Publications by authors named "Hellenbrand W"
Purpose: Despite being vaccine-preventable, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) continues to cause considerable morbidity in Germany. Limited insight into potentially debilitating consequences of TBE may partially underly low (~ 20%) TBE vaccine uptake. We aimed to systematically assess TBE sequelae and other consequences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: COViK, a prospective hospital-based multicenter case-control study in Germany, aims to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against severe disease. Here, we report vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19-caused hospitalization and intensive care treatment during the Omicron wave.
Methods: We analyzed data from 276 cases with COVID-19 and 494 control patients recruited in 13 hospitals from 1 December 2021 to 5 September 2022.
Objectives: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a growing public health problem with an average of 361 cases notified annually to Germany's passive surveillance system since 2001. We aimed to assess clinical manifestations and identify covariates associated with severity.
Methods: We included cases notified 2018-2020 in a prospective cohort study and collected data with telephone interviews, questionnaires to general practitioners, and hospital discharge summaries.
Article Synopsis
- A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak occurred in a nursing home in February 2021, despite residents and staff having received two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine in January.
- A retrospective cohort study assessed vaccine effectiveness, calculating several attack rates and comparing viral loads, revealing the vaccine was 56% effective against infection and lower transmission rates among vaccinated staff.
- The study concluded that while vaccination reduces infection risk and viral load, non-pharmaceutical interventions are still crucial, and improving staff vaccination rates could further protect residents and their households.
Article Synopsis
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination rates in Germany are low, and a study analyzed factors for this, alongside vaccine effectiveness (VE) and breakthrough infections (VBIs) from 2018 to 2020.
- The study involved interviews with 581 vaccinated individuals and 975 unvaccinated controls, revealing that poor risk perception and fears about side effects are significant barriers to vaccination.
- The vaccine was shown to be highly effective, with a VE of 96.6% for those receiving three doses; however, increasing public confidence in vaccine safety is crucial to improving uptake, particularly as some VBIs were found to have false positive results.
In Germany, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infections mainly occur in southern regions. Despite recent increases in incidence, TBE vaccination coverage remains low, necessitating additional preventive strategies against TBE. Our case-control study in Southern Germany from 2018 to 2020 mapped knowledge/application of tick-protective strategies and identified TBE risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is on the rise in Germany, necessitating better understanding of its environmental factors and spatial distribution to improve prevention efforts.
- A study analyzed 567 self-reported TBE infection locations in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, finding significant regional variations in TBE risk based on ecological and human factors.
- The research created a risk map that can help identify areas for targeted prevention based on its effectiveness in predicting TBE distribution, despite a desire for further field validation.
Background: The Melody valve was developed to extend the useful life of previously implanted right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduits or bioprosthetic pulmonary valves, while preserving RV function and reducing the lifetime burden of surgery for patients with complex congenital heart disease.
Methods: Enrollment for the US Investigational Device Exemption study of the Melody valve began in 2007. Extended follow-up was completed in 2020.
Objective: We compared 5-year outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) replacement with the Melody TPV in the post-approval study (PAS) and the investigational device exemption (IDE) trial.
Background: As a condition of approval of the Melody TPV after the IDE trial, the Food and Drug Administration required that a PAS be conducted to evaluate outcomes of TPV replacement in a "real-world" environment. The 5-year outcomes of the PAS have not been published, and the IDE and PAS trials have not been compared.
Background: Adequate immunity to so-called childhood diseases can lower the occupational risk of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in persons who work in day-care centers for children.
Methods: A systematic literature survey was carried out in PubMed and Embase for the period January 2000 to February 2019. Studies on immune status and vaccination status were included.
Background: Infants < 3 months of age are at highest risk for developing severe complications after pertussis. The majority of pregnant women has low concentrations of pertussis-specific antibodies and thus newborns are insufficiently protected by maternally transferred antibodies. Acellular pertussis vaccination during pregnancy was recently implemented in various countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In Germany, antenatal influenza vaccination is recommended since 2010, but uptake remains low. Several countries recently introduced antenatal pertussis vaccination, which is currently under consideration in Germany. We conducted a survey among gynaecologists on attitudes, practices and barriers regarding influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe reviewed tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) surveillance and epidemiology in Germany, as these underlie public health recommendations, foremost vaccination. We performed descriptive analyses of notification data (2001⁻2018, n = 6063) according to region, demographics and clinical manifestations and calculated incidence trends using negative binomial regression. Risk areas were defined based on incidence in administrative districts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Compliance with adult measles and pertussis vaccination recommendations : Analysis of data from the national monitoring system KV-Impfsurveillance].
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz
April 2019
The Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends adult measles and pertussis vaccination. The measles vaccine has been recommended since 2010 to adults born after 1970 with less than two doses in childhood, and an acellular pertussis vaccine (ap) since 2009 to be administered to all adults, with the next recommended decennial tetanus (T) and diphtheria (d) booster as a Tdap combination vaccine.We aim to determine the annual uptake of the measles vaccine (vaccination incidence) and its proportion in pediatric and gynecological practices as interdisciplinary services (2009-2016).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To describe a multi-center experience of percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) using the Edwards Sapien S3 Valve.
Background: Off-label use of the Sapien S3 valve can allow for TPVR in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and large diameter dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The initial experience at five centers with the SAPIEN S3 valve for TPVR is presented with a focus on procedural techniques, success, complications, and efficacy.
Background: Endocarditis has emerged as one of the most concerning adverse outcomes in patients with congenital anomalies involving the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and prosthetic valves.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate rates and potential risk factors for endocarditis after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in the prospective Melody valve trials.
Methods: All patients in whom a transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) was implanted in the RVOT as part of 3 prospective multicenter studies comprised the analytic cohort.
Background: Percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has good clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in treating dysfunctional bioprosthetic valves (BPV) in the pulmonary position. Valve-in-valve therapy can further decrease the inner diameter (ID), potentially resulting in patient-prosthesis mismatch in patients with smaller BPVs.
Methods And Results: To evaluate feasibility and outcomes of intentional BPV fracture to enlarge the pulmonary valve orifice with TPVR, 37 patients from 13 centers who underwent TPVR with intended BPV fracture were evaluated.
Background: Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI) has revolutionized the care of patients with congenital disorders of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and is increasingly being used in patients with native outflow tracts. This is the first study to specifically report the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in the immediate post-TPVI period.
Methods And Results: Medical records of all adult and pediatric patients who underwent TPVI at our institution between May 1, 2011 and March 1, 2016, were reviewed for the presence of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias occurring within 30 days of TPVI.
Percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in children weighing less than 20 kg.
Catheter Cardiovasc Interv
February 2018
Background: Since FDA approval of the Melody valve, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has been offered to an expanding population. Limited data exist regarding the safety and feasibility of TPVR in smaller patients.
Methods: All patients weighing <20 kg who underwent catheterization for percutaneous TPVR at four centers were reviewed.
Objective: Trans-catheter (TC) pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) has become common practice for patients with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) and/or pulmonic insufficiency (PI). Our aim was to compare PVR and right ventricular (RV) function of patients who received TC vs surgical PVR.
Design: Retrospective review of echocardiograms obtained at three time points: before, immediately after PVR, and most recent.