Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children - epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022.

Following the report of an excess in paediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology by the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 April 2022, 427 cases were reported from 20 countries in the World Health Organization European Region to the European Surveillance System TESSy from 1 January 2022 to 16 June 2022. Here, we analysed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data available in TESSy. Of the reported cases, 77.

Infectious disease surveillance system descriptors: proposal for a comprehensive set.

To tailor a surveillance system to its objectives and to evaluate its fitness for purpose, an accurate description of its structural elements is essential. Existing recommendations for setting up a system seldom offer a comprehensive list of all surveillance elements to be considered. Moreover, there is sometimes confusion in the way terms describing these elements are interpreted.

Costs and benefits of influenza vaccination: more evidence, same challenges.

Seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in most EU/EEA remains suboptimal. Providers' and users' confidence in influenza vaccines is undermined by reports of moderate to low vaccine effectiveness and by the lack of solid evidence on disease burden. A study from Preaud and co.

The importance of influenza prevention for public health.

Annual epidemics of seasonal (inter-pandemic) influenza represent a significant burden on society in terms of morbidity, mortality, hospitalizations and lost working time. The impact of influenza depends on a mix of direct and indirect effects and is not easy to assess. Nevertheless there is a consensus in considering influenza prevention and mitigation high priorities for public health.

I-MOVE multi-centre case control study 2010-11: overall and stratified estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in Europe.

Background: In the third season of I-MOVE (Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe), we undertook a multicentre case-control study based on sentinel practitioner surveillance networks in eight European Union (EU) member states to estimate 2010/11 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza.

Methods: Using systematic sampling, practitioners swabbed ILI/ARI patients within seven days of symptom onset. We compared influenza-positive to influenza laboratory-negative patients among those meeting the EU ILI case definition.

Study designs for timely estimation of influenza vaccine effectiveness using European sentinel practitioner networks.

European sentinel practitioner influenza surveillance networks represent a simple and feasible framework to conduct observational studies providing rapid and repeated influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates. The minimum requirements for those studies should be to correctly ascertain vaccination status, to include laboratory-confirmed influenza as outcome and to collect variables to control for confounding. Various study designs are possible including the screening method, computerised cohort and case control studies using various control groups.

[Risk factors for mortality during a heat-wave in Bari (Italy), summer 2005.].

Introduction: The Italian Heat Health Watch Warning System (HHWWS) was set up following the over 3000 excess deaths which occurred in Italy during the heat wave of 2003, In June 2005 the warning system issued a heat warning in various Italian cities.

Methods: A case control study was performed in one of these cities (Bari) in order to identify individual and environmental risk factors as well as preventive strategies for reducing mortality during future heat waves. Cases were defined as subjects aged <65 years who had died during the heat wave and whose death certificate listed one of the following as the cause of death: heat, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, neurocognitive disorders, dehydration or fever/infection not otherwise specified.

Strategies for evaluation of suitable donors: Italian experience.

Italy was lacking standardised procedures for donor safety evaluation. We developed practice guidelines, while a panel of experts coordinated by the National Transplant Centre, is available 24 hours a day to support decisions in difficult cases. The guidelines identify five levels of risk and give recommendations for the utilization of donors with HBV and HCV infections as well as for malignancies with negligible or very low risk of transmission.

The effect of number of mutations and of drug-class sparing on virological response to salvage genotype-guided antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To assess on longitudinal data the impact of number of drug-associated mutations at genotype resistance testing (GRT) and history of previous exposure to antiretrovirals on the virological response to genotype-guided antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: Subjects that failed HAART who underwent GRT between June 1999 and March 2002 were enrolled. GRT was performed by Viroseq-2 with expert advice offered to physicians.