A case-control study to assess the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy on newborns, Valencian community, Spain, 1 March 2015 to 29 February 2016.

In the Valencian Community (Spain), the programme of maternal pertussis vaccination during pregnancy started in January 2015. The objective of this study was to estimate in this region the vaccine effectiveness (VE) in protecting newborns against laboratory-confirmed pertussis infection. A matched case-control study was undertaken in the period between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016. Twenty-two cases and 66 controls (+/- 15 days of age difference) were included in the study. Cases were non-vaccinated infants < 3 months of age at disease onset testing positive for pertussis by real-time PCR. For every case three unvaccinated controls were selected. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multiple conditional logistic regression for association between maternal vaccination and infant pertussis. Other children in the household, as well as mother- and environmental covariates were taken into account. The VE was calculated as 1 - OR. Mothers of five cases (23%) and of 41 controls (62%) were vaccinated during pregnancy. The adjusted VE was 90.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 56.6 to 98.1). The only covariate in the final model was breastfeeding (protective effect). Our study provides evidence in favour of pertussis vaccination programmes for pregnant women in order to prevent whooping cough in infants aged less than 3 months.

[Epidemiological surveillance of syphilis in the city of Valencia. Impact and evolution of the period 2003-2014]. / Vigilancia epidemiológica de la sífilis en la ciudad de Valencia. Impacto y evolución del período 2003-2014.

UNLABELLED: In Spain syphilis shows an increasing trend from last decade and multiple papers reported an increasing of exposed population. Our aim was to describe the evolution of the incident of the syphilis in the geographical frame of the city of Valencia, to identify the characteristics and practices of risk of the affected ones. A classic design of vigilance of public health was applied, longitudinal retrospective study. Geographical area: the city of Valencia. PERIOD: January 2003-December 2014. VARIABLES: age and sex, national origin, dates of access to the sanitary system, date of diagnosis, clinical forms of presentation, conducts of risk, and practices of risk. The annual impact of the disease evolved from 2.4 × 10(5) in 2004 up to 14.5 × 10(5) in 2014. Males (82.96%) masculinity rate: 4.8. Major specific incidence took places on age-groups 35-39 years with 16.49 × 10(5) and 40-44 years with 16.98 × 10(5). The difference between women stands out according to origin: middle ages in autochthonous (39.72 years) opposite to foreigners (32.91 years); P = .004. The primary forms were 5 times more probable in males. The major factor of risk was to have multiple couples (54.89%), man-to-man homo or bisexuals reaches 90.0% of it. The HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection was 29.07% in males and 4.35% in women. Precedent of multiple couple relations would not be a minor of 42 times more likely among the homosexual population with syphilis. Major determinant of risk were the relations with multiple pairs and the prevention will have to be focused to the group of men who practice sex with men.

Vigilancia epidemiológica de la sífilis en la ciudad de Valencia. Impacto y evolución del período 2003-2014 / Epidemiological surveillance of syphilis in the city of Valencia. Impact and evolution of the period 2003-2014

En España, la sífilis muestra una tendencia creciente desde la década pasada y diversas publicaciones alertan del incremento de población expuesta. El objetivo fue describir la evolución de la incidencia de la sífilis en el marco geográfico de la ciudad de Valencia e identificar las características y las prácticas de riesgo de los afectados. Se aplicó un diseño clásico de vigilancia de salud pública, estudio longitudinal retrospectivo. Ámbito geográfico: la ciudad de Valencia. Ámbito temporal: enero de 2003-diciembre de 2014. Variables de estudio: edad y sexo, origen nacional, fechas de acceso al sistema sanitario, fecha de diagnóstico, formas clínicas de presentación, conductas de riesgo y prácticas de riesgo. El impacto anual de la enfermedad evolucionó desde 2,4 ¥ 105 en 2004 hasta 14,5 ¥ 105 en 2014. El 82,96% eran varones, con razón de masculinidad de 4,8. La incidencia específica se sitúa en los grupos de 35-39 años (16,49 ¥ 105 ) y 40-44 años (16,98 ¥ 105 ). Destaca la diferencia entre mujeres según su origen: edad media en autóctonas (39,72 años) frente a extranjeras (32,91 años); p = 0,004. Las formas primarias fueron 5 veces más probables en varones. El mayor factor de riesgo fue tener parejas múltiples (54,89%), que entre varones homosexuales o bisexuales alcanza el 90,0%. La coinfección por el VIH (virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana) fue del 29,07% en varones y del 4,35% en mujeres. Se estima que la probabilidad de antecedente de parejas múltiples no sería menor de 42 veces entre la población homosexual enferma de sífilis respecto de la heterosexual. El mayor determinante de riesgo fueron las relaciones con múltiples parejas y la prevención deberá focalizarse al colectivo de varones que practican sexo con varones

In Spain syphilis shows an increasing trend from last decade and multiple papers reported an increasing of exposed population. Our aim was to describe the evolution of the incident of the syphilis in the geographical frame of the city of Valencia, to identify the characteristics and practices of risk of the affected ones. A classic design of vigilance of public health was applied, longitudinal retrospective study. Geographical area: the city of Valencia. Period: January 2003-December 2014. Variables: age and sex, national origin, dates of access to the sanitary system, date of diagnosis, clinical forms of presentation, conducts of risk, and practices of risk. The annual impact of the disease evolved from 2.4 ¥ 105 in 2004 up to 14.5 ¥ 105 in 2014. Males (82.96%) masculinity rate: 4.8. Major specific incidence took places on age-groups 35-39 years with 16.49 ¥ 105 and 40-44 years with 16.98 ¥ 105 . The difference between women stands out according to origin: middle ages in autochthonous (39.72 years) opposite to foreigners (32.91 years); P = .004. The primary forms were 5 times more probable in males. The major factor of risk was to have multiple couples (54.89%), man-to-man homo or bisexuals reaches 90.0% of it. The HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection was 29.07% in males and 4.35% in women. Precedent of multiple couple relations would not be a minor of 42 times more likely among the homosexual population with syphilis. Major determinant of risk were the relations with multiple pairs and the prevention will have to be focused to the group of men who practice sex with men

Spatio-temporal cluster detection of chickenpox in Valencia, Spain in the period 2008-2012.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by Varicella zoster, which affects nearly all non-immune children worldwide with an annual incidence estimated at 80-90 million cases. To analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of the chickenpox incidence in the city of Valencia, Spain two complementary statistical approaches were used. First, we evaluated the existence of clusters and spatio-temporal interaction; secondly, we used this information to find the locations of the spatio-temporal clusters via the space-time permutation model. The first method used detects any aggregation in our data but does not provide the spatial and temporal information. The second method gives the locations, areas and time-frame for the spatio-temporal clusters. An overall decreasing time trend, a pronounced 12-monthly periodicity and two complementary periods were observed. Several areas with high incidence, surrounding the center of the city were identified. The existence of aggregation in time and space was observed, and a number of spatio-temporal clusters were located.