Publications by authors named "Reiko Shimbashi"
Purpose: To systematically investigate whether the decline in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD; caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae) notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on Japan's national infectious disease surveillance system, was due to a reduction in incidence.
Methods: Considering potential surveillance biases from changes in healthcare-seeking, testing/diagnosis, or reporting, we compared the following for the 12-month period before vs. after the state of emergency declaration (week 15, 2020): notification rates of IPD, invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (IHD), and legionellosis (clinically similar bacterial diseases, but unlike IPD/IHD, legionellosis is not transmitted person-to-person and serves as a negative control); surveillance timeliness indicators; notifications restricted to severe cases; and S.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted RSV notification trends in Japan from 2018 to 2021, notably reducing reports in 2020.
- In 2021, there was an unusual early peak in RSV cases, particularly among older children (ages 2 and above), with a rise in milder cases being treated in outpatient settings compared to hospitals.
- Despite a rebound in RSV-related deaths in 2021, the overall numbers remained lower than those reported in 2018 and 2019, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of RSV trends.
Article Synopsis
- - Pigs are the main carriers of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), but a 2016 outbreak on Tsushima Island affected residents who did not farm pigs, prompting a study to assess the risk of JEV.
- - A survey of 560 residents in early 2017 revealed high seroprevalence rates of neutralizing antibodies against two JEV strains, with notable levels in older individuals and those who spent time outdoors.
- - Although wild boar samples tested negative for JEV RNA, they showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies, indicating that the virus can still be transmitted on the island and that wild boars may act as amplifying hosts.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the occurrence of certain respiratory bacteria, highlighting significant changes in their epidemiology due to new social behaviors and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).
- Researchers analyzed data from a national surveillance database from 2018 to 2021, comparing cases of four bacteria before and after the pandemic, focusing on different age groups and specimen sources.
- Findings showed a significant drop in cases of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and S. pyogenes between 2019 and 2020, with a resurgence in 2021, particularly among young children, indicating the varied impact of NPIs on different bacteria and demographics.
A Pediatric Case of Encephalopathy With Hypoglycemia Induced by Coxsackievirus A4 Infection.
Pediatr Infect Dis J
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- - A pediatric case of hypoglycemic encephalopathy was observed during an acute infection with coxsackievirus (CV)-A4.
- - The virus's sequence from the patient matched a recombinant strain of CV-A4 that was previously associated with a lethal variant of CV-A2.
- - This finding suggests a possible link between CV-A4 and the severe hypoglycemic encephalopathy experienced by the patient.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how seasonal influenza affects adults with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Japan, analyzing data from 1722 patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It found that the seasonal influenza epidemic declined with the pandemic, and there was a notable decrease in bacteremic pneumonia cases during this time.
- Additionally, patients with a history of seasonal influenza had a higher rate of bacteremic pneumonia and a greater risk of death, especially among older males, prior to the pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- A case-control study was conducted to assess COVID-19 infection risk among healthcare workers, collecting data on demographics, contact behaviors, and protective equipment usage.
- Out of 1,899 participants, 161 (8.5%) were found to be seropositive, with physical contact and aerosol-generating procedures significantly increasing risk.
- The use of goggles and N95 masks effectively reduced the risk of infection, and seroprevalence was notably higher in outbreak wards compared to COVID-19 dedicated wards.
Impact of the Coming-of-Age Day and ceremony on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Japan: A natural-experimental study based on national surveillance data.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
November 2022
Background: Quantifying the impact on COVID-19 transmission from a single event has been difficult due to the virus transmission dynamics, such as lag from exposure to reported infection, non-linearity arising from the person-to-person transmission, and the modifying effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions over time. To address these issues, we aimed to estimate the COVID-19 transmission risk of social events focusing on the Japanese Coming-of-Age Day and Coming-of-Age ceremony in which "new adults" practice risky behavior on that particular day.
Methods: Using national surveillance data in Japan in 2021 and 2022, we conducted difference-in-differences regression against COVID-19 incidences by setting "new adults" cases as the treatment group and the cases 1 year younger or older than these "new adults" as the control group.
Article Synopsis
- A population-based study in Japan analyzed invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among adults from 2013 to 2019, focusing on clinical characteristics and serotype distribution following the introduction of the pediatric 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).
- The study found a reduction in fatal outcomes and a significant decrease in infections from serotypes covered by PCV13 among adults aged 15-64, while nonvaccine serotypes increased in those aged ≥ 65.
- The findings suggest that the pediatric PCV13 vaccination has a positive indirect effect on reducing IPD incidence in adults, which supports future vaccination strategies for older populations in
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the effects of the PCV13 vaccine on pneumococcal meningitis among adults in Japan from 2014 to 2018, comparing those with and without the disease.
- Annual incidence rates of meningitis were low, and younger patients with meningitis had a lower case fatality rate than those without it.
- The vaccine showed limited direct impact on meningitis cases, as many meningitis-causing strains were not covered by PCV13, with significant resistance observed in some isolates.
Article Synopsis
- The study assesses how the decline in vaccine-covered serotypes affects the effectiveness of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults.
- Conducted in Japan from April 2013 to December 2017, the research shows that the overall effectiveness of PPSV23 against IPD was 42.2%, with only a marginal decline among the elderly.
- The findings suggest that the national pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine program had a limited impact on the effectiveness of PPSV23 in preventing IPD in adults.
Article Synopsis
- - Enhanced surveillance from April 2013 to March 2018 in Japan identified 1277 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults, revealing a rise in infections caused by the serotype 12F.
- - Compared to non-12F IPD patients, those with 12F IPD were generally younger and had fewer comorbidities, with significant differences in vaccination rates (4% vs. 14%) and immunocompromised conditions (19% vs. 30%).
- - Despite the clinical differences, the mortality rates were similar between the two groups, but 12F IPD victims were younger and had a higher incidence of bacteremia without focus, indicating the ser
Epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases in Japan: considerations for pre-travel advice for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Western Pac Surveill Response J
July 2018
Introduction: In 2019 and 2020, Japan will host two international sporting events estimated to draw a combined 22 million visitors. Mass gatherings like these ones increase the risk of spread of infectious disease outbreaks and international transmission. Pre-travel advice reduces that risk.
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