Health burden and economic impact of measles-related hospitalizations in Italy in 2002–2003

Background: A large measles outbreak occurred in Italy in 2002 - 2003. This study evaluates the health burden and economic impact of measles- related hospitalizations in Italy during the specified period. Methods: Hospital discharge abstract data for measles hospitalizations in Italy during 2002 - 2003 were analysed to obtain information regarding number and rates of measles hospitalizations by geographical area and age group, length of hospital stay, and complications. Hospitalization costs were estimated on the basis of Diagnosis- Related Groups. Results: A total of 5,154 hospitalizations were identified, 3,478 ( 67%) of which occurred in children < 15 years of age. Most hospitalizations occurred in southern Italy ( 71 %) and children below 1 year of age presented the greatest hospitalization rates ( 46.2/ 100,000 and 19.0/ 100,000, respectively in 2002 and 2003). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 594 cases ( 11.5%) and encephalitis in 138 cases ( 2.7%). Total hospital charges were approximately (sic) 8.8 million. Conclusion: The nationwide health burden associated with measles during the 2002 - 2003 outbreak was substantial and a high cost was incurred by the Italian National Health Service for the thousands of measles- related hospitalizations which occurred. By assuming that hospital costs represent 40 - 50% of the direct costs of measles cases, direct costs of measles for the two years combined were estimated to be between (sic)17.6 - 22.0 million, which equates to the vaccination of 1.5 - 1.9 million children ( 3 - 4 birth cohorts) with one dose of MMR. The high cost of measles and the severity of its complications fully justify the commitment required to reach measles elimination

Immunoprophylaxis for influenza: comparison of a subunit and a whole virion vaccine

In order to evaluate and compare immunogenicity, reactogenicity and protection of a subunit vaccine and a whole virus vaccine 102 elderly subjects were vaccined against influenza in November 1986: 53 received the subunit vaccine and 49 were immunized with the whole virus preparation. Local and systemic reactions following immunization, as well as the presence of influenza clinical symptoms were recorded throughout the study period (November 1986 - June 1987). Antibodies against influenza were detected using the Single Radial Haemolysis (S.R.H.) technique on two serum samples obtained from volunteers prior to immunization and 1 month later. The subunit vaccine showed equal immunogenicity, equal protection and lower reactogenicity as compared with the whole virus preparation

Immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA): confronto con altri metodi di accertamento indiretto di IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii

Results obtained from the use of ISAGA method onto 180 serum samples in order to estimate its sensibility, specificity and reliability in detection of IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii are referred. A comparison between ISAGA and ELISA-IgM or ISAGA and AD-GF/AD-2ME shows that the results coincide and that specificity and sensibility make it reliable in indirect detection of acquired or congenital toxoplasmosis

[Significance of concentrations and ratio of immunoglobulin G and M in the evaluation of anti-Toxoplasma IGM]

The Authors have tested the significance of the correlation of the mean total IgM concentration, the IgG: IgM ratio and the presence of specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM, determined with different serological reactions. The piece of research has been carried out on 72 samples of subjects with active toxoplasmic infections

Epidemiology of bronchopulmonary hospital infections

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) represent one of the major problems, due to their elevated frequency and high number of fatal cases, in the control of infectious diseases. With the perspective to evaluate the incidence of bronchopulmonary infections and to determine their role as cause of death of hospitalized patients, as well as to identify the etiology and the associated risk factors, we have studied 105 autopsy cases of patients decreased in hospital. 37 patients had pneumonias, of which 48.6% were of hospital origin. Hospital pneumonia was responsible for death in 12.3% of the cases. The risk factors significantly associated with HAI were recognized to be the following: hospital recovery for a period longer than 10 days, and surgery. Among the etiologic agents isolated in HAI, there was a distinct prevalence in Gram-negative bacteria (55.5% of the samples), such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila