In France, the use of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) lead to an overall significant decrease in PCV7 invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence. However, the decrease in ...vaccine serotype prevalence was partially counterbalanced by the serotype replacement phenomenon. In this study, we analyzed the role of the newly described serotype 6C as one of the replacement serotypes. This work was conducted on a large time scale from the early PCV7 era (2002-2003) to the PCV13 era (2010-2011), both on IPD strains recovered from the whole population and nasopharyngeal colonizing strains isolated in infant less than two years, who are known to be the main reservoir for pneumococci. Serotype 6C took advantage over 6A and 6B serotypes, which both decreased over time. A continuous and significant increase in 6C IPD was observed in adults along the study period; in contrast, in children less than two years, only an increase in 6C nasopharyngeal carriage was found, the prevalence of serotype 6C in IPD remaining very low over time. Among 101 6C invasive and colonizing strains studied by MLST, 24 STs were found to be related to three major clonal complexes, CC395, CC176, and CC315. STs related to CC176 tend to disappear after 2009 and were essentially replaced by ST386 (CC315), which dramatically increased over time. This clonal expansion may be explained by the erythromycin and tetracycline resistances associated with this clone. Finally, the decrease observed in nasopharyngeal 6C carriage since 2010, likely related to the PCV13 introduction in the French immunization schedule, is expected to lead to a decrease in 6C IPD in adults thereafter.
To identify modes of HCV transmission during an outbreak of HCV infection in a hemodialysis unit.
An epidemiologic study, virologic analysis, assessment of infection control practices and procedures, ...and technical examination of products and dialysis machines.
A private hemodialysis unit treating approximately 70 patients.
Detection of HCV RNA by PCR was performed among patients receiving dialysis in 2001. Case-patients were patients who had a first positive result for HCV RNA between January 2001 and January 2002 and either acute hepatitis, a seroconversion for HCV antibodies, or a previous negative result. Three control-patients were randomly selected per case-patient.
Of the 61 patients treated in the unit in 2001 and not infected with HCV, 22 (36.1%) became case-patients with onset from May 2001 to January 2002 for an incidence density rate of 70 per 100 patient-years. Phylogenic analysis identified four distinct HCV groups and an index case-patient for each with a similar virus among patients already known to be infected. No multidose medication vials or material was shared between patients. Connection to a dialysis machine by a nurse who had connected an HCV-infected patient "just before" or "one patient before" increased the risk of HCV infection, whereas using the same dialysis machine after a patient infected with HCV did not. Understaffing, lack of training, and breaches in infection control were documented. Direct observation of practices revealed frequent flooding of blood into the double filter on the arterial pressure tubing set.
During this outbreak, HCV transmission was mainly patient to patient via healthcare workers' hands. However, transmission via dialysis machines because of possible contamination of internal components could not be excluded.
Implementation of 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in France has led to an overall antibiotic resistance decrease among invasive pneumococcal isolates. However, among emerging non-PCV13 ...serotypes, 12F, 24F, 15A and 35B are associated to antibiotic resistance and should be further monitored.
Background.
In 2010, the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13), containing 6 additional serotypes including the multidrug-resistant 19A, replaced the PCV7 in France. This study aimed at analyzing trends in antibiotic resistance in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) isolates in France after PCV13 introduction.
Methods.
A total of 5243 pneumococci isolated from IPD in 2008–2009 (late PCV7 era) and 2011–2012 (PCV13 era) were studied according to their serotype and antibiotic resistance profile. Multilocus sequence typing analysis was performed on strains of the predominant serotypes (12F and 24F) isolated from young children.
Results.
Overall, the prevalence of antibiotic resistance decreased in France (−21.5% for penicillin from 2008–2009 to 2011–2012), mainly driven by the decline of the 19A serotype. Among non-PCV13 serotypes that concomitantly emerged, serotypes 12F, 24F, 15A, and 35B were consistently associated with resistance to 1 or more antibiotics. In children under 2 years, serotypes 15A, 35B, and 24F accounted together for 37.8% and 31.9% of penicillin-nonsusceptible and erythromycin-resistant isolates, respectively. Chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole resistance were mainly associated with serotypes 12F and 24F, respectively. Genetic analysis showed that although emergence of serotype 12F pneumococci resulted from the expansion of various pre-existing lineages, increase in serotype 24F was related to the clonal expansion of the ST162 penicillin-susceptible cotrimoxazole-resistant lineage.
Conclusions.
We showed that decline of PCV13-related IPD was associated with a decline in antibiotic resistance in France, but that it likely favored the spread of several resistant nonvaccine serotypes. However, antibiotic resistance does not seem to be the only element that may drive this phenomenon.
In the WHO European Region, COVID-19 surveillance was implemented 27 January 2020. We detail the first European cases. As at 21 February, nine European countries reported 47 cases. Among 38 cases ...studied, 21 were linked to two clusters in Germany and France, 14 were infected in China. Median case age was 42 years; 25 were male. Late detection of the clusters' index cases delayed isolation of further local cases. As at 5 March, there were 4,250 cases.
We describe the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease during 2007-2014 in 12 European countries and assess overall H. influenzae disease trends by serotype and patient age. Mean ...annual notification rate was 0.6 cases/100,000 population, with an increasing annual trend of 3.3% (95% CI 2.3% to 4.3%). The notification rate was highest for patients <1 month of age (23.4 cases/100,000 population). Nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) caused 78% of all cases and showed increasing trends among persons <1 month and >20 years of age. Serotype f cases showed an increasing trend among persons >60 years of age. Serotype b cases showed decreasing trends among persons 1-5 months, 1-4 years, and >40 years of age. Sustained success of routine H. influenzae serotype b vaccination is evident. Surveillance systems must adopt a broad focus for invasive H. influenzae disease. Increasing reports of NTHi, particularly among neonates, highlight the potential benefit of a vaccine against NTHi.
TOC Summary: Non–heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes have increased in Spain, France, Belgium, and England and Wales.
After heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was ...marketed in France, Spain, Belgium, and England and Wales (United Kingdom), invasive disease from non-PCV7 serotypes (NVT) increased. Adjusted serotype-specific incidences among children <15 years of age were compared between 1999–2002 (prevaccine) and 2005–2006 (postmarketing). Vaccine coverage increased to ≈32%–48% in France, Spain, and Belgium but remained <1% in England and Wales. Serotype 1 incidence rose in all age groups and countries (incidence rate ratio IRR 1.3–4.2; p<0.004), independently of PCV7 use, but incidence of serotypes 7F and 19A increased most in France, Spain, and Belgium (IRR 1.9–16.9 in children <5 years; p<0.001), where PCV7 coverage was greater. Vaccine-induced replacement of PCV7 serotypes possibly contributed to NVT increases, as did secular trends. New vaccines targeting these serotypes are available, but serotype dynamics needs further exploration that accounts for underreporting and prevaccine trends.
In France, pneumococcal vaccination in adults is recommended for risk groups (chronic conditions/immunosuppression). We conducted a study on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults to identify ...factors associated with disease severity and death.
We included IPD cases, excluding meningitis, from 25 acute care hospitals in 6 regions. We defined severe cases as those with shock or severe sepsis or intensive care unit admission/mechanical ventilation. We included deaths occurring within 30 days of hospitalization. Infectious disease specialists collected clinical/microbiological data on cases.
During 2014-2017, 908 nonmeningitis IPD cases were diagnosed; 48% were severe, 84% had comorbidities, 21% died. Ninety percent of cases with comorbidities who previously sought health care were not vaccinated against pneumococcus. Compared with previously healthy cases, the risk of severe IPD increased from 20% (adjusted risk ratio aRR, 1.2; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.0-1.4) in cases with 1-2 chronic diseases to 30% (aRR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-7.0) in those with >2 chronic diseases. Among risk groups, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) serotypes and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) nonPCV13 serotypes were more likely to induce severe IPD compared with nonvaccine serotypes (aRR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3-1.9; aRR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5, respectively).
We observed a cumulative effect of concurrent comorbidities on severe IPD. Vaccine serotypes were more likely to induce severe IPD among risk groups. The missed opportunities for vaccination underscore the need to enhance vaccination in risk groups.
Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in France is closely monitored by the pneumococcus surveillance network, founded in 1995, which collects data from regional observatories ...(Observatoire Régionaux du Pneumocoque ORP). In 2007, 23 ORPs analyzed the antibiotic susceptibility of 5,302 isolates of S. pneumoniae recovered in France from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, middle ear fluid, and pleural fluid, as well as from adult respiratory samples. The study showed that 38.2% of the strains were nonsusceptible to penicillin, 19.3% nonsusceptible to amoxicillin, and 10.5% nonsusceptible to cefotaxime. The percentage of pneumococcus nonsusceptible to penicillin varied according to both the sample and the age of the patient (child/adult): blood (27.8%/32.5%), cerebrospinal fluid (33.7%/34.6%), middle ear fluid (60.2%/27.5%), and pleural fluid (50.0%/31.0%). Between 2003 and 2007, the frequency of penicillin resistance in invasive pneumococcal disease gradually decreased from 46.4% to 29.0% in children and from 43.8% to 32.7% in adults. This decrease coincided with the introduction of a seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into immunization programs and with a general reduction in levels of antibiotic consumption in France.
Les observatoires régionaux du pneumocoque (ORP), créés à partir de 1995, participent aux côtés du Centre national de référence des pneumocoques et de l’Institut de veille sanitaire à la surveillance ...étroite de l’évolution de la résistance du pneumocoque aux antibiotiques. En 2007, les 23 ORP français ont étudié la sensibilité aux antibiotiques et le sérogroupe de 5 302 souches de pneumocoque isolées de liquides céphalo-rachidiens (LCR), d’hémocultures, de pus d’otite moyenne aiguë, de liquides pleuraux de l’enfant et de l’adulte (≥ 16 ans) ainsi que de certains échantillons pulmonaires de l’adulte (≥ 16 ans). L’étude a montré que 38,2 % des souches étaient de sensibilité diminuée à la pénicilline (PSDP), 19,3 % à l’amoxicilline et 10,5 % au céfotaxime. Le pourcentage de PSDP différait selon les régions, allant de 29 % en Alsace à 50 % à Paris Ile-de-France Ouest. Il était plus élevé chez l’enfant (50,2 %) que chez l’adulte (33,7 %) et variait selon le prélèvement (enfant/adulte) : hémocultures (27,8 %/32,5 %), LCR (33,7 %/34,6 %), pus d’otite moyenne aiguë (60,2 %/27,5 %), liquides pleuraux (50 %/31 %). Les PSDP étaient souvent multirésistants avec en particulier un pourcentage élevé de résistance à l’érythromycine (84,2 % contre 12,7 % pour les pneumocoques sensibles à la pénicilline). Enfin, le sérogroupe majoritairement rencontré était le sérogroupe 19 (25,2 % des isolats).
French regional pneumococcal observatories, created from 1995, participate alongside the National Reference Center for Pneumococci and the Institut de Veille Sanitaire at the close monitoring of the evolution of resistance of pneumococci to antibiotics. In 2007, 23 regional pneumococcal observatories studied the antibiotic susceptibility and serogroup of 5302 strains of
Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered from cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), blood, middle ear fluid, pleural fluid in the child and the adult (≥ 16 years) as well as from some broncho-pulmonary samples in the adult. The study showed that 38.2% of the strains were non-susceptible to penicillin (PNSP), 19.3% to amoxicillin and 10.5% to cefotaxime. The percentage of PNSP varied according to the region, ranging from 29% in Alsace to 50% in Paris Ile de France west. PNSP were higher in children (50.2%) than in adults (33.7%) and varied according to the sample (child / adult): bloodstream (27.8%/32.5%), CSF (33.7%/34.6%), middle ear fluid (60.2%/27.5%), pleural fluid (50%/31%). The PSDP were often multiresistant with a high percentage of erythromycin resistance (84.2% versus 12.7% in penicillin-susceptible isolates). Finally, the most common serogroup was serogroup 19 (25.2% of the strains).
After heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was marketed in France, Spain, Belgium, and England and Wales (United Kingdom), invasive disease from non-PCV7 serotypes (NVT) increased. ...Adjusted serotype-specific incidences among children <15 years of age were compared between 1999-2002 (prevaccine) and 2005-2006 (postmarketing). Vaccine coverage increased to approximately 32%-48% in France, Spain, and Belgium but remained <1% in England and Wales. Serotype 1 incidence rose in all age groups and countries (incidence rate ratio IRR 1.3-4.2; p<0.004), independently of PCV7 use, but incidence of serotypes 7F and 19A increased most in France, Spain, and Belgium (IRR 1.9-16.9 in children <5 years; p<0.001), where PCV7 coverage was greater. Vaccine-induced replacement of PCV7 serotypes possibly contributed to NVT increases, as did secular trends. New vaccines targeting these serotypes are available, but serotype dynamics needs further exploration that accounts for underreporting and prevaccine trends.
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