Knowledge and attitudes on influenza vaccination among Italian physicians specialized in respiratory infections: an Italian Respiratory Society (SIP/IRS) web-based survey

INTRODUCTION

Influenza epidemics are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Influenza vaccination is considered the most important public health intervention to prevent seasonal influenza infection. European health authority policies focus on patient protection by vaccinating both these subjects and their care-givers, including health-care workers (HCWs). The aim of this survey is to investigate knowledge about influenza vaccination and intention to get vaccinated among Italian HCWs who take care patients with respiratory disease.

METHODS

An anonymous web-based survey was addressed to members of the Italian Respiratory Society (IRS).

RESULTS

Among the 1,776 IRS members who have been invited to the survey, 144 (8.1%) completed the survey (97 men; median age 59 years; 85.4% Respiratory Disease). The vast majority recommended vaccination to all their patients (81%). More than two thirds of respondents considered influenza vaccination safe for immunocompromised patients. More than 50% of respondents underwent seasonal influenza vaccination in 2015 and 68% declared the intention to undergo vaccination in 2016 epidemic season. Reasons for having vaccination mainly referred to 'protect oneself from influenza' (63%), 'protect patients' (31%) or household members' (6%). The main reasons for vaccination refusal were 'lack of time' (45%), 'concerns about side effects' (22%), 'do not get influenza easily and/or not afraid of influenza infection' (22%) and 'disagreement with indication of vaccination for HCWs' (9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The promotion of better knowledge and attitude towards influenza vaccination among Italian specialists remains an unmet goal and should be addressed by appropriate multifaceted interventions.

[Epidemiological and clinical impact of the HPV-related tumors in both sexes]

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common and is acquired by at least 80% of women in their lifetime. A variable percentage of infections, particularly those supported by high risk types, becomes persistent, triggering a process that can progress to the development of cervical cancer, at least in a proportion of cases. The epidemiologic evidence accumulated over the years indicates the high impact of oncogenic HPV on the world's population, particularly women, and supports the need for preventive intervention. The preventive approach was initially based on screening and has led to important results. In fact, secondary prevention based on screening has reduced cervical cancer mortality by over 80% in many industrialized countries. The availability of HPV vaccines with high efficacy and safety has provided an innovative preventive option that requires to be integrated with secondary prevention already implemented. In this context, based on current scientific evidence, the present monograph has as its aims: 1) the assessment of HPV spread in the world and in Italy; 2) the analysis of the epidemiological and clinical burden of HPV-related diseases in both sexes; and 3) the evaluation of primary and secondary prevention strategies against HPV-related diseases and in particular against uterine cervical cancer.

Degree of control of physician-diagnosed asthma and COPD in Italy

BACKGROUND

It is important for the Italian National Health Service to obtain data on the degree of control of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the general population in Italy in order for balanced planning of future investments in these diseases to be made. Currently, precise estimates of these parameters are not available in literature.

OBJECTIVES

In collaboration with the Italian Academy of General Practitioners (SIMG; www.simg.it) we have investigated the degree of control of physician-diagnosed asthma and COPD in Italy.

METHODS

A standardised questionnaire on asthma and COPD has been self-administered to a sample of 1937 Italian family physicians (representing around 5% of all the Italian doctors involved in general practice) chosen to cover all the Italian counties.

RESULTS

We have collected questionnaire data from 19,917 patients with asthma and COPD followed in their practice and 12,438 (62.4%) were correctly filled in enabling evaluation. We selected the number of emergency room visits, hospitalisations and intensive care unit admissions for asthma and COPD in the last 12 months as objective measures of the degree of asthma and COPD morbidity in these patients. The figures were respectively 12.4% (emergency room visits), 17.3% (hospitalisations) and 1.2% (intensive care unit admissions) of all patients with physician-diagnosed asthma and COPD.

CONCLUSIONS

This data suggests that in Italy the morbidity of asthma and COPD remains high; representing a significant burden for the Italian National Health Service. There is a clear necessity for further studies to investigate the causes of this incomplete control.

Costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Italy: the SIRIO study (social impact of respiratory integrated outcomes)

Chronic respiratory diseases affect a large number of subjects in Italy and are characterized by high socio-health costs. The aim of the Social Impact of Respiratory Integrated Outcomes (SIRIO) study was to measure the health resources consumption and costs generated in 1 year by a population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a real-life setting. This bottom-up, observational, prospective, multicentric study was based on the collection of demographic, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and outcome data from COPD patients who reported spontaneously to pneumological centers participating in the study, the corresponding economic outcomes being assessed at baseline and after a 1-year survey. A total of 748 COPD patients were enrolled, of whom 561 [408 m, mean age 70.3 years (SD 9.2)] were defined as eligible by the Steering Committee. At the baseline visit, the severity of COPD (graded according to GOLD 2001 guidelines) was 24.2% mild COPD, 53.7% moderate and 16.8% severe. In the 12 months prior to enrollment, 63.8% visited a general practitioner (GP); 76.8% also consulted a national health service (NHS) specialist; 22.3% utilized Emergency Care and 33% were admitted to hospital, with a total of 5703 work days lost. At the end of the 1-year survey, the severity of COPD changed as follows: 27.5% mild COPD, 47.4% moderate and 19.4% severe. Requirement of health services dropped significantly: 57.4% visited the GP; 58.3% consulted an NHS specialist; 12.5% used Emergency Care and 18.4% were hospitalized. Compared to baseline, the mean total cost per patient decreased by 21.7% (p<0.002). In conclusion, a significant reduction in the use of health resources and thus of COPD-related costs (both direct and indirect costs) was observed during the study, likely due to a more appropriate care and management of COPD patients.

Costs of asthma in Italy: results of the SIRIO (Social Impact of Respiratory Integrated Outcomes) study

Bronchial asthma is a costly disease and the correlated social impact is ever increasing. The aim of the Social Impact of Respiratory Integrated Outcomes (SIRIO) study was to measure the health resources consumption and the costs generated in 1 year by asthmatic patients investigated in a real-life setting. This bottom-up, observational, prospective, multicentric study was based on the collection of demographic, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and outcome data of 577 patients with bronchial asthma who reported spontaneously to the pneumology centers involved in the study. Of these, 485 patients (300 f, mean age 49.2 years+/-16.3 S.D.) were eligible for analysis. At the baseline visit, the asthma severity was as follows: 26.2% intermittent, 37.1% mild persistent, 29.5% moderate, and 6.6% severe. In the 12 months prior to enrollment, 243 patients (50.1%) had visited the general practitioner (GP); 349 (72%) consulted a National Health Service (NHS) specialist; 68 (14%) utilized Emergency Care; and 50 (10.3%) had been admitted to hospital on account of asthma, with a total of 2059 work days lost. At the end of the 1-year survey, asthma severity changed as follows: 32.8% intermittent, 38.1% mild persistent, 23.7% moderate, and 4.3% severe, with a substantial drop in corresponding outcomes: 39.6% visited their GP, 51.5% visited an NHS specialist, 5.2% used Emergency Care, and 4.3% were admitted to hospital. Compared to baseline, the total average cost per patient decreased globally by 17.9% (p<0.001) after the 1-year survey. In conclusion, during the study period we observed a significant decline in health resources consumption and thus in asthma cost of illness, even though specific costs for the pharmaceutical treatment of asthma increased substantially. These results are likely due to a more strict control of patients and to their more appropriate clinical management.

Underuse of spirometry by general practitioners for the diagnosis of COPD in Italy

BACKGROUND

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) underlines that spirometry is the gold standard as the most reproducible, standardised, and objective way of measuring airflow limitation in the diagnosis and assessment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, studies undertaken in different countries have suggested a widespread underuse of spirometry by general practitioners to establish the diagnosis of COPD. Precise estimates of the prevalence of physician-diagnosed COPD in Italy are not currently available. In collaboration with the Italian Academy of General practitioners (SIMG) we have investigated the degree of use of spirometry to establish the diagnosis of COPD in Italy.

METHODS

A standardised questionnaire has been self-administered to a sample of 2425 Italian general practitioners (representing 5% of all the Italian doctors involved in general practice). They have been chosen to cover each of the Italian counties.

RESULTS

The prevalence of physician-diagnosed COPD was found to be approximately 4%. However, 30% of general practitioners do not use spirometry to establish the diagnosis of COPD. The main reasons given for the failure to use spirometry are (i) that spirometry is not necessary for the diagnosis of COPD or (ii) there are logistical limitations to the access of the patients to lung function laboratories.

CONCLUSIONS

This data suggests that contrary to GOLD Guidelines, in Italy, as with other countries, spirometry is not always used in the diagnosis of COPD. There is a clear necessity for further education initiatives targeted to this group of physicians.

Efficacy and safety of three 7-day Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens containing ranitidine bismuth citrate

BACKGROUND

This multicentre, randomized study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of three novel 7-day triple therapies containing ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) and two antibiotics.

METHODS

We studied patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and gastritis who were randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens given for 7 days in a b.d. dosing schedule: RBC 400 mg plus clarithromycin 250 mg and tinidazole 500 mg (RBCCT): RBC 400 mg plus clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxycillin 1 g (RBCCA); RBC 400 mg plus tinidazole 500 mg and amoxycillin 1 g (RBCTA). H. pylori status was determined by CLO-test, histology and 13C-urea breath test. A repeat breath test was performed at least 28 days after completion of therapy to assess eradication.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-seven patients were eligible for intention-to-treat analysis (ITT) and 140 patients completed the study and returned for assessment of eradication. Intention-to-treat cure rates were 78% with RBCCT, 71% with RBCCA and 61% with RBCTA. An all-patients-treated analysis (APT), performed on evaluable patients, demonstrated eradication rates of 85% with RBCCT, 81% with RBCCA and 70% with RBCTA. No statistically significant difference was found between treatment groups. Twenty-four patients experienced side-effects, but in only seven cases was treatment discontinued due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

A 7-day course of RBC, clarithromycin and either tinidazole or amoxycillin provides a good rate of H. pylori eradication. Three novel RBC-based triple therapies proved to be safe and well tolerated, with discontinuations due to side-effects occurring in less than 5% of cases.

Ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin 7-day regimen is effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer

BACKGROUND

No clinical study has been performed to-date to evaluate the efficacy of the dual therapy of ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) plus clarithromycin (C) 500 mg b.d. given for 7 days for the eradication of H. pylori.

AIM

To assess the eradication rates achieved by treatment with RBC 400 mg b.d. for 28 days combined with clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. for 7 days in H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcer patients.

METHODS

One hundred and twelve H. pylori-positive patients with endoscopically proven active duodenal ulcer were included in a multicentre, open, randomized trial. H. pylori infection was initially detected by CLO-test and histology on antral and corpus biopsies, and by 13C-urea breath test (UBT). Patients were included if at least two of the tests were positive for H. pylori infection. Patients were randomized to receive RBC 400 mg b.d. for 4 weeks combined with clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. for the first 7 days (Group A) or 14 days (Group B). A second endoscopy was performed at least 28 days after the end of therapy for the assessment of ulcer healing and H. pylori infection. Eradication was assumed if all the tests (CLO-test, histology and UBT) were negative for H. pylori.

RESULTS

Fifty patients in Group A and 55 in Group B were assessed for H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing. The eradication rates according to intention-to-treat analysis were 75% in Group A and 80% in Group B. Considering only those patients with evaluable data at least 28 days after the end of therapy, H. pylori eradication was achieved in 84% and 82% in Group A and B, respectively. No statistically significant difference in eradication was found between the two groups by Mantel-Haenszel test. Only one patient, in Group A, was withdrawn because of adverse events (epigastric pain and pruritus).

Ranitidine bismuth citrate with either clarithromycin 1 g/day or 1.5 g/day is equally effective in the eradication of H. pylori and healing of duodenal ulcer

BACKGROUND

No randomized double-blind studies have been performed to compare clarithromycin 1 g/day with higher doses of the macrolide (1.5 g/day) when combined with ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC).

AIM

To compare H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing rates of RBC 400 mg b.d. for 4 weeks combined for the first 2 weeks either with clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. (Group A) or clarithromycin 500 mg t.d.s. (Group B).

METHODS

Two hundred and seventy-three patients with H. pylori-positive active duodenal ulcer were included. H. pylori infection was detected by CLO-test and histology on antral and corpus biopsies before and at least 4 weeks after the end of therapy. Eradication was assumed if both CLO-test and histology results were negative for H. pylori.

RESULTS

Eradication/healing rates according to intention-to-treat and per protocol analysis were 76/82% and 87/92% for Group A and 78/85% and 88/95% for Group B, respectively (P = N.S.). Adverse events were reported by 7% and 12% of patients in Groups A and B, respectively, and they were generally mild.

CONCLUSIONS

RBC in co-prescription with clarithromycin 500 mg b.d. is as effective as RBC plus clarithromycin 500 t.d.s. in eradicating H. pylori and healing duodenal ulcers.

A new 1-week therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: ranitidine bismuth citrate plus two antibiotics

BACKGROUND

One-week triple regimens are currently the most recommended therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. No previous study has evaluated the efficacy of a short-term regimen combining ranitidine bismuth citrate with two antibiotics.

METHODS

Seventy-two consecutive H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients were recruited for this randomized, three-centre, open, parallel-group study. They were subdivided into two groups receiving either ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. + clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. (group A) or ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d. + clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and metronidazole 250 mg q.d.s (group B) for 1 week. H. pylori infection was assessed by CLO-test and histology on both antral and corpus biopsies before and at least 4 weeks after the end of therapy. The bacterium was considered eradicated when both tests were negative. Eradication rates and the number of side-effects were evaluated in each group. The Chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

One patient with only CLO-test positivity was erroneously randomized to group B and four patients dropped out of the study (two in group A and two in group B), mainly because they refused the second endoscopy. In group A, H. pylori was eradicated in 31 of 36 patients (intention-to-treat = 86%; 95% CI = 71-95% and per protocol 31/34 = 91%; 95% CI = 76-98%). Side-effects occurred in 10 patients (27%) and they were generally mild. In group B, H. pylori was eradicated in 29 of 35 patients (intention-to-treat = 83%; 95% CI = 66-93%; and per protocol 29/33 = 88%; 95% CI = 72-97%). Seven patients (20%) complained of modest side-effects. There was no significant difference between the two treatment arms (P = N.S.): no severe adverse events occurred and none of the patients was withdrawn from the study because of them.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-administration of ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin at low dosage and metronidazole in twice daily doses for 1 week is a short, effective and well-tolerated regimen for the eradication of H. pylori. These findings should provide the impetus for large-scale investigations.