No abstract

The aims of the study were to evaluate the role of beauty treatments in the spread of acute viral hepatitis B (HBV) and acute viral hepatitis C (HCV) in Italy. Data from the surveillance system for acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA) during the period 1997-2002 were used. After exclusion of subjects <15 years or >55 years old and reporting intravenous drug use or blood transfusion, the association of acute HBV and HCV cases with beauty treatments (tattooing, piercing, manicure/chiropody, and barber shop shaving) was estimated comparing 2,964 hepatitis B and 598 hepatitis C cases with 7,221 hepatitis A cases, used as controls, by multiple logistic regression analysis. The population attributable risk (PAR) to beauty treatments was estimated according to Levin's formula. Beauty treatments were associated with acute HBV (OR = 1.8; CI 95% = 1.5-2.1) and acute HCV (OR = 1.7; CI 95% = 1.2-2.3). The strongest association was found with barber shop shaving for HBV (OR = 1.8; CI 95% = 1.5-2.2) and with tattooing for HCV cases (OR = 5.6; CI 95% = 2.8-11.0). The estimates of the population attributable risk (PAR) indicate that nearly 15% of all acute HBV (17.4% in males) and 11.5% of all acute HCV cases (16.4% in males) occurring in 15-55 year old subjects not exposed to intravenous drugs or blood transfusion in Italy are due to beauty treatments. It is concluded that certain beauty treatments play an important role in the spread of HBV and HCV infections in Italy.

Among Italian hospital personnel there is a paradoxically large prevalence of smokers, higher than in the general population. Interventions aimed for the development of an adequate culture of health promotion, among these professionals, are urgently needed.

We assessed the persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs) and immune memory in a cohort of 571 teenagers vaccinated against hepatitis B as infants, 17 years earlier. Vaccinees were followed-up in 2003 and in 2010 (i.e. 10 years and 17 years after primary vaccination, respectively). When tested in 2003, 199 vaccinees (group A) had anti-HBs <10 mIU/mL and were boosted, 372 (group B) were not boosted because they had anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL (n = 344) or refused booster (n = 28) despite anti-HBs <10 mIU/mL. In 2010, 72.9% (416/571) of participants had anti-HBs ≥10 mIU/mL (67.3% in group A vs. 75.8% in group B; p 0.03). The geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) were similar in both groups. Between 2003 and 2010, anti-HBs concentrations in previously boosted individuals markedly declined with GMC dropping from 486 to 27.7 mIU/mL (p <0.001). Fifteen vaccinees showed a marked increase of antibody, possibly due to natural booster. In 2010, 96 individuals (37 of group A and 59 of group B) with anti-HBs <10 mIU/mL were boosted; all vaccinees of the former group and all but two of the latter had an anamnestic response. Post-booster GMC was higher in group B (895.6 vs. 492.2 mIU/mL; p 0.039). This finding shows that the immune memory for HBsAg persists beyond the time at which anti-HBs disappears, conferring long-term protection.

Pneumococcal pneumonia has a high clinical burden in terms of morbidity, mortality and hospitalization rate, with heavy implications for worldwide health systems. In particular, higher incidence and mortality rates of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) cases, with related costs, are registered among elderly. This study aimed to an economic evaluation about the immunization with PCV13 in the adult population in Campania region, South Italy. For this purpose we performed, considering a period of 5 y, a budget impact analysis (BIA) and a cost-effectiveness analysis which considered 2 scenarios of immunization compared with lack of immunization for 2 targeted cohorts: first, the high risk subjects aged 50–79 y, and second the high risk individuals aged 50–64 y, together with all those aged 65 y. Regarding the first group, the decrease of pneumonia could give savings equal to €29 005 660, while the immunization of the second cohort could allow savings equal to €10 006 017.The economic evaluation of pneumococcal vaccine for adult groups represents an essential instrument to support health policies. This study showed that both hypothesized immunization strategies could produce savings. Obtained results support the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for adults. This strategy could represent a sustainable and savings-producer health policy.