Meningococcal disease in North America: Updates from the Global Meningococcal Initiative

This review summarizes the recent Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) regional meeting, which explored meningococcal disease in North America. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases are documented through both passive and active surveillance networks. IMD appears to be decreasing in many areas, such as the Dominican Republic (2016: 18 cases; 2021: 2 cases) and Panama (2008: 1 case/100,000; 2021: <0.1 cases/100,000); however, there is notable regional and temporal variation. Outbreaks persist in at-risk subpopulations, such as people experiencing homelessness in the US and migrants in Mexico. The recent emergence of β-lactamase-positive and ciprofloxacin-resistant meningococci in the US is a major concern. While vaccination practices vary across North America, vaccine uptake remains relatively high. Monovalent and multivalent conjugate vaccines (which many countries in North America primarily use) can provide herd protection. However, there is no evidence that group B vaccines reduce meningococcal carriage. The coronavirus pandemic illustrates that following public health crises, enhanced surveillance of disease epidemiology and catch-up vaccine schedules is key. Whole genome sequencing is a key epidemiological tool for identifying IMD strain emergence and the evaluation of vaccine strain coverage. The Global Roadmap on Defeating Meningitis by 2030 remains a focus of the GMI.Medical writing support for the development of this manuscript, under the direction of the authors, was provided Matthew Gunther of Ashfield MedComms, an Inizio company. Medical writing support was funded by Sanofi Pasteur. All authors discussed and agreed to the objectives of this manuscript and con- tributed throughout its production. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.S

Ventajas del colgajo frontal expandido para la reconstrucción nasal Advantages of the expanded frontal flap for nasal reconstruction

INTRODUCCIÓN. Desde 1957 la expansión tisular se ha convertido en una técnica muy utilizada en cirugía reconstructiva, pues permite obtener gran cantidad de tejido blando para corregir defectos cutáneos. En Cuba se ha publicado muy poco sobre la utilización de expansores cutáneos de la región frontal para la reconstrucción nasal. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar la utilidad del colgajo frontal expandido, para la reconstrucción de defectos nasales distales de espesor total en pacientes con frente corta. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, con pacientes con defectos nasales secundarios a cirugía oncológica, traumatismos y otras causas, a los que se les practicó una reconstrucción nasal con colgajo frontal expandido en el Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología y el Hospital «Hermanos Ameijeiras», entre junio de 1999 y mayo de 2007. RESULTADOS. Hubo una ganancia promedio de 1,0 cm en longitud del colgajo frontal expandido con respecto al diseño oblicuo sin expansión. Se logró la reconstrucción de la cubierta cutánea en todos los casos, incluso en los defectos más distales, como los del ala nasal. El cierre de la zona donante siempre fue de forma directa. CONCLUSIONES. Se pudo caracterizar la utilidad del colgajo frontal expandido en la muestra estudiada y se encontró entre sus ventajas fundamentales la ganancia en longitud con respecto a la distancia vertical de la frente. Concordamos con la mayoría de los autores en cuanto a su utilidad, siempre que esté indicado y disponible, y en que es un recurso alternativo cuando existe poco tejido disponible para la reconstrucción de los defectos nasales.<br>INTRODUCTION. From 1957, the tissues expansion has becomes a very used technique in reconstructive surgery, since allows to obtain abundant soft tissue to correct cutaneous defects. In Cuba there aren't much publications on the use of cutaneous expanders of frontal region to nasal reconstruction. The objective of present paper was to characterize the usefulness of expanded frontal flap to repair distal nasal defects of full thickness in patients presenting a short forehead. METHODS. A descriptive and prospective study was conducted in patients presenting with nasal defects secondary to oncology surgery, traumata and other causes who underwent a nasal reconstruction using expanded frontal flap performed in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology and in the "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Surgical Hospital between June,1999 and May, 2007. RESULTS. It was possible an average gain of 1,0 cm length of the expanded frontal flap regarding the oblique design without expansion, as well as the reconstruction of the cutaneous coverage in all the cases even in the more distal defects like those of the alae nasi. The closure of donor zone always as in a direct way. CONCLUSIONS. It could be possible to characterize the usefulness of expanded frontal flap in the study sample and major advantages included length increase regarding the vertical distance of forehead. There is a consensus among authors as regards its usefulness when it is prescribed and be available and that it is a alternative resource when there are not much tissue available to reconstruction of nasal defects

La recidiva tumoral en la reconstrucción nasal oncológica Tumor relapse present in oncologic nasal repair

INTRODUCCIÓN. La recidiva tumoral es una de las complicaciones más temidas de la evolución oncológica, y además de ensombrecer el pronóstico de vida, causa la pérdida de muchas reconstrucciones y agota las posibilidades quirúrgicas restauradoras. Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de determinar la frecuencia de recidivas, la repercusión sobre la reconstrucción y la evolución médica posterior de pacientes operados de tumoraciones nasales malignas. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, con 20 pacientes operados de tumoraciones nasales malignas, con reconstrucción inmediata con colgajo frontal. Los pacientes procedían del Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología (INOR), donde fueron atendidos entre el año 2002 y el 2007. RESULTADOS. Hubo recidivas en 5 pacientes (25 % de la muestra) y el 80 % de estas eran un carcinoma epidermoide. Todos los pacientes con recidiva perdieron los tejidos reconstruidos y recibieron tratamiento con radioterapia. Solo se pudo reconstruir nuevamente el defecto de uno de los pacientes; dos de los restantes fallecieron y dos continuaban vivos, sin recurrencia del tumor pero sin posibilidades de reconstrucción. CONCLUSIONES. Teniendo en cuenta la frecuencia de recidivas de los carcinomas epidermoides nasales y de su repercusión, cuando no se cuenta con la técnica histográfica de Mhos, se sugiere posponer la reconstrucción nasal hasta tanto no se realice la confirmación histológica de la exéresis completa del tumor.<br>INTRODUCTION: Tumor relapse is one of the more fearsome complications of the oncologic course and also to obscure the life prognosis, causing the loss of many reconstructions and of exhausting the repairing surgical possibilities. The aim of this study was to determine the relapse frequency, the repercussion on the repair and the subsequent medical course of patients operated on malign nasal tumors. METHODS: We made a retrospective and descriptive study in 20 patients operated on malign nasal tumors with immediate repair using frontal flap. Patients came from National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology (NIOR), where they were seen from 2002 and 2007. RESULTS: There were two relapses in 5 patients (25% of total), and the 80% of these were an epidermoid carcinoma. All patients with relapse lost the repaired tissues and received radiotherapy. Only it was possible to repair the defect in one of the patients; two of remained deceased, and were alive, without tumor relapse but without possibilities of repair. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the relapse frequency of nasal epidermoid carcinomas and of its repercussions when the Mhos histography technique is not available, it is advisable to delay the nasal repair until will be possible to confirm completely the histology of tumor exeresis

La recidiva tumoral en la reconstrucción nasal oncológica

INTRODUCCIÓN. La recidiva tumoral es una de las complicaciones más temidas de la evolución oncológica, y además de ensombrecer el pronóstico de vida, causa la pérdida de muchas reconstrucciones y agota las posibilidades quirúrgicas restauradoras. Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de determinar la frecuencia de recidivas, la repercusión sobre la reconstrucción y la evolución médica posterior de pacientes operados de tumoraciones nasales malignas. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, con 20 pacientes operados de tumoraciones nasales malignas, con reconstrucción inmediata con colgajo frontal. Los pacientes procedían del Instituto Nacional de Oncología y Radiobiología (INOR), donde fueron atendidos entre el año 2002 y el 2007. RESULTADOS. Hubo recidivas en 5 pacientes (25 % de la muestra) y el 80 % de estas eran un carcinoma epidermoide. Todos los pacientes con recidiva perdieron los tejidos reconstruidos y recibieron tratamiento con radioterapia. Solo se pudo reconstruir nuevamente el defecto de uno de los pacientes; dos de los restantes fallecieron y dos continuaban vivos, sin recurrencia del tumor pero sin posibilidades de reconstrucción. CONCLUSIONES. Teniendo en cuenta la frecuencia de recidivas de los carcinomas epidermoides nasales y de su repercusión, cuando no se cuenta con la técnica histográfica de Mhos, se sugiere posponer la reconstrucción nasal hasta tanto no se realice la confirmación histológica de la exéresis completa del tumor

The Global Meningococcal Initiative: global epidemiology, the impact of vaccines on meningococcal disease and the importance of herd protection.

$\textbf{INTRODUCTION}$: The 2015 Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) meeting discussed the global importance of meningococcal disease (MD) and its continually changing epidemiology. $\textbf{Areas covered}$: Although recent vaccination programs have been successful in reducing incidence in many countries (e.g. $\textit{Neisseria meningitidis}$ serogroup [Men]C in Brazil, MenA in the African meningitis belt), new clones have emerged, causing outbreaks (e.g. MenW in South America, MenC in Nigeria and Niger). The importance of herd protection was highlighted, emphasizing the need for high vaccination uptake among those with the highest carriage rates, as was the need for boosters to maintain individual and herd protection following decline of immune response after primary immunization. $\textbf{Expert commentary}$: The GMI Global Recommendations for Meningococcal Disease were updated to include a recommendation to enable access to whole-genome sequencing as for surveillance, guidance on strain typing to guide use of subcapsular vaccines, and recognition of the importance of advocacy and awareness campaigns.The GMI is funded by an educational grant from Sanofi Pasteu

The Global Meningococcal Initiative: global epidemiology, the impact of vaccines on meningococcal disease and the importance of herd protection.

International audienceThe 2015 Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) meeting discussed the global importance of meningococcal disease (MD) and its continually changing epidemiology. Areas covered: Although recent vaccination programs have been successful in reducing incidence in many countries (e.g. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup [Men]C in Brazil, MenA in the African meningitis belt), new clones have emerged, causing outbreaks (e.g. MenW in South America, MenC in Nigeria and Niger). The importance of herd protection was highlighted, emphasizing the need for high vaccination uptake among those with the highest carriage rates, as was the need for boosters to maintain individual and herd protection following decline of immune response after primary immunization. Expert commentary: The GMI Global Recommendations for Meningococcal Disease were updated to include a recommendation to enable access to whole-genome sequencing as for surveillance, guidance on strain typing to guide use of subcapsular vaccines, and recognition of the importance of advocacy and awareness campaigns