Effectiveness of 3 COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections, January–May 2021, Aragon, Spain

Reducing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is a worldwide challenge; widespread vaccination could be one strategy for control. We conducted a prospective, population-based cohort study of 964, 258 residents of Aragon, Spain, during December 2020–May 2021. We used the Cox proportional-hazards model with vaccination status as the exposure condition to estimate the effectiveness of 3 coronavirus disease vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pfizer-BioNTech had 20.8% (95% CI 11.6%–29.0%) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection after 1 dose and 70.0% (95% CI 65.3%–74.1%) after 2 doses, Moderna had 52.8% (95% CI 30.7%–67.8%) VE after 1 dose and 70.3% (95% CI 52.2%–81.5%) after 2 doses, and Oxford-AstraZeneca had 40.3% (95% CI 31.8%–47.7%) VE after 1 dose. All estimates were lower than those from previous studies. Results imply that, although high vaccination coverage remains critical to protect people from disease, it will be difficult to effectively minimize transmission opportunities

Death or survival from invasive pneumococcal disease in Scotland: associations with serogroups and multilocus sequence types

We describe associations between death from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and particular serogroups and sequence types (STs) determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using data from Scotland. All IPD episodes where blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture isolates were referred to the Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcal and Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory (SHLMPRL) from January 1992 to February 2007 were matched to death certification records by the General Register Office for Scotland. This represented 5959 patients. The median number of IPD cases in Scotland each year was 292. Deaths, from any cause, within 30 days of pneumococcal culture from blood or CSF were considered to have IPD as a contributing factor. Eight hundred and thirty-three patients died within 30 days of culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood or CSF [13.95%; 95% confidence interval (13.10, 14.80)]. The highest death rates were in patients over the age of 75. Serotyping data exist for all years but MLST data were only available from 2001 onward. The risk ratio of dying from infection due to particular serogroups or STs compared to dying from IPD due to all other serogroups or STs was calculated. Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing was used. Age adjustment was accomplished using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Serogroups 3, 11 and 16 have increased probability of causing fatal IPD in Scotland while serogroup 1 IPD has a reduced probability of causing death. None of the 20 most common STs were significantly associated with death within 30 days of pneumococcal culture, after age adjustment. We conclude that there is a stronger association between a fatal outcome and pneumococcal capsular serogroup than there is between a fatal outcome and ST

Es necesario rotular con más claridad los tubos emisores de luz ultravioleta C para la prevención de lesiones en la piel y los ojos

La queratoconjuntivitis actínica se produce por la exposición del ojo sin protección a los rayos ultravioleta, sobre todo de los tipos B y C (UV-B y UV-C). Consiste en una inflamación superficial del ojo muy molesta, que produce sensación de cuerpo extraño, dolor, lagrimeo y fotofobia, con una duración de 12-24 horas. Normalmente no hay secuelas, aunque en ocasiones pueden producirse úlceras corneales. En la mayoría de los casos se debe al uso de equipos de soldadura o a focos de luz potentes..

Brotes epidémicos de triquinosis ocurridos en Aragón durante el periodo 1998 – 2017

Background: In Aragon, official veterinary controls to detect the presence of Trichinella in meat products have allowed trichinosis to be a low-incidence disease in the form of outbreaks associated with family consumption of meat products that are not sanitarily controlled. The aim of the work was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of the trichinosis outbreaks that occurred in Aragon during the study period and the action measures carried out, which served as a basis for redesigning and strengthening prevention and control measures Methods: Descriptive study of the characteristics of time, place, person, food implicated, etiological agent and control measures implemented in the outbreaks identified by the Epidemiological Surveillance Network of Aragón from 01/01/1998 to 31/12/2017. For the descriptive analysis, the mean with its standard deviation and proportions were calculated. Results: During the study period (from 01/01/1998 until 31/12/2017) there were 7 family outbreaks with 294 exposed, 103 cases (Attack Rate 35%), of which 29 were hospitalized (28.1%). The case fatality rate was 1%. The average age of the cases was 43.3 years (standard deviation 15.9). 70.8% of the cases were male. Outbreaks were concentrated between December and May. Five outbreaks originated after consumption of wild boar. The etiological agent identified in meat and/or biological samples from the cases was Trichinella spiralis in four outbreaks and Trichinella britovi in two other outbreaks, while the agent could not be identified in one outbreak. In all outbreaks, actions were carried out in accordance with the recommendations established by the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE). Conclusions: Trichinosis in Aragon takes the form of sporadic family outbreaks coinciding with the time of wild boar hunting and home slaughtering of pigs and is associated with the consumption of meat products not controlled sanitarily, so it is necessary to strengthen health education and intersectoral collaboration in the development and implementation of prevention and control strategies.Fundamentos: En Aragón, los controles oficiales veterinarios para detectar la presencia de triquina en productos cárnicos, han permitido que la triquinosis sea una enfermedad de baja incidencia, que se presenta en forma de brotes, asociados al consumo familiar de productos cárnicos no controlados sanitariamente. El objetivo del trabajo fue describir las características epidemiológicas de los brotes de triquinosis ocurridos en Aragón durante el periodo de estudio y las medidas de actuación llevadas a cabo, lo que sirvió de base para rediseñar y fortalecer las medidas de prevención y control. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de las características tiempo, lugar, persona, alimentos implicados, agente etiológico y medidas de control implementadas en los brotes identificados por la Red de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Aragón desde el 01/01/1998 al 31/12/2017. Para el análisis descriptivo se calcularon la media con su desviación estándar y las proporciones. Resultados: Durante el periodo de estudio (desde el 01/01/1998 hasta el 31/12/2017) se declararon 7 brotes familiares con 294 expuestos, 103 casos (Tasa de Ataque 35%), de los que 29 fueron hospitalizados (28,1%). La tasa de letalidad fue del 1%. La media de edad de los casos fue de 43,3 años (desviación típica 15,9). El 70,8% de los casos fueron varones. Los brotes se concentraron entre diciembre y mayo. Cinco brotes se originaron tras el consumo de jabalí. El agente etiológico aislado en muestras cárnicas y/o muestras biológicas procedentes de los casos, fue Trichinella spiralis en cuatro brotes y Trichinella britovi en otros dos brotes. En todos los brotes las actuaciones se realizaron conforme a las recomendaciones establecidas por la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). Conclusiones: La triquinosis en Aragón se presenta en forma de brotes familiares esporádicos coincidentes con la época de caza de jabalí y matanza domiciliaria del cerdo y se asocia al consumo de productos cárnicos no controlados sanitariamente, por lo que es necesario reforzar la educación para la salud y la colaboración intersectorial en la elaboración e implantación de estrategias de prevención y control