Emergence of COVID-19 in Sicily and the intersection with the 2019-2020 influenza epidemic.

Tramuto, Fabio; Mazzucco, Walter; Maida, Carmelo Massimo; Colomba, Giuseppina Maria Elena; Naro, Daniela Di; Coffaro, Federica; Graziano, Giorgio; Costantino, Claudio; Restivo, Vincenzo; Vitale, Francesco

doi:10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.1.1870

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Moreover, the use of an epidemiologic integrated approach has to be highlighted whereas the widest use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the current COVID-19 pandemic has changed the epidemiologic scenario of influenza and other respiratory viruses [58,59], with a decline of influenza and hRSV detection followed by a resurgence of hRSV incidence in hospitalised children after the relaxation of public health measures [60,61]. Therefore, the importance of molecular epidemiology, in support of the surveillance systems in place against respiratory pathogens both in community and hospital settings, must be emphasised also in the light of a changing and more complex global public health scenario and of the increasing need to update vaccination strategies [62,63].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI

et al. 2021

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Several respiratory pathogens are responsible for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe respiratory infections (SARI), among which human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) represents one of the most common aetiologies. We analysed the hRSV prevalence among subjects with ILI or SARI during the five influenza seasons before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Sicily (Italy). Respiratory specimens from ILI outpatients and SARI inpatients were collected in the framework of the Italian Network for the Influenza Surveillance and molecularly tested for hRSV-A and hRSV-B. Overall, 8.1% of patients resulted positive for hRSV. Prevalence peaked in the age-groups <5 years old (range: 17.6–19.1%) and ≥50 years old (range: 4.8–5.1%). While the two subgroups co-circulated throughout the study period, hRSV-B was slightly predominant over hRSV-A, except for the season 2019–2020 when hRSV-A strongly prevailed (82.9%). In the community setting, the distribution of hRSV subgroups was balanced (47.8% vs. 49.7% for hRSV-A and hRSV-B, respectively), while most infections identified in the hospital setting were caused by hRSV-B (69.5%); also, this latter one was more represented among hRSV cases with underlying diseases, as well as among those who developed a respiratory complication. The molecular surveillance of hRSV infections may provide a valuable insight into the epidemiological features of ILI/SARI. Our findings add new evidence to the existing knowledge on viral aetiology of ILI and SARI in support of public health strategies and may help to define high-risk categories that could benefit from currently available and future vaccines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI

et al. 2021

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“…SARS-CoV-2 and influenza share some aspects of pulmonary symptomatology [5][6][7] and, in the case of co-infection with these two viruses, the prognosis of COVID-19 has been shown to be worse. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant reduction of influenza cases has been observed worldwide, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23] likely as a result of the social distance measures adopted to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 24,25 ; in addition, influenza vaccination has been strongly recommended, 26 mainly to avoid SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infections. It is of particular interest whether influenza vaccination directly affects the severity of COVID-19.…”

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confidence: 99%

Vaccination against influenza viruses reduces infection, not hospitalization or death, from respiratory COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Pontiroli,

Scovenna,

Carlini

et al. 2024

Journal of Medical Virology

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) causes COVID‐19 and has brought a huge burden in terms of human lives. Strict social distance and influenza vaccination have been recommended to avoid co‐infections between influenza viruses and SARS‐CoV‐2. Scattered reports suggested a protective effect of influenza vaccine on COVID‐19 development and severity. We analyzed 51 studies on the capacity of influenza vaccination to affect infection with SARS‐CoV‐2, hospitalization, admission to Intensive Care Units (ICU), and mortality. All subjects taken into consideration did not receive any anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine, although their status with respect to previous infections with SARS‐CoV‐2 is not known. Comparison between vaccinated and not‐vaccinated subjects for each of the four endpoints was expressed as odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs); all analyses were performed by DerSimonian and Laird model, and Hartung‐Knapp model when studies were less than 10. In a total of 61 029 936 subjects from 33 studies, influenza vaccination reduced frequency of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection [OR plus 95% CI = 0.70 (0.65−0.77)]. The effect was significant in all studies together, in health care workers and in the general population; distance from influenza vaccination and the type of vaccine were also of importance. In 98 174 subjects from 11 studies, frequency of ICU admission was reduced with influenza vaccination [OR (95% CI) = 0.71 (0.54−0.94)]; the effect was significant in all studies together, in pregnant women and in hospitalized subjects. In contrast, in 4 737 328 subjects from 14 studies hospitalization was not modified [OR (95% CI) = 1.05 (0.82−1.35)], and in 4 139 660 subjects from 19 studies, mortality was not modified [OR (95% CI) = 0.76 (0.26−2.20)]. Our study emphasizes the importance of influenza vaccination in the protection against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

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Multidimensional Frailty and Vaccinations in Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2022

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It is known that influenza, herpes zoster, pneumococcal and pertussis infections may increase morbidity and mortality in older people. Vaccinations against these pathogens are effective in older adults. Frailty seems to be an important determinant of vaccination rates, yet data supporting this association are still missing. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of four recommended vaccinations (influenza, herpes zoster, pneumococcal and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) and the association with multidimensional frailty assessed using a self-reported comprehensive geriatric assessment tool, i.e., the multidimensional prognostic index (SELFY-MPI). Older participants visiting the outpatient clinic of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Palermo, Italy were included. The SELFY-MPI questionnaire score was calculated based on eight different domains, while the vaccination status was determined using self-reported information. We included 319 participants from the 500 initially considered (63.8%). Vaccination against influenza was observed in 70.5% of the cases, whilst only 1.3% received the vaccination against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis. Participants with higher SELFY-MPI scores were more likely to report vaccination against pneumococcus (45.6 vs. 28.3%, p = 0.01), whilst no significant differences were observed for the other vaccinations. In conclusion, the coverage of recommended vaccinations is low. Higher SELFY-MPI scores and vaccination status, particularly anti-pneumococcus, appear to be associated, but future studies are urgently needed for confirming that frailty is associated with vaccination status in older people.

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Emergence of COVID-19 in Sicily and the intersection with the 2019-2020 influenza epidemic.

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: New Challenges for Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance and Vaccination Strategy in Patients with ILI/SARI

Vaccination against influenza viruses reduces infection, not hospitalization or death, from respiratory COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Multidimensional Frailty and Vaccinations in Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study

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