Prospective Evaluation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Responses Across a Broad Spectrum of Immunocompromising Conditions: the COVID-19 Vaccination in the Immunocompromised Study (COVICS).

BACKGROUND: We studied humoral responses after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination across varying causes of immunodeficiency. METHODS: Prospective study of fully vaccinated immunocompromised adults (solid organ transplant [SOT], hematologic malignancy, solid cancers, autoimmune conditions, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) versus nonimmunocompromised healthcare workers (HCWs). The primary outcome was the proportion with a reactive test (seropositive) for immunoglobulin G to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain. Secondary outcomes were comparisons of antibody levels and their correlation with pseudovirus neutralization titers. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with seropositivity. RESULTS: A total of 1271 participants enrolled: 1099 immunocompromised and 172 HCW. Compared with HCW (92.4% seropositive), seropositivity was lower among participants with SOT (30.7%), hematological malignancies (50.0%), autoimmune conditions (79.1%), solid tumors (78.7%), and HIV (79.8%) (P < .01). Factors associated with poor seropositivity included age, greater immunosuppression, time since vaccination, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer) or adenovirus vector vaccines versus messenger RNA (mRNA)-1273 (Moderna). mRNA-1273 was associated with higher antibody levels than BNT162b2 or adenovirus vector vaccines after adjusting for time since vaccination, age, and underlying condition. Antibody levels were strongly correlated with pseudovirus neutralization titers (Spearman r = 0.89, P < .0001), but in seropositive participants with intermediate antibody levels, neutralization titers were significantly lower in immunocompromised individuals versus HCW. CONCLUSIONS: Antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines were lowest among SOT and anti-CD20 monoclonal recipients, and recipients of vaccines other than mRNA-1273. Among those with intermediate antibody levels, pseudovirus neutralization titers were lower in immunocompromised patients than HCWs. Additional SARS-CoV-2 preventive approaches are needed for immunocompromised persons, which may need to be tailored to the cause of immunodeficiency.

Teratogenic effects of the Zika virus and the role of the placenta.

The mechanism by which the Zika virus can cause fetal microcephaly is not known. Reports indicate that Zika is able to evade the normal immunoprotective responses of the placenta. Microcephaly has genetic causes, some associated with maternal exposures including radiation, tobacco smoke, alcohol, and viruses. Two hypotheses regarding the role of the placenta are possible: one is that the placenta directly conveys the Zika virus to the early embryo or fetus. Alternatively, the placenta itself might be mounting a response to the exposure; this response might be contributing to or causing the brain defect. This distinction is crucial to the diagnosis of fetuses at risk and the design of therapeutic strategies to prevent Zika-induced teratogenesis.

Surgical Site Infection following Cesarean Delivery: Patient, Provider, and Procedure-Specific Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify risk factors for cesarean delivery (CD) surgical site infection (SSI). study design: Retrospective analysis of 2,739 CDs performed at the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. CD SSIs were defined using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. Chi-square test and t-test were used for bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify SSI risk factors. RESULTS: Of 2,739 CDs, 178 (6.5%) were complicated by SSI. Patients with a SSI were more likely to have Medicaid, have resident physicians perform the CD, an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class of ≥ 3, chorioamnionitis, tobacco use, and labor before CD. In multivariable analysis, labor (odds ratio [OR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.65-3.38), chorioamnionitis (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.25-3.83), resident teaching service (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.54-3.00), tobacco use (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.04-2.70), ASA class ≥ 3 (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.06-2.39), and CDs performed for nonreassuring fetal status (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.67) were significantly associated with CD SSI. CONCLUSION: Multiple patient, provider, and procedure-specific risk factors contribute to CD SSI risk which may be targeted in infection-control efforts.

Text Messaging to Improve Preventive Health Attitudes and Behaviors During Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the effects of text messages sent to pregnant women to promote preventive health beliefs and behaviors. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort analysis was performed among women who participated in a randomized, controlled trial aimed at improving preventive health. Participants (158 pregnant women enrolled from 2010-2012) received 12 weekly text messages encouraging preventive health behaviors (tobacco cessation, condom use for disease prevention, nutrition optimization, seat belt use, breastfeeding). Pre- and postintervention surveys assessed preventive health beliefs and practices. RESULTS: At follow-up, participants agreed that receiving text messages changed their beliefs about targeted preventive health behaviors: smoking (50%), sexually transmitted disease prevention (72%), prenatal vitamins (83%), seat belt use (68%), nutritious foods (84%), and breastfeeding (68%). Many participants reported more frequent engagement in target behaviors at follow-up than at baseline: decreased tobacco use (among 41% of smokers), more consistent condom use (among 7% of sexually active participants), more prenatal vitamin intake (32%), more frequent seatbelt use (32%), more frequent healthy food intake (41%), and intention to breastfeed longer (21%). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women receiving text messages promoting preventive health reported improvements in targeted beliefs and behaviors, suggesting that text messaging may be used for health promotion during pregnancy.

Prevention and management of influenza in pregnancy.

Influenza infections are an important global source of morbidity and mortality. Pregnant and postpartum women are at increased risk for serious disease, related complications, and death from influenza infection. This increased risk is thought to be mostly caused by the altered physiologic and immunologic specifics of pregnancy. The morbidity of influenza infection during pregnancy is compounded by the potential for adverse obstetric, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Importantly, influenza vaccination to prevent or minimize the severity of influenza infection during pregnancy (and the neonatal period) is recommended for all women who are or will be pregnant during influenza season.

Routine pre-cesarean Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the economic value of screening pregnant women for Staphylococcus aureus carriage before cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Computer simulation model. METHODS: We used computer simulation to assess the cost-effectiveness, from the third-party payer perspective, of routine screening for S aureus (and subsequent decolonization of carriers) before planned cesarean delivery. Sensitivity analyses explored the effects of varying S aureus colonization prevalence, decolonization treatment success rate (for the extent of the puerperal period), and the laboratory technique (agar culture vs polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) utilized for screening and pathogen identification from wound isolates. RESULTS: Pre-cesarean screening and decolonization were only cost-effective when agar was used for both screening and wound cultures when the probability of decolonization success was ≥ 50% and colonization prevalence was ≥ 40%, or decolonization was ≥ 75% successful and colonization prevalence was ≥ 20%. The intervention was never cost-effective using PCR-based laboratory methods. The cost of agar versus PCR and their respective sensitivities and specificities, as well as the probability of successful decolonization, were important drivers of the economic and health impacts of preoperative screening and decolonization of pregnant women. The number needed to screen ranged from 21 to 2294, depending on colonization prevalence, laboratory techniques used, and the probability of successful decolonization. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high rates of cesarean delivery, presurgical screening of pregnant women for S aureus and decolonization of carriers is unlikely to be cost-effective under prevailing epidemiologic circumstances.

Vaccine eligibility and acceptance among ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess vaccine eligibility and factors associated with vaccine acceptance among ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic patients. METHODS: An anonymous office-based survey was administered to women seeking ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic care at a large women's hospital from December 2007 to July 2008. Information collected included: demographics, medical and vaccination history, interest in receiving vaccines and attitudes towards vaccine providers. Vaccine eligibility was based on age and/or self-reported risk factors in accord with the 2007-2008 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adult immunization schedule. Vaccine eligibility was examined using descriptive statistics, and demographic characteristics were compared using chi-squared analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to assess factors associated with participants' willingness to accept vaccines from their obstetrician-gynecologist. RESULTS: A total of 1441 women completed the survey. The majority of participants (87%) would accept vaccines if recommended by their obstetrician-gynecologist. The primary factors associated with vaccine acceptance were having less than a high school education, being privately insured, currently being pregnant, reporting a history of vaccinations and previously receiving vaccinations from an obstetrician-gynecologist. A significant portion of participants were eligible for the hepatitis B, influenza and HPV vaccines (≥ 50% for each). The type of vaccine did not influence willingness to accept vaccines from an obstetrician-gynecologist. CONCLUSION: A majority of women appear eligible for, and will accept, vaccinations regardless of specific vaccine, if recommended by their obstetrician-gynecologist. These findings justify ongoing efforts to expand immunization services offered by obstetrician-gynecologists.

Cytokines, pregnancy, and bacterial vaginosis: comparison of levels of cervical cytokines in pregnant and nonpregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy has been considered to be a time of relative immune compromise. Lower-genital-tract immune response appears to be influenced by pregnancy. The objective of this study was to compare, in pregnant versus nonpregnant women, endocervical proinflammatory-cytokine expression in response to bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: Endocervical levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta , IL-6, and IL-8 in 99 pregnant and 99 nonpregnant women, all with bacterial vaginosis and without concurrent sexually transmitted infections, were assessed by ELISA. Vaginal flora was characterized on the basis of quantitative vaginal cultures. RESULTS: Women in the 2 groups differed with respect to smoking status and microbiological constituents responsible for bacterial vaginosis. When the data were stratified by these potential confounders, the levels of all 3 proinflammatory endocervical cytokines were significantly higher in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The proinflammatory cytokine milieu in the cervix is enhanced in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis, compared with that in nonpregnant women. The notion of pregnancy as an immune-compromised state may be anatomically compartment specific.