Hospital Burden of All-Cause Pneumonia and Nonbacteremic Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults in France Between 2013 and 2019.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to describe the hospital burden of pneumonia in the adult population in France.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from the National Health Insurance Database.

Pediatric Prescriptions of Proton Pump Inhibitors in France (2009-2019): A Time-Series Analysis of Trends and Practice Guidelines Impact.

Objective: To describe the ambulatory proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescription in French children, its trends, and the impact of French (2014) and international (2018) clinical guidelines.

Study Design: We described PPI prescription rates based on national dispensation data in French children (IQVIA's Xponent database, 2009-2019). Using a segmented linear regression, we assessed the impact of clinical guidelines on PPI prescription rates.

Impact of extending direct antiviral agents (DAA) availability in France: an observational cohort study (2015-2019) of data from French administrative healthcare databases (SNDS).

Background: Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) became available in France in 2014 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with severe fibrosis (prioritized access); in 2017, DAAs became available to all CHC patients (universal access). We evaluated the impact of extending DAA availability on CHC patient care, especially on screening and time to treatment.

Methods: Adult patients affiliated with the national health insurance system (SNDS) who were screened or treated for CHC between 2015 and 2019 were included.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on head lice and scabies infestation dynamics: a population-based study in France.

Background: Lockdowns and physical distancing have dramatically limited the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and other common communicable infections. However, little is known about their impact on head lice and scabies.

Aim: To assess the impact of the 2020 French National lockdowns (17 March-11 May 2020, and 30 October-15 December 2020) and physical distancing recommendations (from February 2020) on the dynamics of head lice and scabies infestations.

Common communicable diseases in the general population in France during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In France, social distancing measures have been adopted to contain the spread of COVID-19, culminating in national Lockdowns. The use of hand washing, hydro-alcoholic rubs and mask-wearing also increased over time. As these measures are likely to impact the transmission of many communicable diseases, we studied the changes in common infectious diseases incidence in France during the first year of COVID-19 circulation.

Refracture and mortality following hospitalization for severe osteoporotic fractures: The Fractos Study.

Severe osteoporotic fractures (hip, proximal humerus, pelvic, vertebral and multiple rib fractures) carry an increased risk of mortality. This retrospective cohort study in the French national healthcare database aimed to estimate refracture and mortality rates after severe osteoporotic fractures at different sites, and to identify mortality-related variables. A total of 356,895 patients hospitalized for severe osteoporotic fracture between 2009 and 2014 inclusive were analyzed.

Monitoring outpatient antibiotic utilization using reimbursement and retail sales data: a population-based comparison in France, 2012-17.

Objectives: To assess whether a retail sales database could be used to monitor antibiotic utilization in the outpatient setting at the national level.

Methods: We extracted 2012-17 outpatient antibiotic extrapolated retail sales (IQVIA's Xponent) and reimbursement data from the National Health Insurance (SNDS) in metropolitan France. We compared estimates of antibiotic use and consumption [number of antibiotic drug deliveries (DrID) and defined daily doses (DID) per 1000 inhabitants per day].

Community antibiotic prescribing for children in France from 2015 to 2017: a cross-sectional national study.

Objectives: To assess recent community antibiotic prescribing for French children and identify areas of potential improvement.

Methods: We analysed 221 768 paediatric (<15 years) visits in a national sample of 680 French GPs and 70 community paediatricians (IQVIA's EPPM database), from March 2015 to February 2017, excluding well-child visits. We calculated antibiotic prescription rates per 100 visits, separately for GPs and paediatricians.

Association between National Treatment Guidelines for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Outpatient Pediatric Antibiotic Use in France: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis.

Objective: To test whether updated clinical practice guidelines for managing upper respiratory tract infections released in France in November 2011 were associated with changes in national outpatient pediatric antibiotic use.

Study Design: We performed an interrupted time-series analysis using national antibiotic dispensation data in French children from January 2009 to December 2017 (IQVIA Suivi de la Dispensation Médicale database). We described the overall evolution of antibiotic prescription rates and modeled the changes in the proportion of amoxicillin and the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics following the guidelines in 2 age groups (0-5 and 6-14 years old).

Risk of Serious and Opportunistic Infections Associated With Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background & Aims: The risk of infection associated with tumor necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF) and thiopurines (combination therapy) is uncertain. We assessed the risk of serious and opportunistic infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with thiopurine monotherapy, anti-TNF monotherapy, or combination therapy in a large cohort of patients in France.

Methods: We performed a nationwide population-based study of patients (18 years or older) with a diagnosis of IBD in the French national health insurance database; we collected data from January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2014.

Association Between Use of Thiopurines or Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists Alone or in Combination and Risk of Lymphoma in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Importance: An increased risk of lymphoma has been reported among patients receiving thiopurines for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The risk of lymphoma associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents either alone or in combination with thiopurines is uncertain.

Objective: To assess the risk of lymphoma associated with thiopurines and anti-TNF agents, used alone or in combination, for the management of IBD.

Applications of Extreme Value Theory in Public Health.

Objectives: We present how Extreme Value Theory (EVT) can be used in public health to predict future extreme events.

Methods: We applied EVT to weekly rates of Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) deaths over 1979-2011. We further explored the daily number of emergency department visits in a network of 37 hospitals over 2004-2014.

Association Between Oral Fluoroquinolone Use and Retinal Detachment.

Importance: Several studies have focused on the current use of oral fluoroquinolones and the risk for retinal detachment (RD), but the existence of this association is under debate. Given the widespread fluoroquinolone use, investigation of this association is essential.

Objective: To assess the association between oral fluoroquinolone use and the risk for RD, including the rhegmatogenous and exudative types.

Antibody persistence and serological protection among seasonal 2007 influenza A(H1N1) infected subjects: Results from the FLUREC cohort study.

Introduction: Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titer is a correlate of protection against influenza; its persistence after infection or vaccination is important to determining susceptibility to subsequent infection. Few studies, however, have reported longitudinal data regarding the magnitude and duration of HI protection following natural seasonal influenza A infection.

Methods: Using French influenza cohort study data collected from 2008 to 2010, we investigated persistence of serological protection among subjects according to influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed seasonal 2007 influenza A(H1N1) infection status at inclusion in 2008 (ILI-A(H1N1) positive, ILI-A(H1N1) negative, or no-ILI).

Impact of the 2013 French Pill Crisis on Women's Behaviour Regarding Contraception.

Context: In the last decade, several epidemiological studies have shown the increased risk of venous thromboembolism associated with third- and fourth-generation oral contraceptives (C3Gs and C4Gs) versus older combined first- and second-generation oral contraceptives (C1Gs and C2Gs). In France, in December 2012, a lawsuit filed against the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) by a patient who had experienced a stroke, possibly due to the use of a C3G, triggered a national 'pill crisis'. Consequently, a 'crisis cell' was set up and pre-existing health recommendations were reinforced.

Coinfection with Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma haematobium: additional evidence of the protective effect of Schistosomiasis on malaria in Senegalese children.

Parasitic infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Several studies focused on the influence of helminth infections on malaria but the nature of the biological interaction is under debate. Our objective was to undertake a study to explore the influence of the measure of excreted egg load caused by Schistosoma haematobium on Plasmodium falciparum parasite densities.

Mortality burden of the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic in France: comparison to seasonal influenza and the A/H3N2 pandemic.

Background: The mortality burden of the 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic remains unclear in many countries due to delays in reporting of death statistics. We estimate the age- and cause-specific excess mortality impact of the pandemic in France, relative to that of other countries and past epidemic and pandemic seasons.

Methods: We applied Serfling and Poisson excess mortality approaches to model weekly age- and cause-specific mortality rates from June 1969 through May 2010 in France.

Surgical mask to prevent influenza transmission in households: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Facemasks and respirators have been stockpiled during pandemic preparedness. However, data on their effectiveness for limiting transmission are scarce. We evaluated the effectiveness of facemask use by index cases for limiting influenza transmission by large droplets produced during coughing in households.

Comparative age distribution of influenza morbidity and mortality during seasonal influenza epidemics and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Background: Several studies have shown a relatively high mortality rate among young people infected by the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Here we compared the age distributions of morbidity and mortality during two seasonal influenza epidemics (H1N1 and H3N2) in France and the United States with those of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic waves in the same countries.

Methods: Age-standardized ratios were used to compare the age distribution of morbidity and mortality due to influenza between the two countries and across the different years.

Effect of influenza vaccination of nursing home staff on mortality of residents: a cluster-randomized trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of staff influenza vaccination on all-cause mortality in nursing home residents.

Design: Pair-matched cluster-randomized trial.

Setting: Forty nursing homes matched for size, staff vaccination coverage during the previous season, and resident disability index.

Time lines of infection and disease in human influenza: a review of volunteer challenge studies.

The dynamics of viral shedding and symptoms following influenza virus infection are key factors when considering epidemic control measures. The authors reviewed published studies describing the course of influenza virus infection in placebo-treated and untreated volunteers challenged with wild-type influenza virus. A total of 56 different studies with 1,280 healthy participants were considered.