Institut de veille sanitaire

About: Institut de veille sanitaire is a healthcare organization based out in Saint-Maurice, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 1055 authors who have published 1547 publications receiving 56945 citations. The organization is also known as: INVS & InVS.

Dysgeusia following consumption of pine nuts: More than 3000 cases in France

Abstract: Introduction. In March 2008, French poison centres (PCs) recorded the first calls reporting persistent bitterness following the ingestion of pine nuts. Methods. The French toxic exposure surveillance system (French-Tess) was searched and a descriptive analysis of cases was performed on data recorded from 13 March 2008 to 31 January 2010. Results. Some 3111 cases of bitterness were reported to PCs. The number of cases rose sharply from May 2009 to reach a peak in August 2009 with 697 cases. The median time to onset of dysgeusia was 24 hours and it lasted less than 14 days in 95% of cases. Raw as well as cooked or processed pine nuts were implicated. Discussion. The delayed onset and persistence of dysgeusia suggest that the toxin may act via an unknown toxic mechanism on the receptor. The aetiological agent could be an unidentified toxin present in some varieties of non-edible pine nuts. Conclusion. The high incidence of the event and the lack of understanding of the nature of the toxin and its pathophysio...

Nosocomial infections and community clusters of pertussis in France, 2000-2005.

Abstract: Pertussis is not a notifiable disease in France. In addition to a paediatric hospital sentinel surveillance system, pertussis epidemiological data have, since 1996, been gathered through the voluntary notification of community clusters by general practitioners, and since 2001 by the statutory notification of nosocomial infection to the relevant local health authority. The local health authority forwards the information to the French National Institute for Surveillance (InVS). The objective of this study was to analyse pertussis data outside the routine paediatric hospital sentinel surveillance system. We gathered all the information concerning healthcare-associated infections and community clusters of pertussis (specific forms, investigation reports, emails etc.) reported to the InVS between 2000 and 2005. The InVS received and analysed 67 reports with a total of 595 cases. Almost half of the reports (n=31) came from hospitals, and healthcare workers were usually first affected. Control measures were put in place in 22 healthcare facilities and the average duration of an outbreak episode was 48 days. Outside healthcare facilities, clusters were reported also from 17 daycare facilities or schools and five workplaces. Among the 595 cases, six deaths occurred in children under seven months of age. Pertussis is still occurring in France and affects those who are not or who are no longer protected by the vaccine. Infection of infants within the household could be prevented if their parents and siblings were immunised. The number and size of pertussis clusters in hospitals could be reduced through immunisation of health staff, and timely and adequate outbreak management.

An imported case of canine rabies in Aquitaine: Investigation and management of the contacts at risk, August 2004-March 2005.

Abstract: In August 2004, a case of rabies was diagnosed in a puppy that had been illegally imported from Morocco to Bordeaux (France). Because a great number of people and animals were thought to have come into contact with the puppy, extensive tracing measures were implemented, and an international alert was launched to trace and treat the contacts at risk. One hundred and eighty seven people received post-exposure treatment, eight of whom also received serovaccination, and 57 animals known to have been exposed to the puppy were tested. Six months after the death of the rabid animal, none of the people treated showed any signs of rabies, nor was any secondary animal case reported. The management of this crisis highlights the importance of the role of a rapid alert system at European level. Strict application of sanitary control regulations is essential for animals introduced into EU countries, and all necessary information must be made available to EU residents travelling to rabies enzootic areas.

Déterminants de couverture vaccinale antitétanique chez l'adulte en France et de connaissance du statut vaccinal

Abstract: Resume Objectifs Quinze a 20 cas de tetanos sont declares annuellement en France. Les dernieres donnees montraient que seulement 62 % des adultes etaient a jour pour cette vaccination. Nous avons recherche les facteurs associes a la couverture vaccinale ainsi que ceux associes a la connaissance du statut vaccinal. Methodes Les analyses ont ete realisees a partir des donnees de l’enquete Sante et Protection sociale (2002). Nous avons analyse l’association de certains facteurs a la couverture vaccinale tetanos et l’association de ces facteurs avec la connaissance du statut vaccinal tetanos. Resultats Deux variables demographiques etaient uniquement associees a la couverture vaccinale (meilleure couverture chez les hommes et dans certaines regions de residence). A contrario, deux variables socioeconomiques etaient associees uniquement a la connaissance du statut vaccinal (meilleure connaissance chez les personnes de familles aux revenus eleves et chez les cadres/professions liberales et les employes). Par ailleurs, couverture vaccinale et connaissance du statut baissaient toutes les deux avec le niveau d’etudes bas, chez les residents des grosses agglomerations et chez ceux ne beneficiant pas d’une couverture complementaire privee, et ces deux indicateurs etaient tous deux associes a l’âge mais dans un sens oppose. Conclusion Les facteurs influencant la couverture vaccinale tetanos sont plutot des facteurs demographiques alors que les facteurs socioeconomiques semblent influencer surtout la connaissance du statut vaccinal. Cette distinction devrait permettre de cibler des actions de sante publique et d’adapter les messages sur les groupes les moins couverts et les moins bien informes.

Hepatitis A and B vaccination and public health.

Abstract: The introduction and implementation of hepatitis B vaccination programmes in areas of high endemicity has been very stressful. However, this initial accomplishment has led to the reassessment of priorities in some countries which could undermine these early successes. Work still remains to be done to support and implement interventions that will bring us closer to the WHO goal and to the control of hepatitis B in the community at large. Hepatitis A vaccine strategy for immunizing toddlers is shifting to those countries with intermediate endemicity where increasing morbidity in adults is being observed. Accumulating evidence indicates that such programmes can result in impressive reductions in the incidence of hepatitis A by herd immunity. Monitoring of these populations to determine durability of protection will be important to avoid shifting the infection to the older age population, when symptoms are more likely to occur. National policies need to consider hepatitis A vaccination in the context of other public health priorities.