Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Impact of Post-Partum Influenza Vaccination of Mothers and Household Contacts in Preventing Febrile Episodes, Influenza-Like Illness, Health-Care Seeking, and Administration of Antibiotics in Young Infants during the 2012-2013 Influenza Season
Helena C. Maltezou 1, Aikaterini Fotiou 2, Nikolaos Antonakopoulos 3, Cleopatra Kallogriopoulou 4, Panos Katerelos 1, Antonia Dimopoulou 1, Vasiliki Tsoutsa 1, Tania Siahanidou 5, Constantinos Papagaroufalis 2, Evangelos Kostis 6, Nikolaos Papantoniou 3, Aristides Antsaklis 3, and Maria Theodoridou 4
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens <SUP>2</SUP>Neonatal Department, Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital, Athens <SUP>3</SUP>First Maternity Clinic, University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens <SUP>4</SUP>University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens <SUP>5</SUP>Neonatal Unit, University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens <SUP>6</SUP>Therapeutic Clinic, University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Address for correspondence: Dr. Maltezou, Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens, Greece; phone: 30-210-5212-175; fax : 30-210-5212-177, E-mail : helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr
Alternative correspondence: Prof. Theodoridou, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, 11527 Greece
Abstract
Background.
Influenza is associated with an increased risk for serious illness, hospitalization and mortality in infants <6 months. However, influenza vaccines are not licensed for administration in this age-group. The study evaluated the effectiveness of post-partum influenza vaccination of mothers and household members in infants.
Methods.
The influenza vaccine was offered to mothers and household members of neonates born or hospitalized in 3 hospitals prior to the 2012-2013 season. Mothers were contacted every 2 weeks during the influenza season and data regarding the onset of fever and/or respiratory symptoms in infants, health-care seeking, hospitalization, and administration of antibiotics were collected.
Results.
The study group consisted of 553 mothers who delivered 573 neonates. The influenza vaccine was administered to 841 (45.6%) of 1844 household contacts. Vaccination coverage rates ranged between 41.9% for neonates siblings and 49% for mothers. 530 infants were analyzed for vaccine effectiveness. For outcomes in the infant, post-partum maternal vaccination had 37.7% effectiveness against acute respiratory illness (ARI), 50.3% against a febrile episode, 53.5% against influenza-like illness (ILI), 41.8% against related health-care seeking, and 45.4% against administration of antibiotics. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that maternal influenza vaccination was significantly associated with a decreased probability for febrile episodes, ARIs, and/or ILIs in infants, related health-care seeking, and/or administration of antibiotics during the influenza season. Vaccination of other household contacts had no impact.
Conclusions.
Maternal post-partum vaccination against influenza was associated with a significant reduction of influenza-related morbidity, health-care seeking, and antibiotic prescription in infants during the influenza season.
Received May 15, 2013. Accepted September 1, 2013.
? The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Impact of Post-Partum Influenza Vaccination of Mothers and Household Contacts in Preventing Febrile Episodes, Influenza-Like Illness, Health-Care Seeking, and Administration of Antibiotics in Young Infants during the 2012-2013 Influenza Season
Helena C. Maltezou 1, Aikaterini Fotiou 2, Nikolaos Antonakopoulos 3, Cleopatra Kallogriopoulou 4, Panos Katerelos 1, Antonia Dimopoulou 1, Vasiliki Tsoutsa 1, Tania Siahanidou 5, Constantinos Papagaroufalis 2, Evangelos Kostis 6, Nikolaos Papantoniou 3, Aristides Antsaklis 3, and Maria Theodoridou 4
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Athens <SUP>2</SUP>Neonatal Department, Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital, Athens <SUP>3</SUP>First Maternity Clinic, University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens <SUP>4</SUP>University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens <SUP>5</SUP>Neonatal Unit, University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens <SUP>6</SUP>Therapeutic Clinic, University of Athens, Alexandra General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Address for correspondence: Dr. Maltezou, Department for Interventions in Health-Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens, Greece; phone: 30-210-5212-175; fax : 30-210-5212-177, E-mail : helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr
Alternative correspondence: Prof. Theodoridou, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Athens First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, 11527 Greece
Abstract
Background.
Influenza is associated with an increased risk for serious illness, hospitalization and mortality in infants <6 months. However, influenza vaccines are not licensed for administration in this age-group. The study evaluated the effectiveness of post-partum influenza vaccination of mothers and household members in infants.
Methods.
The influenza vaccine was offered to mothers and household members of neonates born or hospitalized in 3 hospitals prior to the 2012-2013 season. Mothers were contacted every 2 weeks during the influenza season and data regarding the onset of fever and/or respiratory symptoms in infants, health-care seeking, hospitalization, and administration of antibiotics were collected.
Results.
The study group consisted of 553 mothers who delivered 573 neonates. The influenza vaccine was administered to 841 (45.6%) of 1844 household contacts. Vaccination coverage rates ranged between 41.9% for neonates siblings and 49% for mothers. 530 infants were analyzed for vaccine effectiveness. For outcomes in the infant, post-partum maternal vaccination had 37.7% effectiveness against acute respiratory illness (ARI), 50.3% against a febrile episode, 53.5% against influenza-like illness (ILI), 41.8% against related health-care seeking, and 45.4% against administration of antibiotics. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that maternal influenza vaccination was significantly associated with a decreased probability for febrile episodes, ARIs, and/or ILIs in infants, related health-care seeking, and/or administration of antibiotics during the influenza season. Vaccination of other household contacts had no impact.
Conclusions.
Maternal post-partum vaccination against influenza was associated with a significant reduction of influenza-related morbidity, health-care seeking, and antibiotic prescription in infants during the influenza season.
Received May 15, 2013. Accepted September 1, 2013.
? The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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------