Publications by authors named "G Berbers"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the effectiveness of measuring IgG levels against pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides as a diagnostic tool for pneumococcal infection in children with pneumonia in Nepal.
- Results showed that children with pneumococcal pneumonia did not exhibit significantly higher IgG levels compared to those with other pneumonia causes.
- The findings suggest that interpreting antibody responses for pneumococcal infections should be approached with caution.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common global respiratory virus that is increasingly recognized as a major pathogen in frail older adults and as a cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. There is no single test for RSV in adults that has acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Trials of RSV vaccines have recently shown excellent safety and efficacy against RSV in older adults; defining the frequency of RSV-related community infections and COPD exacerbations is important for vaccine deployment decisions.
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- Despite high vaccination rates, pertussis epidemics persist in many countries, indicating the need for improved understanding of vaccine-induced immunity.* -
- A study on adolescents in the Netherlands and the UK found that early antiviral and interferon gene responses in blood are linked to long-lasting pertussis-specific antibody levels following vaccination.* -
- The research suggests that the inactivated poliovirus component of the Tdap-IPV vaccine boosts immune responses more effectively than the Tdap vaccine alone, enhancing protection against pertussis.*
Article Synopsis
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is especially dangerous for infants, particularly those born very preterm, and the standard prevention method, palivizumab, is costly and used mainly for high-risk newborns.
- A study in the Netherlands found that palivizumab significantly reduced RSV infection rates in very preterm infants during their first year of life, with rates dropping from 48.3% to 18.9% for those receiving the prophylaxis.
- The research suggests that while palivizumab is effective for very preterm infants, further studies are needed to understand non-compliance issues and to compare it with new treatments like nirsevimab to improve health outcomes for preterm infants.