Towards the eradication of HPV infection through universal specific vaccination

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is generally recognized to be the direct cause of cervical cancer. The development of effective anti-HPV vaccines, included in the portfolio of recommended vaccinations for any given community, led to the consolidation in many countries of immunization programs to prevent HPV-related cervical cancers. In recent years, increasing evidence in epidemiology and molecular biology have supported the oncogenic role of HPV in the development of other neoplasm including condylomas and penile, anal, vulvar, vaginal, and oro-pharyngeal cancers. Men play a key role in the paradigm of HPV infection: both as patients and as part of the mechanisms of transmission. Data show they are affected almost as often as women. Moreover, no screening procedures for HPV-related disease prevention are applied in men, who fail to undergo routine medical testing by any medical specialist at all. They also do not benefit from government prevention strategies. Discussion. A panel of experts convened to focus on scientific, medical, and economic studies, and on the achievements from health organizations' intervention programs on the matter. One of the goals was to discuss on the critical issues emerging from the ongoing global implementation of HPV vaccination. A second goal was to identify contributions which could overcome the barriers that impede or delay effective vaccination programs whose purpose is to eradicate the HPV infection both in women and men. Summary. The reviewed studies on the natural history of HPV infection and related diseases in women and men, the increasing experience of HPV vaccination in women, the analysis of clinical effectiveness vs economic efficacy of HPV vaccination, are even more supportive of the economic sustainability of vaccination programs both in women and men. Those achievements address increasing and needed attention to the issue of social equity in healthcare for both genders

Epidemiology of tetanus

The vaccinal preventive measures which were made compulsory since 1963 for the new working levies of some professional high risk categories, and since 1968 for the newborns, contributed to a large extent to the tetanus control in our country. In the last twenty years a progressive drop in the notified tetanus cases was observed. The epidemiology of this disease is conditioned, on the one hand by the correct application of the legal directions in force; on the other hand, by the level of health education, acquired by those who have not yet been involved, so far, by the compulsory antitetanus vaccination

PREVALENCE SURVEY OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS IN A PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL.

A prevalence survey of nosocomial and community infections in a children's hospital was carried out in the wards of the Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, Italy. The overall prevalence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) was 5·1 %, with higher rates in surgical units and among children aged 1 to 5 years. The proportion of community-acquired infections was 9·2%, with higher rates in the infectious disease and internal medicine units and among children aged 6 to 11 years. The most frequent type of HAI was respiratory tract infection, with only a small number of urinary tract infections

Comparative study of some culture media for use in determination of coliform organisms

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Procedure di disinfezione in endoscopia digestiva: esperienze in un grande ospedale romano.

The Authors present the results of a survey on the disinfection procedures used in 13 endoscopy units of a large roman hospital. A questionnaire on the endoscopy centres characteristics and the methods of cleaning and disinfecting the equipment was adopted. Also microbiological samples on the instruments, disinfectants and rinsing water were carried out. Nine centres out of 13 presented one room and automatic washers were available only in two units. Seven centres used a 0.4% glutaraldehyde with 1.41% phenol and 0.26% sodium phenate disinfectant (Sporicidin), three a high level disinfectant (2% glutaraldehyde) and three a peroxydic solution (Virkon). The disinfectant time of contact was <20’ only in eight cases. In 10 centres the biopsy forceps were processed as the endoscope. Only eight units were equipped with ventilation systems. In 12 endoscopes out of 31 P. aeruginosa or other bacteria were isolated. Furthermore in nine centres out of 13 high level disinfection was not achieved in at least one endoscope. The results showed insufficient disinfection in several occasions because of a series of causes which are critically discussed

Procedure di disinfezione degli endoscopi in alcuni ospedali romani.

The Authors present the results of a survey about the procedures used for the disinfection of endoscopes carried out in 23 endoscopy centres in 7 Roman hospitals. After having illustrated the principal problems inherent in carrying out the disinfection of endoscopes and the recommendations proposed by national and international committies the research methods were described. The study demonstrated a wide discrepancy in the procedures used in the various centres and emphasized the necessity for a standardized control of the methods and the importance of the professional preparation of the personnel