Seroadaptation is defined as the practice of modifying sexual behavior based on one's own HIV serostatus, the perceived HIV serostatus of sexual partners, and differences in risk of HIV transmission by sexual acts. Because this definition implies intent, we use the term "seroprotection" to describe HIV negative participants reporting condomless anal sex (CAS) either exclusively with seronegativ...

INTRODUCTION Hepatitis B vaccination starting at birth provides a safety net for infants exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) during delivery or in early life. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended in the United States for infants prior to birthing facility discharge, and within the first 12h of life for infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers. We performed a literature ...

STUDY OBJECTIVE We determine tetanus seroprotection rates and physician compliance with tetanus prophylaxis recommendations among patients presenting with wounds. METHODS A prospective observational study of patients aged 18 years or older who presented to 5 university-affiliated emergency departments (EDs) because of wounds was conducted between March 1999 and August 2000. Serum antitoxin le...

Background/Aims: Will immunization with an experimental Pre-S1/Pre-S2/S hepatitis B vaccine (Bio-Hep-Be) induce faster seroprotection using fewer doses as compared with a yeast derived S vaccine (Engerix B). Methods: Healthy volunteers, nˆ 36, mean age 23 y, randomized to receive 2 or 3 doses of both vaccines given months 0 and 6, or 0, 1 and 6. Results: Following primary immunization, seroprot...

Advisory committees have cautioned that influenza vaccine–induced antibody declines more rapidly in the elderly, falling below seroprotective levels within 4 months. We conducted a literature review to assess this assertion. The articles that were included in this review reported antibody levels 4 months after influenza immunization in persons 60 years old, interpretable in the context of annua...

Vaccine-induced antibodies may wane more quickly in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than in healthy individuals. We reviewed the literature on vaccines routinely recommended in HIV-infected patients to estimate how seroprotection decreases over time in those who initially responded to immunization. For each study retrieved from the literature, the decrease of seroprotecti...

OBJECTIVE HEPLISAV™ is an adult hepatitis B vaccine that requires fewer doses over a shorter period of time and elicits higher and earlier seroprotection compared to Engerix-B to reduce the risk of hepatitis B infection. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of vaccination with HEPLISAV vs. Engerix-B(®) to prevent hepatitis B infection in select populations. ME...

OBJECTIVE In SLE, a decreased antibody response on influenza vaccination has been reported. In this study, we assessed whether a booster vaccination could improve antibody responses, as determined by seroprotection rates, in SLE patients. METHODS SLE patients (n = 52) with quiescent disease (SLEDAI < or =4) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 28) received subunit influenza vaccine in October-Dece...

BACKGROUND Before pandemic (H1N1) 2009, less than 10% of serum samples collected from all age groups in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, showed seroprotection against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, except those from very elderly people. We reassessed this profile of seroprotection by age in the same region six months after the fall 2009 pandemic and vaccination campaign. METHO...