation and laboratory evaluation were mostly unpredictable with respect to complications and outcome in contrast to the clinical signs. (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Conjugate Vaccine Prevents Recurrent Pneumococcal Disease in HIV

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:59:30 +0100

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine cuts the risk of recurrent invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in HIV patients, according to a study from Malawi. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

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Population Structure and Capsular Switching of Invasive Neisseria meningitidis Isolates in the Pre–Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine Era—United States, 2000–2005

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:10:14 +0100

Conclusions. A limited number of genetic lineages caused the majority of invasive meningococcal infections. A substantial proportion of isolates had evidence of capsular switching. The high prevalence of capsular switching requires surveillance to detect changes in the meningococcal population structure that may affect the effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Pfizer pneumonia shot helps HIV-infected patients

Reuters: Health — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:20:18 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - Results of a trial of Pfizer's Prevnar 7 vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis showed on Wednesday that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Pfizer Pneumonia Shot Helps HIV-Infected Patients

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:20:18 +0100

Results of a trial of Pfizer's Prevnar 7 vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis showed on Wednesday that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: AIDS and Infections, International Health, Pneumonia (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Nigeria: Meningitis Kills 13 in Jigawa

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:41:25 +0100

About 13 persons were killed by Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in Jigawa State between January and March 1 this year, just as shortage of vaccines has marred vaccination in affected areas. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Beneficial in HIV

Modern Medicine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can protect adults with HIV against recurrent pneumococcal infection, according to research published in the March 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. (Source: Modern Medicine)

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A Trial of a 7-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in HIV-Infected Adults

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Pneumococcal infection is an important cause of death and complications in adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, particularly in Africa. In this placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving 496 predominantly HIV-infected Malawian adults who had recently had an invasive pneumococcal infection, the 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine was found to have 74% efficacy in preventing subsequent invasive pneumococcal infection with a vaccine-associated serotype. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

Aggregation of Streptococcus pneumoniae by a pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide-specific human monoclonal IgM correlates with antibody efficacy in vivo.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we sought to determine the biological activity of and mechanism by which one such MAb, A7 (a human PPS3-specific IgM), mediates protection. In vitro studies demonstrated that co-incubation of A7 with ST3 in the absence of phagocytes or a complement source resulted in a reduction in CFUs on blood agar plates that was largely reversible by sonication. A chromogenic cellular proliferation assay demonstrated that A7 did not affect replication of ST3 in liquid culture. The ability of A7 to induce aggregation of ST3 was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry: A7 induced aggregation of ST3, and in the presence of a complement source, A7 promoted deposition of complement component 3 (C3) on aggregated bacteria in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly, administration o...

Nigeria: FG Moves to Combat Meningitis

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:52:26 +0100

The Ministry of Health has deployed over 370,000 doses of vaccine to vulnerable states to help stem the effect of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM). The epidemic claimed several lives in 2009 mostly from the northern part of the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Increased Risk of Hospitalization for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection among Australian Indigenous Infants 5–23 Months of Age Following Pneumococcal Vaccination: A Cohort Study

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:04:54 +0100

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. Australian Indigenous children are the only population worldwide to receive the 7‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vPCV) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age and the 23‐valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) at 18 months of age. We evaluated this program’s effectiveness in reducing the risk of hospitalization for acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in Northern Territory (NT) Indigenous children aged 5–23 months. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving all NT Indigenous children born from 1 April 2000 through 31 October 2004. Person‐time at‐risk after 0, 1, 2, and 3 doses of 7vPCV and after 0 and 1 dose of 23vPPV and the number of ALRI f...

Serotype 19A Is the Most Common Serotype Causing Invasive Pneumococcal Infections in Children

PEDIATRICS — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:02:26 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Since 2005, the number of invasive pneumococcal infections in children has increased at 8 children's hospitals, primarily as a result of serotype 19A isolates, one third of which were resistant to multiple antibiotics in 2007 and 2008. Continued surveillance is necessary to detect emerging serotypes after the planned introduction of 13-valent or other pneumococcal vaccines. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

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Vaccine preventability of meningococcal clone, greater aachen region, Germany.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Elias J, Schouls LM, van de Pol I, Keijzers WC, Martin DR, Glennie A, Oster P, Frosch M, Vogel U, van der Ende A Emergence of serogroup B meningococci of clonal complex sequence type (ST) 41/44 can cause high levels of disease, as exemplified by a recent epidemic in New Zealand. Multiplication of annual incidence rates (3.1 cases/100,000 population) of meningococcal disease in a defined German region, the city of Aachen and 3 neighboring countries (Greater Aachen) prompted us to investigate and determine the source and nature of this outbreak. Using molecular typing and geographic mapping, we analyzed 1,143 strains belonging to ST41/44 complex, isolated from persons with invasive meningococcal disease over 6 years (2001-2006) from 2 German federal states (total population 26 m...

ACIP immunization update.

The Journal of Family Practice — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Campos-Outcalt D The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made a number of major new recommendations last year. These new recommendations address: expanded use of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine; preferences for combination vaccines; timing of poliovirus vaccine doses; resumption of the normal Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) schedule, as shortages have resolved; the use of a new bivalent human papilloma virus (HPV2) vaccine in women and quadrivalent (HPV4) vaccine in men; a reduced-dose schedule for rabies postexposure prophylaxis; proof of immunity against mumps, measles, and rubella for health care workers; and recommendations for meningococcal vaccine boosters. PMID: 20230733 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Journal of Family Practice)

Safety and immunogenicity of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine at 12 months of age, following one, two, or threes doses of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infancy.

Vaccine — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Russell FM, Licciardi PV, Balloch A, Biaukula V, Tikoduadua L, Carapetis JR, Nelson J, Jenney AW, Waqatakirewa L, Colquhoun S, Cheung YB, Tang ML, Mulholland EK Fijian infants aged 6 weeks were stratified by ethnicity and randomized to receive 0, 1, 2, or 3 PCV-7 doses with or without the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) at 12 months. Strong booster effects for all 7 PCV-7 serotypes were elicited, and for 4/7 serotypes these responses were highest in the single PCV-7 group. There were fourfold rises in GMC for all non-PCV-7 serotypes. By 17 months the PPV-23 group still had significantly higher GMC (each p<0.001) for all serotypes. The PPV-23 was well tolerated and induced excellent responses for all serotypes which were greatest in the single PCV-7 gr...

Serotype coverage of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and drug susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from invasive or non-invasive diseases in central Thailand, 2006-2009.

Vaccine — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Srifeungfung S, Tribuddharat C, Comerungsee S, Chatsuwan T, Treerauthanaweeraphong V, Rungnobhakhun P, Nunthapisud P, Chokephaibulkit K The serotype of 172 S. pneumoniae isolates obtained from normally sterile sites from January 2006 to February 2009 in Thai patients was evaluated. The most common serotypes were 6B, 23F, 14, 19F, and 19A in patients <5 year-old, and 6B, 19A, 23F, 4, 9V in patients >65-year old. Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV-7) covered 70.3%, 43.6%, and 43.5% of patients <5, 5-64 and >/=65 years of age, respectively, while PCV-13 covered 81.2%, 59.7%, and 60.9%, respectively. PCV-9, PCV-10, PCV-11 had very similar coverage as PCV-7. The antibiotic susceptibility rates of the isolates from sterile sites were 88.7-95.7% for penicil...

Changes in the childhood immunization schedule for 2010

Clinical Cases and Images — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:06:00 +0100

From WebMD:- Gardasil human papillomavirus vaccine is now suggested for boys. Previously recommended only for girls.- There are 2 new recommendations for boosting the bacterial meningitis vaccine: children at high risk should get the shot as early as age 2 and as late as age 6. Children not at high risk should get the first shot at age 11 or 12 (or ages 13 to 18 if not previously vaccinated).- Preference for combination vaccines over separate injections of vaccine components.CDC, Get The Picture: Child Immunizations.References:New Schedule for Childhood Vaccines. WebMD. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow on Twitter and Buzz, and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images)

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CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices Recommends Pfizer's Prevnar 13™ Vaccine For The Prevention Of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the use of Prevnar 13™ (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]) for healthy children aged 2 months through 59 months for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today)

CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices Recommends Pfizer's Prevnar 13™ Vaccine For The Prevention Of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the use of Prevnar 13™ (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]) for healthy children aged 2 months through 59 months for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the 13 pneumococcal serotypes included in the vaccine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Evaluating the Brighton Collaboration case definitions, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, by systematic analysis of 255 clinical cases.

Vaccine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: BC case definitions are easily applicable in retrospective chart reviews allowing causality assessments with minimal selection bias. PMID: 20197145 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Impact of a single dose of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on colonization.

Vaccine — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Frazão N, Sá-Leão R, de Lencastre H The impact of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) on the pneumococcal flora has been mostly studied without evaluating multiple colonization and the mechanism(s) leading to serotype replacement. These issues are addressed here, while assessing the effect of a single PCV7 dose. A group of children received one PCV7 dose just after nasopharyngeal sampling, with the control receiving no vaccine and both groups being sampled again a month later. Up to 10 pneumococcal isolates were recovered per colonized child-1224 isolates were serotyped and representative ones characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In vaccinated children, serotype replacement between vaccine (VT) and non-vaccine (NVT) types occurred in...

New Pneumonia, Meningitis Vaccine Approved In U.S.; Pfizer, GAVI Will Lower Price In Developing Countries

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

The FDA approved Prevnar 13 - a "new version of a blockbuster vaccine that fights pneumonia, meningitis and other infections" - for use in children up to age 5 in the U.S., Reuters reports (Richwine, 2/24). Such infections cause the deaths of an estimated one million children in developing countries and "dozens of deaths" in the U.S. each year, according to health officials, New York Times reports... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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New Pneumonia, Meningitis Vaccine Approved In U.S.; Pfizer, GAVI Will Lower Price In Developing Countries

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

The FDA approved Prevnar 13 - a "new version of a blockbuster vaccine that fights pneumonia, meningitis and other infections" - for use in children up to age 5 in the U.S., Reuters reports (Richwine, 2/24). Such infections cause the deaths of an estimated one million children in developing countries and "dozens of deaths" in the U.S... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today)

Pfizer Receives FDA Approval For Prevnar 13™ For The Prevention Of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease In Infants And Young Children

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Prevnar 13™ (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]), the Company's 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Prevnar 13 is indicated for active immunization of children 6 weeks through 5 years of age for the prevention of invasive disease caused by 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Pfizer Receives FDA Approval For Prevnar 13™ For The Prevention Of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease In Infants And Young Children

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

MENVEO (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, W-135 And Y) Crm197 Oligosaccharide Conjugate Vaccine) Kit [Novartis Vaccines And Diagnostics S.R.L.]

DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Updated Date: Feb 26, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))

CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Use of Newly Approved Pneumococcal Vaccine

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:22:26 +0100

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to replace Prevnar with Prevnar 13, which provides broader protection for young children against pneumococcal diseases. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Green light for pneumococcal jab

Pharmacy Europe — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:12:17 +0100

Health officials in the US have approved a new pneumococcal vaccine that is expected to slash the number of children and teenagers diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia (Source: Pharmacy Europe)

FDA Approves Broader Pneumococcal Vaccine

Physician's First Watch current issue — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:51:19 +0100

(Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)

New Version of Pneumococcal Vaccine Gets Okay

MedPage Today Product Alert — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:43:14 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has approved a 13-valent version of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar for use in pediatric patients 6 months to 5 years old. (Source: MedPage Today Product Alert)

FDA Approves Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine With Broader Protection

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine for infants and young children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Prevnar 13 will be the successor to Prevnar, the pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine licensed by the FDA in 2000 to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and otitis media. The new vaccine extends the protection to six additional types of the disease-causing bacteria. Prevnar 13 is approved for the prevention of invasive disease caused by 13 different serotypes of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

FDA Approves Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine With Broader Protection

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

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FDA approves new pneumonia vaccine with wider reach

Los Angeles Times - Science — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Prevnar 13 protects against more strains of bacteria than the existing vaccine and is expected to produce a sharp drop in infections. The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new pneumococcal vaccine that protects against more strains of bacteria than the existing one and is expected to produce a sharp reduction in the number of cases of bacterial pneumonia and ear infections in children and adolescents. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Successor to Combination Pneumococcal Vaccine Approved

MedicineNet Senior Health General — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Title: Successor to Combination Pneumococcal Vaccine ApprovedCategory: Health NewsCreated: 2/24/2010 4:10:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 2/25/2010 (Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General)

Pfizer's Prevnar 13 Recommended by CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices

World Pharma News — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) announced that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the use of Prevnar 13™ for healthy children aged 2 months through 59 months for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the 13 pneumococcal serotypes included in the vaccine. (Source: World Pharma News)

Safety and immunogenicity of one dose of MenACWY-CRM, an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccine, when administered to adolescents concomitantly or sequentially with Tdap and HPV vaccines.

Vaccine — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Arguedas A, Soley C, Loaiza C, Rincon G, Guevara S, Perez A, Porras W, Alvarado O, Aguilar L, Abdelnour A, Grunwald U, Bedell L, Anemona A, Dull PM This Phase III study evaluates an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal CRM(197) conjugate vaccine, MenACWY-CRM (Novartis Vaccines), when administered concomitantly or sequentially with two other recommended adolescent vaccines; combined tetanus, reduced diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. In this single-centre study, 1620 subjects 11-18 years of age, were randomized to three groups (1:1:1) to receive MenACWY-CRM concomitantly or sequentially with Tdap and HPV. Meningococcal serogroup-specific serum bactericidal assay using human complement (hSBA), and antibodies to Tdap antigens ...

[Pneumococcal pneumonia highly probable in immunized children cared for in-group settings.]

Archives de Pediatrie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Gendrel D, Vallet C, Gelmetti C, Moulin F, Brasme JF, Chalumeau M, Cohen R, Raymond J Invasive pneumococcal diseases were reduced after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, but infections due to non-vaccine serotypes persisted. The pneumococcal origin of community-acquired pneumonia remains difficult to affirm, but high procalcitonin and C-reactive protein blood levels and duration of fever 48h or less after initial antibiotic treatment are excellent predictors of pneumococci. Among 259 patients under 7 years of age hospitalized from 2003 to 2008 for community-acquired pneumonia, 47 met these criteria, including 27 of 141 hospitalized between 2006 (date of vaccine generalization) and 2008. Of these 27, 21 had previously received pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 19...

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FDA Approves Prevnar 13 Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine

Drugs.com - New Drug Approvals — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:36:36 +0100

SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine for infants and young children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Prevnar 13 will be... (Source: Drugs.com - New Drug Approvals)

Successor to Combination Pneumococcal Vaccine Approved

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:33:00 +0100

Prevnar 13 offers broader protection against a host of bacterial diseases Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Childhood Immunization, Ear Infections, Pneumonia (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

FDA Approves Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine with Broader Protection

MedlinePlus Health News — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:40:53 +0100

Source: Food and Drug Administration Related MedlinePlus Pages: Childhood Immunization, Meningitis, Pneumonia (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

FDA Approves Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine with Broader Protection

Food and Drug Administration — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:10:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine for infants and young children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Prevnar 13 will be the successor to Prevnar, the pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine licensed by the FDA in 2000 to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and otitis media. The new vaccine extends the protection to six additional types of the disease causing bacteria. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)

Pfizer Receives FDA Approval For Prevnar 13™ For The Prevention Of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease In Infants And Young Children

Pharmaceutical Online News — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:22:00 +0100

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Prevnar 13T (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]), the Company's 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. (Source: Pharmaceutical Online News)

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Pfizer Receives FDA Approval for Prevnar 13 for the Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Infants and Young Children

HSMN NewsFeed — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:59:16 +0100

NEW YORK--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE ) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Prevnar 13(TM) (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine [Diphtheria CRM197 Protein]), the Companys 13-va... Biopharmaceuticals, FDAPfizer, Prevnar 13, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, vaccine (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Successor to Combination Pneumococcal Vaccine Approved

Modern Medicine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Modern Medicine)

Characterization of meningococcal serogroup B outer membrane vesicle vaccines from strain 44/76 after growth in different media.

Vaccine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the growth medium on the composition and immunogenicity of meningococcal outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines after cultivation of the Norwegian serogroup B 44/76 vaccine strain in either Frantz' or modified Catlin-6 media (MC.6M). Differential proteomic analysis revealed that 97% of the OMV proteins maintained the same levels in the two preparations. However, a number of differentially expressed proteins, including TdfH, OpcA, OMP NMB0088, hypothetical NMB2134, lipoprotein NMB1126/1164 and NspA, increased significantly in OMVs produced from bacteria grown in the MC.6M. Together with increased lipopolysaccharide levels, the increased expression of these proteins was associated with significantly higher serum bactericidal titres in mice immunized w...

FDA Approves New Meningitis Vaccine

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:22:12 +0100

The FDA has approved a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine for the prevention of invasive disease caused by common Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 in people aged 11 to 55 years. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

FDA Okays Meningitis Vaccine

MedPage Today Product Alert — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:43:13 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has approved Novartis' (Menveo), a quadrivalent vaccine to prevent meningitis in patients 11 to 55. (Source: MedPage Today Product Alert)

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Novartis Receives FDA Approval Of Menveo®, A Vaccine To Prevent Meningococcal Disease

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Novartis announced that Menveo® (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine), a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in people 11 to 55 years of age1. Meningococcal disease infects more than 500,000 people each year, leading to more than 50,000 deaths globally2. As many as 1 in 7 patients who contract meningococcal disease die from it3... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Novartis Receives FDA Approval Of Menveo®, A Vaccine To Prevent Meningococcal Disease

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Novartis announced that Menveo® (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine), a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in people 11 to 55 years of age1... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today)

Novartis receives FDA approval of Menveo®

World Pharma News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Novartis announced that Menveo®, a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in people 11 to 55 years of age[1]. (Source: World Pharma News)

Pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine gives effective longer term protection in middle-aged and older people

NeLM - News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: J Inf Dis Area: News A study has examined the duration of protection given by vaccination and re-vaccination using the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV) in people aged 50 and above. In the first report, the authors note that there is some controversy over the degree of protection given by the 23-valent PPV in older people. They therefore examined response to primary vaccination and re-vaccination up to five years. Participants were adults aged 50 and over who were generally healthy and whose medical condition was stable. They were divided into four groups by age (50-64, and 65+), and by previous vaccination status. They then received the standard PPV or matching placebo in one arm, and one month later were crossed over and given the alternate preparati...

Pneumococcal Vaccine Prompts Lasting Response in Older People

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:48:16 +0100

A 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PN23) induces enduring antibody responses in middle-aged and elderly people, researchers report in 2 papers in the February 15th Journal of Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

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No difference between short-course and long-course antibiotics for bacterial meningitis in children, but available evidence limited

Evidence-Based Medicine — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:41:19 +0100

(Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)

Menveo Vaccine Approved for Bacterial Meningitis

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:20:00 +0100

Among people aged 11 to 55 Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Medicines, Meningitis (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Novartis Gets US Approval for Menveo Meningitis Vaccine

Drugs.com - New Drug Approvals — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:19:47 +0100

BASEL, Switzerland -- Swiss drug maker Novartis AG said Monday that its meningitis vaccine Menveo has been approved for use in teenagers and adults by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Menveo is a vaccine against four common types of... (Source: Drugs.com - New Drug Approvals)

Yellow fever vaccine: Meningitis and meningoencephalitis: 4 case reports

Reactions — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:16:47 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

U.S. backs Novartis vaccine, MS drug wins priority

Reuters: Health — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:35:52 +0100

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis has won U.S. approval for its key Menveo meningococcal vaccine and got priority review for its oral treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), underlining the promise of the Swiss group's pipeline. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Novartis's meningitis vaccine gets U.S. approval

Reuters: Health — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:05:07 +0100

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis AG's Menveo meningitis vaccine has received U.S. approval, the Swiss drugmaker said on Monday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Novartis Receives FDA Approval Of Menveo®, A Vaccine To Prevent Meningococcal Disease

Pharmaceutical Online News — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:48:00 +0100

New type of pneumococcal infection dominates in wake of vaccine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The pneumococcal vaccine for infants and children introduced in 2000 caused a precipitous drop in infections until 2005, when serious illnesses began to rise again, especially infections caused by a strain of the pneumococcal bacteria called 19A, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in a report in the current issue of the journal Pediatrics . "Of the serotypes (or variants) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease) now causing invasive disease, 19A is responsible for almost half the infections in children," said Dr. Sheldon Kaplan, head of the section of pediatric infectious diseases at BCM and chief of infectious disease services at Texas Children's. Resistance to multiple common antibiotics occurs in abo...

The cross-reactivity of the enterovirus 71 to human brain tissue and identification of the cross-reactivity related fragments

Virology Journal — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: EV71 induced IgG could enter BBB and cross-reacted with brain tissue in EV71 infected neonatal mice, and then the peptides of EV71 that could induce cross-reactivity with brain tissue were identified, which should be avoided in future vaccine designing. (Source: Virology Journal)

Menveo Vaccine Approved for Bacterial Meningitis

Modern Medicine — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Modern Medicine)

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Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:58:05 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence is of poor quality and provides no guidance regarding the safety, efficacy or effectiveness of influenza vaccines for people aged 65 years or older. To resolve the uncertainty, an adequately powered publicly-funded randomised, placebo-controlled trial run over several seasons should be undertaken. PMID: 20166072 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)

A randomised trial on the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of MenACWY-CRM, an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccine, administered concomitantly with Tdap in adolescents and young adults.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study evaluated the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenACWY-CRM, when administered concomitantly with a combined tetanus, reduced diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, in subjects aged 11-25 years. Subjects received either MenACWY-CRM and Tdap, MenACWY-CRM and saline placebo, or Tdap and saline placebo. No significant increase in reactogenicity and no clinically significant vaccine-related AEs occurred when MenACWY-CRM and Tdap were administered concomitantly. Similar immunogenic responses to diphtheria, tetanus and meningococcal (serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y) antigens were observed, regardless of concomitant vaccine administration. Anti-pertussis antibody responses were comparable between vaccine...

Epidemiology of pediatric community-acquired bloodstream infections in a children hospital in Paris, France, 2001 to 2008

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:29:57 +0100

Abstract: In 2001 to 2008, we documented 483 cases of pediatric community-acquired bacteremia mostly because of Streptococcus agalactiae (5 years). Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination affected the serotype distribution of pneumococcal bacteremia but not its frequency. Serotype 19A represented 12% and 22% of pneumococci in the prevaccine and vaccine periods, respectively. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)

Paralytic Syndromes in Children: Epidemiology and Relationship to Vaccination

Pediatric Neurology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:46:59 +0100

Acute flaccid paralysis is a standard outcome for detection of poliomyelitis globally and an ongoing potential vaccine-associated adverse event concern for polio, influenza, and meningococcal vaccines. No systematic population-based data on the epidemiologic and clinical features of this condition, or its potential association with immunization, have been reported from the United States. The present retrospective cohort study of acute flaccid paralysis in the Southern and Northern California Kaiser Permanente Health Care Plans was conducted using computerized diagnosis data and medical record review of potential cases among children aged 1 month to (Source: Pediatric Neurology)

Immunisation practices of paediatric oncology and shared care oncology consultants: A United Kingdom survey

Pediatric Blood and Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In March 2002, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) introduced guidelines for re-immunisation of children after completion of standard-dose chemotherapy and after haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).To ascertain whether these guidelines form standard unit policy by undertaking a survey of UK paediatric principal treatment centre (PTC) consultants and shared care (SC) consultants.In October 2008, a link to an on-line anonymised survey was sent by e-mail to all UK PTC consultants in Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) centres and to SC consultants linked to eight of these centres.Responses were received from 55 PTC consultants (representing all 21 CCLG centres) and 54 SC consultants. In accordance with the RCPCH guidelines, most PTC and SC consultants rec...

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The genetic structure of Neisseria meningitidis populations in Cuba before and after the introduction of a serogroup BC vaccine.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Climent Y, Urwin R, Yero D, Martinez I, Martín A, Sotolongo F, Maiden MC, Pajón R We investigated the population genetics in collections of meningococci sampled in Cuba during the period 1983 to 2005, thereby covering a period before and after the introduction of an antimeningococcal B-C vaccine. A total of 163 case isolates and 210 isolates from healthy carriers were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and sequence determination of porA, porB and fetA genes. A total of 56 sequence types (STs) including 28 new STs were identified among these isolates. The analysis of surface antigens revealed variants 3-1 and 3-8 to be prevalent for porB; variant F5-1 was the most common FetA epitope, and variants 19 and 15 corresponded to the prevalent variable region...

Variation and Molecular Evolution of HmbR, the Neisseria meningitidis haemoglobin receptor.

Microbiology — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Evans NJ, Harrison OB, Clow K, Derrick JP, Feavers IM, Maiden MC Meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis remains an important health problem in many parts of the world for which there are currently no comprehensive vaccines. Poor immunogenicity, combined with immunologic identity with human sialic acids, have hindered the development of a serogroup B conjugate vaccine, resulting in the development of alternative vaccine candidates including many outer membrane protein (OMP) based formulations. However, the design of protein-based meningococcal vaccines is complicated by the high level of genetic and antigenic diversity of the meningococcus. Knowledge of the extent and structuring of this diversity can have implications for the use of particular prote...

African meningitis belt pneumococcal disease epidemiology indicates a need for an effective serotype 1 containing vaccine, including for older children and adults

BMC Infectious Diseases — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine strategies in GAVI-eligible countries are focusing on infant immunization but this strategy may not be optimal in all settings. We aimed to collect all available population based data on pneumococcal meningitis throughout life in the African meningitis belt and then to model overall meningitis risk to help inform vaccine policy. Methods: After a systematic review of literature published from 1970 through the present, we found robust population-based Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) meningitis data across age strata for four African meningitis belt countries that included 35 surveillance years spanning from 1970 to 2005. Using these data we modeled disease risk for a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 persons followed throughout life. Results: Similar to ...

Meningitis vaccine take-up urged

Nursing in Practice — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:54:05 +0100

Meningitis UK poll finds 62% unaware there is no vaccine for meningitis B, and the charity has warned parents to be more vigilant (Source: Nursing in Practice)

Epidemiology, natural history, and risk factors: Panel report from the Ninth International Research Conference on Otitis Media

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:19:34 +0100

This report summarizes important trends in disease incidence and prevalence, describes established and newly identified risk factors for acute and chronic OM and OM with effusion, and conveys information on newly discovered genetic factors. In this report, researchers have described declining rates of OM diagnosis, antibiotic prescriptions, offices visits for OM, and middle ear surgery since the licensure and routine use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants. The panel report also recommends short and long term goals for current and future OM research. (Source: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology)

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Three quarters of parents confused over meningitis vaccine

Nursing Times Breaking News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:34:00 +0100

More than half of parents wrongly believe that their child has been vaccinated against all strains of meningitis, a poll has revealed. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Increasing Incidence of Empyema Complicating Childhood Community‐Acquired Pneumonia in the United States

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:48:58 +0100

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. Background. The incidence of childhood pneumonia decreased following introduction of 7‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in the United States. Recent regional reports suggest an increase in the incidence of childhood pneumonia complicated by empyema. We assessed whether early decreases in pneumonia hospitalization rates were sustained and trends in such hospitalizations complicated by empyema in United States children aged (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

CAS Alert: Introduction of Prevenar 13® into the Childhood Immunisation Programme

NeLM - News — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News This letter from Professor David Salisbury provides further information about the Department of Health's plans to replace the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar® (containing antigens against seven pneumococcal strains) with Prevenar 13® (effective against 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacteria) in the routine childhood vaccination schedule. This follows a previous alert issued on the 19th January 2010 (reference CEM/CMO/2010/02; see link below). The annexes contain the information required for the introduction of the new vaccine, including background, timing, administration, consent, pharmacy issues, supply, storage, PGDs, information resources, recording, reporting adverse reactions, stock management, and funding arra...

Low-cost, high-throughput, automated counting of bacterial colonies

Cytometry Part A — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Research involving bacterial pathogens often requires enumeration of bacteria colonies. Here, we present a low-cost, high-throughput colony counting system consisting of colony counting software and a consumer-grade digital camera or document scanner. We demonstrate that this software, called "NICE" (NIST's Integrated Colony Enumerator), can count bacterial colonies as part of a high-throughput multiplexed opsonophagocytic killing assay used to characterize pneumococcal vaccine efficacy. The results obtained with NICE correlate well with the results obtained from manual counting, with a mean difference of less than 3%. NICE is also rapid; it can count colonies from multiple reaction wells within minutes and export the results to a spreadsheet for data processing. As this program is freely ...

[Correspondence] Preventable deaths in sickle-cell anaemia in African children

LANCET — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Thomas Williams and colleagues (Oct 17, p 1364) provide the strongest evidence to date on the risk of bacteraemia in sub-Saharan African children with sickle-cell anaemia. That Streptococcus pneumoniae was the leading cause of bacteraemia in such children in Kenya comes as no surprise given that this has already been shown in the general population of children in the same region. Data on the use of penicillin prophylaxis or prior immunisation with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in children with sickle-cell anaemia in the population study would have been helpful in further defining the magnitude of this problem. (Source: LANCET)

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[Correspondence] Preventable deaths in sickle-cell anaemia in African children – Authors' reply

LANCET — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Stephen Obaro asks about the use of penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in our study population. Because of the retrospective approach we adopted, most (80/108 [74%]) patients with sickle-cell anaemia identified through our study had not yet been diagnosed at the time of their hospital admission and were not, therefore, on prophylaxis. (Source: LANCET)

Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among States and selected local areas --- behavioral risk factor surveillance system, United States, 2007.

MMWR Surveill Summ — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report presents results for 2007 for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, 184 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs), and 298 counties. Results: In 2007, prevalence estimates of risk behaviors, chronic conditions, and the use of preventive services varied substantially by state and territory, MMSA, and county. The following is a summary of results listed by BRFSS question topic. Each set of proportions refers to the range of estimated prevalence for the disease, condition, or behavior, as reported by the survey subject. Adults who reported fair or poor health: 11% to 32% for states and territories and 6% to 31% for MMSAs and counties. Adults with health-care coverage: 71% to 94% for states and territories ...

Surveillance of certain health behaviors and conditions among states and selected local areas - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2007.

MMWR Surveill Summ — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report presents results for 2007 for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, 184 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs), and 298 counties. RESULTS: In 2007, prevalence estimates of risk behaviors, chronic conditions, and the use of preventive services varied substantially by state and territory, MMSA, and county. The following is a summary of results listed by BRFSS question topic. Each set of proportions refers to the range of estimated prevalence for the disease, condition, or behavior, as reported by the survey subject. Adults who reported fair or poor health: 11% to 32% for states and territories and 6% to 31% for MMSAs and counties. Adults with health-care coverage: 71% to 94% for states and territories ...

Increased Penicillin Nonsusceptibility of Nonvaccine‐Serotype Invasive Pneumococci Other than Serotypes 19A and 6A in Post–7‐Valent Conjugate Vaccine Era

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:53:59 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 201, Issue 5, Page 770-775, March 2010. According to population‐based invasive pneumococcal surveillance in the United States during 2007, 898 (26%) of 3,511 isolates were penicillin nonsusceptible. Non–7‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) serotypes other than 19A accounted for 40% of these penicillin‐nonsusceptible isolates; of these, serotypes 15A (11%), 23A (8%), 35B (8%), and 6C (5%) were most common (cumulatively 32% of penicillin‐nonsusceptible isolates). Each except 6C represented a single serotype and clonal complex combination that predated the introduction of PCV7. We evaluated the genetic characteristics and nonsusceptibility to penicillin of non‐PCV7 serotypes, and we found increased proportions of specific ...

Post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant immunization practices in the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium

Pediatric Blood and Cancer — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A survey of National Marrow Donor Program transplant centers in 1995 demonstrated a wide range of immunization practices in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, which led to the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for vaccination after HSCT. We surveyed the principal investigators of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium (PBMTC) to identify immunization practice patterns after HSCT and assess compliance with the 2000 CDC guidelines.Approval was obtained from the Medical University of South Carolina Institutional Review Board. A 33 question survey using surveymonkey.com was distributed by email to principal investigators in the PBMTC.Forty-one (40%) of the 102 pediatric HSCT centers participating in the PBMTC responded. ...

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PATH To Pay FDA $480,000 To Speed Creation Of Pneumococcal Vaccine For Developing World

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

The FDA on Monday said it's entering into a collaboration with the nonprofit group PATH "to speed creation of a pneumococcal vaccine for children in developing nations," United Press International reports (2/1). "The bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae, can cause fatal infections of the ear, lungs, blood and brain; worldwide, it kills almost one million children a year," the New York Times writes... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

PATH To Pay FDA $480,000 To Speed Creation Of Pneumococcal Vaccine For Developing World

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Health News of the Day

Clinical Cases and Images — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:25:00 +0100

is a daily summary made from the selected links I post on Twitter. It is in bullet-point format with links to the original sources which include 350 RSS feeds that produce about 2,500 items per day: Social Media Guidelines and Best Practices from CDC (collection of PDFs) http://goo.gl/brO9 Billing codes for patient care delivered over the phone - American Medical News http://goo.gl/0r7q If you want your marriage to last, try to make heavy use of the first-person plural pronoun, "we" - New Scientist http://goo.gl/at5A -- Pronouns and behavior in marital conflict - We-ness versus Separateness - We can work it out. PubMed: http://bit.ly/ddpZ2T Empyema Hospitalizations Increased in US Children Despite Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine http://bit.ly/co0Qfq and http://bit.ly/bslRJi...

FDA Collaboration Seeks To Speed Development Of Pneumococcal Vaccines For Children In Developing Countries

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

FDA Collaboration Seeks To Speed Development Of Pneumococcal Vaccines For Children In Developing Countries

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

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Do pneumococcal conjugate vaccines provide any cross-protection against serotype 19A?

BMC Pediatrics - Latest articles — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

DiscussionWe systematically assessed the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of 19F-containing vaccines against 19A disease or nasopharyngeal carriage by searching English-language articles in the electronic databases PubMed, Current contents, Scopus, and Embase from 1985 to 2008. The vaccine efficacy and effectiveness point estimates were consistently positive for modest protection against 19A IPD and acute otitis media (AOM). However, statistical significance was not reached in any individual study. No consistent impact of 7vCRM on 19A nasopharyngeal colonization could be detected. These findings are discussed in context of immunogenicity analyses indicating that 7vCRM induces functionally active anti-19A antibodies after the booster dose, and that other 19F-containing vaccine formulatio...

Infection Persists, Despite Vaccine

NYT > Health — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:09:21 +0100

The PCV7 vaccine has all but eliminated strains of pneumococcal disease, but a serious and sometimes fatal complication has become more common. (Source: NYT > Health)

Global Update: Seattle Group Paying F.D.A. for Work on a Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine

NYT > Health — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:52:55 +0100

The agency said the group, PATH, would pay it $480,000 to begin building a better vaccine for the disease. (Source: NYT > Health)

FDA Collaboration Seeks to Speed Development of Pneumococcal Vaccines for Children in Developing Countries

Food and Drug Administration — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:38:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a collaboration with PATH to advance development of a vaccine to protect children against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), especially pneumonia. Worldwide, the bacterium also causes infections of the brain (meningitis), blood (sepsis), and middle ear (otitis media) and each year kills about 1 million children younger than 5 years of age. The collaboration aims to improve the techniques used to produce effective, safe, and affordable vaccines against pneumococcal disease for children in the developing world. PATH is an international nonprofit organization based in Seattle that creates sustainable, culturally relevant, and affordable solutions to help communities worldwide to break cycles of poor healt...

FDA Collaboration Seeks to Speed Development of Pneumococcal Vaccines for Children in Developing Countries

Food and Drug Administration — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:38:00 +0100

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Reporting Drawbacks in a Vaccine

NYT > Health — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:07:20 +0100

The PCV7 vaccine has all but eliminated strains of pneumococcal disease, but a serious and sometimes fatal complication has become more common. (Source: NYT > Health)

Li S-TT and Tancredi DJ. Empyema Hospitalizations Increased in US Children Despite Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine. Pediatrics. 2010;125(1):26-33

PEDIATRICS — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:03:20 +0100

(Source: PEDIATRICS)

WHO Pneumonia Expert Recognized For Efforts To Ensure Children Receive Life-saving Vaccines

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:00:00 +0100

WHO pneumonia expert Dr. Thomas Cherian will be honored by a group of the world's leading infectious disease experts today for his pivotal work to accelerate access to vaccines preventing pneumococcal disease, the world's leading vaccine-preventable killer of children under age five... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

WHO Pneumonia Expert Recognized For Efforts To Ensure Children Receive Life-saving Vaccines

Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:00:00 +0100

Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup X Sequence Type 2888, Italy.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Fazio C, Starnino S, Solda MD, Sofia T, Neri A, Mastrantonio P, Stefanelli P To the Editor: Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X was first described in the 1960s and has been found to be responsible of rare cases of invasive meningococcal diseases, in particular, meningitis, in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the People's Republic of China (1-3). This serogroup has recently emerged in Africa as an increasing cause of meningitis; unfortunately, it is not covered by current vaccine programs. Serogroup X outbreaks have been reported in Niger, Ghana, and Kenya (4-6). In particular, in Niger during January-June 2006, N. meningitidis serogroup X represented 51% of confirmed cases of meningitis (4). PMID: 20113588 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Dis...

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Clonal distribution of invasive pneumococci, czech republic, 1996-2003.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Zemlickova H, Urbaskova P, Jakubu V, Motlova J, Musilek M, Prochazka B We conducted surveillance on invasive pneumococci isolated from adults in the Czech Republic during 1996-2003. The 7 most prevalent serotypes were characterized. Coverage with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was low. Our observations confirm that detection methods may have modified the expected effect of this vaccine. PMID: 20113561 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Global implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: Lessons from hepatitis B vaccine.

Gynecologic Oncology — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kane MA Development of safe and effective vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV)-the second vaccine against a major human cancer-is one of the most important medical and public health achievements of this century. As with all new vaccines, HPV is currently expensive and this cost precludes its use in the developing world, which has the greatest burden of disease from HPV-related cancers. Hepatitis B (HB) virus vaccine, which prevents chronic HB infection and related cirrhosis and liver cancer, has been successfully introduced as a routine vaccine for children in 89% of countries, including the poorest. The success of this vaccine provides a model for the introduction of HPV vaccine and control of cervical and other HPV-related cancers and genital warts. Lessons learned fr...

Immunization in Rituximab: Timing Matters

Rheumatology News — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The timing of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations can substantially influence the degree of antibody response in rheumatoid arthritis patients taking rituximab, concluded investigators in two independent studies. (Source: Rheumatology News)

Community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly.

The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Adherence to established guidelines, along with customization of antimicrobial therapy based on local rates and patterns of resistance and patient-specific risk factors, likely will improve the treatment outcome of elderly patients with CAP. PMID: 20226392 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy)

WHO pneumonia expert recognized for efforts to ensure children receive life-saving vaccines

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(GAVI's PneumoADIP) WHO pneumonia expert Dr. Thomas Cherian will be honored by a group of the world's leading infectious disease experts today for his pivotal work to accelerate access to vaccines preventing pneumococcal disease, the world's leading vaccine-preventable killer of children under age five. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Pneumococcal Vaccination and Revaccination in the Elderly Population

The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:20:42 +0100

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates That Cause Invasive Disease among Chinese Children

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:00:21 +0100

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Latest Articles. A total of 171 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing invasive disease were isolated from Chinese children. The serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance were tested. The results suggested that the 7‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has a preventive effect among children and that there should be long‐term surveillance for serotype 19A. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

[Department of Error] Department of Error

LANCET — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Black S, Eskola J, Siegrist C-A, et al. Importance of background rates of disease in assessment of vaccine safety during mass immunisation with pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccines. Lancet 2009; 374: 2115–22—In this Public Health paper (Dec 19), the Conflict of interest statement should have included the following: “JE has been a member of a Data & Safety Monitoring Committee for a meningococcal vaccine developed by Novartis, and has received an honorarium from Novartis for attending a scientific meeting on pneumococcal protein vaccines.” (Source: LANCET)

Immunization schedule released

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:20:30 +0100

It’s that time of year when we think about immunizations. That’s because every January the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issue an updated immunization schedule. The online version is on the CDC’s web site. There are three schedules: one for birth to 6, one for 7 to 18 and a “catch-up” schedule for kids who start late or have interruptions for whatever reason. Immunization is an evolving science, and new vaccines are created all the time. Once we start getting experience with them, it’s not unusual to change the timing or number of doses. And sometimes vaccines get taken off the schedule, either because there’s a newer and better version, or (rarely) because of problems. This year, there are only a few changes: • The va...

Clarifications about pneumococcal vaccines.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:32:32 +0100

Authors: Morgenstern D, Garcia-Curiel CS PMID: 20101057 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP)

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Nigeria: Meningitis - Pfizer Compensates Patients With N26,250 Each ... Pays N4.5 Billion to Kano Govt

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:33:18 +0100

PATIENTS who can prove death or permanent incapacitation following the administration of the Pfizer's trovan vaccines in 2006 that affected about 200 people in Kano state are to be compensated with not less than N26, 250, 000 per person. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Review: Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines - an unfinished story

NeLM - News — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases Area: News The authors of this review article look at the development of serogroup B vaccines over the past 40 years under the following headings: . Introduction . Immunity and surrogate markers of protection . Capsular polysaccharide vaccines . Outer membrane vesicle vaccines . Other vaccines in clinical trials . Vaccines in preclinical studies . From clinical trials to immunisation schedules The authors conclude, "The major outstanding issue is that the persistence and breadth of protection that these vaccines induce remains unknown. Countries with a high incidence of invasive meningococcal disease, such as the UK, might be in a position to prevent more of the burden of meningococcal disease beyond serogr...

Immune response to the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine after the 7-valent conjugate vaccine in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: Results from the EBMT IDWP01 trial.

Vaccine — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Cordonnier C, Labopin M, Chesnel V, Ribaud P, Camara RD, Martino R, Ullmann AJ, Parkkali T, Locasciulli A, Yakouben K, Pauksens K, Bonnet E, Einsele H, Niederwieser D, Apperley J, Ljungman P The current recommendations for active immunization after stem cell transplant include 3 doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) from 3 months after transplant, followed by a 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23). However, until now, the immune response to PPV23 after PCV7 has not been assessed after SCT. In the EBMT IDWP01 trial, 101 patients received 1 dose of PPV23 at 12 or 18 months, both after 3 doses of PCV7. The efficacy of PPV23 was assessed 1 month later and at 24 months after transplant by the pneumococcal serotype 1 and 5 antibody levels. Serotype...

Impact of pneumococcal vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in Taiwan

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:29:13 +0100

Abstract In Taiwan, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) have been available since January 2001 and October 2005, respectively. A hospital-based surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in a medical center was conducted from 2000 to 2008 to evaluate the epidemiologic changes after pneumococcal vaccination. A total of 337 episodes in 328 patients were identified. The cumulative coverage rate of PPV23 among persons of age ≥75 years increased from 12% in 2007 to 41% in 2008, and that of PCV7 among children aged <5 years was 0.7% in 2005 and 25.2% in 2008. The annual incidence of IPD decreased from 6.2 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations in 2000–2005 to 3.8 cases in 2006–200...