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Ulrich Heininger

Publications and source records attributed to Ulrich Heininger.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Attitudes of pediatricians regarding influenza self-immunization: a survey in a Swiss university children's hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitude toward influenza immunization of doctors among physicians in our hospital. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was performed in a voluntary and anonymous manner in early 2002 after influenza immunization for employees with patient contact had been promoted in the fall of 2001. Physicians were asked whether they had been immunized or not and which of the following reason(s) for doing so applied to them: to protect themselves; to protect their patients; to set a positive example. Solicited reasons for decline: not convinced about necessity; not convinced about efficacy; concerns about side effects; negative attitude toward the immunization initiative; fear of injection. RESULTS: Questionnaires were sent to 90 pediatricians and returned by 46 (98%) of 47 immunized and 25 (58%) of 43 unimmunized participants. Self-protection and protection of patients had been equally important reasons for acceptance (87% each); 46% wanted to set a positive example for their patients by being immunized themselves. Unimmunized physicians expressed doubts about necessity (56%), efficacy (32%) and concerns about side effects (24%). Of immunized physicians 98% considered reimmunization for the next season as did 60% of those currently unimmunized. CONCLUSIONS: Prevailing misconceptions indicate that increased educational efforts are necessary to improve acceptance of influenza vaccine in our institution.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Stop tuberculosis!

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

The Brighton Collaboration: addressing the need for standardized case definitions of adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

UNLABELLED: To further scientific progress of immunization safety, comparability of data from clinical trials and surveillance systems is essential. Comparability requires the availability of standardized case definitions for adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and guidelines for case determination, recording and data presentation. METHOD: International collaborative working groups, consisting of professional volunteers from developed and developing countries, conduct systematic literature reviews to develop 50-100 AEFI definitions. Case definitions are finalized after a comment period by a reference group consisting of organizations concerned with immunization safety, and will be disseminated via the world-wide-web and other means for free world-wide use. RESULTS: Literature reviews yielded substantial diversity in data collection and presentation. We have developed standardized case definitions together with guidelines for use in clinical trials and surveillance systems. CONCLUSIONS: Diversity in safety methods leads to considerable loss of scientific information. We have built the necessary international network of currently about 300 participants from patient care, public health, scientific, pharmaceutical, regulatory and professional organizations to develop and assess standardized AEFI case definitions and guidelines. Evaluation studies, global implementation, ongoing definition development and a continuously growing network will be essential for the success of the collaboration.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMed2002

Long-term clinical effectiveness of an acellular pertussis component vaccine and a whole cell pertussis component vaccine.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this open study was to monitor the long-term effectiveness of the Lederle-Takeda diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis antigen(s) (DTaP) vaccine and the Wyeth-Lederle diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis whole cell (DTP) vaccine in children who had received four doses of vaccine at 3, 4.5, 6 and 15 months of age during a pertussis vaccine efficacy trial from May 1991 to December 1994. After unblinding of the study code, follow-up information was obtained by use of standardised questionnaires twice a year from 1995 to 2000 to detect clinical pertussis and cough illnesses > or = 14 days duration. Physician confirmation was sought for all reported cases. Rates of reported cough illnesses > or = 14 days duration and rates of parent and physician diagnosed pertussis in former DTaP, DTP and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DT) recipients were determined and vaccine efficacy was calculated. Nine questionnaires were sent to parents of 2924 study children of whom 349, 1304 and 1271 had originally received DT, DTaP and DTP, respectively. Overall, rates for cough illnesses (per 100 person years) were similar among the vaccine groups suggesting that reporting bias was not a major factor. Calculated efficacy for the 6-year follow-up period based upon physician diagnosed pertussis was 89% (95% CI=79 94) for DTaP and was 92% (95% CI=84-96) for DTP. CONCLUSION: no evidence of decreasing efficacy over time was noted.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2002

Comparative phenotypic analysis of the Bordetella parapertussis isolate chosen for genomic sequencing.

The genomes of three closely related bordetellae are currently being sequenced, thus providing an opportunity for comparative genomic approaches driven by an understanding of the comparative biology of these three bacteria. Although the other strains being sequenced are well studied, the strain of Bordetella parapertussis chosen for sequencing is a recent human clinical isolate (strain 12822) that has yet to be characterized in detail. This investigation reports the first phenotypic characterization of this strain, which will likely become the prototype for this species in comparison with the prototype strains of B. pertussis (Tohama I), B. bronchiseptica (RB50), and other isolates of B. parapertussis. Multiple in vitro and in vivo assays distinguished each species. B. parapertussis was more similar to B. bronchiseptica than to B. pertussis in many assays, including in BvgS signaling characteristics, presence of urease activity, regulation of urease expression by BvgAS, virulence in the respiratory tracts of immunocompromised mice, induction of anti-Bordetella antibodies, and serum antimicrobial resistance. In other assays, B. parapertussis was distinct from all other species (in pigment production) or more similar to B. pertussis (by lack of motility and cytotoxicity to a macrophage-like cell line). These results begin to provide phenotypes that can be related to genetic differences identified in the genomic sequences of bordetellae.

Animals↗