KI PyV was significantly more frequent among human stem cell transplant patients (17.8% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.01).”
“To assess the adherence to immunosuppressant therapy (IST) and perceived barriers affecting IST adherence and quality of life (QOL) in patients who had received a renal (RT) or liver transplant (LT), a questionnaire was sent to over 9000 RT and LT recipients in Spain. Questionnaire comprised questions about patient’s socio-demographic, organ transplant and medication characteristics;

IST adherence and patient’s perceived barriers to adherence; and patient’s QOL using the EuroQol. Data from 1983 RT patients and 1479 LT patients were analyzed. Self-reported adherence to IST in RT (92.6%) and LT (88.5%) recipients was high. Daily medication intake (mean of 2-3 doses/d per patient) was considered a lifestyle restriction in about 25% of transplant see more find more recipients and was the most common

barrier to adherence perceived by over 30% of RT and LT patients. Overall, high-intensity treatment regimens were associated with poorer QOL (EuroQol < 70) compared with low-intensity treatment regimens. Most RT (71.0%) and LT (61.4%) patients would prefer to suppress the evening dose if they were able to. Although high adherence rates to IST were reported in this first large Spanish survey in RT and LT patients, adjustment of daily treatment intensity by less frequent dosing may be an adequate strategy to minimize barriers

to adherence and improve QOL.”
“Background: Rotavirus (RV) infection is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. In 2006, 2 live-attenuated RV-vaccines became available for use in infants <= 6 months of age. In Germany, a statutory notification system for RV infection has been in place since 2001 to monitor RV epidemiology. Our objective was to assess RV disease burden AZD4547 inhibitor in German children <5 years of age.

Methods: Detailed descriptive analysis of national RV surveillance data in children <5 years of age collected in Germany between January 2001 and December 2008.

Results: Between 2001 and 2008, 72% of all notified RV patients were children <5 years of age. The highest annual incidence (approximately, 200/10,000) was in children <2 years of age. In the <5 years age-group, approximately 50% of reported patients were hospitalized and of those, 9% acquired the infection nosocomially. Since 2004, a total of 8 children <5 years of age were reported as RV-associated deaths, and case fatality due to RV infection was <0.01/10,000.

Conclusions: The high incidence of RV infection and RV-associated hospitalization in children <5 years of age results in a high disease burden. Routine childhood RV vaccination would be a measure to reduce the burden in this age-group. However, cost-effectiveness analyses specific to the German setting should be considered in the decision-making process.