Bexsero Meningitis B Vaccine

The WHO Upgrades Meningitis Guidelines

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:33:40 +0000

Reviewer:

Despite the availability of effective treatments and vaccines for certain types of meningitis, the disease continues to pose a significant global health threat.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), various pathogens can cause meningitis, with approximately 2.5 million cases reported worldwide in 2019. This figure includes 1.6 million cases of bacterial meningitis, the most dangerous form, which led to around 240,000 deaths.

Around 20% of people who contract bacterial meningitis develop long-term complications, including disabilities that impact quality of life. The disease also carries heavy financial and social costs for individuals, families, and communities.

One area of the world is disproportionately impacted by meningitis.

The U.S. CDC says the African' meningitis belt' in sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of Neisseria meningitidis. This belt extends from Senegal to Ethiopia.

To tackle these challenges, the WHO today published its first-ever global guidelines for diagnosing, treating, and caring for meningitis.

These guidelines aim to expedite detection, ensure timely treatment, and improve long-term care for those affected by the disease. By consolidating the latest evidence-based recommendations, the guidelines serve as a crucial tool for reducing mortality and disability associated with meningitis.

"Bacterial meningitis kills one in six of the people it strikes, and leaves many others with lasting health challenges," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in a press release on April 10, 2025.

"Implementing these new guidelines will help save lives, improve long-term care for those affected by meningitis, and strengthen health systems."

The new WHO guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of children over one month of age, adolescents, and adults with acute community-acquired meningitis.

They address all aspects of clinical care, including diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, adjunctive treatment, supportive care, and management of long-term effects. Given the similarities in clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management approaches across different forms of acute community-acquired meningitis, the guidelines address both bacterial and viral causes.

The guidelines provide recommendations for non-epidemic and epidemic settings and supersede the 2014 WHO guidelines covering meningitis outbreak response.

The guidelines contribute to the broader Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, adopted by WHO Member States in 2020. This roadmap aims to eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics, reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50%, and reduce deaths by 70%.

In the United States, five meningococcal vaccines (three quadrivalent and two monovalent) are licensed and available at travel clinics and pharmacies in 2025.

The CDC recommends that international travelers receive vaccines 7–10 days before departure to allow protective antibody levels to develop.

Sub Title:

African meningitis belt extends from Senegal to Ethiopia

References:

guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care

Meningococcal Disease - CDC Yellow Book 2024

2014 - Meningitis outbreak response in sub-Saharan Africa

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 06:00

Image Caption:

US CDC Yellow Book 2024

One STD is Decreasing As Off-Label Vaccine Use Increases

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 18:38:46 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The U.S. CDC recently published a Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance Report for 2023, which provides the latest data on trends for nationally notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including gonorrhea.

Published on November 13, 2024, this report revealed a total of 601,319 cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2023, making it the second most common nationally notifiable STI in the U.S.

This CDC report shared some good news.

The overall gonorrhea rate declined 7.7% from 2022 to 2023.

At present, the only CDC-recommended treatment of uncomplicated urogenital, anorectal, and pharyngeal gonorrhea is monotherapy with a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone 500 mg.

However, there is a U.S. FDA-approved vaccine has shown effectiveness against gonorrhea over the past few years.

Although a gonorrhea-specific vaccine does not exist, N. gonorrhoeae shares much of its genome with Neisseria meningitidis, notably critical antigenic determinants including outer membrane vesicles (OMV). The effectiveness of a meningococcal vaccine against gonorrhea stems from the fact that related bacteria cause the two diseases—Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, respectively.

In the U.S., GSK's Bexsero® (MenB-4C) vaccine is FDA-approved for intramuscular injection to prevent meningococcal group B disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. As of 2024, people between 16 and 23 years of age can receive Bexsero based on 'shared clinical decision-making' and receive two doses six months apart.

Furthermore, real-world evidence revealed that Bexsero provides cross-protection against gonorrhea.

On July 8, 2024, the Journal of Infection published results from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) for OMV vaccines against gonorrhea ranged from 22% to 46%. The pooled VE estimates of OMV vaccines against any gonorrhea infection following the entire vaccine series were 33-34%.

The study authors concluded that 4CMenB and other MenB-OMV vaccines show moderate effectiveness against gonorrhea.

GSK recently announced that meningitis vaccine sales grew double-digits for Q3 2024 and YTD, achieving record quarterly sales. Bexsero sales grew primarily due to U.S. CDC purchasing patterns, a favorable pricing mix in the U.S., a recommendation in Germany, and the launch in Vietnam.

In the U.K., the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended, on November 10, 2023, a routine targeted vaccination program using Bexsero® to prevent gonorrhea for specific age groups.

Dr. Nick Phin, Director of Public Health Science at Public Health Scotland, said in a media release in November 2023, "The recent increase in gonorrhea cases, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, is very concerning and the offer of the 4CmenB vaccine to this group is a welcome new intervention to help control and prevent the spread of this infection."

In the U.S., Bexsero is offered at many health clinics and pharmacies, including on college campuses.

Sub Title:

MenB vaccination reduces gonorrhea infections

References:

National Overview of STIs in 2023

Vaccine effectiveness and impact of meningococcal vaccines against gonococcal infections

GSK - 2024 Third quarter results

Prevention of Neisseria gonorrhoeae With Meningococcal B Vaccine: A Matched Cohort Study in Southern California

The Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine Bexsero Elicits Antibodies to Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Sunday, November 17, 2024 - 06:00

Image Caption:

US CDC November 2024

Vaccination Can Reduce Gonorrhea Cases

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:26:11 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The Journal of Infection recently published insights on how vaccination can reduce the incidence of gonorrhea, a common sexually transmitted disease. Gonorrhea is one of the fastest-growing diagnoses by percent change (16.8%).

This new study's findings indicate that MenB vaccines may offer moderate protection against gonococcal infections.

Published on July 8, 2024, this systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of 4CMenB and MenB-OMV vaccines for meningococcal vaccination against gonococcal infections across 12 studies conducted in countries including the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Cuba, Australia, and Norway.

Modeling studies have suggested that even a partially effective vaccine could reduce the population prevalence of gonococcal infections by 35–60% within ten years and decrease incidence by up to 25% over 70 years.

These findings emphasize the potential value of incorporating meningococcal vaccination into strategies to control gonococcal infections, particularly in regions with high incidence rates and limited treatment options due to antibiotic resistance.

However, further research is needed to ascertain the factors associated with vaccine protection and to provide more substantial evidence for cost-effectiveness analysis. This will inform vaccination strategies for the more effective management of gonococcal infections.

Furthermore, other countries besides the United Kingdom should consider 4CMenB vaccination programs for those at high risk of gonococcal infection.

In the U.S., GSK's Bexsero® (MenB-4C) vaccine was U.S. FDA-approved for intramuscular injection in 2015 for 10- through 25-year-olds to prevent meningococcal group B disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. As of 2024, people between the ages of 16 and 23 can receive the Bexsero vaccine based on 'shared clinical decision-making.'

This literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Google Scholar, clinical trial registries, and major health and immunization conferences.

A meta-analysis was performed with the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model to estimate the pooled VE.

All study authors receive no personal payments from the industry. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships that may be considered potential competing interests: Helen Marshall is an investigator on vaccine trials sponsored by iILiAD Biotechnologies, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Helen Marshall’s institution receives funding for investigator-led studies from industry, including GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur.

Sub Title:

Bexsero Meningitis B vaccine availability for young adults based on shared clinical decision-making

References:

Vaccine effectiveness and impact of meningococcal vaccines against gonococcal infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

STD Diagnoses Rose 4.8 Percent from 2020 to 2023

Image:

Google News Keywords:

vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 05:30

Image Caption:

by Marcela

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Prevention Now Includes Re-Purposed Products

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:25:04 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

While there are no U.S. FDA preventive vaccines and few chemoprophylaxis options targeting bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs), syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea cases have increased in the United States.

In 2022, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The most alarming concerns center around syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemics, signaling an urgent need for swift innovation and collaboration from all STI prevention partners, says the CDC.

On June 6, 2024, the CDC published its recommendation for the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy PEP), a novel, ongoing, patient-managed biomedical STI prevention strategy for a selected population.

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that generally treats infections by preventing the growth and spread of bacteria, such as acne and malaria.

The CDC now recommends that certain people who have had a bacterial STI diagnosed in the past 12 months should receive counseling that doxy PEP can be used as postexposure prophylaxis to prevent these infections.

Following shared decision-making with their healthcare provider, the CDC recommends that certain persons be offered a prescription for doxy PEP to be self-administered within 72 hours after having unprotected sex. The recommended dose of doxy PEP is 200 mg and should not exceed a maximum dose of 200 mg every 24 hours.

Furthermore, persons prescribed doxy PEP should undergo bacterial STI testing at anatomic exposure sites at baseline and every 3–6 months after that. Ongoing need for doxy PEP should be assessed every 3–6 months.

And HIV screening should be performed according to current CDC recommendations.

Seperately, in the United Kingdom, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended a targeted vaccination program in 2023 using the 4CMenB vaccine to prevent gonorrhea.

Various studies and real-world evidence suggest that the MenB vaccine provides cross-protection against gonorrhea. Two doses are estimated to reduce the chances of getting gonorrhea by 33%.

As of June 2024, the CDC has not issued a similar MenB vaccine recommendation.

Sub Title:

Doxycycline and MenB vaccination prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections

References:

CDC Clinical Guidelines on the Use of Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis for Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection Preventi

2022 STI Surveillance Report

Image:

Google News Keywords:

STI, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Monday, June 10, 2024 - 21:30

Image Caption:

US CDC Bacterial STI Trends 2022

Most Meningococcal Disease Cases Confirmed Since 2014

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 20:18:23 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Meningitis continues to be a major public health concern worldwide, with epidemics being reported in 2024.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a significant increase in meningococcal disease cases, which causes severe inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Based on preliminary data, as of March 8, 2024, there were 415 confirmed and probable cases of meningococcal disease in 2023 alone.

This is the highest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 2014.

Public health officials track all meningococcal disease cases in each state.

For example, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently reported a statewide uptick in meningococcal disease in Texas. Of the 27 people infected since November 2023, 10 developed meningitis, and one unvaccinated person died.

In Houston, between November and February 2024, four adults and three children were infected with meningococcal disease.

This significant rise in cases is primarily driven by the N. meningitidis serogroup Y.

The bacterium N. meningitidis causes invasive meningococcal disease and spreads from person to person through respiratory or throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close and lengthy contact, such as kissing, sharing utensils, or staying in the same household, for spread to occur, says DSHS.

The bacteria can reside in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic individuals, who unknowingly can spread the disease. However, the bacteria are not distributed by simply breathing the air where a person with meningococcal disease has been.

Because of the risks of severe morbidity and death, effective antibiotics should be administered promptly to patients suspected of having meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease is vaccine-preventable, and several approved vaccines are available in the U.S. These vaccines are offered at most pharmacies.

In Texas, one dose of the MenACWY vaccine is required for students enrolling in 7th–12th grades.

Find more information on meningococcal meningitis at dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/meningococcal-invasive-disease.

Sub Title:

Houston reported seven recent meningococcal disease cases

References:

US CDC Cases of meningococcal disease 2024

Texas Health Advisory: Increase in Invasive Meningococcal Disease 2024

Image:

Google News Keywords:

meningococcal, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Monday, March 11, 2024 - 05:45

Image Caption:

US CDC meningococcal disease trends

Gonorrhea Prevented With Meningococcal Vaccine

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 23:03:08 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Without an approved gonorrhea vaccine available, sexually transmitted disease (STD) researchers have been testing well-known bacteria-related vaccines for years.

Vaccine experts in the United Kingdom announced today they are advising certain at-risk people to consider being immunized with a meningococcal B vaccine.

On November 10, 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published an Independent Report agreeing that a targeted program should be initiated using the 4CMenB vaccine for the prevention of gonorrhea in those who are at most significant risk of infection.

Professor Andrew Pollard, Chair of the JCVI, commented in a press release, "Introducing a MenB vaccination program to prevent gonorrhea in England would be a world first and should significantly help to reduce levels of gonorrhea, which are currently at a record high."

4CMenB is a 4-component serogroup B meningococcal vaccine that contains three main Neisseria meningitidis proteins: Neisseria heparin binding antigen; Neisserial adhesion A; factor H binding protein; and meningococcal serogroup B outer membrane vesicles (OMVs).

The only licensed 4-component vaccine currently available in the U.K. is Bexsero®, manufactured by GSK and authorized to prevent meningococcal disease in individuals aged two months and older.

The good news is the 4CMenB vaccine is currently used in routine childhood programs at eight weeks, 16 weeks, and one year to prevent meningococcal disease.

Unfortunately, STD data in 2022 from the U.K. Health Security Agency highlighted a rapid rise in gonorrhea diagnoses in England. The number of diagnoses in 2022 was the highest annual number on record.

This data follows an increasing trend in gonorrhea since the early 2000s.

Evidence of protection from meningococcal serogroup B vaccines has only been observed in OMV-containing vaccines such as 4CMenB and MenB OMV vaccines.

A recent observational study showed that the MenB-FHbp vaccine did not have an effect on gonorrhea infection and also provided evidence that this effect observed with the 4CMenB was not due to healthy vaccinee bias.

At the time of writing, several other studies are ongoing to examine immunogenicity and the potential vaccine effectiveness of 4CMenB in protection against gonorrhea in adolescent or young adult cohorts. Data from these studies will be reviewed by the JCVI once available.

A Research Letter published by The JAMA Network Infectious Diseases in August 2023 concluded that the OMV-based meningococcal group B vaccine was 47% (95% CI, 13%-68%) effective in preventing gonorrhea among young adults aged 18 to 29.

In the U.S., gonorrhea vaccine candidates and treatments are currently being studied.

Sub Title:

Meningococcal B vaccination for the prevention of gonorrhea

References:

JCVI advice on the use of meningococcal B vaccination for the prevention of gonorrhoea

UK advises on gonorrhea vaccinations

Association of Group B Meningococcal Vaccine Receipt With Reduced Gonorrhea Incidence Among University Students

Image:

Age Groups:

Young Adults

Google News Keywords:

gonorrhea, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, November 11, 2023 - 07:30

Image Caption:

from Pixabay

Vaccination Significantly Protected College Students from Gonorrhea

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:41:43 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

A new Research Letter suggests meningococcal group B vaccination (MBV) offers significant protection against gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease.

Most women infected with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection.

On August 31, 2023, the new research was published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Network Open, which assessed whether receipt of outer membrane vesicle (OMV) based MBV was associated with subsequent lower gonorrhea prevalence.

The Public Health Institutional Review Board covering Oregon's Public Health Division approved this case-control study's use of public health data.

The study's populations included 15,760 recipients of 1 or more OMV-based MBV (8510 females [54%], 7250 males [46%]; median [IQR] age at receipt, 19.3 [18-20] years).

And 15 212 recipients of 1 or more non–OMV–based MBV (8519 females [56%], 6693 males [44%]; median [IQR] age at receipt, 19.4 [18-20] years).

Overall, 53% of non–OMV–based MBV recipients received more than one dose vs. 57% of OMV-based MBV recipients.

Twenty-four cases of gonorrhea were reported in OMV-based MBV recipients vs. 44 patients in non–OMV–based MBV recipients.

The OMV-based MBV was 47% (95% CI, 13%-68%) effective in preventing gonorrhea among recipients aged 18 to 29.

Among those aged 18 to 19, 12 gonorrhea cases were reported in OMV-based MBV recipients and 27 in non–OMV–based MBV recipients (vaccine effectiveness, 59%; 95% CI, 20%-79%).

However, vaccine effectiveness for recipients of 2 or more vaccines vs. one vaccine was 11% (95% CI, –0.98% to 0.60%).

These researchers wrote the study's 'results were consistent with other study findings that OMV-based vaccines may offer protection against gonorrhea.'

Given the global burden of gonorrhea, further investigation of OMV-based vaccination technology may be warranted, concluded these researchers.

This study's limitations included low numbers of gonorrhea cases, the likelihood of students graduating and leaving the disease-reporting area, and shifts in gonorrhea risk over time.

Because both MBVs were used at each university, this study reduced the selection bias inherent in retrospective, population-based studies. And there were no industry-related conflicts of interest disclosed.

Currently, two meningococcal vaccines are available in the U.S.: MenB-4C (OMV-based) and MenB-FHbp (not OMV-based).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported about 710,000 cases of gonorrhea in 2021, making it the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. In addition, the CDC announced on April 11, 2023, that gonorrhea rates increased by more than 4% in 2022.

The CDC recommends meningococcal vaccines for preteens, teens, and certain other people in the U.S. A booster dose at 16 years old gives teens continued protection when they are at the highest risk.

Sub Title:

Gonorrhea infections reduced following meningococcal group B vaccination

References:

Association of Group B Meningococcal Vaccine Receipt With Reduced Gonorrhea Incidence Among University Students

Effectiveness of a group B outer membrane vesicle meningococcal vaccine against gonorrhoea in New Zealand

US CDC - gonorrhea

Image:

Age Groups:

19 21 years

Google News Keywords:

vaccinations, gonorrhea

Featured:

Fact checked:

Friday, September 1, 2023 - 06:00

Image Caption:

by Hong Manh

England's Sexually Transmitted Disease Outbreaks Set Records

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 15:14:31 +0000

Reviewer:

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Robert Carlson, MD

New data announced today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates record levels of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed in England during 2022.

Published on June 6, 2023, this new UKHSA report analyzes the 400 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnoses made daily in 2022.

The latest data shows gonorrhea diagnoses totaled 82,592 in 2022, an increase of 50.3% in one year. This is the most significant number of gonorrhea diagnoses in any one year since 1918.

And infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022, up 15.2% compared to 2021.

This is the largest annual number of syphilis cases since 1948.

Furthermore, chlamydia diagnoses increased by 24.3% to reach 199,233 in 2022.

While the increase in gonorrhea and syphilis diagnoses is in part due to testing, the scale of the increase in diagnoses strongly suggests there is more transmission of STIs within England's population, wrote the UKHSA.

Dr. Hamish Mohammed, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, commented in a related press release, "We saw more gonorrhea diagnoses in 2022 than ever before, with large rises, particularly in young people."

"STIs aren't just an inconvenience – they can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners."

"Testing is important because you may not have any symptoms of an STI."

Though STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics, many can cause serious health issues if left untreated.

For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause serious, irreversible, and potentially life-threatening problems with your brain, heart, or nerves.

Unfortunately, these STIs do not have approved vaccines available in 2023.

However, a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in June 2022 suggested that a meningococcal serogroup B (MenB-4C) vaccine may offer cross-protection against gonorrhea infection.

And in France, meningococcal vaccination is recommended against gonorrhea.

Other STIs, such as human papillomavirus and mpox, can be prevented with approved vaccines.

Sexually Transmitted Disease vaccine news is posted by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

Sexually transmitted infections can be prevented

References:

Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England

Gonorrhoea and syphilis at record levels in 2022

UK - Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): annual data tables

Image:

Age Groups:

Adult

Google News Keywords:

sex, diseases, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - 05:45

Image Caption:

by Наталия Когут from Pixabay

Gonorrhea Risk Reduced with Oral Antibiotic

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 11:17:55 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

The number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, has recently increased. And without STI preventive vaccines available, future trends appear disappointing.

However, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a common treatment that could reduce these unfortunate infections.

The NIH stated on April 25, 2023, taking the oral antibiotic doxycycline within three days after unprotected sex reduced the risk of sexually transmitted infections among those at increased risk.

This approach is called doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP).

But some health experts have been concerned that preventive use of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance which might reduce options for treating STIs and other bacterial infections.

To learn more, a team led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Washington set out to measure the safety and effectiveness of doxy-PEP.

The phase 4 clinical study enrolled 501 adults considered at high risk for bacterial STIs, either men who had sex with men or transgender women. All had been diagnosed with a bacterial STI in the past year and reported having sex without using a condom in the past year.

In addition, they were either living with HIV or were taking or planning to take medication to prevent HIV infection.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either doxy-PEP or standard care. Those in the doxy-PEP group were told to take a 200 mg doxycycline tablet as soon as possible, within 72 hours after condomless sex. In addition, participants were tested for STIs every three months and followed for one year.

The researchers found that the doxy-PEP group had a two-thirds lower incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia than the standard-care group every three months.

And STIs were detected in about 10% of the quarterly tests administered to those in the doxy-PEP group, compared to about 30% in the standard-care group.

Gonorrhea was the most often diagnosed STI.

The incidence of gonorrhea per quarter in the doxy-PEP group was about 55% lower than in the standard-care group.

Chlamydia and syphilis were each reduced by more than 80%.

"It will be important to monitor the impact of doxy-PEP on antimicrobial resistance patterns over time and weigh this against the demonstrated benefit of reduced STIs and associated decreased antibiotic use for STI treatment in men at elevated risk for recurrent STIs," commented Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, a co-leader of the study, in an NIH press release.

"Given its demonstrated efficacy in several trials, doxy-PEP should be considered as part of a sexual health package for men who have sex with men and transwomen if they have an increased risk of STIs."

Furthermore, these researchers found that the doxy-PEP group had a modestly higher proportion of doxycycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus living in the nose after 12 months.

And the incidence of gonorrhea strains resistant to the antibiotic tetracycline, which is in the same antibiotic class as doxycycline, was 38.5% in the doxy-PEP group compared to 12.5% in the group with standard care.

This finding suggests doxy-PEP could be less effective in preventing gonorrhea with existing tetracycline resistance; however, the number of available gonorrhea cultures was low.

Their results were published as an Original Article in the New England Journal of Medicine on April 6, 2023.

Previously, the DoxyPEP phase 3 study examined the incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis and found that doxycycline reduced STI risk by 66%. This study also highlighted the benefits of vaccination with GSK's Bexsero® (MenB-4C) vaccine.

Precision Vaccinations post additional STI treatment and vaccine news.

Updated: Title and grammar edits on April 30, 2023.

Sub Title:

Doxycycline reduces STIs

References:

U.S. NIH - Antibiotic can help prevent common STIs

Postexposure Doxycycline to Prevent Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections

Doxycycline

Image:

Age Groups:

Adult

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Sunday, May 7, 2023 - 14:15

Image Caption:

by Jatinder Jeetu

Africa Acts to Stop Meningitis Outbreaks

Donald Hackett — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 19:23:30 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying meningitis vaccination campaigns for more than 50 million children in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) region is at a heightened risk of outbreaks of meningitis type A, which has nearly been eliminated on the continent.

In a race against time, the WHO and partners recently launched a roadmap to stop bacterial meningitis outbreaks by 2030.

Based on reports from countries, the WHO found that meningitis control activities were reduced by 50% in 2020 compared with 2019, with a slight improvement in 2021.

On September 6, 2022, the WHO stated it is 'urging countries to implement it rapidly before the start of the meningitis season beginning in January thru June 2023.'

Moreover, the African region accounts for the highest number of new meningitis cases globally and is the only region to experience outbreaks still.

The pandemic severely disrupted meningitis prevention and control services.

The African countries of Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, and Togo delayed campaigns with the MenAfriVac vaccine.

"The defeat of meningitis type A is one of Africa's biggest success stories in health, but the fallout from COVID-19 hampers our drive to eliminate this bacterial infection as a public health threat once and for all and could lead to catastrophic resurgences," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a related media statement.

While no meningitis type A case has been reported in Africa during the past five years, outbreaks still occur and are caused by other types of meningococcal bacteria.

Major outbreaks caused by meningitis type C have been recorded in seven meningitis belt countries since 2013.

In 2019, 140,552 people in the African region died from all types of meningitis.

In 2021, a four-month outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed 205 lives.

Historically, meningitis type A was Africa's highest cause of meningitis outbreaks.

"More than 400 million Africans are still at risk of seasonal meningitis outbreaks, but the disease has remained off the radar for too long," added Dr. Moeti.

"Aside from the toll on human life, outbreaks negatively impact health systems, our fragile economies, and impoverish entire populations forced to contend with multiple health and socio-economic challenges."

Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and is transmitted via a sneeze, saliva, or phlegm from the nose and throat of infected persons.

Acute bacterial meningitis is one of the deadliest and most disabling forms of illness. It can cause death within 24 hours and leaves one in five infected people with lifelong disability after infection, says the WHO.

In the USA, there are two types of meningococcal vaccines licensed by the U.S. FDA.

Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccines
Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines

The U.S. CDC suggests speaking with a travel vaccine expert before visiting Africa's meningitis belt.

Travelers who spend much time in the meningitis belt, especially during the outbreak season, are more likely to get this disease.

'Getting a meningococcal vaccine is the best way to protect against meningococcal disease,' says the CDC.

Additional meningitis vaccine information is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Meningococcal.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes fact-checked research-based travel vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Meningitis prevention vaccines are licensed in the USA

References:

WHO meningitis outbreak action plan

CDC meningitis vaccine options

Meningococcal Vaccines

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Meningitis, africa, vaccinations, meningococcal,

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 - 22:30

Image Caption:

CDC African meningitis outbreak belt