Cheryl Cohen
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View article: Immune transcriptomic differences in paediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other lower respiratory tract infections
Immune transcriptomic differences in paediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to other lower respiratory tract infections Open
The clinical severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children varies, with asymptomatic or mild illness predominating and a minority developing severe disease. Understanding the immunological responses that underlie severity of disease may gui…
View article: Comparing Respiratory Illness Surveillance Case Definitions to Detect <i>Bordetella pertussis</i> in Children Aged &lt;5 Years With Respiratory Illness in South Africa, 2017–2023
Comparing Respiratory Illness Surveillance Case Definitions to Detect <i>Bordetella pertussis</i> in Children Aged <5 Years With Respiratory Illness in South Africa, 2017–2023 Open
Background Pertussis is vaccine preventable, and surveillance can guide interventions. Assessing the performance of syndromic surveillance and the World Health Organization (WHO) pertussis case definitions can identify improvements to enha…
View article: Mechanistic Insights Into Increased Vulnerability to Respiratory Infections in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Infants
Mechanistic Insights Into Increased Vulnerability to Respiratory Infections in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Infants Open
View article: An influenza outbreak in a South African mine, following the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, September – December 2021
An influenza outbreak in a South African mine, following the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, September – December 2021 Open
Introduction: In November 2021, two months after lifting COVID-19 restrictions, a cluster of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases was detected outside of the normal influenza season at a mine in South Africa. We aimed to determine factors …
View article: Effectiveness of the 2023 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccine Against Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness: A Multi-Country Test-Negative Design Study
Effectiveness of the 2023 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccine Against Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness: A Multi-Country Test-Negative Design Study Open
Background Routine monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) across multiple countries is essential to understand the performance of seasonal vaccine programs. Methods Using a test-negative study design, we estimated the …
View article: Bordetella pertussis infection and antibody dynamics in household cohorts in two South African communities, 2016 – 2018: findings from the PHIRST study
Bordetella pertussis infection and antibody dynamics in household cohorts in two South African communities, 2016 – 2018: findings from the PHIRST study Open
View article: Aetiological Fraction of Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Other Respiratory Pathogens in Infants Aged < 1 Year Hospitalised With Respiratory and Non‐Respiratory Medical Illness in South Africa, 2016–2018
Aetiological Fraction of Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Other Respiratory Pathogens in Infants Aged < 1 Year Hospitalised With Respiratory and Non‐Respiratory Medical Illness in South Africa, 2016–2018 Open
Background Understanding the contribution of pathogens to respiratory illness in infants is important to guide interventions. We assessed the aetiology of respiratory pathogens among infants hospitalised with respiratory and non‐respirator…
View article: Respiratory pathogens detected in children aged <5 years hospitalized with severe respiratory illness, South Africa, 2017
Respiratory pathogens detected in children aged <5 years hospitalized with severe respiratory illness, South Africa, 2017 Open
Introduction The burden of morbidity and mortality of severe respiratory illness (SRI) remains disproportionately high among young children, and in low-and middle-income countries. We used a multi-pathogen respiratory PCR assay to detect p…
View article: Evaluating the Impact of Different Methods on the Timing and Duration of RSV Epidemics: Analysis of Surveillance Data From the GERi (Global Epidemiology of RSV in Hospitalized and Community Care) Study
Evaluating the Impact of Different Methods on the Timing and Duration of RSV Epidemics: Analysis of Surveillance Data From the GERi (Global Epidemiology of RSV in Hospitalized and Community Care) Study Open
Background We previously reviewed methods for estimating the timing of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics. This study examines the impact of various estimation methods on determining the start, end, duration, and capture rate of R…
View article: Temporal Changes in Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Colonization Density Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza in a South African Household Cohort Study, 2016–2018
Temporal Changes in Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Colonization Density Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza in a South African Household Cohort Study, 2016–2018 Open
Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza infections are associated with increased pneumococcal colonization and disease risk. We assessed the impact of RSV and influenza on pneumococcal colonization density and factors in…
View article: Projections of the impact of transmission-reducing pediatric influenza vaccine in South Africa using high resolution immunologic and infection data
Projections of the impact of transmission-reducing pediatric influenza vaccine in South Africa using high resolution immunologic and infection data Open
Background Traditional influenza vaccination programs focus on preventing severe illness through the vaccine’s direct effect. However, vaccinating children may substantially reduce overall burden by lowering transmission, especially in hig…
View article: Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines against COVID-19-related hospitalisation amongst adult members of a private health insurance plan in South Africa during the Delta and Omicron periods: A test-negative case-control study
Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines against COVID-19-related hospitalisation amongst adult members of a private health insurance plan in South Africa during the Delta and Omicron periods: A test-negative case-control study Open
Vaccination offered significant protection against COVID-19-related hospitalisation in PLWH and the elderly, and is therefore an effective means of reducing severe outcomes in these high-risk populations in South Africa. VE against BA.4/5 …
View article: Relationship between household attributes and contact patterns in urban and rural South Africa
Relationship between household attributes and contact patterns in urban and rural South Africa Open
Households play a crucial role in the propagation of infectious diseases due to the frequent and prolonged interactions that typically occur between their members. Recent studies advocated for the importance of including socioeconomic vari…
View article: Multiplex serology reveals age-specific immunodynamics of endemic respiratory pathogens in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
Multiplex serology reveals age-specific immunodynamics of endemic respiratory pathogens in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic Open
The rebound of endemic respiratory viruses following the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by atypical transmission dynamics, with children experiencing increased disease burden and out-of-season epidemics as restrictions relaxed. Here we used …
View article: Pathogen aetiology and risk factors for death among neonates with bloodstream infections at lower-tier South African hospitals: a cross-sectional study
Pathogen aetiology and risk factors for death among neonates with bloodstream infections at lower-tier South African hospitals: a cross-sectional study Open
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
View article: <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> Infections, South Africa, 2015–2023
<i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i> Infections, South Africa, 2015–2023 Open
We reviewed Corynebacterium spp. infection cases reported in South Africa during 2015-2023. We analyzed 84 isolates from 83 patients with C. diphtheriae, as well as 1 C. belfantii and 3 C. ulcerans isolates. Among C. diphtheriae cases, we …
View article: The benefits and risks of maternal RSV vaccination on mortality in South Africa: a modelling study
The benefits and risks of maternal RSV vaccination on mortality in South Africa: a modelling study Open
Background Maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, RSV prefusion F protein vaccine (RSVpreF (Abrysvo ® )), was found to be safe and efficacious in its phase III trial. However, post-hoc stratified analyses identified an excess …
View article: P-22. Implementing Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community Screening Programs: Results from the 2023 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season
P-22. Implementing Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community Screening Programs: Results from the 2023 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season Open
Background Vaccination against seasonal influenza can reduce the duration and severity of influenza symptoms and mitigate the negative impacts on quality of life (QoL). Patient reported outcomes (PROs) provide important data on the infecte…
View article: A generalised catalytic model to assess changes in risk for multiple reinfections with SARS-CoV-2
A generalised catalytic model to assess changes in risk for multiple reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 Open
Background Monitoring trends in multiple infections with SARS-CoV-2, following several pandemic waves, provides insight into the biological characteristics of new variants, but also necessitates methods to understand the risk of multiple r…
View article: Emergence of the BA.2.87.1 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, a highly diverged BA.2-related lineage
Emergence of the BA.2.87.1 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, a highly diverged BA.2-related lineage Open
The emergence of various SARS-CoV-2 lineages with adaptive mutations is of significant concern worldwide, especially when these mutations enhance the virus’s ability to either evade immune responses or transmit more efficiently. Between Se…
View article: Costs of Influenza Illness and Acute Respiratory Infections by Household Income Level: Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Implications for Health Equity
Costs of Influenza Illness and Acute Respiratory Infections by Household Income Level: Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Implications for Health Equity Open
Background Seasonal influenza illness and acute respiratory infections can impose a substantial economic burden in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). We assessed the cost of influenza illness and acute respiratory infections across …
View article: Global impact of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis
Global impact of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis Open
View article: Cohort profile: the potentially preventable burden of community-acquired pneumonia in South African adults in the era of widespread PCV13 immunisation and antiretroviral therapy roll-out, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic – the multicentre, multimethod PotPrev Study
Cohort profile: the potentially preventable burden of community-acquired pneumonia in South African adults in the era of widespread PCV13 immunisation and antiretroviral therapy roll-out, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic – the multicentre, multimethod PotPrev Study Open
Purpose In the setting of an established childhood pneumococcal vaccination programme with immediate initiation and treatment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH), the risk of adult pneumococcal community-acqui…
View article: Home‐Based Testing as an Approach to Estimate Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in South Africa, 2021–2022—A Pilot Study
Home‐Based Testing as an Approach to Estimate Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in South Africa, 2021–2022—A Pilot Study Open
Background Surveillance programmes for influenza and other respiratory pathogens are important to generate vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates and to inform vaccine composition. We aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of hom…
View article: Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness Stratified By National-Level Characteristics: An Introduction to the 24-Country MNSSTER-V Project, 2007–2023
Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness Stratified By National-Level Characteristics: An Introduction to the 24-Country MNSSTER-V Project, 2007–2023 Open
Background Rotavirus vaccines are moderately protective against illness in settings with high compared with low mortality rates. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) evaluations may clarify our understanding of these disparities, but estimates among…
View article: A Potential Platform for Future Vaccine Trials Identifies a High Incidence of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Influenza Infection Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in South Africa
A Potential Platform for Future Vaccine Trials Identifies a High Incidence of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Influenza Infection Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in South Africa Open
Background Approaches for determining whether influenza vaccination prevents infection, attenuates illness, or both are important for developing improved vaccines. We estimated influenza infection incidence and evaluated symptom ascertainm…
View article: The burden of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe Illness in South Africa March 2020-August 2022: A synthesis of epidemiological data
The burden of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Severe Illness in South Africa March 2020-August 2022: A synthesis of epidemiological data Open
Introduction Data on burden of SARS-CoV-2 infections by age group and for different severity levels are lacking. We estimated the South African SARS-CoV-2 disease burden and severity, describing changes in the shape of the disease burden p…
View article: Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated respiratory tract infection in a high HIV prevalence setting, South Africa, 2012 – 2018
Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated respiratory tract infection in a high HIV prevalence setting, South Africa, 2012 – 2018 Open
View article: Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease-causing lineages among South African children
Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease-causing lineages among South African children Open
View article: Demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study
Demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study Open
Introduction Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death, with an approximate case fatality rate of 37% across all age groups in South Africa. This study aimed to describe the demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident meningi…