Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children - epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022.

Following the report of an excess in paediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology by the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 April 2022, 427 cases were reported from 20 countries in the World Health Organization European Region to the European Surveillance System TESSy from 1 January 2022 to 16 June 2022. Here, we analysed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data available in TESSy. Of the reported cases, 77.3% were 5 years or younger and 53.5% had a positive test for adenovirus, 10.4% had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 10.3% were coinfected with both pathogens. Cases with adenovirus infections were significantly more likely to be admitted to intensive care or high-dependency units (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.18-3.74) and transplanted (OR = 3.36; 95% CI: 1.19-9.55) than cases with a negative test result for adenovirus, but this was no longer observed when looking at this association separately between the UK and other countries. Aetiological studies are needed to ascertain if adenovirus plays a role in this possible emergence of hepatitis cases in children and, if confirmed, the mechanisms that could be involved.

Public health considerations for transitioning beyond the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU/EEA.

Many countries, including some within the EU/EEA, are in the process of transitioning from the acute pandemic phase. During this transition, it is crucial that countries' strategies and activities remain guided by clear COVID-19 control objectives, which increasingly will focus on preventing and managing severe outcomes. Therefore, attention must be given to the groups that are particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including individuals in congregate and healthcare settings. In this phase of pandemic management, a strong focus must remain on transitioning testing approaches and systems for targeted surveillance of COVID-19, capitalising on and strengthening existing systems for respiratory virus surveillance. Furthermore, it will be crucial to focus on lessons learned from the pandemic to enhance preparedness and to enact robust systems for the preparedness, detection, rapid investigation and assessment of new and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Filling existing knowledge gaps, including behavioural insights, can help guide the response to future resurgences of SARS-CoV-2 and/or the emergence of other pandemics. Finally, 'vaccine agility' will be needed to respond to changes in people's behaviours, changes in the virus, and changes in population immunity, all the while addressing issues of global health equity.

Semimembranosus Tendon Advancement for the Anteromedial Knee Rotatory Instability Treatment.

Injury to the medial compartment of the knee is the most common ligament injury to this joint. The medial approach must consider the presence of associated anteromedial instability. Untreated injury of these instabilities can result in failure of the other reconstructed ligaments. As treatment is usually associated with other ligaments, it is relevant that the technique could save grafts and synthetic material. This article aims to describe a technique for the treatment of anteromedial instabilities through semimembranosus tendon tenodesis in a more anterior and distal position, promoting the tensioning of the posteromedial structures.

Infectious disease surveillance system descriptors: proposal for a comprehensive set.

To tailor a surveillance system to its objectives and to evaluate its fitness for purpose, an accurate description of its structural elements is essential. Existing recommendations for setting up a system seldom offer a comprehensive list of all surveillance elements to be considered. Moreover, there is sometimes confusion in the way terms describing these elements are interpreted. The objective of this paper is to propose a comprehensive set of surveillance system descriptors that can delineate the important elements and clarify the meaning of the terms used. We identified 20 descriptors that we classified in five categories: (i) surveillance scheme; (ii) population and cases; (iii) supplementary data; (iv) information flow; and (v) period of time. We tried to make the definitions of these descriptors as clear and simple as possible to avoid confusion or misinterpretation of the terms used. The relative importance of each element may vary depending on the objectives of the surveillance scheme. Surveillance descriptors should be reviewed periodically to document changes and to assess if the system continues to be fit for purpose. Together with the minimum requirements for variables and the planned outputs for disseminating the data, the surveillance descriptors can be used to define surveillance standards.

Costs and benefits of influenza vaccination: more evidence, same challenges.

Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in most EU/EEA remains suboptimal. Providers' and users' confidence in influenza vaccines is undermined by reports of moderate to low vaccine effectiveness and by the lack of solid evidence on disease burden. A study from Preaud and co. indicates that even with current levels of vaccine effectiveness, increasing vaccination coverage would significantly reduce disease burden and health cost. The results of the study should be interpreted cautiously because some of the assumptions are not generalizable or are imprecise, especially those on vaccine coverage, disease burden and health cost. Increasing vaccination coverage in EU/EEA countries is very challenging. Multifaceted approaches and country specific strategies are needed to address vaccine hesitancy in health care workers and in the population, and to manage organisational and financial obstacles. One key element for increasing vaccination coverage is the development of better influenza vaccines, e.g. vaccines that are more effective, provide longer lasting immunity and do not require annual administration. Vaccine producers should consider this as the highest research priority in the field of influenza vaccine development.

O comprimento dos túneis femorais varia com a flexão do joelho na reconstrução anatômica do ligamento cruzado anterior / Femoral tunnels' length changes with knee flexion angle in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

OBJETIVO: O propósito de nosso trabalho foi avaliar o efeito que o grau de flexão do joelho, durante a perfuração dos túneis femorais, pode causar no comprimento desses túneis, na reconstrução anatômica do ligamento cruzado anterior. MÉTODOS: Medimos o comprimento dos túneis femorais anteromedial e posterolateral do ligamento cruzado anterior, em 20 peças anatômicas de joelhos desemparelhadas, 10 direitas e 10 esquerdas, todas com a cartilagem e ligamentos cruzados íntegros. Os túneis foram perfurados com os joelhos flexionados a 90, 110 e 130 graus de flexão, através do portal anteromedial acessório, com uma broca de 2,5mm. Os estudos estatísticos foram realizadas pela análise de variância de Friedman e pelo teste de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADO: A média dos comprimentos dos túneis femorais anteromediais medidos com os joelhos flexionados a 90, 110 e 130 graus foram 33,7 ± 3,72mm, 37,4 ± 2,93mm e 38,8 ± 3,31mm, respectivamente. Para o comprimento dos túneis posterolaterais, os resultados obtidos a 90, 110 e 130 graus foram 32,1 ± 4,24mm, 37,3 ± 4,85mm e 38,4 ± 2,51mm, respectivamente. A análise de variância de Friedman mostrou diferença significativa entre os comprimentos dos túneis perfurados com 90 e 110 graus de flexão das peças, porém não mostrou diferença significativa entre os obtidos com flexão de 110e 130 graus (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: É possível perfurar os túneis femorais através do portal anteromedial acessório com o joelho flexionado em 110º, de maneira a obter um túnel com comprimento suficiente para uma boa interface enxerto-osso.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect that knee flexion angle while femoral tunnels are being drilled may have on the length of these tunnels, in anatomical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS: We measured the lengths of anteromedial and posterolateral tunnels for the anterior cruciate ligament in 20 unpaired anatomical knee specimens (10 right and 10 left knees), all with the cartilage and cruciate ligaments intact. Tunnels were drilled with the knees flexed at 90º, 110º and 130º, through the accessory anteromedial portal, with a 2.5 mm drill. The statistical analysis was done by means of Friedman's variance analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The mean anteromedial femoral tunnel lengths measured with the knees flexed at 90º, 110º and 130º were 33.7 (± 3.72) mm, 37.4 (± 2.93) mm and 38.8 (± 3.31) mm, respectively. For the posterolateral femoral tunnel lengths, the results were 32.1 (± 4.24) mm, 37.3 (± 4.85) mm and 38.4 (± 2.51) mm, respectively. Friedman's variance analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the lengths of the tunnels drilled with 90º and 110º of flexion angle, but showed that there was no significant difference between the tunnels drilled with flexion of 110º and 130º (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to drill the femoral tunnels through the accessory anteromedial tunnel with the knee flexed at 110º in such a way as to produce a tunnel of sufficient length for a good bone-graft interface.

The importance of influenza prevention for public health.

Annual epidemics of seasonal (inter-pandemic) influenza represent a significant burden on society in terms of morbidity, mortality, hospitalizations and lost working time. The impact of influenza depends on a mix of direct and indirect effects and is not easy to assess. Nevertheless there is a consensus in considering influenza prevention and mitigation high priorities for public health. We review the available evidence to assess the impact of influenza prevention focusing especially on vaccines and immunization strategies.

FEMORAL TUNNELS' LENGTH CHANGES WITH KNEE FLEXION ANGLE IN ANATOMICAL ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect that knee flexion angle while femoral tunnels are being drilled may have on the length of these tunnels, in anatomical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS: We measured the lengths of anteromedial and posterolateral tunnels for the anterior cruciate ligament in 20 unpaired anatomical knee specimens (10 right and 10 left knees), all with the cartilage and cruciate ligaments intact. Tunnels were drilled with the knees flexed at 90°, 110° and 130°, through the accessory anteromedial portal, with a 2.5 mm drill. The statistical analysis was done by means of Friedman's variance analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The mean anteromedial femoral tunnel lengths measured with the knees flexed at 90°, 110° and 130° were 33.7 (± 3.72) mm, 37.4 (± 2.93) mm and 38.8 (± 3.31) mm, respectively. For the posterolateral femoral tunnel lengths, the results were 32.1 (± 4.24) mm, 37.3 (± 4.85) mm and 38.4 (± 2.51) mm, respectively. Friedman's variance analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the lengths of the tunnels drilled with 90° and 110° of flexion angle, but showed that there was no significant difference between the tunnels drilled with flexion of 110° and 130° (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to drill the femoral tunnels through the accessory anteromedial tunnel with the knee flexed at 110° in such a way as to produce a tunnel of sufficient length for a good bone-graft interface.

I-MOVE multi-centre case control study 2010-11: overall and stratified estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in Europe.

BACKGROUND: In the third season of I-MOVE (Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe), we undertook a multicentre case-control study based on sentinel practitioner surveillance networks in eight European Union (EU) member states to estimate 2010/11 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. METHODS: Using systematic sampling, practitioners swabbed ILI/ARI patients within seven days of symptom onset. We compared influenza-positive to influenza laboratory-negative patients among those meeting the EU ILI case definition. A valid vaccination corresponded to > 14 days between receiving a dose of vaccine and symptom onset. We used multiple imputation with chained equations to estimate missing values. Using logistic regression with study as fixed effect we calculated influenza VE adjusting for potential confounders. We estimated influenza VE overall, by influenza type, age group and among the target group for vaccination. RESULTS: We included 2019 cases and 2391 controls in the analysis. Adjusted VE was 52% (95% CI 30-67) overall (N = 4410), 55% (95% CI 29-72) against A(H1N1) and 50% (95% CI 14-71) against influenza B. Adjusted VE against all influenza subtypes was 66% (95% CI 15-86), 41% (95% CI -3-66) and 60% (95% CI 17-81) among those aged 0-14, 15-59 and ≥60 respectively. Among target groups for vaccination (N = 1004), VE was 56% (95% CI 34-71) overall, 59% (95% CI 32-75) against A(H1N1) and 63% (95% CI 31-81) against influenza B. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest moderate protection from 2010-11 trivalent influenza vaccines against medically-attended ILI laboratory-confirmed as influenza across Europe. Adjusted and stratified influenza VE estimates are possible with the large sample size of this multi-centre case-control. I-MOVE shows how a network can provide precise summary VE measures across Europe.

Estimates of pandemic influenza vaccine effectiveness in Europe, 2009-2010: results of Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe (I-MOVE) multicentre case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A multicentre case-control study based on sentinel practitioner surveillance networks from seven European countries was undertaken to estimate the effectiveness of 2009-2010 pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines against medically attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as pandemic influenza A (H1N1) (pH1N1). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Sentinel practitioners swabbed ILI patients using systematic sampling. We included in the study patients meeting the European ILI case definition with onset of symptoms >14 days after the start of national pandemic vaccination campaigns. We compared pH1N1 cases to influenza laboratory-negative controls. A valid vaccination corresponded to >14 days between receiving a dose of vaccine and symptom onset. We estimated pooled vaccine effectiveness (VE) as 1 minus the odds ratio with the study site as a fixed effect. Using logistic regression, we adjusted VE for potential confounding factors (age group, sex, month of onset, chronic diseases and related hospitalizations, smoking history, seasonal influenza vaccinations, practitioner visits in previous year). We conducted a complete case analysis excluding individuals with missing values and a multiple multivariate imputation to estimate missing values. The multivariate imputation (n = 2902) adjusted pandemic VE (PIVE) estimates were 71.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 45.6-85.5) overall; 78.4% (95% CI 54.4-89.8) in patients <65 years; and 72.9% (95% CI 39.8-87.8) in individuals without chronic disease. The complete case (n = 1,502) adjusted PIVE were 66.0% (95% CI 23.9-84.8), 71.3% (95% CI 29.1-88.4), and 70.2% (95% CI 19.4-89.0), respectively. The adjusted PIVE was 66.0% (95% CI -69.9 to 93.2) if vaccinated 8-14 days before ILI onset. The adjusted 2009-2010 seasonal influenza VE was 9.9% (95% CI -65.2 to 50.9). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest good protection of the pandemic monovalent vaccine against medically attended pH1N1 and no effect of the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccine. However, the late availability of the pandemic vaccine and subsequent limited coverage with this vaccine hampered our ability to study vaccine benefits during the outbreak period. Future studies should include estimation of the effectiveness of the new trivalent vaccine in the upcoming 2010-2011 season, when vaccination will occur before the influenza season starts.

Study designs for timely estimation of influenza vaccine effectiveness using European sentinel practitioner networks.

European sentinel practitioner influenza surveillance networks represent a simple and feasible framework to conduct observational studies providing rapid and repeated influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates. The minimum requirements for those studies should be to correctly ascertain vaccination status, to include laboratory-confirmed influenza as outcome and to collect variables to control for confounding. Various study designs are possible including the screening method, computerised cohort and case control studies using various control groups. Selecting the study design is a compromise between methodological constraints, availability and ease of access to data sources and resources available. Results from practitioner-based studies complement other pieces of evidence (e.g. immunogenicity studies, vaccine efficacy, surveillance data) to assess the effect of influenza vaccination in the population.

Monitoring and assessing vaccine safety: a European perspective.

The success of vaccination programs is an uncontroversial reality--in Europe as well as worldwide. On the other hand, the perceived risk of adverse events in the general public is the most important threat for implementing successful vaccination programs in Europe. For this reason, monitoring and assessing vaccine safety is a priority for public health. Vaccine safety is assessed both before and after vaccine authorization. In postmarketing settings, different activities related to vaccine safety usually involve several different stakeholders. In 2005, a new EU agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, was established with the aim to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases. Implementing stable links between different stakeholders and defining clear roles in the EU is paramount in order to provide optimal and transparent information on adverse reactions following immunization, with the final goal of increasing compliance to safe and effective vaccination programs.

Seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines for the elderly and other risk groups: a review of available data.

Human seasonal influenza is a large burden of morbidity and mortality for societies, affecting mainly elderly people and those with underlying chronic medical conditions. Annual vaccination of older adults and other risk groups is the most effective measure for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with infection. A 2008 survey showed 40-fold differences between the vaccination coverage in various European Union countries in individuals aged >or=65 years, ranging from less that 2% to more than 80% in the 2006-2007 season, with Poland belonging to the countries with low influenza vaccination coverage. Annual monitoring of the vaccination coverage is crucial for achieving and maintaining high uptake levels. The need to pay for the vaccine out of pocket is a strong factor discouraging vaccination, and there is evidence that reimbursing costs of influenza vaccination influences vaccination coverage. Although annual influenza immunization of healthcare workers is an important method of preventing the nosocomial transmission of influenza and decreasing the exposure of vulnerable patients, worldwide influenza vaccination rates among healthcare personnel are unacceptably low, rarely exceeding 40%. It is important to keep high vaccination coverage among elderly nursing-home residents. More research is needed to clearly establish the effect of dose sparing strategies of influenza vaccination, e.g., via intradermal immunization, on the immune response in elderly recipients. Finally, due to the emergence of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus and the development of vaccines directed towards it, the upcoming influenza season 2009-2010 will pose a particular challenge to influenza vaccination programs, and will require careful planning.

[Risk factors for mortality during a heat-wave in Bari (Italy), summer 2005.]. / Fattori di rischio per la mortalità durante un'ondata di calore a Bari, estate 2005.

INTRODUCTION: The Italian Heat Health Watch Warning System (HHWWS) was set up following the over 3000 excess deaths which occurred in Italy during the heat wave of 2003, In June 2005 the warning system issued a heat warning in various Italian cities. METHODS: A case control study was performed in one of these cities (Bari) in order to identify individual and environmental risk factors as well as preventive strategies for reducing mortality during future heat waves. Cases were defined as subjects aged <65 years who had died during the heat wave and whose death certificate listed one of the following as the cause of death: heat, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, neurocognitive disorders, dehydration or fever/infection not otherwise specified. For each case, three age-matched controls were randomly selected among individuals followed by the same general practitioner as the case. All variables significantly associated with mortality (<0.1) in the univariate analysis were entered into a conditional logistic regression model and the population attributable fraction (PAF) was calculated for significant variables (at p<0.05). RESULTS: Twenty cases and sixty controls were included in the study. In 17 cases (89%) death had occurred at home and 11(55%) of these were cardiovascular- related deaths. At the multivariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with mortality risk during the heat wave were: having a functioning air conditioner at home [OR:0.09(95% CI 0.01-1.00)], having an Activities of Daily Living score <2 [OR:21.0(95%CI 1.81-242.47)] and having been hospitalized the year preceding death [OR:18.1(95%CI 2.04-160.51)]. CONCLUSIONS: Public health interventions during heat waves should include the provision of access to an air conditioned environment. Subjects with impaired health (especially if recently hospitalized) and with significant limitations in their activities of daily living are probably at higher risk during heat waves.

Strategies for evaluation of suitable donors: Italian experience.

Italy was lacking standardised procedures for donor safety evaluation. We developed practice guidelines, while a panel of experts coordinated by the National Transplant Centre, is available 24 hours a day to support decisions in difficult cases. The guidelines identify five levels of risk and give recommendations for the utilization of donors with HBV and HCV infections as well as for malignancies with negligible or very low risk of transmission. In conclusion we aim to standardize the process of donor evaluation across Italy, to increase the pool of utilised donors and to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission.

Transplant quality in Italy: analysis of the 1995-2000 period.

Evaluation of outcomes is a major step in quality assessment of any health process. In the transplant field, the evaluation of outcome is extremely important for both patients' growing demand for health and for the joint commitment the transplant process requires. In this study, the outcome of 12,647 transplants, carried out between 1995 and 2000 were analysed. Graft survival at 5 years was 79% for kidney, 67% for liver, 72% for heart and 38% for lung. Patient survival was 92% for kidney, 76% for liver, 72% for heart and 38% for lung. In comparison to other international case records [Collaborative Transplant Study (CTS) and The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)], results are similar or even better for all transplant programmes. As a whole, survival after solid organ transplant in Italy ranks among the best for both donations and transplantation. The quality of transplants carried out is above European standards. Nevertheless, the growing health needs of patients require improvement in both the procurement process and in the use of available organs.