Human Immunodeficiency Virus Continuum of Care in 11 European Union Countries at the End of 2016 Overall and by Key Population: Have We Made Progress?

Background: High uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and related mortality; however, gaps in care exist. We aimed to construct the continuum of HIV care (CoC) in 2016 in 11 European Union (EU) countries, overall and by key population and sex. To estimate progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, we compared 2016 to 2013 estimates for the same countries, representing 73% of the population in the region.

Surgical Management of an Empyema in a 3-Year-Old Child.

empyema in nonimmunocompromised children is rare. A case of surgical management of invasive aspergillosis in a previously healthy 3-year-old child is presented. The patient was initially admitted to a hospital with severe respiratory deterioration and clinical instability, originally attributed to sepsis.

Herpes zoster after vaccination with one dose varicella vaccine to a 4-year-old child.

Clinical observations from the international literature report that herpes zoster occurs after varicella vaccination in immunocompetent children. We present the case of a four-year-old immunocompetent girl who developed herpes zoster after she had received one dose of varicella-zoster virus live attenuated vaccine at the age of 15 months. Continued surveillance for herpes zoster among vaccinated persons is important to evaluate the varicella vaccination program and to detect any changes in the epidemiology of herpes zoster.

Vaccination coverage and immunity levels against vaccine-preventable diseases in male Air Force recruits in Greece.

Aim: Data about susceptibility rates in young adults are scarce. We estimated the complete vaccination rates, timeliness of vaccinations and susceptibility rates among male military recruits in Greece.

Methods: A standardized form was used to collect data.

Factors and considerations for establishing and improving seasonal influenza vaccination of health workers: Report from a WHO meeting, January 16-17, Berlin, Germany.

Health workers represent an important target group for seasonal influenza vaccination because of their increased risk of infection as well as the risk of transmitting infection to vulnerable patients in the health care setting. Moreover, seasonal vaccination of health workers contributes to pandemic preparedness. However, many countries, especially in Africa and Asia, do not have policies for health worker influenza vaccination.

The role of healthcare providers in HPV vaccination programs - A meeting report.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and Control Board convened a meeting in Bucharest, Romania (May 2018), to discuss the role of healthcare providers (HCPs) in prevention programs, with a focus on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. International and local experts discussed the role that HCPs can play to increase the uptake of HPV vaccine and screening. Experts recommended: 1) increasing HCP norms of getting vaccinated; 2) training providers to make effective recommendations; 3) making culturally appropriate materials available, in local languages; and 4) centralizing and coordinating education and information material, to direct both HCPs and the general public to the best material available.

A case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever imported in Greece: Contact tracing and management of exposed healthcare workers.

Background: Nosocomial transmission is a major mode of infection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). In May 2018, a patient with CCHF was hospitalised in Greece.

Objective: Our aim was to present the management of healthcare workers (HCWs) to the CCHF case.

Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in Greece, 2006-2016.

The present study describes the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Greece for the period 2006-2016. Combined data from notified and laboratory-confirmed IMD cases were obtained from the two involved National Centres (Epidemiology and Reference Laboratory). Laboratory identification and typing was carried out by both conventional (culture) and molecular methods (PCR, MLST, PorA, and FetA typing).

Comparative assessment of budesonide-MMX and mesalamine in active, mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Aims: The comparative efficacy, safety and tolerability of budesonide-MMX and oral mesalamine in active, mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) are unclear. We conducted a network meta-analysis to fill this evidence gap.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, the Cochrane Library, clinical trial registries, regulatory agencies' websites and international conference proceedings, up to July 2018, to identify randomized controlled trials of adult patients with active, mild-to-moderate UC, comparing budesonide-MMX or mesalamine against placebo, or against each other, or different dosing strategies, for induction of remission.

The prognostic value of multiple electrode aggregometry and light transmittance aggregometry in stable cardiovascular patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Limited data are available regarding the clinical relevance of platelet function measurements in stable patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to evaluate the agreement between multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) and light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) in detecting clopidogrel low responders and their prognostic value in CAD patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on dual platelet inhibition.

Methods: LTA and MEA were performed in 122 stable cardiovascular patients with T2DM.

Association of malnutrition with periprosthetic joint and surgical site infections after total joint arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A growing body of evidence associates malnutrition with several adverse outcomes.

Aim: To investigate the link between malnutrition with surgical site and periprosthetic joint infections (SSIs and PJIs) following total knee and hip arthroplasty (TKA and THA) through a comprehensive meta-analysis of observational studies.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus databases through December 2018, and recent proceedings of major orthopaedic meetings.

Environmental Risk Factors for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.

Background & Aims: Multiple environmental factors have been associated with the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). We performed an umbrella review of meta-analyses to summarize available epidemiologic evidence and assess its credibility.

Methods: We systematically identified and appraised meta-analyses of observational studies examining environmental factors and risk of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] or ulcerative colitis [UC]).

Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 belonging to the Eastern European subclade, Greece.

West Nile virus (WNV) emerged in Greece in 2010 and since then human outbreaks occurred every year except 2015 and 2016. An early start and prolonged WNV transmission season was observed in 2018 with a record number of 316 reported cases and 47 fatalities. The Greek WNV strains detected during 2010-2018 clustered within the central European subclade of lineage 2.

Knowledge about influenza and adherence to the recommendations for influenza vaccination of pregnant women after an educational intervention in Greece.

Pregnant women and young infants are at increased risk for influenza-associated severe disease, complications and hospitalizations. In Greece influenza vaccination during pregnancy remains extremely low. We studied the knowledge about influenza and the adherence to the recommendations for influenza vaccination of pregnant women following an educational intervention in a large maternity hospital.

The Impact of Stress on Pressure Ulcer Wound Healing Process and on the Psychophysiological Environment of the Individual Suffering from them.

Introduction: The occurrence of a pressure ulcer constitutes a major psychological and physiological burden and it has been linked with a reduced quality of life and increased stress of the individual.

Objective: The main objective was to investigate the impact that stress has on pressure ulcer healing process and on the psychophysiological environment of the individual suffering from them.

Method: The scientific literature was reviewed through Cinahl, Pub-med, EBSCO, Medline and Google scholar.

Reemergence of West Nile Virus Infections in Southern Greece, 2017.

Greece experienced the largest European West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak in 2010 since the 1996 Romania epidemic. West Nile virus reemerged in southern Greece during 2017, after a 2-year hiatus of recorded human cases, and herein laboratory findings, clinical features, and geographic distribution of WNV cases are presented. Clinical specimens from patients with clinically suspected WNV infection were sent from local hospitals to the Microbiology Department of Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and were tested for the presence of specific anti-WNV antibodies and WNV RNA.

Vaccination of healthcare workers: is mandatory vaccination needed?

Vaccinations of healthcare workers (HCWs) aim to directly protect them from occupational acquisition of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and to indirectly protect their patients and the essential healthcare infrastructure. However, outbreaks due to VPDs continue to challenge healthcare facilities and HCWs are frequently traced as sources of VPDs to vulnerable patients. In addition, HCWs were disproportionately affected during the current measles outbreak in Europe.

Knowledge and attitudes of nurses in a major public hospital in Cyprus towards pressure ulcer prevention.

Study Aim: The main aim of the study was to identify the knowledge and attitudes of nurses towards pressure ulcer prevention in a major public hospital in Cyprus.

Material And Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study design was used to collect the data between December 2014 and February 2015, the sample consisted of n = 102 nurses employed in a major public hospital in Cyprus. Customised and standardised Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and an attitudes Likert questionnaire was used to investigate both parameters.

Surveillance of Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis in Greece: 4 Years Experience.

Rabies reemerged in Greek fauna during October 2012, 25 years after the last report in animals and 42 after the last human case. This study examined the administration of rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans over the period 2012-2016. A total of 1,454 individuals (62.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in a Greek worker returning from Bulgaria, June 2018.

We report a tick-borne case of severe Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) imported into Greece from Bulgaria. The patient presented severe thrombocytopenia, hemophagocytosis, haemodynamic instability, large haematomas and altered mental status. Supportive treatment and ribavirin were administered.

Loss of Response to Vedolizumab and Ability of Dose Intensification to Restore Response in Patients With Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Vedolizumab is effective and safe for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Little is known about the incidence rate of loss of response to vedolizumab maintenance therapy or whether dose intensification restores response to this drug.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and conference abstracts (Digestive Disease Week, European Crohn's and Colitis Organization, and United European Gastroenterology Week), through December 2017, for experimental or observational cohort studies of vedolizumab use in adult patients with CD or UC; we identified studies that provided sufficient data to determine the incidence rate of loss of response among initial responders and the ability of dose intensification to restore response.

Impact of European vaccination policies on seasonal influenza vaccination coverage rates: An update seven years later.

Seasonal influenza can have serious morbid consequences and can even result in death, particularly in at-risk populations, including healthcare professionals (HCPs), elderly and those living with a medical risk condition. Although in Europe recommendations exist for annual influenza vaccination in these populations in most countries, the vaccination coverage rate (VCR) is often well below the World Health Organization target of 75% coverage. In our previous survey in 2009 we showed that some elements of national vaccination policies, e.