von Friedrich Tobias Ingo Rothoeft ; Anna Teresa Hoffmann ; Christoph Maier ; Robin Denz ; Robin Kobbe ; Anette Friedrichs ; Georg Martin Norbert Behrens ; Pia Behrens ; Reinhard Berner ; Amke Caliebe ; Claudia M. Denkinger ; Katharina Giesbrecht ; Leonhard Hojenski ; Olga Hovardovska ; Alexandra Jablonka ; Olga Iatseniuk ; Achim Kaasch ; Monika Kraus ; Lazar Mitrov ; Matthias Nauck ; Susana Marina Nunes de Miranda ; Margarete Scherer ; Yvonne Schmiedel ; Dana Stahl ; Nina Timmesfeld ; Nicole Marina Töpfner ; Jörg Janne Vehreschild ; Walter A. Wohlgemuth ; Astrid Petersmann ; Maria J. G. T. Vehreschild ; Folke Brinkmann
Age dependency; Convalescent; COVID-19; IGRA; Immunity; SARS-CoV-2; T cell; Vaccination
Introduction: A lot of research has been done, mainly on tuberculosis (TB), on the extent to which cellular immune protection as measured by interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) is age-dependent. In a previous study we showed that following an Omicron infection, adolescents with a hybrid immunity had a higher probability of having a reactive SARS-CoV-2-specific IGRA than children. Therefore, we examined in a large group of minors and adults whether age influences cellular immunity as measured by IGRA in TB and SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Participants were recruited at 13 German study sites between September and December 2022. Cellular immunity was analyzed using SARS-CoV-2 and Tb-specific IGRA and humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 by measuring antibodies against spike (S) and nucleocapsid protein. Analysis was done depending on natural (convalescent, not vaccinated) or hybrid immunity (convalescent and vaccinated). Results: Overall, 1401 adults and 392 minors were included. The amount of interferon-γ released by T cells, as well as the probability of a positive SARS-CoV-2 IGRA (OR 1.022) and a positive Tb IGRA (OR 1.047) were age dependent. Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 IGRA in natural immunity was lower in minors (0.45), especially in those less than 5 years (0.29) as compared to adults (0.66). Conclusion: The interferon-γ response to SARS-CoV-2 infections and/or vaccinations and to Tb infections as measured by IGRA is in quality and quantity dependent on age. The sensitivity of commercially available tests in young children seems to be suboptimal, limiting their use as a diagnostic or research tool in this age group.
Infection München : Urban & Vogel, 1973 53(2025), 6 vom: Dez., Seite 2669-2680 Online-Ressource
von Anna Teresa Hoffmann ; Robin Kobbe ; Robin Denz ; Christoph Maier ; Nicole Toepfner ; Nina Timmesfeld ; Astrid Petersmann ; Axel Hamprecht ; Yadwinder Kaur
Veröffentlicht: 05. Dezember 2024 ; Gesehen am 10.06.2025
Global Health; Health status; Infectious diseases; Intrafamilial spread; Maternal and Child Health; Migration and Health; Minor refugees; Public Health; Risk Factors; Social Work and Migration; Ukraine; Vaccination status
In 2022, over 1,000,000 people from Ukraine fled to Germany, mostly women and children. The aim of this study was to determine health status and socio-demographic background of Ukrainian refugee minors in Germany and to compare that to German minors. In this study, Ukrainian refugees of all ages, who voluntarily made contact with the study centres via flyers or refugee shelters, were interviewed with the help of trained interpreters from 09–12/2022. We assessed data from minors and their families on socio-economic status, general health perception, current and pre-existing infectious and non-contagious diseases, and vaccination status. The data for the minors were collected by interviewing the accompanying adults. In addition, a physical examination and serological screening for infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases were performed. Overall, 392 minors and accompanying adults (358) were included. Minors’ general and mental health were reported as “at least good" in 83% (316) and 80% (304), respectively. In 16% (63), infectious or other underlying diseases were recorded. Tuberculosis infections (7, 1.8%) and hepatitis C (2, 0.5%) were found through the serological tests. HIV could only be detected in one previously known case. Self-reported vaccinations against measles and varicella, for example, did not match serological findings (protection against measles 304; 84%; varicella 230; 64%). Conclusion: Accompanying adults often rate the general health and well-being of Ukrainian refugee minors as rather poor. Frequently, self-reported vaccinations and preexisting diseases did not match serology results; therefore, Ukrainian refugee minors without formal vaccination certificate should be offered all recommended vaccinations and be generously screened for hepatitis B, C and HIV in addition to tuberculosis.
European journal of pediatrics Berlin : Springer Science & Business Media B.V., 1975 184(2025), 1, Artikel-ID 64, Seite 1-15 Online-Ressource
von Jule Filler ; Marios K. Georgakis ; Daniel Janowitz ; Marco Düring ; Rong Fang ; Anna Dewenter ; Felix J. Bode ; Sebastian Stösser ; Christine Kindler ; Peter Hermann ; Christian H. Nolte ; Thomas Liman ; Lucia Kerti ; Kathleen Bernkopf ; Benno Ikenberg ; Wenzel Glanz ; Michael Wagner ; Annika Spottke ; Karin Waegemann ; Michael Görtler ; Silke Wunderlich ; Matthias Endres ; Inga Zerr ; Gabor Petzold ; Martin Dichgans
Tatjana Wittenberg; Jan Friedrich Scheitz; Harald Prüß; Pia Sperber; Alexander Heinrich Nave; Anna Kufner Ibaroule; Julius Nicolai Meißner; Taraneh Ebrahimi; Julia Nordsiek; Niklas Michael Beckonert; Matthias Schmitz; Stefan Goebel; Timothy Bunck; Julia Schütte-Schmidt; Sabine Nuhn; Corinna Volpers; Peter Dechent; Matthias Bähr; Anna Maria Kopczak; Frank Arne Wollenweber; Christiane Huber; Holger Poppert; Tony Stöcker; Katja Neumann; Oliver Speck
von Friederike A. Arlt ; Pia S. Sperber ; Regina von Rennenberg ; Pimrapat Gebert ; Bianca Teegen ; Marios K. Georgakis ; Rong Fang ; Anna Dewenter ; Michael Görtler ; Gabor Petzold ; Silke Wunderlich ; Inga Zerr ; Martin Dichgans ; Harald Prüß ; Matthias Endres
Thomas Liman; Christian H Nolte; Lucia Kerti; Tatjana Wittenberg; Jan Friedrich Scheitz; Alexander Heinrich Nave; Anna Kufner; Felix J Bode; Sebastian Stösser; Julius Nicolai Meißner; Taraneh Ebrahimi; Julia Nordsiek; Niklas Michael Beckonert; Peter Hermann; Matthias Schmitz; Stefan Goebel; Julia Schütte-Schmidt; Sabine Nuhn; Corinna Volpers; Peter Dechent; Matthias Bähr; Wenzel Glanz; Steffen Tiedt; Karin Waegemann; Daniel Janowitz; Benno Ikenberg; Kathleen Bermkopf; Christiane Huber; Michael Wagner; Katja Neumann; Annika Spottke; Tony Stöcker; Marco Dühring; Oliver Speck; Emrah Düzel; Peter Bartenstein
Nursing home residents have high medical care needs. Their medical care utilization is, however, lower compared to community-dwelling elderly and varies widely among nursing homes. This study quantified the utilization of general practitioners (GPs), dentists, and medical specialists among nursing homes and residents, and investigated whether dentist utilization is associated with individual and nursing home characteristics. Methods: Forty-four nursing homes invited 2124 residents to participate in a cross-sectional study. For 10 medical specialties, data on contacts in nursing homes, practices, and by telephone in the last 12 months were assessed at individual and nursing home level. The proportion of nursing homes and residents with any form of contact, and the median number and interquartile range (IQR) of contacts among individuals with contact were determined. Using multilevel logistic regression, associations between the probability of individual dental care utilization and sex, age, LTC grade, years of residence, sponsorship, number of nursing home beds, and transport and medical escort services for consultations at a practice were investigated. Results: The proportion of nursing homes with any form of contact with physicians ranged from 100% for GPs, dentists, and urologists to 76.7% for gynecologists and orthopedists. Among the nursing homes, 442 residents participated (20.8% response). The proportion of residents with any contact varied from 97.8% for GPs, 38.5% for neurologists/psychiatrists, and 32.3% for dentists to 3.0% for gynecologists. Only for GPs, neurologists/psychiatrists, dentists, otorhinolaryngologists, urologists, and dermatologists, the proportion was higher for nursing home contacts than for practice and telephone contacts. Among residents with any contact, the median number of contacts was highest for GPs (11.0 [IQR 7.0-16.0]), urologists (4.0 [IQR 2.0-7.0]), and neurologists/psychiatrists (3.0 [IQR 2.0-5.0]). Dentist utilization varied widely among nursing homes (median odds ratio 2.5) and was associated with higher age. Conclusions: Almost all residents had regular contact to GPs, but only one third had contact with dentists. Lower proportions with contact were found for medical specialists, except for neurologists/psychiatrists. Reasons for the large variations in dental care utilization among nursing homes should be identified.
BMC health services research London : BioMed Central, 2001 22(2022), 1, Artikel-ID 35, Seite 1-11 Online-Ressource
