Christian Schönfeld | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Response to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) booster vaccination after prolonged time intervals to primary immunization with the rapid schedule.

Tick-borne encephalitis can be prevented by active immunization, for which different schedules and booster recommendations exist. However, recommended booster intervals are often exceeded. In the present study, 178 adults aged 18-81 years received the first booster dose 2-11 years after primary immunization (instead of 12-18 months as recommended) according to the rapid schedule (vaccination on days 0, 7, and 21). The booster dose was well tolerated. All subjects showed a typical anamnestic response with an 11-fold increase in the geometric mean titre as measured both by neutralization test and ELISA.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Immunisations in solid-organ transplant recipients.

Solid-organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of various infectious diseases, some of which are vaccine preventable mmunisations are among the most efficient interventions available. Solid-organ tranplant recipients would greatly benefit from effective immunisations, provided the recommendations are based on a careful risk-benefit analysis in which the effectiveness of the vaccine is weighed against possible adverse reactions, including graft rejection. In this review, we summarise the data from studies on relevant immunisations in solid-organ transplant recipients. The major issues are the immunogenicity and safety of immunisations, the factors associated with poor immune response, and recommendations for immunisation schemes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Risk and spectrum of diseases in travelers to popular tourist destinations.

BACKGROUND: Traveling to tropical regions is related to increased health risks. Travelers' diarrhea is the most frequent health problem, but the range of travel-related diseases also includes potential life-threatening diseases such as malaria. The actual risk of European travelers acquiring specific infectious diseases and other hazards in the tropics is to a large extent unknown and is therefore often adopted from that of the indigenous population. The objective of this study was to elucidate the risk for travel-related diseases, symptoms, and accidents in a population of Europeans who travel to popular tourist destinations. METHODS: From July 2003 to June 2004, 794 travelers consulting the travel clinic of the Berlin Institute of Tropical Medicine were recruited for a questionnaire-based observational study before traveling to Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, the Gambia, India, Nepal, Thailand, or Brazil. RESULTS: Overall, illness was reported by 42.9% of travelers, with 10.2% reporting more than one adverse health event. Most frequently gastrointestinal symptoms were noted (34.6%), followed by respiratory symptoms (13.7%). More than 5% experienced an accident. Travel to the Indian subcontinent nearly doubled the risk of becoming ill; travel to Thailand significantly decreased the risk. Additional risk factors were a long duration of staying abroad, young age, and traveling under basic conditions. Of all travelers, 80% did not follow the traditionally recommended dietary restrictions. Among travelers visiting malaria-endemic areas, 20% did not carry any antimalarial drugs with them, not continuous chemoprophylaxis or standby medication. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the rising travel activity, especially to tropical countries, the importance of qualified pretravel advice consultation is increasing. To improve the travelers' health, attention needs to be paid to individual risk factors, the prevention and therapy of travelers' diarrhea, malaria prophylaxis, management of respiratory illness, and personal safety.

Accidents↗