ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Estimate the efficacy of oral anticholeric vaccine Dukoral in subjects travelling to high-risk areas for traveler's diarrhoea and cholera. METHODS: The study involved subjects of both genders who planned to travel to high-risk areas for traveler's diarrhoea and cholera. Immunization with oral anticholeric vaccine Dukoral was offered to each one of them. Upon returning, all the participants in the study were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 40 close-ended questions mainly concerning: personal and health data, characteristics (length, destination, reason) of the travel, onset of gastrointestinal symptoms, data relating to the assumption of anticholeric vaccine and possible adverse reactions. RESULTS: 296 questionnaires have been collected. Mean age was 38.2 years (55.4% males and 44.6% females). Mean travel length was 22.2 days. Reasons for the travel: 66.8% tourism and 33.2% work-cooperation. Most frequent destination was Africa (48.1%), followed by Asia (32.1%) and central South-America (17.8%). 199 subjects (67.2%) properly executed vaccination with Dukoral. The diarrhoea affected 14.1% of vaccinated subjects and 20.6% of non vaccinated ones. The following cohorts showed statistically significant differences in incidence of diarrhoea: <35 years old age (13.7% vs. 27.1%), travel for work-cooperation (14.1% vs. 35%) and travel length >28 days (12.1% vs. 40%). No serious adverse events were reported following vaccination. DISCUSSION: Oral Anticholeric vaccine proved to be effective and safe in preventing fecal-oral diseases in travelers exposed to high risk conditions.
Subject(s)
Cholera Vaccines/administration & dosage , Cholera/prevention & control , Diarrhea/prevention & control , Escherichia coli Infections/prevention & control , Travel/statistics & numerical data , Administration, Oral , Adult , Cholera/immunology , Cholera/transmission , Diarrhea/immunology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Endemic Diseases/prevention & control , Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/immunology , Escherichia coli Infections/immunology , Escherichia coli Infections/transmission , Feces/microbiology , Female , Food Microbiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Vibrio cholerae/immunology , Water MicrobiologyABSTRACT
The National Type Specific Hepatitis Surveillance System (SEIEVA) and seroepidemiological studies have shown that in addition to newborns from mothers who are carriers for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), adolescents are at high risk of acquiring type B hepatitis virus because of increasing importance of the heterosexual transmission of this virus. In order to evaluate logistic problems and acceptance rate of adolescents to mass vaccination against hepatitis B, a pilot study was carried out among all 7th grade children registered in the 9 schools of an hepatitis B endemic area located in the suburbs of Naples. After meetings held by the local health department with school teachers and parents, 1219 out of 1250 (97.5%) invited children received the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine; 1215 and 1209 received, respectively, the second and third doses. Anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) values were studied in 406 subjects one month after the third dose, and 21 out of 406 (5.2%) had anti-HBs values less than 10 IU/L. We consider 95% of subjects with anti-HBs values greater than 9 IU/L a good achievement for a field vaccination program. The high acceptance rate of vaccination found in our study outlines the importance of active offer of vaccination combined with school involvement.
