Vaccination coverage and predictors of influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis B vaccine uptake among adults in Greece.

OBJECTIVES: Insufficient adult vaccination coverage rates remain an international challenge. This nationwide study aimed at exploring vaccination coverage and predictors of influenza, pneumococcal, herpes zoster, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis B vaccine uptake, following the recommendations of the National Immunization Program for adults. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter, mixed-methods study conducted at 23 primary care units in six different regions of Greece. METHODS: A pretested questionnaire was administered to three randomly selected adults who visited each practice daily for 30 consecutive working days. RESULTS: Among the 1571 participants, vaccination coverage for influenza in the high-risk groups was 55%, 36% for pneumococcal disease, 12% for herpes zoster (HZ), 21% for tetanus, 33% for measles, and 11% for hepatitis B. Perception of low susceptibility to disease due to good health status, concerns about side-effects and vaccines' efficacy, and mistrust in pharmaceutical companies were among common factors associated with the vaccines uptake. The strongest factor associated with the participants' vaccination status was their doctor's recommendation (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] influenza: 6.06 [4.52-8.14], pneumococcal disease: 15.73 [10.98-22.52], HZ: 17.01 [9.05-31.96], tetanus: 23.93 [16.20-35.35], measles: 33.47 [16.85-66.47], and hepatitis B: 73.92 [17.47-312.74]). Being well-informed about each vaccine was also a predictor of its uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination coverage was suboptimal and especially low in tetanus, HZ, and hepatitis B immunization. Person-centered approach, with provision of appropriate information about vaccines' safety and efficacy, responding to each patient's needs, as well as physicians' strong recommendation for vaccination are considered crucial to advocate against the spread of vaccine misinformation and increase vaccination coverage.

Edmonton obesity staging system among pediatric patients: a validation and obesogenic risk factor analysis.

PURPOSE: The Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics (EOSS-P) is a useful tool, delineating different obesity severity tiers associated with distinct treatment barriers. The aim of the study was to apply the EOSS-P on a Greek pediatric cohort and assess risk factors associated with each stage, compared to normal weight controls. METHODS: A total of 361 children (2-14 years old), outpatients of an Athenian hospital, participated in this case-control study by forming two groups: the obese (n = 203) and the normoweight controls (n = 158). Anthropometry, blood pressure, blood and biochemical markers, comorbidities and obesogenic lifestyle parameters were recorded and the EOSS-P was applied. Validation of EOSS-P stages was conducted by juxtaposing them with IOTF-defined weight status. Obesogenic risk factors' analysis was conducted by constructing gender-and-age-adjusted (GA) and multivariate logistic models. RESULTS: The majority of obese children were stratified at stage 1 (46.0%), 17.0% were on stage 0, and 37.0% on stage 2. The validation analysis revealed that EOSS-P stages greater than 0 were associated with diastolic blood pressure and levels of glucose, cholesterol, LDL and ALT. Reduced obesity odds were observed among children playing outdoors and increased odds for every screen time hour, both in the GA and in the multivariate analyses (all P < 0.05). Although participation in sports > 2 times/week was associated with reduced obesity odds in the GA analysis (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.33-0.98, P linear = 0.047), it lost its significance in the multivariate analysis (P linear = 0.145). Analogous results were recorded in the analyses of the abovementioned physical activity risk factors for the EOSS-P stages. Linear relationships were observed for fast-food consumption and IOTF-defined obesity and higher than 0 EOSS-P stages. Parental obesity status was associated with all EOSS-P stages and IOTF-defined obesity status. CONCLUSIONS: Few outpatients were healthy obese (stage 0), while the majority exhibited several comorbidities. Since each obesity tier entails different impacts to disease management, the study herein highlights modifiable factors facilitating descend to lower stages, and provides insight for designing tailored approaches tackling the high national pediatric obesity rates.

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from swimming pools in northern Greece.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important agent of opportunistic infection in aquatic environments. Our aim was to evaluate the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of P. aeruginosa in the water of swimming pools in northern Greece. Water samples were obtained from hydrotherapy pools, jacuzzis/spas and swimming pools. A total of 16.6% (45/271) of the samples were positive for P. aeruginosa. Of the amenities examined, the most contaminated were hydrotherapy pools (25% of samples positive). A small percentage of isolates (20.0%) showed resistance to antibiotics. Compared with other studies, the prevalence of P. aeruginosa in swimming pools was relatively low, while the antibiotic resistance pattern of these community isolates was not high.

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from swimming pools in northern Greece

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important agent of opportunistic infection in aquatic environments. Our aim was to evaluate the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of P. aeruginosa in the water of swimming pools in northern Greece. Water samples were obtained from hydrotherapy pools, Jacuzzis /spas and swimming pools. A total of 16.6% [45/271] of the samples were positive for P. aeruginosa. Of the amenities examined, the most contaminated were hydrotherapy pools [25% of samples positive]. A small percentage of isolates [20.0%] showed resistance to antibiotics. Compared with other studies, the prevalence of P. aeruginosa in swimming pools was relatively low, while the antibiotic resistance pattern of these community isolates was not high

Healthy lifestyle habits among Greek university students: differences by sex and faculty of study.

The objective of this survey was to assess the eating habits and some health-related behaviours and beliefs of students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Data from a self-completed anonymous questionnaire to 300 students were analysed with emphasis on differences by sex and faculty of study. Female students, although they exercised less than men, had higher scores for healthy eating, had a lower rate of overweight/obesity and a lower rate of alcohol consumption. Fewer medical students reported drinking alcohol and smoking than other students, but there was no difference concerning their eating habits.

Healthy lifestyle habits among Greek university students: differences by sex and faculty of study

The objective of this survey was to assess the eating habits and some health-related behaviours and beliefs of students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Data from a selfcompleted anonymous questionnaire to 300 students were analysed with emphasis on differences by sex and faculty of study. Female students, although they exercised less than men, had higher scores for healthy eating, had a lower rate of overweight/obesity and a lower rate of alcohol consumption. Fewer medical students reported drinking alcohol and smoking than other students, but there was no difference concerning their eating habits

Penicillin-binding protein 2 genes of chromosomally-mediated penicillin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Greece: screening for codon Asp-345A.

Low affinity of penicillin for altered penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP 2) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that are chromosomally resistant to penicillin (CMRNG) has been attributed, at least partly to the insertion of an additional aspartic acid (Asp-35A) codon in the penA gene. Oligonucleotide probes were used to detect the presence or absence of this extra amino-acid residue in 34 non-penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae with decreased susceptibility to penicillin (MICs 0.25-2 mg/L) and 11 strains sensitive to penicillin (MIC < or = 0.06 mg/L) isolated in Greece and previously characterized by auxotype and serovar. The Asp-345A codon was found in all CMRNG strains as well as in strains with intermediate resistance to penicillin, but was absent from all strains exhibiting an MIC of penicillin of < or = 0.03 mg/L. No association of the Asp-345A insertion to any particular auxotype or serovar was found. These results expand the previously reported correlation between the presence of the Asp-345A codon and reduced sensitivity to penicillin, and shows that this particular mutation is common among epidemiologically distinct CMRNG strains.

Insertion of an extra amino acid is the main cause of the low affinity of penicillin-binding protein 2 in penicillin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Non-beta-lactamase-producing, penicillin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CMRNG strains) produce altered forms of penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) that have decreased affinity for penicillin. A feature of PBP2 from all CMRNG strains is the presence of an additional residue (Asp-345A) that is absent from PBP2 of penicillin-sensitive strains. The role of the additional aspartic acid residue in the decreased affinity of PBP2 is unclear as PBP2 of all previously examined CMRNG strains possess several other amino acid sequence alterations, in addition to the insertion of Asp-345A, compared to PBP2 of penicillin-sensitive strains. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to insert the Asp-345A codon into the penA gene from a penicillin-sensitive gonococcus. The resulting penA gene expressed an altered form of PBP2 that had a decreased affinity for benzylpenicillin and was able to transform a penicillin-sensitive strain of N. gonorrhoeae to an increased level of resistance to benzylpenicillin. Insertion of amino acids other than aspartic acid did not produce forms of PBP2 that provided increased resistance to penicillin. Removal of the Asp-345A codon from the penA gene of a CMRNG strain reduced its ability to transform a penicillin-sensitive strain to an increased level of penicillin resistance. The reduction in the affinity of PBP2 in CMRNG strains is therefore largely, although not exclusively, due to the insertion of Asp-345A. Clinical isolates that produce altered forms of PBP2 that differ from that of penicillin-sensitive strains only in the insertion of Asp-345A have been identified.