Sheila Donlon

A Prospective Study of Hepatitis B Vaccination – A Comparison of Responders versus Nonresponders

Herein we present one of the largest single-center reports of the response of hemodialysis patients to a two-vaccine hepatitis B virus vaccination protocol in a European dialysis population. A hepatitis B recombinant DNA vaccine, HBvaxPRO®, was given at a dose of 40 µg intramuscularly using a four-dose schedule at 0, 1, 2, and 12 months. Responses were (1) a titer >100 mIU/mL = patient immune, (2) a titer level 10–99 mIU/mL = give a booster dose and recheck level 2 months later, and (3) 0 £ 10 mIU/mL = repeat vaccination course using a different vaccine, Engerix-B®. We compared responder groups in terms of titer levels for each vaccine and variables including age, gender, serum albumin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphate, hemoglobin, years on dialysis, and type of dialysis access. Of the 176 patients who received the first vaccine course, 71 patients achieved immunity, that is, 40% uptake for the first vaccine. Of the 105 who failed, 72 received the second vaccine with 46 responders, that is, 64% uptake for the second vaccine. Overall, 143 of the 176 patients who entered the vaccination program completed the protocol with 117 achieving immunity, representing an 82% success rate. The only variable overall to show significance in achieving seroconversion was serum albumin (p = 0.03). Using a two-vaccine protocol, hepatitis B vaccination response was high in our population of end-stage renal disease patients.

Point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and use of antimicrobials in Irish intellectual disability long-term care facilities: 2013.

BACKGROUND Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and use of antimicrobials are prevalent in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), but few data are available on the burden of these issues in intellectual disability (ID) LTCFs. AIM To assess the prevalence of HCAIs and use of antimicrobials in Irish ID-LTCFs to plan future HCAI prevention programmes. METHODS A national point prevalence survey was conducted in Irish ID-LTCFs in May 2013 using a European protocol. All Irish ID-LTCFs with full-time residents were invited to participate in this voluntary survey. Data were collected locally and analysed at the national coordinating centre. RESULTS Twenty-four Irish ID-LTCFs participated, with 1060 residents surveyed, representing 42% of ID-LTCF residents in Ireland. The crude HCAI prevalence rate was 4.3% (median 2.2, range 0-46.7), with respiratory tract infections (1.6%) and skin infections (1.6%) being the most prevalent types. Antimicrobials were prescribed for 10% of eligible residents (median 7.5, range 3.2-13.9), with 49% of all prescriptions indicated for prophylaxis. Prevention of urinary tract infections (38%), respiratory tract infections (36%) and skin infections (27%) were the most common reasons for prophylaxis. There was considerable variation in the prevalence of prescribing for prophylaxis across ID-LTCFs (range 2-29%), with only 17% of facilities having local antimicrobial guidelines in place. CONCLUSION There is a considerable burden of HCAIs and use of antimicrobials, particularly for skin and respiratory tract infections, in Irish ID-LTCFs. Further surveillance in this population is needed to help guide preventive strategies for ID-LTCF residents at risk of these infections.

Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in long-term care facilities: the Irish experience with the HALT surveys.

In the context of an ageing European population, point prevalence surveys (PPS) of healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial use in long-term care facilities (HALT) in Europe were commissioned by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Sixty-nine Irish long-term care facilities (LTCFs) took part in the first survey in 2010. A series of interventions to raise the profile of infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship in Irish LTCFs followed. HALT was repeated in Ireland in 2011, with 108 participating LTCFs, and again in 2013 as part of the second European HALT survey, with 190 participating LTCFs. The latest Irish HALT report incorporates data from the three PPSs to date, and discusses the findings and the national implementation priorities recommended by the Irish multi-disciplinary steering group. Ireland contributed ∼10% of the total resident population in both of the European HALT PPSs. This, and the growing number of participating LTCFs, shows that healthcare professionals in Irish LTCFs are committed to improving the quality and safety of resident care.