Safety profile of recombinant adjuvanted anti-herpes zoster vaccine (RZV) in high-risk groups: Data from active surveillance program. Puglia (Italy), 2021-23.

Background: Since 2021 a recombinant adjuvanted anti-Herpes Zoster vaccine(Recombinant Zoster Vaccine, RZV) is offered in Italy to high-risk patients. Few real-life data about RZV safety are available in target populations.

Objectives: This study investigates Adverse Events Following Immunization(AEFIs), baseline disease flare-ups, and Herpes Zoster (HZ) episodes occurring after RZV administration in a heterogeneous population of fragile patients to design its safety profile.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vaccination Hesitancy: A Viewpoint.

Vaccination hesitancy is considered by the World Health Organization as a danger to global health. In recent years, vaccine hesitancy rates to COVID-19 have been studied worldwide. In our study, we aim to provide an overview of the concept of vaccine hesitancy, with regard to the post-COVID era, and to provide prevention and management strategies.

Vaccine coverage for recommended vaccines among splenectomised patients in Apulia, South Italy: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Splenectomised/asplenic patients have a 10-50 fold higher risk than the general population of developing overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. To control this risk, these patients have to receive a specific immunisation schedule, before or in the 2 weeks after the surgical intervention. The study aims to estimate vaccine coverage (VC) for recommended vaccines among splenectomised patients in Apulia (South Italy), and to define the determinants of vaccination uptake in this population.

Influenza vaccine coverage in 6months-64 years-old patients affected by chronic diseases: A retrospective cohort study in Italy.

At the beginning of each flu season, the Italian Ministry of Health defines the categories at higher risk of influenza complications, for which vaccination is actively and freely offered. The vaccine coverage (VC) of the influenza vaccine in subjects from 6 months to 64 years of age suffering from diseases that increase the risk of complications from influenza during the 2020-2021 season was evaluated. Our study wants to evaluate the VCs of the influenza vaccine in these subjects during the 2020/2021 season in Apulia.

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Italian parents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In May 2021, the Italian government extended the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to 12- to 18-year-old subjects and, starting December 2021, vaccines were also offered to children between 5 and 11 years-old. Despite these efforts, suboptimal vaccination coverages are reported. The purpose of this review is to estimate the proportion of parents/caregivers of children and adolescents expressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Italy.

Prevalence of healthcare workers fully vaccinated against hepatitis B without circulating antibodies in Italy and role of age at baseline cycle vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) susceptible to hepatitis B represent an important public health concern. National and international guidelines recommend assessing the hepatitis B immune status of all HCWs and possibly vaccinating those found to be seronegative (non-responders). We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the rate of hepatitis B sero-susceptibility among HCWs in Italy and to explore possible options for the management of non-responders.

Long-Term Immunogenicity of Inactivated and Oral Polio Vaccines: An Italian Retrospective Cohort Study.

Oral and inactivated poliovirus (PV) vaccines have contributed toward the global eradication of wild PV2 and PV3, as well as the elimination of PV1 in most countries. While the long-term (>5−10 years) persistence of protective antibodies in ≥80% of the population vaccinated with ≥3−4 doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has been demonstrated, the duration of immunity in people vaccinated with the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is still unclear. This study evaluated the seroprevalence of anti-PV neutralizing antibodies and the long-term immunogenicity conferred by OPV and IPV in a sample of medical students from the University of Bari (April 2014−October 2020).

Medium-to-Long-Term Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass vaccination campaign was started in European countries on 27 December 2020. The first vaccine available to immunize healthcare workers (HCWs) was the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. While many studies have shown a high antibody response after the second vaccine dose, antibody persistence over the medium-to-long term has yet to be evaluated.

Immune response to one dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine followed by SARS-CoV-2 infection: An Italian prospective observational study.

Introduction: A mass vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 was initiated in European countries on December 27, 2020. This study compared the antibody response in a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) who, after the first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (infection group) with the response in a control group of HCWs immunized with two doses (vaccine group).

Methods: This two-arm observational cohort study was carried out using routine health surveillance data obtained from HCWs at Bari Policlinico General Hospital (Italy).

Attitude for vaccination prophylaxis among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

Pregnant women and newborns are considered a subgroup of population at increased risk for several infectious diseases, some of which are vaccine-preventable. Anti-diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (dTpa) and influenza vaccine are recommended for pregnant women. We carried out a study to evaluate the knowledge of new mothers toward the main vaccine-preventable diseases and to assess their compliance with recommended vaccinations.

Long -term persistence of antibodies against varicella in fully immunized healthcare workers: an Italian retrospective cohort study.

Background: Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), and in infants, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised it can be serious. The best way to prevent chickenpox is immunization with the varicella vaccine. Protective levels of antibodies induced by the varicella vaccine decline over time, but there is currently no formal recommendation for testing anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) IgG levels in immunized healthcare workers (HCWs).

BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Preliminary Report.

In the preregistration trial, data on efficacy of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection were not collected. This study aimed to evaluate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against documented infection. Bari Policlinico University Hospital health care workers (HCWs) who completed the vaccination schedule were matched with HCWs who had refused vaccination.

Long-term persistence of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies in the era of polio elimination: An Italian retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: The extensive use of oral and inactivated poliovirus (PV) vaccines has driven progress toward the global eradication of wild PV2 and PV3 and the elimination of PV1 in most countries, including Italy. Although the persistence of circulating neutralizing antibodies among the vaccinated is unclear, it is estimated that > 99% of the population vaccinated according to the recommended protocol should be protected for at least 18 years.

Methods: This study evaluated the seroprevalence of anti-PV neutralizing antibodies and the long-term immunogenicity of the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in a sample of medical students and residents of the University of Bari who attended the Hygiene Department for a biological risk assessment between April 2014 and October 2020.

Prevalence and management of measles susceptibility in healthcare workers in Italy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The national and international guidelines recommend evaluating all healthcare workers (HCWs) for their measles immune status and possibly vaccinating those who are seronegative.

Areas Covered: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to estimate the rate of measles susceptibility among HCWs in Italy and to explore possible options for the management of those found to be susceptible. Twenty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis.

Long time persistence of antibodies against Mumps in fully MMR immunized young adults: an Italian retrospective cohort study.

Protective levels of antibodies induced by the MMR vaccine have been shown to decline over time, but actually there is not a formal recommendation about the opportunity of testing immunized HCWs to investigate the persistence of anti-Mumps IgG. This study aims to evaluate the long-time immunogenicity of MMR vaccination in a sample of medical students and residents of the University of Bari who attended the Hygiene Department for the biological risk assessment (April 2014-June 2018). A strategy for the management of non-responder subjects has been experimented and described.

Immunity to rubella: an Italian retrospective cohort study.

Background: International guidelines recommend that healthcare workers (HCWs) have presumptive evidence of immunity to rubella and that susceptible HCWs and doubt cases receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. However, a small percentage of the fully immunized will remain unprotected against wild viruses. Moreover, protective levels of antibodies induced by the vaccine have been shown to decline over time, but a formal recommendation regarding the testing of immunized HCWs for the persistence of IgG against rubella is lacking.

Adverse Events Following Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella Vaccination and the Case of Seizures: A Post Marketing Active Surveillance in Puglia Italian Region, 2017-2018.

Since 2012, the Italian Ministry of Health has recommended to improve the surveillance of adverse events following the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) tetravalent vaccine that was provided in the official immunization schedule of some Italian regions for children during the second year of life. This recommendation was based on data from some surveys that showed an additional risk of seizure following the administration of this vaccine. Responding to the Ministry commitment, the Puglia Region launched, from May 2017 to November 2018, a post-marketing active surveillance program of adverse events following MMRV immunization (AEFIs).

Are we ready to abrogate compulsory vaccinations for children?

In Italy, vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and hepatitis B is compulsory for infants countrywide, except in Veneto region where since 2007 Health Authorities have experimented the suspension of mandatory vaccination. In light of the recent discussion on the potential abrogation in other regions, we explored the opinion of family pediatricians who play a crucial role in promoting immunization programmes in Italy. In November 2009, we interviewed by phone the family pediatricians working in Puglia region using a standardised, ad hoc and piloted questionnaire.

Serum sarcosine is a risk factor for progression and survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Aim: Sarcosine has been identified as a differential metabolite that is greatly increased during progression from normal tissue to prostate cancer and metastatic disease. In this study we assessed the role of serum sarcosine in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients.

Patients & Methods: Data from 52 mCRPC patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.

Safety of shellfish and epidemiological pattern of enterically transmitted diseases in Italy.

In recent decades in South-Italy, drastic epidemiological changes in the pattern of the enterically transmitted diseases were recorded. This work aims to support the hypothesis that universal routine vaccination against hepatitis A started in Puglia in 1998 could be also effective in reducing contamination in seafood. Three studies on different samples of Mitylus edulis lamellibranch were conducted over 20 years.

Feasibility of a cocoon strategy for the prevention of pertussis in Italy: a survey of prevention department healthcare providers.

A survey was proposed to Italian Prevention Department Directors to investigate the opinions on the value of the cocoon strategy and its introduction. Cocoon was considered the most efficacious strategy to protect newborns against pertussis by 76% of the interviewees. Prevention Departments should promote and coordinate locally the strategy in 75% of the respondents.

Serum sarcosine increases the accuracy of prostate cancer detection in patients with total serum PSA less than 4.0 ng/ml.

Background: Sarcosine is reported to be a differential metabolite that is greatly increased during prostate cancer (PCa) progression. In this study, we assessed the role of serum sarcosine as a biomarker for PCa, as well as any association between sarcosine levels and clinical-pathological parameters.

Methods: Sarcosine was measured by fluorometric assay in serum samples from 290 PCa patients and 312 patients with no evidence of malignancy (NEM), confirmed by 8-12 core prostate biopsies.

Reproductive life disorders in Italian celiac women. A case-control study.

Background: The aim of this study is to explore the association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders.

Methods: The association between celiac disease and menstrual cycle, gestation and puerperal disorders in a sample of 62 childbearing age women (15-49 age) was assessed within an age and town of residence matched case-control study conducted in 2008. Main outcome measures were the presence of one or more disorders in menstrual cycle and the presence of one or more complication during pregnancy.

Mortality trends for primary liver cancer in Puglia, Italy.

In the region of Puglia, Italy, the mortality rates from primary liver cancer (PLC) show a considerable geographical variability. In an area including the city of Bari and the northern province [high-risk (HR) area] the mortality rates are significantly higher than elsewhere in the region [low-risk (LR) area]. The aim of this study is to analyze mortality because of PLC from 1980 to 2002 in the HR and LR areas using an age-period-cohort model to identify their respective trend characteristics and the differences that emerge from their comparison.

Detection and molecular characterization of a canine norovirus.

We identified a novel calicivirus in a pup with enteritis. The isolate was related genetically (90.1% aa identity in the capsid protein) to a lion norovirus strain.