Respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric influenza-like illness cases in Lombardy, Northern Italy, during seven consecutive winter seasons (from 2014-2015 to 2020-2021).

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract illness in young children and can also cause influenza-like illness (ILI). Here we investigated the epidemiological features of RSV infection in pediatric ILI cases in Lombardy (a region in Northern Italy accounting nearly 10 million inhabitants) from 2014-2015 to 2020-2021 winter seasons.

Material And Methods: Data for this study were retrieved and statistically analyzed from the database of virological influenza surveillance of the regional reference laboratory for Lombardy within the Italian influenza surveillance network (InfluNet).

When the COVID-19 Pandemic Surges during Influenza Season: Lessons Learnt from the Sentinel Laboratory-Based Surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness in Lombardy during the 2019-2020 Season.

This paper outlines the role of Lombardy's regional influenza reference laboratory (Northern Italy) in the surveillance of influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 circulation by analyzing 631 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs (NPSs) collected from ILI outpatients by sentinel physicians during the 2019-2020 season. The samples were tested by specific real-time RT-PCRs targeting SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and RSVs. Results: Of these NPSs, 31% tested positive for influenza viruses, 10% for SARS-CoV-2, and 7% for RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus in influenza-like illness cases: Epidemiology and molecular analyses of four consecutive winter seasons (2014-2015/2017-2018) in Lombardy (Northern Italy).

Background: Besides seasonal influenza viruses (IV), several other pathogens-including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-are involved in clinically undistinguished influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). This study aimed at investigating the contribution of RSV in ILI cases in Lombardy (Northern Italy) during four consecutive winter seasons.

Materials And Methods: In the framework of influenza surveillance, respiratory samples from ILI outpatients were collected from 2014-2015 to 2017-2018 season.

Influenza Vaccination in Italian Healthcare Workers (2018-2019 Season): Strengths and Weaknesses. Results of a Cohort Study in Two Large Italian Hospitals.

Background: Annual vaccination is the most effective way to combat influenza. As influenza viruses evolve, seasonal vaccines are updated annually. Within the European project Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness (DRIVE), a cohort study involving Italian healthcare workers (HCWs) was carried out during the 2018-2019 season.

Molecular Characterization of Influenza Strains in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units during the 2017-2018 Season.

This study aimed at assessing the frequency and the distribution of influenza virus types/subtypes in 172 laboratory-confirmed influenza-positive patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) during the 2017-2018 season in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy), and to investigate the presence of molecular pathogenicity markers. A total of 102/172 (59.3%) patients had influenza A infections (83 A/H1N1pdm09, 2 H3N2 and 17 were untyped), while the remaining 70/172 (40.

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of influenza viruses, human parechoviruses and enteroviruses in children up to 5 years with influenza-like illness in Northern Italy during seven consecutive winter seasons (2010-2017).

Besides the influenza virus (IV), several other viruses are responsible for influenza-like illness (ILI). Although human parechoviruses (HPeVs) and enteroviruses (EVs) may impact on ILI, limited data on their epidemiological characteristics are available. During seven consecutive winter seasons (from 2010-2011 to 2016-2017), within the framework of an influenza surveillance system (InfluNet), 593 respiratory swabs were collected from children ≤5 years of age with ILIs.

Ten years (2004-2014) of influenza surveillance in Northern Italy.

As the regional influenza reference centre operating within the Italian network InfluNet, here we report data on virological and epidemiological surveillance of influenza, as well as on the vaccination coverage rates achieved in Lombardy (Northern Italy) over 10 consecutive winter seasons (2004-2014).   Over the past 10 years, influenza vaccine coverage declined both in the general population (from 15.7% in 2004-2005 to 11.

Surveillance of influenza viruses in the post-pandemic era (2010-2012) in Northern Italy.

The activity and circulation of influenza viruses in Lombardy - Northern Italy - (a region with nearly 10 out of the 60 million inhabitants of Italy) were investigated during two consecutive seasons (2010-2011 and 2011-2012), as part of the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network. The molecular characteristics of the hemagglutinin (HA) sequence of circulating viruses were analyzed to investigate the emergence of influenza viral variants. In the surveyed area, the influenza activity of these two post-pandemic seasons was similar in terms of both time frame and impact.

Genetic drift influenza A(H3N2) virus hemagglutinin (HA) variants originated during the last pandemic turn out to be predominant in the 2011-2012 season in Northern Italy.

Influenza A(H3N2) virus is once again the predominant strain after the 2009 pandemic. Its molecular epidemiology and phylogeny were investigated during the 2011-2012 season in Northern Italy. The epidemiological and virological influenza surveillance was carried out within the framework of the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network.

Long-term patterns of humoral and cellular response after vaccination against influenza A (H1N1) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Objectives: The efficacy of a novel vaccine against influenza virus A (H1N1) in patients with hematologic malignancies is largely unknown.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the humoral and cellular immune responses after one injection of monovalent adjuvanted 2009 H1N1 vaccine in 47 adults with hematologic malignancies and 77 controls by hemagglutination-inhibition assay and flow-cytometry analysis on day 0, 28, 50, and 90.

Results: On day 28 postvaccination, patients had lower seroprotection (95.

Response to 2009 pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines co-administered to HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected former drug users living in a rehabilitation community in Italy.

Background: 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic influenza vaccination was recommended as a priority to essential workers and high-risk individuals, including HIV-infected patients and people living in communities.

Methods: HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected former drug-users (18-60 years old) living in a rehabilitation community (San Patrignano, Italy) received one dose of a MF59-adjuvanted 2009 pandemic influenza vaccine and one dose of a 2009-2010 seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (containing A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1), A/Brisbane/10/2007(H3N2), B/Brisbane/60/2008) simultaneously. Antibodies against each vaccine antigen were determined at the time of vaccination and one and six months post-vaccination by hemagglutination-inhibition test.

Rationale for the clinical use of a ribosome-component immune modulator.

Vaccines have long been used to boost the immune system and to confer protection against microbial infections. In contrast, immunotherapy based on ribosomal preparations has been proposed to enhance both specific and nonspecific immune responses (in particular, the mucosal immune defense system) against common respiratory tract pathogens. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on the ability of a combination of four immunogenic ribosomal fractions from different bacteria species and of the extracted fraction from the membrane of Klebsiella pneumoniae to modulate several immune functions.

Molecular characterization of influenza viruses circulating in Northern Italy during two seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) of low influenza activity.

The influenza activity and circulation of influenza viruses in Lombardy (the most populous Italian region) were observed during two consecutive seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) characterized by low influenza activity by the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network. The molecular characteristics of circulating viruses were analyzed to evaluate the introduction of new variants and emergence of vaccine-escape viruses. In both seasons, the epidemic in Lombardy was sustained almost exclusively by influenza A viruses, accounting for 80.

A new chance of preventing winter diseases by the administration of synbiotic formulations.

Background: The efficacy of probiotics is currently well documented with regard to the improvement of gastrointestinal functions, whereas their potential role in the prevention of infectious respiratory diseases has not been sufficiently analyzed. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY AND METHODS: A 3-stage prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out with several synbiotic preparations containing 3 to 5 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium lactis, lactoferrin and prebiotics such as either FOS (short-chain fructooligosaccharides) or GOS (galactooligosaccharides). The study was performed over 3 different winter seasons between 2003 and 2007, and was aimed at assessing the ability of the different preparations to improve intestinal functions and to increase the body's defences against respiratory infections.

Influenza virological surveillance in children: the use of the QuickVue rapid diagnostic test.

New rapid diagnostic methods are needed to identify influenza infections to improve virological surveillance usually undertaken with conventional time-consuming, complex, and even expensive laboratory methods. Another reason for using a rapid test is to avoid inappropriate therapy, particularly in children, where use of antibiotics inappropriately and high influenza-related rates of hospitalisation are described. During two winter seasons, the performance of the QuickVue Influenza test (QV) was evaluated in children under 14 presenting with influenza like illness, and compared the results with those obtained from sentinel network surveillance using standard protocols for the sample collection and the laboratory analysis by virus culture and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).