Burden of varicella complications in secondary care, England, 2004 to 2017.

BackgroundStrategies to control varicella vary across Europe. Evidence from established programmes has prompted the United Kingdom to re-evaluate the need for universal vaccination. The burden of complicated varicella is a key parameter in the cost-effectiveness analysis.AimOur objective was to estimate the burden of complicated varicella in England.MethodsThis electronic health record surveillance study used data from all NHS hospitals in England to identify varicella admissions between 2004 and 2017. The incidence of pre-defined complications of varicella was estimated using ICD-10 codes. Inpatient costs were calculated based on the payment rules for providers of NHS services.ResultsThere were 61,024 admissions with varicella between 2004 and 2017 and 38.1% had a recognised varicella complication. Incidence of hospitalisation increased by 25% and the proportion with complicated varicella by 24% from 2004/05 to 2016/17. The most common complications were bacterial skin infections (11.25%), pneumonia (4.82%), febrile convulsions (3.39%) and encephalitis (2.44%). Complication rates were higher in older age groups and the type of complications more severe. Length of stay for complicated varicella was 3.1 times longer than for uncomplicated varicella and inpatient costs were 72% greater.ConclusionComplicated varicella has a substantial health and economic burden. These data together with data on impact on quality of life are important in informing the cost-effectiveness analysis of universal varicella vaccination.

Impacto clínico y epidemiológico de las infecciones por varicela en niños previo a la introducción de la vacuna al Calendario Nacional de Argentina / Clinical and epidemiological impact of varicella infection in children prior to the introduction of the varicella vaccine in the national immunization schedule of Argentina

Introducción. En Argentina, se estiman 400 000 casos anuales de varicela. Dado el subregistro de casos existentes, la carga de enfermedad real se desconoce. Objetivo. Evaluar la carga de enfermedad por varicela antes de la introducción de la vacuna al Calendario Nacional. Materiales y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, analítico, observacional, realizado en tres centros asistenciales del país. Revisión de los registros de consultas ambulatorias a los Servicios de Urgencias y de las historias clínicas de las internaciones por varicela en pacientes < 18 años. Período: 1/2011-12/2013. Resultados. Fueron asistidas un total de 382782 consultas ambulatorias; 3367 (0,88 %) correspondieron a consultas por varicela; el 57,6 %, < 4 años. Requirieron internación 164 (4,9 %) con una tasa de hospitalización global de 65,3/10000 hospitalizados/año (IC 95 %: 55,4-76,5); tasa de hospitalización en niños sanos: 57,2/10 000 (IC 95 %: 67,7-48,0); mediana de edad: 31,5 meses. Las causas de internación más frecuentes fueron infecciones de piel y/o partes blandas (61,1 %) y respiratorias (10,1 %). El 54,3 % recibió tratamiento con aciclovir, y el 73,1 %, con antibióticos. Presentaron bacteriemia 5/67 (7,5 %), todas por cocos Gram(+) y en inmunocompetentes. De los 19 pacientes inmunocomprometidos, el 36,8 % tuvo complicaciones (5 infecciones de piel y/o partes blandas y 2 neumonías). La mediana de días de internación fue 4, significativamente más prolongada en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Un paciente requirió cuidados intensivos. No hubo fallecidos. Conclusión. La carga de enfermedad registrada fue significativa, con impacto considerable en pacientes sin patología de base.

Introduction. In Argentina, an estimated 400 000 varicella cases occur annually. Given the under-recording of existing cases, the actual burden of disease is unknown. Objective. To assess the burden of varicella before the introduction of the varicella vaccine in the national immunization schedule. Materials and methods. Retrospective, analytical, observational study carried out in three hospitals of Argentina. Review of medical records from outpatient visits to the Emergency Department and from patients younger than 18 years hospitalized for varicella. Period: 1/2011-12/2013. Results. A total of 382 782 outpatients were seen; 3367(0.88%) corresponded to visits due to varicella; 57.6 % were < 4 years old. A total of 164 (4.9 %) patients required hospitalization, with an overall hospitalization rate of 65.3/10 000 hospitalized patients/year (95 % confidence interval -#91;CI-#93;: 55.4-76.5); hospitalization rate in healthy children: 57.2/10 000 (95 % CI: 67.7-48.0); median age: 31.5 months. The most common causes of hospitalization were skin and/or soft tissue infections (61.1 %) and respiratory infections (10.1 %). Also, 54.3 % were treated with acyclovir and 73.1 %, with antibiotics. Bacteremia developed in 5/67 patients (7.5 %), all cases were caused by Gram-positive cocci and occurred in immunocompetent patients. Out of 19 immunocompromised patients, 36.8 % had complications (5 skin and/or soft tissue infection and 2 pneumonia cases). The median length of stay was 4 days, which is significantly more prolonged in immunocompromised patients. One patient required intensive care. No patient died. Conclusion. The burden of disease was significant, with a considerable impact in patients without an underlying disease.

Nursing management of childhood chickenpox infection.

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious infectious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV). It is a common childhood illness characterised by an itchy vesicular rash and fever, which usually resolves spontaneously without medical intervention. Serious, and rarely fatal, complications can occur, including pneumonia, central nervous system infection, overwhelming secondary bacterial infections, especially with Group A streptococcus, and necrotising fasciitis. Therefore it is crucial that emergency department (ED) nurses can recognise the signs and symptoms that indicate deterioration. This article reviews best practice management of children with chickenpox, gives up-to-date guidance on the safe use of antipyretics, the avoidance of ibuprofen and discusses immunisation against VZV. It also includes implications for nursing practice and a case study that illustrates some of the challenges that ED nurses may encounter.

Molecular detection of varicella zoster virus while keeping an eye on the budget.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) PCR is highly sensitive compared to traditional detection methods like culture and direct fluorescent antibody testing (DFA); however, the high cost of commercial assays prohibits their use in many clinical laboratories. Major contributors to cost are the nucleic acid extraction and the PCR reagents. This study evaluated an "in-house" qualitative real-time PCR where the nucleic acid extraction was replaced by a crude extraction, homogenization and heat treatment. Three methods were compared: virus culture and DFA and real-time PCR following each extraction methods. The real-time PCR was highly specific for VZV, and the analytical sensitivity was equivalent following both extraction methods. In contrast, virus culture and DFA was approximately 10,000-fold less sensitive. Using 200 clinical specimens, the sensitivity for the real-time PCR following nucleic acid extraction or homogenization and heat treatment was essentially equivalent at 100% and 97.2%, respectively; whereas, virus culture and DFA was significantly less sensitive at 54.8%. Overall, homogenization and heat treatment combined with a qualitative in-house real-time PCR is a rapid, accurate and cost effective method for the detection of VZV.

Vaccination to prevent varicella: Goldman and King's response to Myers' interpretation of Varicella Active Surveillance Project data.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that herpes zoster (HZ) incidence rates among children and adults (aged <60 years) with a history of natural varicella are influenced primarily by the frequency of exogenous exposures, while asymptomatic endogenous reactivations help to cap the rate at approximately 550 cases/100,000 person-years when exogenous boosting becomes rare. The Antelope Valley Varicella Active Surveillance Project was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1995 to monitor the effects of varicella vaccination in one of the three representative regions of the United States. The stability in the data collection and number of reporting sites under varicella surveillance from 1995-2002 and HZ surveillance during 2000-2001 and 2006-2007 contributed to the robustness of the discerned trends. DISCUSSION: Varicella vaccination may be useful for leukemic children; however, the target population in the United States is all children. Since the varicella vaccine inoculates its recipients with live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus (VZV), clinical varicella cases have dramatically declined. Declining exogenous exposures (boosts) from children shedding natural VZV have caused waning cell-mediated immunity. Thus, the protection provided by varicella vaccination is neither lifelong nor complete. Moreover, dramatic increases in the incidence of adult shingles cases have been observed since HZ was added to the surveillance in 2000. In 2013, this topic is still debated and remains controversial in the United States. SUMMARY: When the costs of the booster dose for varicella and the increased shingles recurrences are included, the universal varicella vaccination program is neither effective nor cost-effective.

Burden of adult varicella hospitalizations in Spain (2001-2007).

A population-based retrospective epidemiological study to estimate the burden of adult varicella hospitalizations in Spain was conducted by using data from the national surveillance system for hospital data, Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD). Records of all adult patients admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of varicella (ICD-9-MC codes 052.0-052.9) during a 7-year period (2001-2007) were selected. There were 5,450 hospital discharges with a diagnosis of varicella during the study period. The hospitalization rate for the seven-year study period was 2.2 hospitalizations/100,000 people (CI 95% 2.17-2.29). The highest incidence was observed in the 34-45 year age group [4.10 hospitalizations/100,000 people (CI 95% 3.91-4.28)].There were 149 deaths among hospitalised cases in the study period, which represents a mortality of 0.061 deaths/100,000 people (CI 95% 0.05-0.07) and a case-fatality ratio of 2.73% (CI 95% 2.30-3.17)Adult varicella hospitalizations generate an annual expenditure in Spain of 2,962,912 €. Although varicella is mainly a pediatric disease, it causes an important burden of hospitalization in adults. Hospitalization rates related to varicella infection did not vary during the 7-year study period.

Varicella among seafarers: a case study on testing and vaccination as a cost-effective method of prevention.

BACKGROUND: Many individuals together in semi-confined settings increase the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases. A single case of varicella on a cruise ship can thus result in rapid spread and elevated costs for the cruise provider in terms of repatriation, ship diversion, law suits, and loss in current and potential future revenue. Control of varicella involves attention to good personal hygiene, safe food and water handling, and use of vaccine. OBJECTIVES: To test crewmembers during their pre-employment medical examination to determine who might be susceptible to contract varicella if exposed, to vaccinate those at risk, and to see whether the benefits of testing and vaccination outweigh the costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tests were conducted on 121 Indian seafarers for varicella IgG and IgM antibodies during their pre-employment medical examination in Mumbai and Goa from December 1st to December 23rd 2008. Cases without IgG antibodies to varicella (IgG negative) were administered vaccine. RESULTS: Twenty (16.5%) seafarers who tested IgG negative and one who tested equivocally were administered the vaccine. One hundred (82.7%) tested positive for IgG antibodies and were therefore not vaccinated. None tested positive for IgM antibodies, indicating no active infection. CONCLUSIONS: One in six Indian seafarers tested IgG negative and was thus at risk to contract varicella if exposed. Testing for varicella IgG and IgM antibodies, followed by vaccination when necessary, is a costeffective method to prevent an expensive outbreak in the semi-confined setting of a cruise ship and is recommended as a mandatory part of the pre-employment medical examination for Indian seafarers.

Management of varicella contacts in pregnancy: VZIG or vaccination?

BACKGROUND: Varicella infection during pregnancy poses a serious risk for both foetus and mother. It has been suggested that it would be more cost-effective to screen antenatally with post-partum vaccination, which occurs in the US, than the current policy of checking immune status post varicella exposure, with VZIG administration where necessary. Additionally, it is doubtful whether the current policy provides best patient care, when a vaccine is available. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to retrospectively compare the cost of the current policy with a cost estimate for antenatal screening with post-partum vaccination in NI. STUDY DESIGN: A cost estimate of antenatal screening of primigravidas, with post-partum vaccination, was calculated for two models: (1) verbal screening, with serological testing of those with no history of varicella infection and (2) serological screening of all primigravidas. RESULTS: The cost of VZIG issued to pregnant women in 2006 was pound100,800; 43% of births were to primigravidas therefore the estimated cost of VZIG issued to multigravidas was pound58,100. The cost of verbal screening with post-partum vaccination is estimated at pound23,750 p.a., saving pound34,350 over current policy. The estimated cost of screening all primigravidas with post-partum vaccination is pound43,000, saving pound15,100. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study suggests that in NI either of the proposed antenatal screening strategies would be less costly than current practice. This finding supports the suggestion that varicella immunity testing should be included in the Antenatal Infectious Diseases Screening Programme, either as part of the universal vaccination programme or solely as an antenatal programme.

The cost-effectiveness of antenatal varicella screening with post-partum vaccination of susceptibles.

Varicella infection during pregnancy or around the time of birth can result in serious complications for the mother and/or her child. However, infection during pregnancy is relatively rare as most women are infected during childhood. Immigrant mothers from certain tropical countries are at increased risk of infection, as these countries appear to have lower rates of infection during childhood. We used a cohort model to assess the potential costs and benefits of screening first-time pregnant mothers and then vaccinating those who are susceptible. The model was stratified by age and country of birth (Bangladesh or UK). The strategies evaluated were: (a) an initial verbal screen followed by a serological screen for those with a negative or uncertain history; (b) universal serological screening; and (c) the current strategy which is to treat cases as they arise. Post-partum vaccination was given to those who screen negative for VZV antibodies. The model suggested that the screening and vaccination strategies prevent cases in women compared with the current strategy. Verbal followed by serological screening may be cost-saving to the NHS for both UK- and Bangladesh-born women. Universal screening is more costly but more effective than verbal screening, and it may be cost-effective to universally screen younger immigrant mothers.

Varicella and its complications as cause of hospitalization.

Varicella is an acute contagious disease that most commonly occurs in childhood. Although normally benign, varicella can occasionally develop into a more serious illness. Moreover, the infection can lead to serious complications, such as Staphylococcus aureus infections, otitis media, endocarditis, pneumonia, and rare central nervous system (CNS) events like cerebellar ataxia and encephalitis. This study was conducted to analyze the hospitalization rate due to varicella or its complications in a tertiary care hospital in Italy, where varicella vaccination has not yet been implemented. The review was carried out on cases of children with varicella identified by ICD9 and ICD9-CM diagnostic codes and admitted to the Giannina Gaslini Children's Research Hospital of Genoa, Italy, from January 1st, 1995 to December 31st, 2004. For each case reporting complications, the clinical report form was extracted and the events recorded. Varicella was recorded in 346 (0,16%) out of 212,647 total hospital discharges. Chickenpox with detailed complications and cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 56 discharges (12.14%), for a total of 728 days. Fifteen patients needed more than one hospitalization because of severe sequelae as result of CNS involvement. We reported three particular cases of invasive infections and four children affected with cerebrovascular diseases following varicella. Our retrospective data regarding a single tertiary care pediatric hospital shows that hospitalization due to varicella or its sequelae may present an important medical and indirect economic problem.

A simple and cheaper in house varicella zoster virus antibody indirect ELISA.

We have developed a cheaper an simple in house indirect ELISA that uses the live attenuated VZV vaccine as a coating antigen. The alternative ELISA had an agreement of 94% when compared with a commercial VZV ELISA kit. Moreover, our ELISA proved to be more reliable than the kit when assessing true negative samples. By adding a standard serum, we were able to produce results in international units per millilitre. Also, the addition of an extra step with 8M urea allowed the assessment of VZV IgG avidity without excessive costs. The cost per sample to test VZV IgG was 2.7 times cheaper with our ELISA, allowing the testing of many samples without the burden of production of VZV antigen in the laboratory.

Health monitoring in sentinel practice networks: the contribution of primary care.

BACKGROUND: The health monitoring programme of the European Commission has proposed a set of health indicators whereby the health status of member states can be measured. As part of that programme we considered how primary care might contribute relevant data. METHODS: Using a questionnaire distributed to personal contacts and health authorities, we investigated the activities of sentinel practice networks and sought opinions on the place of primary care as a provider of information on health indicators. Studies on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and on the incidence of chickenpox were undertaken within selected networks. RESULTS: 33 networks were found who provided relevant information on a timely and continuing basis. Contributions varied; some were limited to monitoring influenza but others recorded morbidity data from every consultation. Recording methods ranged from the paper based to fully automated systems in which all morbidity was coded electronically at data entry. The study of diabetes mellitus showed less variation between national networks than currently suggested on the WHO database. For chickenpox we estimated the incidence of cases not presenting to general practitioners ranged between 3 and 27%. CONCLUSIONS: Information on health indicators needs to come from the place where relevant care is delivered; for many conditions that is from primary care. It can be delivered from appropriately resourced practices where the population is defined, the practice populations are nationally representative and data collection is automated.

The utility of serologic testing for varicella in an adolescent population.

The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of adolescents without a history of varicella are seropositive, and if serologic testing of this adolescent subpopulation is cost-effective. We identified 122 patients with 'no' or 'unknown' histories of chicken pox from our adolescent clinic. Of these, 58 (48%) were found to be Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) seropositive. Cost to the government for batched serologic testing of all unknowns was $682.65, while each adolescent vaccinated cost $59.60. Serologic testing prior to routine immunization of adolescents with unclear varicella histories saved $2774.15 (38% of routine immunization costs). In this population, serologic testing is more cost effective than routinely immunizing all unknowns.

Catapora: uma doença para ser levada a sério / viva Legal

Explica o que é a catapora, uma doença que costuma atacar as crianças, como ela é transmitida e o que fazer para evitá-la. Ensina a reconhecer os sintomas desta doença e quais são as melhores formas de tratamento. Informa também sobre os devidos cuidados que se deve ter quando se é contaminado e o por que a catapora é contraída uma única vez

Varicella vaccination for healthcare workers at a university hospital: an analysis of costs and benefits.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the costs and benefits of vaccinating varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital with live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine. DESIGN: Retrospective review of employee medical records and data on the cost of special paid absence for susceptible healthcare workers after exposure to varicella or herpes zoster. SETTING: A 988-bed tertiary-care university hospital. RESULTS: In 1994, 224 hospital employees (3.4%) were susceptible to the varicella-zoster virus. There were 40 exposures to varicella and herpes zoster in that year, involving 29 of the susceptible employees. Nine (31%) of the exposed susceptibles became varicella immune by indirect fluorescent antibody testing subsequent to exposure. Seventeen (59%) have had multiple varicella exposures and special paid absences while employed by the hospital. In 1994, wages paid to healthcare workers while furloughed for the communicable period following varicella exposure totaled $38,463.93. An additional $24,748.74 was paid to replacement workers during that same time. Varicella vaccine to immunize all 224 susceptibles in 1994 would have cost $17,920. Absences due to varicella and herpes zoster exposure also result in disruptions to patient care. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella vaccination for varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital would result in financial savings and improved patient care. We recommend that other institutions consider the costs and benefits of adopting a varicella immunization program for their susceptible employees.

Management of the presumed susceptible varicella (chickenpox)-exposed gravida: a cost-effectiveness/cost-benefit analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of different strategies for managing the presumed susceptible varicella (chickenpox)-exposed gravida. METHODS: Three strategies were evaluated: 1) a do-nothing or observation strategy; 2) a testing strategy, in which immune status was assessed and varicella-zoster immune globulin was administered to those who tested nonimmune; and 3) a universal-administration strategy, in which varicella-zoster immune globulin was given to all exposed, presumed susceptible gravidas. Because precise data are unavailable about varicella mortality and hospitalization rates in pregnancy, a range of potential rates was evaluated, from one to greater than 20 times healthy nonpregnant adult rates. The potential efficacy of varicella-zoster immune globulin varied from 1 to 99%. A strategy was defined as cost-effective if it cost less than $50,000 per life-year gained. RESULTS: If the mortality rate from varicella infection in pregnancy was increased fivefold over the nonpregnant healthy adult rate (ie, from 31/100,000 to 155/100,000 cases), efficacy would have to be at least 49% for the immune-testing strategy to be cost-effective. If pregnancy only doubled the varicella mortality rate, then even with perfect efficacy, the immune-testing strategy would not be cost-effective. Under most assumptions, the universal-administration strategy was cost-ineffective when compared with the immune-testing strategy. Similar results were obtained in the parallel cost-benefit analysis, which considered hospitalization costs and rates. The analysis was sensitive to the varicella transmission rate and the discount rate. CONCLUSION: From a cost-effectiveness/cost-benefit standpoint, management based on immune testing is preferable to universal varicella-zoster immune globulin administration when caring for the varicella-exposed gravida with a negative or indeterminate infection history.

Cost-effectiveness of varicella serotesting versus presumptive vaccination of school-age children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of presumptive vaccination versus serological testing of school-age children (6 to 12 years) and adolescents (13 to 17 years) with a negative or uncertain history of varicella. DESIGN: Decision analysis model based on published and unpublished probabilities and costs. PATIENTS: Hypothetical cohorts of 10,000 school-age children and 10,000 adolescents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of chicken pox cases prevented and cost per chicken pox case prevented. RESULTS: For school-age children, presumptively vaccinating would prevent 95% of the predicted chicken pox cases, would result in net savings when long-term and work loss costs were included, and would have a similar cost per case prevented as routinely testing before vaccination. For adolescents, presumptively vaccinating would be the most effective policy, and would prevent 99% of the projected chicken pox cases. A policy of routinely testing before vaccination would be the least effective policy for adolescents, preventing 81% of the predicted cases. However, even when long-term and work loss costs were taken into account, presumptively vaccinating adolescents had a relatively high cost of $329 per chicken pox case prevented and extremely high incremental costs per chicken pox case prevented compared with policies that involved serological testing. Results for school-age children were sensitive to the probability of previously having had chicken pox given a negative or uncertain history, to the rate of adherence to follow-up visits, and to vaccine price and test price. Results for adolescents were sensitive only to the rate of adherence to the first follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Presumptively vaccinating all patients with a negative or uncertain history of varicella is projected to be a relatively cost-effective policy for school-age children but not for adolescents. However, further empirical studies of the accuracy of a negative or uncertain history of chicken pox in these age groups are needed.