Recent increase in atypical presentations of invasive meningococcal disease in France.

BACKGROUND: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases declined upon the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) (social distancing and mask wearing) to control the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded in 2022 in numbers with genotypical changes of the strains. We explored here associated modifications in the clinical presentations of IMD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using the Database of the French National Reference Centre for meningococci and Haemophilus influnezae for IMD cases between 2015 and 2022. We scored serogroups, sex, age groups, clinical presentations and clonal complexes of the corresponding patients and isolates. FINDINGS: Non-meningeal forms of IMD increased significantly upon easing of NPI, such as bacteremic meningococcal pneumonia and bacteremic abdominal forms. They represented 6% and 8% of all IMD forms and were significantly linked to serogroups Y and W respectively, to older adults for bacteremic pneumonia and to young adults for bacteremic abdominal presentations. These forms were significantly associated with more early mortality and clonal complexes 23, 11 and 9316. INTERPRETATION: The increase in atypical IMD forms may lead to higher burden of IMD due to delayed diagnosis and management. Updating prevention may be needed through by adapting the current vaccination strategies to epidemiological changes.

Not Only Meningitis but Also Epiglottitis: An Emerging Clinical Presentation of Invasive Meningococcal Disease.

The rebound of invasive meningococcal disease cases in France since the fall of 2022 was accompanied by an increase in adult epiglottitis. These cases were provoked mainly by isolates of serogroup W belonging to the clonal complex 11 of Neisseria meningitidis. Awareness and surveillance should be reinforced.

The rapid rebound of invasive meningococcal disease in France at the end of 2022.

BACKGROUND: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases declined upon the implementation of non-pharmaceutical measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. A rebound in IMD cases was feared upon easing these measures. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using the French National Reference Center Database for meningococci between 2015 and 2022. We scored serogroups, sex, age groups, and clonal complexes of the corresponding isolates. FINDINGS: Our data clearly show a decline in the number of IMD cases for all serogroups and age groups until 2021. This decline was mainly due to a decrease in IMD cases provoked by the hyperinvasive ST-11 clonal complex. However, since the fall of 2021, there has been an increase in IMD cases, which accelerated in the second half of 2022. This rebound concerned all age groups, in particular 16-24 years. The increase in cases due to serogroups B, W, and Y were mainly due to the expansion of isolates of the ST-7460, the clonal complex ST-9316 and the clonal complex ST-23, respectively. INTERPRETATION: IMD epidemiology changes constantly and profound epidemiological changes have been recently observed. The surveillance of IMD needs to be enhanced using molecular tools. Additionally, vaccination strategies need to be updated to acknowledge recent epidemiological changes of these vaccine-preventable serogroups.

Impact of mandatory vaccination against serogroup C meningococci in targeted and non-targeted populations in France.

Since January 2018, mandatory vaccination against meningococci serogroup C has been implemented in France for children <2 years with a recommended catch-up vaccination until the age of 24 years. We aimed to analyse the impact of mandatory vaccination on populations not targeted by it (2-24 years old). We used the database of the national reference centre for meningococci to collect the number of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases before (2016-2017) and after (2018-2019) the mandatory vaccination. The cultured isolates were sequenced and submitted for genomic comparison. The total number of cases was 1706, including 376 cases of IMD serogroup C. Mandatory vaccination correlated with a significant decrease among the <2 years old and a decreasing trend among the 2-14 years old group but not among 15-25 years of age. This observation may be explained by the vaccine coverage that is still low among adolescents and young adults. Moreover, the genomic analysis revealed the co-circulation of two major genotypes belonging to the clonal complex ST-11 whose distribution differed across the age groups in accord with cyclic variations of genotypes. It is important to increase specific knowledge on meningococcal epidemiology and vaccination to involve them in establishing the vaccination strategy.

Global epidemiology and changing clinical presentations of invasive meningococcal disease: a narrative review.

Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide through an epidemic or sporadic invasive infections. The epidemiology of N. meningitidis is changing and unpredictable. Certain emerging meningococcal genotypes seem to be associated with increasing unusual clinical presentations. Indeed, early symptoms may vary and are frequently non-specific. However, atypical clinical forms including abdominal presentations, septic arthritis, and bacteremic pneumonia may lead to misdiagnosis and some are usually associated with higher case fatality rates due to delayed optimal management. Improving awareness of clinicians and public health specialists about these unusual but potentially severe presentations should help establish prompt diagnoses and provide appropriate management of cases. In this review, we described unusual panels of clinical presentations of invasive meningococcal disease linked to the recent changes in meningococcal epidemiology.

[The popular identity of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review]. / Une revue intégrative de l'identité populaire de l'infirmière durant la pandémie de la COVID-19.

Context : The current COVID-19 context has placed nurses at the heart of the pandemic, due to the critical role they play within the population. However, media and professional discourses are influencing the identity and clinical practice of nurses.Objective : Review the literature on the construction of the popular identity of nurses and their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.Method : Several data sources were consulted : Eureka, Google News, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Sociological Abstracts, Cumulative Index to Nursing Information and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and Social Sciences Abstracts. Manual searches of government and professional sites were also conducted.Results : Of a total of 281 papers indexed, 73 were retained. The literature analysis identified the following themes : 1) identity images of nurses during this pandemic and their professional roles ; 2) the sometimes paradoxical nature of media and political discourse ; and 3) the fact that this discourse seems to influence clinical nursing practice, which is being assigned new roles.Conclusion : This article raises awareness among decision-makers about the multiple roles of nurses and the public image of nurses during a pandemic, and takes a critical look at popular discourses related to nurses' identity and how this identity changes during a pandemic.

Advocating for LGBTQ+ older adults: a review of the role of executive nurses.

Over the past four decades, the number of people aged over 60 years has increased worldwide, and within this population there has been a proportional increase in people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Executive nurses have an important leadership role in challenging heterocisnormative care practices in healthcare environments that affect the well-being of older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and others (LGBTQ+). This article reports on the findings of a secondary analysis of data extracted from an earlier scoping review to provide recommendations for executive nurses on how to advocate for LGBTQ+ older adults and create safe and inclusive healthcare environments for them.

Une revue intégrative de l'identité populaire de l'infirmière durant la pandémie de la COVID-19.

Context : The current COVID-19 context has placed nurses at the heart of the pandemic, due to the critical role they play within the population. However, media and professional discourses are influencing the identity and clinical practice of nurses.Objective : Review the literature on the construction of the popular identity of nurses and their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.Method : Several data sources were consulted : Eureka, Google News, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Sociological Abstracts, Cumulative Index to Nursing Information and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and Social Sciences Abstracts. Manual searches of government and professional sites were also conducted.Results : Of a total of 281 papers indexed, 73 were retained. The literature analysis identified the following themes : 1) identity images of nurses during this pandemic and their professional roles ; 2) the sometimes paradoxical nature of media and political discourse ; and 3) the fact that this discourse seems to influence clinical nursing practice, which is being assigned new roles.Conclusion : This article raises awareness among decision-makers about the multiple roles of nurses and the public image of nurses during a pandemic, and takes a critical look at popular discourses related to nurses' identity and how this identity changes during a pandemic.

[Recommendations to Nursing Practice with Sexual and Gender Diversity Older Adults : A Scoping Review] / Une revue de la portée sur la pratique infirmière auprès des personnes âgées issues de la diversité sexuelle et de genre.

Context : The elder population is growing up and sexual and gender diversity older adults (SGDOA) live discrimination from healthcare professionals. In this context, this scoping review sought to describe the extent of knowledge about nursing practice among SGDOA and to synthesize the implications for clinical nursing practice. Method : The scoping review method according to the framework of Peters et al. of the Joanna Briggs Institute has been adopted. Results : The recommendations were grouped into five axes : raising awareness of the existence of SGDOA, their historical context and their health problems ; refrain from heterocissexist and heterocisnormative assumptions by adopting an inclusive language and an open attitude ; support SGDOA and their caregivers or their family of choice ; create a safe and confidential environment ; and promote the inclusion of SGDOA in the health care system. Conclusion : The results could be used by nurses and other health professionals to optimize the quality of care for SGDOA and to promote their inclusion.

Une revue de la portée sur la pratique infirmière auprès des personnes âgées issues de la diversité sexuelle et de genre.

Context : The elder population is growing up and sexual and gender diversity older adults (SGDOA) live discrimination from healthcare professionals. In this context, this scoping review sought to describe the extent of knowledge about nursing practice among SGDOA and to synthesize the implications for clinical nursing practice.Method : The scoping review method according to the framework of Peters et al. of the Joanna Briggs Institute has been adopted.Results : The recommendations were grouped into five axes : raising awareness of the existence of SGDOA, their historical context and their health problems ; refrain from heterocissexist and heterocisnormative assumptions by adopting an inclusive language and an open attitude ; support SGDOA and their caregivers or their family of choice ; create a safe and confidential environment ; and promote the inclusion of SGDOA in the health care system.Conclusion : The results could be used by nurses and other health professionals to optimize the quality of care for SGDOA and to promote their inclusion.

[The meaning of caregiving experience lived by Lebanese family caregivers of stroke survivors at home]. / La signification de l'expérience du "prendre soin" pour des aidants familiaux libanais de survivants d'accident vasculaire cérébral à domicile.

UNLABELLED: Introduction six million of deaths are due today to stroke, while stroke survivors will depend on their caregivers at home. BACKGROUND: As the literature noted in, these caregivers meet challenges and satisfactions, encouraging them to resort to adaptation strategies in order to cope with their care situation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe and understand the experience of Lebanese family caregivers who take care at home of a relative stroke survivor. METHOD: Using the phenomenological approach of Giorgi (1997), twelve interviews were conducted with six family caregivers who have been recruited through a rehabilitation center in Beirut. RESULTS: Eight themes have emerged from the phenomenological analysis: the family caregiver burden, the missing social support, the learning through his experience of a family caregiver, the contribution to caregiving survivor, the selflessness in the caregiving, the gratitude in the caregiving, the familiarization with new routines and reconciliation with new lifestyle. The proposed essence from this phenomenological analysis is: the satisfaction in taking care of the stoke survivor by facing challenges and bringing order into the chaos caused by the stroke. CONCLUSION: The knowledge gained from this study would allow nurses to identify family caregivers at risk in order to help them to adapt to their new role as caregivers, and to develop health promotion strategies, taking into consideration their experience.