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Dengue vaccine--time to act now

Pang T, Thiam DGY, Tantawichien T, Ismail Z, Yoksan S

Lancet, 2015 May 02;385(9979):1725-1726.
PMID: 25943934 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60888-1
Fulltext Regional epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Asian adults: epidemiology, disease burden, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial resistance patterns and prevention

Hung IF, Tantawichien T, Tsai YH, Patil S, Zotomayor R

Int J Infect Dis, 2013 Jun;17(6):e364-73.
PMID: 23416209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.01.004

To summarize published data on the clinical and economic burden, epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance levels, serotype prevalence, and prevention strategies for pneumococcal disease among adults in Asia.
Systematic literature review of the disease burden and vaccination of pneumococcal disease among adults in select Asia-Pacific areas

Tantawichien T, Hsu LY, Zaidi O, Bernauer M, Du F, Yamada E, et al.

Expert Rev Vaccines, 2022 Feb;21(2):215-226.
PMID: 34894996 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2016399

INTRODUCTION: Pneumococcal diseases are common and cause significant morbidity and mortality, with higher rates especially in developing areas including many in the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. However, current strategies to prevent pneumococcal disease in adults are quite complicated and not well implemented among many AP areas, and vaccination coverage rates among adults are generally low or perceived as low in the region. Thus, this literature review's purpose was to summarize the disease burden and vaccination against pneumococcal diseases among adults in select AP areas (Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam).
AREAS COVERED: This systematic review included published articles from January 2010 to August 2020 using MEDLINE/Embase. Grey literature websites were searched for national immunization programs and medical society vaccination recommendations from areas of interest. A total of 69 publications were identified.
EXPERT OPINION: In the AP region, pneumococcal disease burden and serotype prevalence are variable among adult populations, particularly among older adults. Data was provided primarily from countries with established national immunization programs (NIPs). Further research on the disease burden and emphasis on the benefits of vaccination in AP areas lacking pneumococcal vaccination programs is warranted.
Fulltext Antibiotic management of complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults: The Asian perspective

Kurup A, Liau KH, Ren J, Lu MC, Navarro NS, Farooka MW, et al.

Ann Med Surg (Lond), 2014 Sep;3(3):85-91.
PMID: 25568794 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2014.06.005

Regional epidemiological data and resistance profiles are essential for selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy for intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). However, such information may not be readily available in many areas of Asia and current international guidelines on antibiotic therapy for IAIs are for Western countries, with the most recent guidance for the Asian region dating from 2007. Therefore, the Asian Consensus Taskforce on Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections (ACT-cIAI) was convened to develop updated recommendations for antibiotic management of complicated IAIs (cIAIs) in Asia. This review article is based on a thorough literature review of Asian and international publications related to clinical management, epidemiology, microbiology, and bacterial resistance patterns in cIAIs, combined with the expert consensus of the Taskforce members. The microbiological profiles of IAIs in the Asian region are outlined and compared with Western data, and the latest available data on antimicrobial resistance in key pathogens causing IAIs in Asia is presented. From this information, antimicrobial therapies suitable for treating cIAIs in patients in Asian settings are proposed in the hope that guidance relevant to Asian practices will prove beneficial to local physicians managing IAIs.
Fulltext Addressing Unmet Needs in Vaccination for Older Adults in the Asia Pacific: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Woodward M, Ramasubramanian V, Kamarulzaman A, Tantawichien T, Wang M, Song JY, et al.

Clin Interv Aging, 2023;18:869-880.
PMID: 37284594 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S406601

The impact of vaccinating the older population against vaccine-preventable diseases in terms of health, social and economic benefits has been increasingly recognised. However, there is a gap in the utilisation of vaccines worldwide. The population is ageing at an unprecedented pace in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with the number of persons older than 65 years set to double by 2050 to around 1.3 billion. More than 18% of the population in Japan, Hong Kong, and China is over the age of 65 years. This highlights the importance of prioritising resources to address societal obligations toward the needs of the ageing generation. This review provides an overview of the challenges to adult vaccination in APAC, drivers to increase vaccination coverage, vaccination insights gained through the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential measures to increase the uptake of adult vaccines in the region.
Fulltext Proceedings of the 6th Asia Dengue Summit, June 2023

Srisawat N, Gubler DJ, Pangestu T, Limothai U, Thisyakorn U, Ismail Z, et al.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2024 Mar;18(3):e0012060.
PMID: 38551892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012060

The 6th Asia Dengue Summit (ADS) themed "Road Map to Zero Dengue Death" was held in Thailand from 15th-16th June 2023. The summit was hosted by Tropical Medicine Cluster, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand in conjunction with Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University; and the Ministry of Public Health. The 6th ADS was convened by Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA); Global Dengue and Aedes Transmitted Diseases Consortium (GDAC); Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (SEAMEO TROPMED); Fondation Mérieux (FMx) and the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD). Dengue experts from academia and research, and representatives from the Ministries of Health, Regional and Global World Health Organization (WHO) and International Vaccine Institute (IVI) participated in the three-day summit. With more than 51 speakers and 451 delegates from over 24 countries, 10 symposiums, and 2 full days, the 6th ADS highlighted the growing threat of dengue and its antigenic evolution, flagged the urgent need to overcome vaccine hesitancy and misinformation crisis, and focused on dengue control policies, newer diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, travel-associated dengue, and strategies to improve community involvement.
Fulltext Invasive meningococcal disease in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam: An Asia-Pacific expert group perspective on current epidemiology and vaccination policies

Thisyakorn U, Carlos J, Chotpitayasunondh T, Dien TM, Gonzales MLAM, Huong NTL, et al.

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2110759.
PMID: 36084311 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2110759

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) imposes a significant burden on the global community due to its high case fatality rate (4-20%) and the risk of long-term sequelae for one in five survivors. An expert group meeting was held to discuss the epidemiology of IMD and immunization policies in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most of these countries do not include meningococcal immunization in their routine vaccination programs, except for high-risk groups such as immunocompromised people and pilgrims. It is difficult to estimate the epidemiology of IMD in the highly diverse Asia-Pacific region, but available evidence indicate serogroup B is increasingly dominant. Disease surveillance systems differ by country. IMD is not a notifiable disease in some of them. Without an adequate surveillance system in the region, the risk and the burden of IMD might well be underestimated. With the availability of new combined meningococcal vaccines and the World Health Organization roadmap to defeat bacterial meningitis by 2030, a better understanding of the epidemiology of IMD in the Asia-Pacific region is needed.
Fulltext Looking back to move forward: a twenty-year audit of herpes zoster in Asia-Pacific

Chen LK, Arai H, Chen LY, Chou MY, Djauzi S, Dong B, et al.

BMC Infect Dis, 2017 03 15;17(1):213.
PMID: 28298208 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2198-y

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a prevalent viral disease that inflicts substantial morbidity and associated healthcare and socioeconomic burdens. Current treatments are not fully effective, especially among the most vulnerable patients. Although widely recommended, vaccination against HZ is not routine; barriers in Asia-Pacific include long-standing neglect of adult immunisation and sparse local data. To address knowledge gaps, raise awareness, and disseminate best practice, we reviewed recent data and guidelines on HZ from the Asia-Pacific region.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and World Health Organization databases for articles about HZ published from 1994 to 2014 by authors from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. We selected articles about epidemiology, burden, complications, comorbidities, management, prevention, and recommendations/guidelines. Internet searches retrieved additional HZ immunisation guidelines.
RESULTS: From 4007 retrieved articles, we screened-out 1501 duplicates and excluded 1264 extraneous articles, leaving 1242 unique articles. We found guidelines on adult immunisation from Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. HZ epidemiology in Asia-Pacific is similar to elsewhere; incidence rises with age and peaks at around 70 years - lifetime risk is approximately one-third. Average incidence of 3-10/1000 person-years is rising at around 5% per year. The principal risk factors are immunosenescence and immunosuppression. HZ almost always causes pain, and post-herpetic neuralgia is its most common complication. Half or more of hospitalised HZ patients have post-herpetic neuralgia, secondary infections, or inflammatory sequelae that are occasionally fatal. These disease burdens severely diminish patients' quality of life and incur heavy healthcare utilisation.
CONCLUSIONS: Several countries have abundant data on HZ, but others, especially in South-East Asia, very few. However, Asia-Pacific countries generally lack data on HZ vaccine safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Physicians treating HZ and its complications in Asia-Pacific face familiar challenges but, with a vast aged population, Asia bears a unique and growing burden of disease. Given the strong rationale for prevention, most adult immunisation guidelines include HZ vaccine, yet it remains underused. We urge all stakeholders to give higher priority to adult immunisation in general and HZ in particular.