Partners In Health [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.pih.org/blog

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Mar 01, 2016
Protecting Newborns against HIV in Russia
PIH launched a new program in Tomsk, Russia, to help HIV-positive mothers give birth to healthy babies free of the disease.

PATH [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.path.org/news/index.php

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Press release | March 03, 2016
Woman’s Condom achieves WHO/UNFPA prequalification
An important step toward increasing global access to next-generation female condom
February 2016

Press release | February 26, 2016
Leading health innovator PATH partners with Johnson & Johnson Vietnam to reduce childhood tuberculosis
New initiative builds on PATH’s longstanding commitment to support Vietnam’s tuberculosis control efforts

Global Fund [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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News
Major Pledge by European Commission Signals Strong Replenishment for the Global Fund
03 March 2016
BRUSSELS – The European Commission announced a pledge of €470 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the three-year period beginning in 2017, an increase of €100 million, or 27 percent, over their previous contribution.

The pledge signals the European Commission’s strong leadership in global health, and marked the first pledge for the Global Fund’s Fifth Replenishment, a funding cycle covering the years 2017 through 2019.

“One of the lessons of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the clear need to strengthen health systems in developing countries, so that infectious diseases can be controlled for good,” said Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development.

“With €470 million, the EU’s contribution to the Global Fund will contribute to achieve our shared ambition to save 8 million more lives and avert up to 300 million infections,” Commissioner Mimica said. “I call on others to raise their contributions so that more resilient systems can be built, and the special needs of women and girls and those of key affected populations be better served.”…

Hilton Prize Coalition [to 5 March 2016]
http://prizecoalition.charity.org/
An Alliance of Hilton Prize Recipients

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Growing the Next Generation of Leaders: The Hilton Prize Coalition Fellows Program
Posted March 4, 2016
The Hilton Prize Coalition Fellows Program is providing emerging leaders with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the humanitarian and development sectors through placements with Coalition member organizations. Individual Organization Fellows work exclusively with one Coalition member, while Collaborative Fellows work alongside multiple Coalition members for collective impact.

CHS Alliance [to 5 March 2016]
http://chsalliance.org/news-events/news

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02/03/2016
World Humanitarian Summit global consultation report recommends applying the Core Humanitarian Standard
The World Humanitarian Summit has published the final report on its Global Consultation which engaged with more than 23,000 people in over 150 countries over 18 months, concluding in Geneva from 14 to 16 October 2015.

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01/03/2016
UNICEF brings a practical approach to quality and accountability at cluster and collective level
Following an invitation from UNICEF in late 2015, the CHS Alliance has joined the steering committee for an OFDA funded project aiming to promote better integration of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and more people-centred approaches to humanitarian actions in the work of global and country clusters and other coordination mechanisms.

Center for Global Development [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Selected Press Releases, Blog Posts, Publications

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Statement of the Honorable Clay Lowery Before the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing on “Helping the Developing World Fight Terror Finance”
3/3/16
Clay Lowery
On March 1, 2016, CGD visiting fellow Clay Lowery testified before the House Financial Services Committee’s Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Finance at a hearing titled “Helping the Developing World Fight Terror Finance.”

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Assessing the US Feed the Future Initiative: A New Approach to Food Security?
3/1/16
Kimberly Ann Elliott and Casey Dunning
Data on Feed the Future’s results are just becoming available, and there is strikingly little independent analysis of the program. While we cannot yet assess the impact on poverty alleviation or improved nutrition, we can assess how Feed the Future performs against its stated objective of offering a new, more effective approach to food security. The integrated agriculture and nutrition approach emphasizes increased selectivity in aid allocations along with country ownership and capacity building to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the initiative’s impacts. We find the initiative has led to an increase in the share of overall US assistance for agriculture and nutrition, and that the Obama administration has increasingly concentrated this aid in selected focus countries.
http://www.cgdev.org/publication/assessing-us-feed-future-initiative-new-approach-food-security

ODI [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.odi.org/media

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Research reports and studies | March 2016
Women’s work: mothers, children and the global childcare crisis
Emma Samman, Elizabeth Presler-Marshall and Nicola Jones with Tanvi Bhatkal, Claire Melamed, Maria Stavropoulou and John Wallace
New ODI research uncovers a hidden childcare crisis, with mothers bearing the burden – and the poorest children paying the price.

World Economic Forum [to 5 March 2016]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/

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News 2 Mar 2016
Geopolitical conflicts, cybersecurity and changes in energy infrastructure present rising challenges and new opportunities
:: The Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2016, launched today, ranks 126 countries on their ability to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy
:: Findings reveal that all countries can improve rankings and that major economies – with the exception of France – struggle to take the lead, as transitions take longer to unfold owing to the to the size and complexity of their energy systems
:: Three key trends are shaping the energy transition: Infrastructure and resilience; digital disruption and a new global energy security order
:: Accelerating changes in technology, energy markets and geopolitics are creating new opportunities and also threats to energy security

Geneva, Switzerland, 2 March 2016 – Today the World Economic Forum released the fourth edition of the Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report. The 2016 report puts the spotlight on energy security and access. Evolution in this area is being shaped by the fast transition underway in the energy sector, with several elements playing important roles, such as the fast growth of distributed renewable energy and recent developments in digital technology and international security.

The annual index provides a benchmark to help countries address energy transformation challenges and identify opportunities across their energy systems. This year’s study explores the energy architecture of 126 countries based on their ability to provide energy access across three dimensions of the “energy triangle” – affordability, environmental sustainability, security and access…

Explore the full report

Annie E. Casey Foundation [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.aecf.org/contact/newsroom/

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Posted March 1, 2016
Casey Foundation Announces Tenth Class of Children and Family Fellows
Outstanding human service and social change leaders from 13 states will develop results-based leadership skills to build bright futures for children and families.

Kellogg Foundation [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.wkkf.org/news-and-media#pp=10&p=1&f1=news

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March 4, 2016
Executives’ Alliance for Men and Boys of Color leads initiative to “ban the box”
As part of the Executives’ Alliance for Men and Boys of Color, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation joins 41 peer foundations in “banning the box” and adopting fair hiring practices through eliminating questions about criminal convictions on employment applications.

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March 1, 2016
La June Montgomery Tabron discusses the wealth gap for families of color in the Stanford Social Innovation Review
In a recent blog for the Stanford Social Innovation Review, WKKF President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron addresses the wealth gap for families of color, as well as the steps that need to be taken to close the gap. She writes that “we must align programs and policies to better support the financial strength and security of families of color today, while keeping sight of the long-term benefits for all of creating a truly inclusive economy.”

MacArthur Foundation [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.macfound.org/

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March 5, 2016
Mapping Philanthropy and Impact Investing Opportunities in India
A report assesses the philanthropic and impact investing landscape in India as the country works to continue its progress toward addressing critical development challenges. The report, developed by Intellecap with support from MacArthur, identifies challenges that inhibit funding by corporations, high net worth individuals, diaspora groups, and retail investors, as well as opportunities to address those challenges. Recommended interventions include addressing information gaps, increasing collaboration among funders, and promoting and sharing measurement of impact.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [to 5 March 2016]
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/news-releases.html

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Mon Feb 29 00:01:00 EST 2016
Poll Finds Majority of Americans View Their Health Care Experiences Positively
While the majority of Americans are satisfied with the health care they receive, but many still experience significant problems with health care costs, insurance coverage, and accessing care when they need it.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
March 2016; 94 (3)
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/current

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Perspective Piece
Travel Vaccines Enter the Digital Age: Creating a Virtual Immunization Record
Kumanan Wilson, Katherine M. Atkinson, and Cameron P. Bell
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:485-488; Published online December 28, 2015, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0510
Abstract
At present, proof of immunization against diseases such as yellow fever is required at some international borders in concordance with the International Health Regulations. The current standard, the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), has limitations as a paper record including the possibility of being illegible, misplaced, or damaged. We believe that a complementary, digital record would offer advantages to public health and travelers alike. These include enhanced availability and reliability, potential to include lot specific information, and integration with immunization information systems. Challenges exist in implementation, particularly pertaining to verification at border crossings. We describe a potential course for the development and implementation of a digital ICVP record.

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Articles
Community Attitudes Toward Mass Drug Administration for Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases After the 2014 Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Lofa County, Liberia
Joshua Bogus, Lincoln Gankpala, Kerstin Fischer, Alison Krentel, Gary J. Weil, Peter U. Fischer,
Karsor Kollie, and Fatorma K. Bolay
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:497-503; Published online December 14, 2015, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0591
Abstract
The recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) interrupted mass drug administration (MDA) programs to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases in Liberia. MDA programs treat entire communities with medication regardless of infection status to interrupt transmission and eliminate lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Following reports of hostilities toward health workers and fear that they might be spreading EVD, it was important to determine whether attitudes toward MDA might have changed after the outbreak. We surveyed 140 community leaders from 32 villages in Lofa County, Liberia, that had previously participated in MDA and are located in an area that was an early epicenter of the EVD outbreak. Survey respondents reported a high degree of community trust in the MDA program, and 97% thought their communities were ready to resume MDA. However, respondents predicted that fewer people would comply with MDA after the EVD epidemic than before. The survey also uncovered fears in the community that EVD and MDA might be linked. Respondents suggested that MDA programs emphasize to people that the medications are identical to those previously distributed and that MDA programs have nothing to do with EVD.

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Articles
Diarrhea Prevalence, Care, and Risk Factors Among Poor Children Under 5 Years of Age in Mesoamerica
Danny V. Colombara, Bernardo Hernández, Claire R. McNellan, Sima S. Desai, Marielle C. Gagnier, Annie Haakenstad, Casey Johanns, Erin B. Palmisano, Diego Ríos-Zertuche, Alexandra Schaefer, Paola Zúñiga-Brenes, Nicholas Zyznieuski, Emma Iriarte, and Ali H. Mokdad
Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016 94:544-552; Published online January 19, 2016, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.15-0750
Abstract
Care practices and risk factors for diarrhea among impoverished communities across Mesoamerica are unknown. Using Salud Mesoamérica Initiative baseline data, collected 2011–2013, we assessed the prevalence of diarrhea, adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines, and potential diarrhea correlates in poor and indigenous communities across Mesoamerica. This study surveyed 14,500 children under 5 years of age in poor areas of El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico (Chiapas State), Nicaragua, and Panama. We compared diarrhea prevalence and treatment modalities using χ2 tests and used multivariable Poisson regression models to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for potential correlates of diarrhea. The 2-week point prevalence of diarrhea was 13% overall, with significant differences between countries (P < 0.05). Approximately one-third of diarrheal children were given oral rehydration solution and less than 3% were given zinc. Approximately 18% were given much less to drink than usual or nothing to drink at all. Antimotility medication was given to 17% of diarrheal children, while antibiotics were inappropriately given to 36%. In a multivariable regression model, compared with children 0–5 months, those 6–23 months had a 49% increased risk for diarrhea (aRR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.95). Our results call for programs to examine and remedy low adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Annals of Internal Medicine
1 March 2016, Vol. 164. No. 5
http://annals.org/issue.aspx

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Ideas and Opinions
Interrupting Ebola Transmission in Liberia Through Community-Based Initiatives
Mosoka Fallah, PhD, MPH; Bernice Dahn, MD, MPH; Tolbert G. Nyenswah, Esq, MPH; Moses Massaquoi, MD, MPH; Laura A. Skrip, MPH; Dan Yamin, PhD; Martial Ndeffo Mbah, PhD; Netty Joe, MD; Siedoh Freeman, MD; Thomas Harris, BA; Zinnah Benson, BBA; and Alison P. Galvani, PhD
In Liberia, programs based on community engagement were effective in controlling the Ebola virus disease epidemic. This article details the community-based initiative that was instrumental to the shift in transmission dynamics.

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 5 March 2016)

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Research article
Service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review
Maya Semrau, Heidi Lempp, Roxanne Keynejad, Sara Evans-Lacko, James Mugisha, Shoba Raja, Jagannath Lamichhane, Atalay Alem, Graham Thornicroft and Charlotte Hanlon
Published on: 1 March 2016
Abstract
Background
The involvement of mental health service users and their caregivers in health system policy and planning, service monitoring and research can contribute to mental health system strengthening, but as yet there have been very few efforts to do so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Methods
This systematic review examined the evidence and experience of service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening, as well as models of best practice for evaluation of capacity-building activities that facilitate their greater participation. Both the peer-reviewed and the grey literature were included in the review, which were identified through database searches (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, Google Scholar and Cochrane), as well as hand-searching of reference lists and the internet, and a snowballing process of contacting experts active in the area. This review included any kind of study design that described or evaluated service user, family or caregiver (though not community) involvement in LMICs (including service users with intellectual disabilities, dementia, or child and adolescent mental health problems) and that were relevant to mental health system strengthening across five categories. Data were extracted and summarised as a narrative review.
Results
Twenty papers matched the inclusion criteria. Overall, the review found that although there were examples of service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in numerous countries, there was a lack of high-quality research and a weak evidence base for the work that was being conducted across countries. However, there was some emerging research on the development of policies and strategies, including advocacy work, and to a lesser extent the development of services, service monitoring and evaluation, with most service user involvement having taken place within advocacy and service delivery. Research was scarce within the other health system strengthening areas.
Conclusions
Further research on service user and caregiver involvement in mental health system strengthening in LMICs is recommended, in particular research that includes more rigorous evaluation. A series of specific recommendations are provided based on the review.

BMC Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 5 March 2016)

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Debate
Implications of prioritizing HIV cure: new momentum to overcome old challenges in HIV

Curing HIV is a new strategic priority for several major AIDS organizations. In step with this new priority, HIV cure research and related programs are advancing in low, middle, and high-income country settings…
Joseph D. Tucker, Adam Gilbertson, Ying-Ru Lo and Marco Vitória
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:109
Published on: 3 March 2016

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 5 March 2016)

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Research article
The impact of armed conflict on adolescent transitions: a systematic review of quantitative research on age of sexual debut, first marriage and first birth in young women under the age of 20 years
Sarah Neal, Nicole Stone and Roger Ingham
BMC Public Health 2016 16:225
Published on: 4 March 2016
Abstract
Background
Young women in conflict-affected regions are at risk of a number of adverse outcomes as a result of violence, economic deterioration and the breakdown of community structures and services. This paper presents the findings of a systematic review of quantitative literature reporting how key sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among young women under the age of 20 years are affected by exposure to armed conflict; namely, sexual debut, first marriage and first birth. Increases in these outcomes among young women are all associated with potential negative public health consequences. It also examines and documents possible causal pathways for any changes seen.
Methods
To fit with our inclusion criteria, all reviewed studies included outcomes for comparable populations not exposed to conflict either temporally or spatially. A total of 19 studies with results from 21 countries or territories met our inclusion criteria; seven presented findings on marriage, four on fertility and eight on both of these outcomes. Only one study reporting on sexual debut met our criteria.
Results
Findings show clear evidence of both declines and increases in marriage and childbirth among young women in a range of conflict-affected settings. Several studies that showed increases in marriage below the age of 20 years reported that such increases were concentrated in the younger teenagers. Trends in fertility were predominantly driven by marriage patterns. Suggested causal pathways for the changes observed could be grouped into three categories: involuntary, gender and psycho-social and economic and material factors.
Conclusion
The review reveals a paucity of literature on the impact of conflict on SRH outcomes of young women. Further quantitative and qualitative studies are needed to explore how conflict influences SRH events in young women over both the short- and longer-term.

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Research article
Maternal profiles and social determinants of malnutrition and the MDGs: What have we learnt?
Edem M. A. Tette, Eric K. Sifah, Edmund T. Nartey, Peter Nuro-Ameyaw, Pricilla Tete-Donkor and Richard B. Biritwum
BMC Public Health 2016 16:214
Published on: 2 March 2016
Abstract
Background
Maternal socio-demographic and health profiles are important determinants of malnutrition in children. In the 1990s, malnutrition was associated with low-birth-weight, young mothers and low maternal socio-economic status at Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital (PML). It is not known how this has changed by efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We examined socio-demographic and health profiles of mothers of children with acute malnutrition and those without the condition to identify risk factors for malnutrition and focus on preventive efforts.
Methods
An unmatched case–control study was conducted in 2013 at PML, the largest facility for treating malnourished children in Ghana in 2013. Mothers of children with moderate and severe acute malnutrition were compared with mothers of well-nourished children. Weight-for-height was used to classify malnutrition. Record forms and a semi-structured questionnaire were used for data collection. An analysis was done with Stata 11.0 software.
Results
Altogether, 371 mothers were studied consisting of 182 mothers of malnourished children and 189 mothers of well-nourished children. Mothers of malnourished children were more likely to be unmarried or cohabiting, have lower family incomes, HIV infection and chronic disease. They were less likely to stay with or provide alternative care for their child. Awareness and use of social services, health insurance and a cash transfer programme were low. A remarkable reduction in the number of malnourished children occurred when families earned more than $250 USD a month. Over-nutrition was present in both groups of mothers.
Conclusion
Low family income, unmarried status and type of child care were the main social determinants of malnutrition. There appears to be a reduction in the number of other poor socio-demographic characteristics in both the study and control groups compared to results from a previous study at the same centre, probably because of efforts toward attaining the MDGs. These findings suggest that prevention and optimum management need to involve multidisciplinary teams consisting of health professionals, social workers and/or key workers to enable families at risk to access social care and social protection interventions (MDG 1). This will make the management of malnutrition more effective, prevent relapse, protect the next child and address maternal over-nutrition.

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 5 March 2016)

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Research Article
Factors influencing willingness to participate in new drug trial studies: a study among parents whose children were recruited into these trials in northern Ghana
James Akazili, Samuel Chatio, Fabian Sebastian Achana, Abraham Oduro, Edmund W. Kanmiki and Frank Baiden
BMC Research Notes 2016 9:139
Published on: 3 March 2016
Abstract
Background
During the last decade, the number of clinical trials conducted in sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly which has helped to address priority health problems in the region. Navrongo health research centre since it was established in 1989, has conducted several trial studies including rectal artesunate trial in the Kassena-Nankana districts. However, there is little evidence-based for assessing the impact of new drug trials. This study explored factors that motivate parents to allow their children to participate in new drug trials in northern Ghana.
Method
The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The participants were randomly selected from among parents whose children were enrolled in a new drug trial conducted in the Kassena-Nankana districts between 2000 and 2003. QSR Nvivo 9 software was used to code the qualitative data into themes before analysis while STATA software Version 11.2© was used to analyze the quantitative data.
Results
The results showed that majority (95.9 %) of the parents were willing to allow their children to be enrolled in future new drug trials. The main factors motivating their willingness to allow their children to be enrolled in these trials were quality of health care services offered to trial participants (92.9 %), detail medical examination (90.8 %), promptness of care provided (94.4 %) and quality of drugs (91.9 %). Other factors mentioned included disease prevention (99.5 %) and improved living standard (96.1 %). Parents reported that the conduct of these trials had reduced the frequency of disease occurrences in the communities because of the quality of health care services provided to the children recruited into these trial studies.
Conclusion
Though the implementation of clinical trials in the study area is believed to have positive impact on health status of people particularly trial participants, measures should however be taken to address safety and likely side effects of new drugs given to trial participants during these trial studies.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume 94, Number 3, March 2016, 157-232
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/94/3/en/

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EDITORIALS
Data sharing in public health emergencies: a call to researchers
Christopher Dye, Kidist Bartolomeos, Vasee Moorthy & Marie Paule Kieny
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.170860

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Measuring quality-of-care in the context of sustainable development goal 3: a call for papers
Yoko Akachi, Finn Tarp, Edward Kelley, Tony Addison & Margaret E Kruk
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.170605

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Research
Size and distribution of the global volume of surgery in 2012
Thomas G Weiser, Alex B Haynes, George Molina, Stuart R Lipsitz, Micaela M Esquivel, Tarsicio Uribe-Leitz, Rui Fu, Tej Azad, Tiffany E Chao, William R Berry & Atul A Gawande
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.159293
Abstract
Objective
To estimate global surgical volume in 2012 and compare it with estimates from 2004.
Methods
For the 194 Member States of the World Health Organization, we searched PubMed for studies and contacted key informants for reports on surgical volumes between 2005 and 2012. We obtained data on population and total health expenditure per capita for 2012 and categorized Member States as very-low, low, middle and high expenditure. Data on caesarean delivery were obtained from validated statistical reports. For Member States without recorded surgical data, we estimated volumes by multiple imputation using data on total health expenditure. We estimated caesarean deliveries as a proportion of all surgery.
Findings
We identified 66 Member States reporting surgical data. We estimated that 312.9 million operations (95% confidence interval, CI: 266.2–359.5) took place in 2012, an increase from the 2004 estimate of 226.4 million operations. Only 6.3% (95% CI: 1.7–22.9) and 23.1% (95% CI: 14.8–36.7) of operations took place in very-low- and low-expenditure Member States representing 36.8% (2573 million people) and 34.2% (2393 million people) of the global population of 7001 million people, respectively. Caesarean deliveries comprised 29.6% (5.8/19.6 million operations; 95% CI: 9.7–91.7) of the total surgical volume in very-low-expenditure Member States, but only 2.7% (5.1/187.0 million operations; 95% CI: 2.2–3.4) in high-expenditure Member States.
Conclusion
Surgical volume is large and growing, with caesarean delivery comprising nearly a third of operations in most resource-poor settings. Nonetheless, there remains disparity in the provision of surgical services globally.

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POLICY & PRACTICE
Psychosocial effects of an Ebola outbreak at individual, community and international levels
Tine Van Bortel, Anoma Basnayake, Fatou Wurie, Musu Jambai, Alimamy Sultan Koroma, Andrew T Muana, Katrina Hann, Julian Eaton, Steven Martin & Laura B Nellums
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.158543

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PERSPECTIVES
A new global agenda for nutrition and health: the importance of agriculture and food systems
Andrew D Jones & Gebisa Ejeta
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.164509

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Disability, noncommunicable disease and health information
Nicola C Richards, Hebe N Gouda, Jo Durham, Rasika Rampatige, Anna Rodney & Maxine Whittaker
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.15.156869

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
April 2016 – Volume 29 – Issue 2 pp: v-v,99-228
http://journals.lww.com/co-infectiousdiseases/pages/currenttoc.aspx

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RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS
Pneumococcal vaccination
Cillóniz, Catia; Amaro, Rosanel; Torres, Antoni
Abstract
Purpose of review: Pneumococcal diseases (invasive diseases, pneumonia, otitis media, and sinusitis) are among the most frequent preventable infectious diseases carrying a very high morbidity and case fatality rate worldwide. Pneumococcal vaccination is a key element to reduce the global burden of the disease in children and adult population. Our aim is to discuss current knowledge of the epidemiology of pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal vaccines.
Recent findings:
After the introduction of conjugate vaccines (PCV7 and PCV13), rates of pneumococcal diseases because of vaccine serotypes have decreased considerably among children in the vaccine target and among nonvaccinated children and adults. Results of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults demonstrated 45.6% efficacy of PCV13 against the first episode of pneumonia, 45% against first-episode nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, and 75% against the first episode of invasive pneumococcal diseases in adults older than 65 years. Recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination have changed recently in both the United States and Europe.
Summary:
The changing epidemiology of pneumococcal diseases should be closely investigated to assess the effectiveness and the usefulness of the current vaccination policies, and to identify future directions for preventing pneumococcal infections.