Evidence of pertussis clusters in three aged-care facilities in the former Macquarie Area Health Service, NSW

Al-Murieb, Ala'a; Brown, Anthony M.; Raulli, Alexandra; George, Carol; Gander, Carole; Forrester, Patsy; Gibson, Sharwyn

doi:10.1071/nb07054

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The incidence of pneumonia among older adults aged ≥65 years reported to be as high as 274 per 100 000 population with a 6.1% case fatality rate among hospitalised cases 14. Recurrent outbreaks of pertussis in the RACFs were reported in 2004–2005 with an attack rate of 15.7% among residents 15–17. Earlier researchers reported serology confirmed infection of pertussis among adults aged ≥65 years with an incidence rate of 19.7 per 100 person-years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protocol on establishing a prospective enhanced surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases in residential aged care facilities in Central Queensland, Australia: an observational study

et al. 2022

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IntroductionInfectious diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity among the highly vulnerable occupants of residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The burden of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) among RACFs residents is mostly unknown and there is a lack of quality data from population-based prospective VPD surveillance in RACFs. The increasing burden of emerging and existing VPDs (eg, COVID-19, influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis and varicella-zoster) necessitates the establishment of an active enhanced surveillance system to provide real-time evidence to devise strategies to reduce the burden of VPDs in RACFs.Method and analysisThis study proposes a prospective active enhanced surveillance that will be implemented in RACFs across the Central Queensland (CQ) region. The study aims to measure the burden, identify aetiologies, risk factors, predictors of severe outcomes (eg, hospitalisations, mortality) and impact of the existing National Immunization Program (NIP) funded vaccines in preventing VPDs in this vulnerable population. CQ Public Health Unit (CQPHU) will implement the active surveillance by collecting demographic, clinical, pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical outcome data from the RACFs based on predefined selection criteria and case report forms as per routine public health practices. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate regression analysis will be conducted to identify the predictors of morbidity and clinical outcomes following infection.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the CQHHS Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (reference number HREC/2021/QCQ/74305). This study involves data that is routinely collected as part of the surveillance of notifiable conditions under the Public Health Act 2005. The CQHHS HREC approved a request to waive consent requirements of study participants as researchers will be provided non-identifiable data. The findings from the study will be actively disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, social and print media, federal, state, and local authorities to reflect on the results that may facilitate revision of policy and highlight the stakeholders, funding bodies both locally and internationally.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protocol on establishing a prospective enhanced surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases in residential aged care facilities in Central Queensland, Australia: an observational study

et al. 2022

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“…Pertussis is usually thought of as being a serious infection only in infants. However, in addition to influenza and other respiratory viruses, outbreaks of pertussis, including pertussis deaths, occur in the elderly in residential aged care [17][18][19][20][21]. This highlights that pertussis prevention is important in the elderly, not only to prevent transmission to vulnerable infants, but also to protect the elderly themselves from serious morbidity and mortality.…”

Section: Ageing and Prevention Of Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elderly vaccination—The glass is half full

MacIntyre¹

2013

Health

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The shifting global demography and ageing of populations worldwide brings with new challenges for the health care, and an imperative for healthy ageing and preventive health strategies for adults. Immunization is the low hanging fruit for healthy ageing, and yet under-utilized for various reasons, including waning immunity in the elderly, lack of RCT data in this age group, and lack of provider confidence in vaccines for the elderly. The elderly people have a higher incidence of infection and more severe and serious consequences of infection. Diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal disease and herpes zoster have long been recognized as causing a high burden in the elderly, but evidence is also emerging for other infections such as pertussis being a major cause of the morbidity in this age group. Now, there are several vaccines which can prevent major infectious diseases in the elderly. To improve uptake of these vaccines, elderly vaccination should be viewed through a different lens to pediatric vaccination, accepting that vaccines are less immunogenic in the elderly. The population health impact of vaccines in the elderly, despite of immunosenescence and lower immunogenicity, is still likely to be high given the increased disease incidence. Vaccination is an important and readily available means of prevention in the elderly.

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“…We concur with Al-Murieb and colleagues that pertussis outbreaks are a potential and probably under-recognised problem in aged-care facilities. 1 In February 1999, we investigated an outbreak of acute respiratory infection, which had affected over 50% of the residents of a Sydney nursing home. Serological and virological testing pointed to influenza A as the major cause of illness in 19 of 35 coughing residents.…”

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confidence: 99%