Last data update: Dec 09, 2024. (Total: 48320 publications since 2009)
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Statewide outbreak of neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, sequence type 1466 - Virginia, 2022-2024
Robinson M , Crain J , Kendall B , Alexander V , Diskin E , Saady D , Hicks C , Myrick-West A , Bordwine P , Sockwell D , Craig E , Rubis A , McNamara L , Sharma S , Howie R , Marasini D , Marjuki H , Colón A . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (43) 973-977 Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a severe illness that can have devastating effects; outbreaks are uncommon in the United States. Vaccination is the preferred control measure for IMD outbreaks when a defined population at risk (e.g., college students or persons experiencing homelessness) can be identified. In August 2022, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) began investigating an IMD outbreak in Virginia's Eastern Health Planning Region, prompted by the detection of four confirmed cases within 8 weeks. Clinical isolates available from three cases were characterized as Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, sequence type 1466. A subsequent statewide investigation identified 36 genetically related cases, including seven deaths (case fatality rate = 19.4%) as of March 1, 2024. A majority of patients (63.9%) were in an age group (30-60 years) not generally considered at increased risk for IMD; 78.0% were non-Hispanic Black or African American. No common exposures, affiliations, or risk factors were identified, and a defined population could not be identified for vaccination. VDH recommended quadrivalent (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) meningococcal conjugate vaccination of a subset of close contacts of patients based on IMD risk factors and age range similar to that of patients with identified cases. IMD outbreaks might affect populations without established IMD risk factors. Lack of a well-defined population at risk might prompt exploration of novel control strategies, such as selective vaccination of close contacts. |
CDC Program Evaluation Framework, 2024
Kidder DP , Fierro LA , Luna E , Salvaggio H , McWhorter A , Bowen SA , Murphy-Hoefer R , Thigpen S , Alexander D , Armstead TL , August E , Bruce D , Clarke SN , Davis C , Downes A , Gill S , House LD , Kerzner M , Kun K , Mumford K , Robin L , Schlueter D , Schooley M , Valverde E , Vo L , Williams D , Young K . MMWR Recomm Rep 2024 73 (6) 1-37 Program evaluation is a critical tool for understanding and improving organizational activities and systems. This report updates the 1999 CDC Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health (CDC. Framework for program evaluation in public health. MMWR Recomm Rep 1999;48[No. RR-11];1-40) by integrating major advancements in the fields of evaluation and public health, lessons learned from practical applications of the original framework, and current Federal agency policies and practices. A practical, nonprescriptive tool, the updated 2024 framework is designed to summarize and organize essential elements of program evaluation, and can be applied at any level from individual programs to broader systems by novices and experts for planning and implementing an evaluation. Although many of the key aspects from the 1999 framework remain, certain key differences exist. For example, this updated framework also includes six steps that describe the general process of evaluation planning and implementation, but some content and step names have changed (e.g., the first step has been renamed Assess context). The standards for high-quality evaluation remain central to the framework, although they have been updated to the five Federal evaluation standards. The most substantial change from the 1999 framework is the addition of three cross-cutting actions that are core tenets to incorporate within each evaluation step: engage collaboratively, advance equity, and learn from and use insights. The 2024 framework provides a guide for designing and conducting evaluation across many topics within and outside of public health that anyone involved in program evaluation efforts can use alone or in conjunction with other evaluation approaches, tools, or methods to build evidence, understand programs, and refine evidence-based decision-making to improve all program outcomes. |
State-level household energy insecurity and diabetes prevalence among US adults, 2020
Saelee R , Bullard KM , Wittman JT , Alexander DS , Hudson D . Prev Chronic Dis 2024 21 E65 The objective of this study was to examine the state-level association between household energy insecurity and diabetes prevalence in 2020. We obtained 1) state-level data on household energy characteristics from the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey and 2) diagnosed diabetes prevalence from the US Diabetes Surveillance System. We found states with a higher percentage of household energy insecurity had greater diabetes prevalence compared with states with lower percentages of energy insecurity. Interventions related to energy assistance may help reduce household energy insecurity, mitigate the risk of diabetes-related complications, and alleviate some of the burden of diabetes management during extreme temperatures. |
COVID-19 deaths in dental occupations and other healthcare occupations among U.S. decedents in 2020
Blackley BH , Fechter-Leggett ED , Alexander T , Panagakos F , Chipps T , Cox-Ganser JM . Am J Ind Med 2024 BACKGROUND: Early studies during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested dental occupations were among the highest risk for exposure to SARs-CoV-2 because of multiple factors increasing exposure, including close proximity to unmasked patients and performance of aerosol-generating procedures. However, to date, few studies have investigated COVID-19 deaths in United States dental occupations, and compared COVID-19 deaths among healthcare occupations. METHODS: We analyzed 2020 mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System. Multivariable logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death in relation to occupation in working-age decedents (≤65 years), after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19. RESULTS: Dental occupations did not have significantly higher risk for COVID-19 death when compared to all other occupations combined. Among healthcare occupations with frequent, direct patient- or client interactions, LPNs and LVNs, and speech and language pathologists had significantly elevated adjusted ORs for COVID-19 death when compared to dentists, dental hygienists, or dental assistants. Similarly, nurse practitioners had significantly higher ORs for COVID-19 mortality than dentists or dental hygienists, and approached significance when compared to dental assistants. Conversely, massage therapists and other health diagnosing and treating practitioners had significantly lower adjusted ORs for COVID-19 death compared with dental occupations. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights potential differences in work-related transmission of SARs-CoV-2 and subsequent COVID-19 deaths in healthcare occupations, and furthers a previously limited understanding of COVID-19 deaths in healthcare occupations in 2020, before COVID-19 vaccine availability. Our results indicate that dental occupations were not among the highest, nor lowest risk, healthcare occupations for COVID-19 deaths in 2020, despite their known risks of direct exposure. |
Pediatric and adolescent HIV viral load coverage and suppression rates in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 PEPFAR-supported sub-Saharan African countries in 2019 and 2020
Carpenter D , Hast M , Buono N , Hrapcak S , Sato K , Mrina R , Cox MH , Agaba PA , Vrazo AC , Wolf H , Rivadeneira ED , Shang JD , Mayer MM , Prao AH , Longuma HO , Kabwe C , Lwana PN , Tilahun T , Ts'oeu M , Mutisya I , Omoto LN , Cowan JG , Deus Mijt , Fagbamigbe OJ , Ene U , Ikpeazu A , Ndlovu MB , Matiko E , Schaad N , Bisimba J , Lema E , Musokotwane K , Maphosa T , Buthelezi B , Olarinoye A , Lawal I , Mukungunugwa S , Mwambona JT , Wondimu T , Kathure IA , Igboelina OD , Nzima VN , Bissai RG , Lenka M , Shasha W , Olivier NK , Matsinhe M , Wate A , Godfrey L , Alexander H , Alemnji G , Lecher S . PLOS Glob Public Health 2024 4 (8) e0003513 The early period of the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to HIV services for children and adolescents living with HIV (C/ALHIV). To determine progress in providing care and treatment services, we describe viral load coverage (VLC) and suppression (VLS) (<1000 copies/ mL) rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported countries. Data for children (0-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) on VLC and VLS were analyzed for 12 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020 (during COVID-19). We report the number of viral load (VL) tests, and percent change in VLC and VLS for patients on ART. For 12 countries, 181,192 children had a VL test during the pre-COVID-19 period compared with 177,683 December 2020 during COVID-19. VLC decreased from 68.8% to 68.3% overall. However, 9 countries experienced an increase ranging from a 0.7%-point increase for Tanzania and Zimbabwe to a 15.3%-point increase for Nigeria. VLS increased for all countries from 71.2% to 77.7%. For adolescents the number with a VL test increased from 377,342 to 402,792. VLC decreased from 77.4% to 77.1%. However, 7 countries experienced an increase ranging from 1.8% for Mozambique to 13.8% for Cameroon. VLS increased for all countries from 76.8% to 83.8%. This analysis shows variation in HIV VLC across 12 SSA countries. VLS consistently improved across all countries demonstrating resilience of countries during 2020. Countries should continue to improve clinical outcomes from C/ALHIV despite service disruptions that may occur during pandemic response. |
Racial and economic segregation and diabetes mortality in the USA, 2016-2020
Saelee R , Alexander DS , Wittman JT , Pavkov ME , Hudson DL , Bullard KM . J Epidemiol Community Health 2024 BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between racial and economic segregation and diabetes mortality among US counties from 2016 to 2020. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional ecological study that combined county-level diabetes mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and sociodemographic information drawn from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey (n=2380 counties in the USA). Racialized economic segregation was measured using the Index Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) for income (ICE(income)), race (ICE(race)) and combined income and race (ICE(combined)). ICE measures were categorised into quintiles, Q1 representing the highest concentration and Q5 the lowest concentration of low-income, non-Hispanic (NH) black and low-income NH black households, respectively. Diabetes was ascertained as the underlying cause of death. County-level covariates included the percentage of people aged ≥65 years, metropolitan designation and population size. Multilevel Poisson regression was used to estimate the adjusted mean mortality rate and adjusted risk ratios (aRR) comparing Q1 and Q5. RESULTS: Adjusted mean diabetes mortality rate was consistently greater in counties with higher concentrations of low-income (ICE(income)) and low-income NH black households (ICE(combined)). Compared with counties with the lowest concentration (Q1), counties with the highest concentration (Q5) of low-income (aRR 1.93; 95% CI 1.79 to 2.09 for ICE(income)), NH black (aRR 1.93; 95% CI 1.79 to 2.09 for ICE(race)) and low-income NH black households (aRR 1.32; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.47 for ICE(combined)) had greater diabetes mortality. CONCLUSION: Racial and economic segregation is associated with diabetes mortality across US counties. |
Child age at time of first maternal concern and time to services among children with autism spectrum disorder
Van Dyke J , Rosenberg SA , Crume T , Reyes N , Alexander AA , Barger B , Fitzgerald R , Hightshoe K , Moody EJ , Pazol K , Rosenberg CR , Rubenstein E , Wiggins L , DiGuiseppi C . J Dev Behav Pediatr 2024 OBJECTIVE: Early treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can improve developmental outcomes. Children with ASD from minority families often receive services later. We explored factors related to child's age at time of mother's first concerns about child's development and subsequent time to service initiation among children with ASD. METHODS: Analysis included 759 preschool-age children classified with ASD based on comprehensive evaluations. Factors associated with retrospectively reported child age at time of first maternal concern and subsequent time to service initiation were investigated using multiple linear regression and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: Earlier maternal concern was associated with multiparity, ≥1 child chronic condition, externalizing behaviors, and younger gestational age, but not race/ethnicity. Time to service initiation was longer for children of non-Latino Black or other than Black or White race and higher developmental level and shorter for children with ≥1 chronic condition and older child age at first maternal concern. CONCLUSION: Parity, gestational age, and child health and behavior were associated with child age at first maternal concern. Knowledge of child development in multiparous mothers may allow them to recognize potential concerns earlier, suggesting that first time parents may benefit from enhanced education about normal development. Race/ethnicity was not associated with child's age when mothers recognized potential developmental problems; hence, it is unlikely that awareness of ASD symptoms causes racial/ethnic disparities in initiation of services. Delays in time to service initiation among children from racial/ethnic minority groups highlight the need to improve their access to services as soon as developmental concerns are recognized. |
Oil and Gas Extraction industry workers' compensation claims and proposed safety interventions
Alexander BM , Ramirez-Cardenas A , Wurzelbacher SJ , Meyers AR , Naber SJ . J Occup Environ Med 2024 OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed Ohio workers' compensation (WC) data to identify potential prevention strategies for common Oil and Gas Extraction industry claims. METHODS: Claim rates for 2001-2018 were calculated per full-time equivalent employee. Descriptive analyses on free-text descriptions of lost-time (LT) claims (>7 days away from work) identified common characteristics among claims and injured workers. RESULTS: Among 3,134 claims, 860 (27%) were LT. The industry group, Drilling contractors, experienced the highest LT claims rate, while the cost from Servicing contractors was highest. Contact with objects and equipment caused the highest LT claims rate. The most frequent LT occupation was Roustabout and LT work activity was Material Handling. Transportation Incidents caused most fatalities and hospitalizations. Over half of LT claims were from short-tenured workers. CONCLUSIONS: Both proven and innovative approaches are needed to reduce severe WC claims in this industry. |
Identifying priority geographic locations for diabetes self-management education and support services in the Appalachian Region
Wittman JT , Alexander DS , Bing M , Montierth R , Xie H , Benoit SR , Bullard KM . Prev Chronic Dis 2024 21 E27 |
Investigating SARS-CoV-2 incidence and morbidity in Ponce, Puerto Rico: Protocol and baseline results from a community cohort study
Major CG , Rodríguez DM , Sánchez-González L , Rodríguez-Estrada V , Morales-Ortíz T , Torres C , Pérez-Rodríguez NM , Medina-Lópes NA , Alexander N , Mabey D , Ryff K , Tosado-Acevedo R , Muñoz-Jordán J , Adams LE , Rivera-Amill V , Rolfes M , Paz-Bailey G . JMIR Res Protoc 2024 13 e53837 BACKGROUND: A better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among Hispanic and Latino populations and in low-resource settings in the United States is needed to inform control efforts and strategies to improve health equity. Puerto Rico has a high poverty rate and other population characteristics associated with increased vulnerability to COVID-19, and there are limited data to date to determine community incidence. OBJECTIVE: This study describes the protocol and baseline seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a prospective community-based cohort study (COPA COVID-19 [COCOVID] study) to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence and morbidity in Ponce, Puerto Rico. METHODS: In June 2020, we implemented the COCOVID study within the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses project platform among residents of 15 communities in Ponce, Puerto Rico, aged 1 year or older. Weekly, participants answered questionnaires on acute symptoms and preventive behaviors and provided anterior nasal swab samples for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing; additional anterior nasal swabs were collected for expedited polymerase chain reaction testing from participants that reported 1 or more COVID-19-like symptoms. At enrollment and every 6 months during follow-up, participants answered more comprehensive questionnaires and provided venous blood samples for multiantigen SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G antibody testing (an indicator of seroprevalence). Weekly follow-up activities concluded in April 2022 and 6-month follow-up visits concluded in August 2022. Primary study outcome measures include SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence and seroprevalence, relative risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by participant characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 household attack rate, and COVID-19 illness characteristics and outcomes. In this study, we describe the characteristics of COCOVID participants overall and by SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence status at baseline. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 1030 participants from 388 households. Relative to the general populations of Ponce and Puerto Rico, our cohort overrepresented middle-income households, employed and middle-aged adults, and older children (P<.001). Almost all participants (1021/1025, 99.61%) identified as Latino/a, 17.07% (175/1025) had annual household incomes less than US $10,000, and 45.66% (463/1014) reported 1 or more chronic medical conditions. Baseline SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was low (16/1030, 1.55%) overall and increased significantly with later study enrollment time (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: The COCOVID study will provide a valuable opportunity to better estimate the burden of SARS-CoV-2 and associated risk factors in a primarily Hispanic or Latino population, assess the limitations of surveillance, and inform mitigation measures in Puerto Rico and other similar populations. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/53837. |
COVID-19 vaccination coverage - World Health Organization African Region, 2021-2023
Doshi RH , Nsasiirwe S , Dahlke M , Atagbaza A , Aluta OE , Tatsinkou AB , Dauda E , Vilajeliu A , Gurung S , Tusiime J , Braka F , Bwaka A , Wanyoike S , Brooks DJ , Blanc DC , Alexander JP Jr , Dahl BA , Lindstrand A , Wiysonge CS . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (14) 307-311 With the availability of authorized COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021, vaccination became an effective tool to reduce COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality. Initially, the World Health Organization (WHO) set an ambitious target to vaccinate 70% of the global population by mid-2022. However, in July 2022, WHO recommended that all countries, including those in the African Region, prioritize COVID-19 vaccination of high-risk groups, including older adults and health care workers, to have the greatest impact on morbidity and mortality. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 860 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been delivered to countries in the African Region, and 646 million doses had been administered. Cumulatively, 38% of the African Region's population had received ≥1 dose, 32% had completed a primary series, and 21% had received ≥1 booster dose. Cumulative total population coverage with ≥1 dose ranged by country from 0.3% to 89%. Coverage with the primary series among older age groups was 52% (range among countries = 15%-96%); primary series coverage among health care workers was 48% (range = 13%-99%). Although the COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern was declared over in May 2023, current WHO recommendations reinforce the need to vaccinate priority populations at highest risk for severe COVID-19 disease and death and build more sustainable programs by integrating COVID-19 vaccination into primary health care, strengthening immunization across the life course, and improving pandemic preparedness. |
Progress toward rubella and congenital rubella syndrome elimination - Worldwide, 2012-2022
Ou AC , Zimmerman LA , Alexander JP Jr , Crowcroft NS , O'Connor PM , Knapp JK . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (8) 162-167 Rubella virus is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable birth defects. Infection during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth, or a constellation of birth defects, including cataracts, deafness, heart defects, and developmental delay, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). A single dose of rubella-containing vaccine can provide lifelong protection against rubella. The Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2020 included a target to achieve elimination of rubella in at least five of the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions by 2020, and rubella elimination is a critical goal of the Immunization Agenda 2030. This report updates a previous report and describes progress toward rubella and CRS elimination during 2012-2022. During 2012-2022, among 194 WHO countries, the number that included rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) in their immunization schedules increased from 132 (68%) to 175 (90%) and the percentage of the world's infants vaccinated against rubella increased from 40% to 68%. Reported rubella cases declined 81%, from 93,816 in 2012 to 17,407 in 2022. Verification of rubella elimination was achieved in 98 (51%) of 194 countries by 2022, an increase from 84 (43%) countries in 2019. Despite significant progress in the introduction of RCV into routine immunization programs worldwide, approximately 25 million infants annually still do not have access to RCV. Nevertheless, even in complex settings, the increasing number of countries that have achieved and sustained rubella elimination demonstrates progress toward global rubella elimination. |
Postintervention immunological and entomological survey of lymphatic filariasis in the City of Olinda, Brazil, 2015-2016
Ramesh A , Oliveira P , Cameron M , Castanha PMS , Walker T , Lenhart A , Impoinvil L , Alexander N , Medeiros Z , Sá A , Rocha A , Souza WV , Maciel A , Braga C . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024 Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a leading cause of disability due to infectious disease worldwide. The Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR) is the only remaining focus of LF in Brazil, where the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti is transmitted solely by the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. This study reports the results of transmission assessment surveys and molecular xenomonitoring in the city of Olinda, RMR, after nearly 15 years (2015-2016) of interventions for LF elimination. Participants were screened for W. bancrofti antigen via immunochromatographic card tests (ICT) in: 1) door-to-door surveys conducted for all children aged 5-7 years from 4 out of 17 intervention areas treated with at least five annual doses of mass drug administration (MDA), and 2) a two-stage cluster sampling survey of residents aged 5 years and older in non-MDA areas. Mosquitoes were collected via handheld aspirators in four MDA areas, differentiated by species, sex, and physiological status, pooled into groups of up to 10 blood-fed, semigravid, and gravid mosquitoes, and screened for W. bancrofti infection by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). All 1,170 children from MDA areas and the entire population sample of 990 residents in non-MDA areas were ICT negative. In MDA areas, a total of 3,152 female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in 277 households (range, 0-296 mosquitoes per house) were collected via aspiration. RT-qPCR of 233 pools of mosquitos were negative for W. bancrofti RNA; an independent reference laboratory confirmed these results. These results provide evidence that LF transmission has been halted in this setting. |
Global phylogeography and evolutionary history of Shigella dysenteriae type 1.
Njamkepo E , Fawal N , Tran-Dien A , Hawkey J , Strockbine N , Jenkins C , Talukder KA , Bercion R , Kuleshov K , Kolínská R , Russell JE , Kaftyreva L , Accou-Demartin M , Karas A , Vandenberg O , Mather AE , Mason CJ , Page AJ , Ramamurthy T , Bizet C , Gamian A , Carle I , Sow AG , Bouchier C , Wester AL , Lejay-Collin M , Fonkoua MC , Le Hello S , Blaser MJ , Jernberg C , Ruckly C , Mérens A , Page AL , Aslett M , Roggentin P , Fruth A , Denamur E , Venkatesan M , Bercovier H , Bodhidatta L , Chiou CS , Clermont D , Colonna B , Egorova S , Pazhani GP , Ezernitchi AV , Guigon G , Harris SR , Izumiya H , Korzeniowska-Kowal A , Lutyńska A , Gouali M , Grimont F , Langendorf C , Marejková M , Peterson LA , Perez-Perez G , Ngandjio A , Podkolzin A , Souche E , Makarova M , Shipulin GA , Ye C , Žemličková H , Herpay M , Grimont PA , Parkhill J , Sansonetti P , Holt KE , Brisse S , Thomson NR , Weill FX . Nat Microbiol 2016 1 16027 Together with plague, smallpox and typhus, epidemics of dysentery have been a major scourge of human populations for centuries(1). A previous genomic study concluded that Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Sd1), the epidemic dysentery bacillus, emerged and spread worldwide after the First World War, with no clear pattern of transmission(2). This is not consistent with the massive cyclic dysentery epidemics reported in Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries(1,3,4) and the first isolation of Sd1 in Japan in 1897(5). Here, we report a whole-genome analysis of 331 Sd1 isolates from around the world, collected between 1915 and 2011, providing us with unprecedented insight into the historical spread of this pathogen. We show here that Sd1 has existed since at least the eighteenth century and that it swept the globe at the end of the nineteenth century, diversifying into distinct lineages associated with the First World War, Second World War and various conflicts or natural disasters across Africa, Asia and Central America. We also provide a unique historical perspective on the evolution of antibiotic resistance over a 100-year period, beginning decades before the antibiotic era, and identify a prevalent multiple antibiotic-resistant lineage in South Asia that was transmitted in several waves to Africa, where it caused severe outbreaks of disease. |
An evaluation of messages to promote parental intent to vaccinate children aged <12 years against COVID-19
Chan IL , Schwarz K , Weinstein N , Mansergh G , Nahhas RW , Gelaude D , Alexander R , Rodriguez L , Strauss W , Repetski T , Sullivan N , Long E , Evener SL , Garbarino A , Kollar LMM . Public Health Rep 2024 333549231218725 OBJECTIVES: Effective health communication can increase intent to vaccinate. We compared 8 messages that may influence parents' intent to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey of adults in the United States administered online in August 2021, 1837 parents and legal guardians were exposed to 8 messages (individual choice, gain/practical benefits, nonexpert, health care provider recommendation, altruism/community good, safety/effectiveness, safety, and effectiveness) to determine message reception and influence on intent to vaccinate their children. Parents responded to 10 questions using a Likert scale. We computed odds ratios (ORs) for each message, with an OR >1.0 indicating greater observed odds of participant agreement with the follow-up statement as compared with a reference message. We compared outcomes individually across messages with ordinal logistic regression fit using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: The individual choice message had the highest odds of agreement for understanding intent (OR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.94-2.27), followed by the health care provider recommendation message (OR = 1.58; 95% CI, 1.46-1.71). The individual choice message had the highest odds of memorability, relatability, and trustworthiness. The altruism/community good message was at or near second best. The altruism/community good message had the highest or near-highest odds of increasing parents' intent to vaccinate their children, asking friends and family for their thoughts, and searching for additional information. The message that most motivated parents to vaccinate their children depended on parental intent to vaccinate prior to being exposed to the tested messages. CONCLUSIONS: Messages with themes of individual choice, health care provider recommendation, and altruism/community good may be used in future message campaigns. Further research is needed to refine message concepts related to altruism/community good. |
Household food security status and allostatic load among US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2020
Saelee R , Alexander DS , Onufrak S , Imperatore G , Bullard KM . J Nutr 2023 BACKGROUND: Household food insecurity has been linked to adverse health outcomes, but pathways driving these associations are not well understood. The stress experienced by those in food insecure households and having to prioritize between food and other essential needs could lead to physiological dysregulations (i.e., allostatic load [AL]) and, as a result, adversely impact their health. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between household food security status and AL and differences by gender, race and ethnicity, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation. METHODS: We used data from 7640 US adults in the 2015-2016 and 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate means and prevalence ratios (PR) for AL scores (based on cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune biomarkers) associated with self-reported household food security status from multivariable linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Adults in marginally food secure (mean = 3.09, SE = 0.10) and food insecure households (mean = 3.05, SE = 0.08) had higher mean AL than those in food secure households (mean = 2.70, SE = 0.05). Compared to adults in food secure households in the same category, those more likely to have an elevated AL included: SNAP participants (PR = 1.12; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.03, 1.22) and Hispanic women (PR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.37) in marginally food secure households; and non-Hispanic Black women (PR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.26), men (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.26), and non-SNAP non-Hispanic White adults (PR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.08, 1.39) in food insecure households. CONCLUSIONS: AL may be one pathway by which household food insecurity affects health and may vary by gender, race and ethnicity, and SNAP participation. |
Analysis of the yearly transition function in measles disease modeling
Davila-Payan CS , Hill A , Kayembe L , Alexander JP , Lynch M , Pallas SW . Stat Med 2023 Globally, there were an estimated 9.8 million measles cases and 207 500 measles deaths in 2019. As the effort to eliminate measles around the world continues, modeling remains a valuable tool for public health decision-makers and program implementers. This study presents a novel approach to the use of a yearly transition function that formulates mathematically the vaccine schedules for different age groups while accounting for the effects of the age of vaccination, the timing of vaccination, and disease seasonality on the yearly number of measles cases in a country. The methodology presented adds to an existing modeling framework and expands its analysis, making its utilization more adjustable for the user and contributing to its conceptual clarity. This article also adjusts for the temporal interaction between vaccination and exposure to disease, applying adjustments to estimated yearly counts of cases and the number of vaccines administered that increase population immunity. These new model features provide the ability to forecast and compare the effects of different vaccination timing scenarios and seasonality of transmission on the expected disease incidence. Although the work presented is applied to the example of measles, it has potential relevance to modeling other vaccine-preventable diseases. |
Characterization of patients receiving surgical versus non-surgical treatment for infective endocarditis in West Virginia
Bhandari R , Abdulhay N , Alexander T , Rubenstein J , Meyer A , Annie FH , Kaleem U , Wiener RC , Sedney C , Thompson E , Irfan A . PLoS One 2023 18 (11) e0289622 BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) has increased in rural states such as West Virginia (WV) with high injection drug use. IE is medically managed with antimicrobial treatment alone or combined with surgical treatment. This study aimed to characterize the predictors associated with surgical treatment and rates of inpatient mortality and readmission among IE patients in WV's rural centers. METHODS: This retrospective review of electronic health records includes all adults hospitalized for IE at major rural tertiary cardiovascular centers in WV during 2014-2018. Descriptive statistics were presented on demographics, history of injection drug use, clinical characteristics, and hospital utilization by surgery status, and multivariable logistic regression examined the association of surgery with key predictor variables, generating odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: Of the 780 patients with IE, 38% had surgery, with a 26-fold increase in patients undergoing surgery between 2014-2018. Comparing surgery and non-surgery patients revealed significant differences. Surgery patients were significantly younger (median age 35.6 vs. 40.5 years; p<0.001); had higher rates of drug use history (80% vs. 65%; p<0.001), psychiatric disorders (57% vs. 31%; p<0.001), and readmissions (18% vs.12%; p = 0.015). Surgery patients had lower rates of discharge against medical advice (11% vs.17%; p = 0.028) and in-hospital mortality (5% vs.12%; p<0.001). In the multivariable logistic regression, surgery was associated with injection drug use (OR: 1.9; 95% CI:1.09-3. 3), indications for surgery (OR: 1.68; 95% CI:1.48-1.91), left-sided IE (OR: 2.14; 95%CI:1.43-3.19) and later years (OR:3.75; 95%CI:2.5-5.72). CONCLUSION: This study characterizes the predictors associated with surgical treatment and rates of inpatient mortality and readmission among IE patients across rural WV. The decision to perform cardiac surgery on IE patients is complex. Results with increased injection drug use-associated IE emphasize the importance of comprehensive care by a multidisciplinary team for optimal management of patients with IE. |
Prevalence of undiagnosed monkeypox virus infections during global mpox outbreak, United States, June-September 2022
Minhaj FS , Singh V , Cohen SE , Townsend M , Scott H , Szumowski J , Hare CB , Upadhyay P , Reddy J , Alexander B , Baird N , Navarra T , Priyamvada L , Wynn N , Carson WC , Odafe S , Guagliardo SAJ , Sims E , Rao AK , Satheshkumar PS , Weidle PJ , Hutson CL . Emerg Infect Dis 2023 29 (11) 2307-2314 Since May 2022, mpox has been identified in 108 countries without endemic disease; most cases have been in gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men. To determine number of missed cases, we conducted 2 studies during June-September 2022: a prospective serologic survey detecting orthopoxvirus antibodies among men who have sex with men in San Francisco, California, and a retrospective monkeypox virus PCR testing of swab specimens submitted for other infectious disease testing among all patients across the United States. The serosurvey of 225 participants (median age 34 years) detected 18 (8.0%) who were orthopoxvirus IgG positive and 3 (1.3%) who were also orthopoxvirus IgM positive. The retrospective PCR study of 1,196 patients (median age 30 years; 54.8% male) detected 67 (5.6%) specimens positive for monkeypox virus. There are likely few undiagnosed cases of mpox in regions where sexual healthcare is accessible and patient and clinician awareness about mpox is increased. |
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among US adults: Safety and effectiveness perceptions and messaging to increase vaccine confidence and intent to vaccinate
Weinstein N , Schwarz K , Chan I , Kobau R , Alexander R , Kollar L , Rodriguez L , Mansergh G , Repetski T , Gandhi P , Pechta L . Public Health Rep 2023 139 (1) 333549231204419 OBJECTIVE: Public health agencies have a critical role in providing effective messaging about mitigation strategies during a public health emergency. The objectives of this study were (1) to understand perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, including concerns about side effects, safety, and effectiveness and how these perceptions influence vaccine decision-making among US adults and (2) to learn what messages might motivate vaccine uptake. METHODS: In April and May 2021, we conducted 14 online focus groups with non-Hispanic English-speaking and English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic adults (N = 99) not vaccinated against COVID-19. We oversampled adults aged 18-39 years and rural residents and systematically assessed 10 test messages. Researchers used a standardized guide and an a priori codebook for focus group discussions, coding transcripts, and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Vaccine hesitancy factors included fear of the unknown; long-term side effects, including infertility; and beliefs that the vaccines were developed too quickly and were not sufficiently effective. Motivating factors for receiving vaccination included the ability to safely socialize and travel. Health care providers were considered important trusted messengers. Participants were critical of most messages tested. Messages that came across as "honest" about what is not yet known about COVID-19 vaccines were perceived more positively than other messages tested. Messages were seen as ineffective if perceived as vague or lacking in data and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Messages that were simple and transparent about what is unknown about vaccines relative to emerging science were viewed most favorably. Health care providers, friends, and family were considered influential in vaccination decision-making. Findings underscore the benefits of research-informed strategies for developing and disseminating effective messages addressing critical issues in a public health emergency. |
A conceptual framework for nomenclatural stability and validity of medically important fungi: a proposed global consensus guideline for fungal name changes supported by ABP, ASM, CLSI, ECMM, ESCMID-EFISG, EUCAST-AFST, FDLC, IDSA, ISHAM, MMSA, and MSGERC
de Hoog S , Walsh TJ , Ahmed SA , Alastruey-Izquierdo A , Alexander BD , Arendrup MC , Babady E , Bai FY , Balada-Llasat JM , Borman A , Chowdhary A , Clark A , Colgrove RC , Cornely OA , Dingle TC , Dufresne PJ , Fuller J , Gangneux JP , Gibas C , Glasgow H , Gräser Y , Guillot J , Groll AH , Haase G , Hanson K , Harrington A , Hawksworth DL , Hayden RT , Hoenigl M , Hubka V , Johnson K , Kus JV , Li R , Meis JF , Lackner M , Lanternier F , Leal SM Jr , Lee F , Lockhart SR , Luethy P , Martin I , Kwon-Chung KJ , Meyer W , Nguyen MH , Ostrosky-Zeichner L , Palavecino E , Pancholi P , Pappas PG , Procop GW , Redhead SA , Rhoads DD , Riedel S , Stevens B , Sullivan KO , Vergidis P , Roilides E , Seyedmousavi A , Tao L , Vicente VA , Vitale RG , Wang QM , Wengenack NL , Westblade L , Wiederhold N , White L , Wojewoda CM , Zhang SX . J Clin Microbiol 2023 61 (11) e0087323 The rapid pace of name changes of medically important fungi is creating challenges for clinical laboratories and clinicians involved in patient care. We describe two sources of name change which have different drivers, at the species versus the genus level. Some suggestions are made here to reduce the number of name changes. We urge taxonomists to provide diagnostic markers of taxonomic novelties. Given the instability of phylogenetic trees due to variable taxon sampling, we advocate to maintain genera at the largest possible size. Reporting of identified species in complexes or series should where possible comprise both the name of the overarching species and that of the molecular sibling, often cryptic species. Because the use of different names for the same species will be unavoidable for many years to come, an open access online database of the names of all medically important fungi, with proper nomenclatural designation and synonymy, is essential. We further recommend that while taxonomic discovery continues, the adaptation of new name changes by clinical laboratories and clinicians be reviewed routinely by a standing committee for validation and stability over time, with reference to an open access database, wherein reasons for changes are listed in a transparent way. |
Impact of HIV treat-all and complementary policies on ART linkage in 13 PEPFAR-supported African countries
Russell A , Verani AR , Pals S , Reagon VM , Alexander LN , Galloway ET , Mange MM , Kalimugogo P , Nyika P , Fadil YM , Aoko A , Asiimwe FM , Ikpeazu A , Kayira D , Letebele M , Maida A , Magesa D , Mutandi G , Mwila AC , Onotu D , Nkwoh KT , Wangari E . BMC Health Serv Res 2023 23 (1) 1151 BACKGROUND: In 2015, the World Health Organization recommended that all people living with HIV begin antiretroviral treatment (ART) regardless of immune status, a policy known as 'Treat-All to end AIDS', commonly referred to as Treat-All. Almost all low- and middle-income countries adopted this policy by 2019. This study describes how linkage to treatment of newly diagnosed persons changed between 2015 and 2018 and how complementary policies may have similarly increased linkage for 13 African countries. These countries adopted and implemented Treat-All policies between 2015 and 2018 and were supported by the U.S. Government's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The focuses of this research were to understand 1) linkage rates to ART initiation before and after the adoption of Treat-All in each country; 2) how Treat-All implementation differed across these countries; and 3) whether complementary policies (including same-day treatment initiation, task-shifting, reduced ART visits, and reduced ART pickups) implemented around the same time may have increased ART linkage. METHODS: HIV testing and treatment data were collected by PEPFAR country programs in 13 African countries from 2015 to 2018. These countries were chosen based on the completeness of policy data and availability of program data during the study period. Program data were used to calculate proxy linkage rates. These rates were compared relative to the Treat All adoption period and the adoption of complementary policies. RESULTS: The 13 countries experienced an average increase in ART linkage of 29.3% over the entire study period. In examining individual countries, all but two showed increases in linkage to treatment immediately after Treat All adoption. Across all countries, those that had adopted four or more complementary policies showed an average increased linkage of 39.8% compared to 13.9% in countries with fewer than four complementary policies. CONCLUSIONS: Eleven of 13 country programs examined in this study demonstrated an increase in ART linkage after Treat-All policy adoption. Increases in linkage were associated with complementary policies. When exploring new public health policies, policymakers may consider which complementary policies might also help achieve the desired outcome of the public health policy. |
Impact of anthropometry training and feasibility of 3D imaging on anthropometry data quality among children under five years in a postmortem setting
Gupta PM , Sivalogan K , Oliech R , Alexander E , Klein J , Addo OY , Gethi D , Akelo V , Blau DM , Suchdev PS . PLoS One 2023 18 (9) e0292046 BACKGROUND: The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network (CHAMPS) identifies causes of under-5 mortality in high mortality countries. OBJECTIVE: To address challenges in postmortem nutritional assessment, we evaluated the impact of anthropometry training and the feasibility of 3D imaging on data quality within the CHAMPS Kenya site. DESIGN: Staff were trained using World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended manual anthropometry equipment and novel 3D imaging methods to collect postmortem measurements. Following training, 76 deceased children were measured in duplicate and were compared to measurements of 75 pre-training deceased children. Outcomes included measures of data quality (standard deviations of anthropometric indices and digit preference scores (DPS)), precision (absolute and relative technical errors of measurement, TEMs or rTEMs), and accuracy (Bland-Altman plots). WHO growth standards were used to produce anthropometric indices. Post-training surveys and in-depth interviews collected qualitative feedback on measurer experience with performing manual anthropometry and ease of using 3D imaging software. RESULTS: Manual anthropometry data quality improved after training, as indicated by DPS. Standard deviations of anthropometric indices exceeded limits for high data quality when using the WHO growth standards. Reliability of measurements post-training was high as indicated by rTEMs below 1.5%. 3D imaging was highly correlated with manual measurements; however, on average 3D scans overestimated length and head circumference by 1.61 cm and 2.27 cm, respectively. Site staff preferred manual anthropometry to 3D imaging, as the imaging technology required adequate lighting and additional considerations when performing the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Manual anthropometry was feasible and reliable postmortem in the presence of rigor mortis. 3D imaging may be an accurate alternative to manual anthropometry, but technology adjustments are needed to ensure accuracy and usability. |
Global diversity and antimicrobial resistance of typhoid fever pathogens: Insights from a meta-analysis of 13,000 Salmonella Typhi genomes
Carey ME , Dyson ZA , Ingle DJ , Amir A , Aworh MK , Chattaway MA , Chew KL , Crump JA , Feasey NA , Howden BP , Keddy KH , Maes M , Parry CM , Van Puyvelde S , Webb HE , Afolayan AO , Alexander AP , Anandan S , Andrews JR , Ashton PM , Basnyat B , Bavdekar A , Bogoch II , Clemens JD , da Silva KE , De A , de Ligt J , Diaz Guevara PL , Dolecek C , Dutta S , Ehlers MM , Francois Watkins L , Garrett DO , Godbole G , Gordon MA , Greenhill AR , Griffin C , Gupta M , Hendriksen RS , Heyderman RS , Hooda Y , Hormazabal JC , Ikhimiukor OO , Iqbal J , Jacob JJ , Jenkins C , Jinka DR , John J , Kang G , Kanteh A , Kapil A , Karkey A , Kariuki S , Kingsley RA , Koshy RM , Lauer AC , Levine MM , Lingegowda RK , Luby SP , Mackenzie GA , Mashe T , Msefula C , Mutreja A , Nagaraj G , Nagaraj S , Nair S , Naseri TK , Nimarota-Brown S , Njamkepo E , Okeke IN , Perumal SPB , Pollard AJ , Pragasam AK , Qadri F , Qamar FN , Rahman SIA , Rambocus SD , Rasko DA , Ray P , Robins-Browne R , Rongsen-Chandola T , Rutanga JP , Saha SK , Saha S , Saigal K , Sajib MSI , Seidman JC , Shakya J , Shamanna V , Shastri J , Shrestha R , Sia S , Sikorski MJ , Singh A , Smith AM , Tagg KA , Tamrakar D , Tanmoy AM , Thomas M , Thomas MS , Thomsen R , Thomson NR , Tupua S , Vaidya K , Valcanis M , Veeraraghavan B , Weill FX , Wright J , Dougan G , Argimón S , Keane JA , Aanensen DM , Baker S , Holt KE . Elife 2023 12 BACKGROUND: The Global Typhoid Genomics Consortium was established to bring together the typhoid research community to aggregate and analyse Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Typhi) genomic data to inform public health action. This analysis, which marks 22 years since the publication of the first Typhi genome, represents the largest Typhi genome sequence collection to date (n=13,000). METHODS: This is a meta-analysis of global genotype and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants extracted from previously sequenced genome data and analysed using consistent methods implemented in open analysis platforms GenoTyphi and Pathogenwatch. RESULTS: Compared with previous global snapshots, the data highlight that genotype 4.3.1 (H58) has not spread beyond Asia and Eastern/Southern Africa; in other regions, distinct genotypes dominate and have independently evolved AMR. Data gaps remain in many parts of the world, and we show the potential of travel-associated sequences to provide informal 'sentinel' surveillance for such locations. The data indicate that ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility (>1 resistance determinant) is widespread across geographies and genotypes, with high-level ciprofloxacin resistance (≥3 determinants) reaching 20% prevalence in South Asia. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid has become dominant in Pakistan (70% in 2020) but has not yet become established elsewhere. Ceftriaxone resistance has emerged in eight non-XDR genotypes, including a ciprofloxacin-resistant lineage (4.3.1.2.1) in India. Azithromycin resistance mutations were detected at low prevalence in South Asia, including in two common ciprofloxacin-resistant genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The consortium's aim is to encourage continued data sharing and collaboration to monitor the emergence and global spread of AMR Typhi, and to inform decision-making around the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) and other prevention and control strategies. FUNDING: No specific funding was awarded for this meta-analysis. Coordinators were supported by fellowships from the European Union (ZAD received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 845681), the Wellcome Trust (SB, Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship), and the National Health and Medical Research Council (DJI is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant [GNT1195210]). | Salmonella Typhi (Typhi) is a type of bacteria that causes typhoid fever. More than 110,000 people die from this disease each year, predominantly in areas of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with limited access to safe water and sanitation. Clinicians use antibiotics to treat typhoid fever, but scientists worry that the spread of antimicrobial-resistant Typhi could render the drugs ineffective, leading to increased typhoid fever mortality. The World Health Organization has prequalified two vaccines that are highly effective in preventing typhoid fever and may also help limit the emergence and spread of resistant Typhi. In low resource settings, public health officials must make difficult trade-off decisions about which new vaccines to introduce into already crowded immunization schedules. Understanding the local burden of antimicrobial-resistant Typhi and how it is spreading could help inform their actions. The Global Typhoid Genomics Consortium analyzed 13,000 Typhi genomes from 110 countries to provide a global overview of genetic diversity and antimicrobial-resistant patterns. The analysis showed great genetic diversity of the different strains between countries and regions. For example, the H58 Typhi variant, which is often drug-resistant, has spread rapidly through Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa, but is less common in other regions. However, distinct strains of other drug-resistant Typhi have emerged in other parts of the world. Resistance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin was widespread and accounted for over 85% of cases in South Africa. Around 70% of Typhi from Pakistan were extensively drug-resistant in 2020, but these hard-to-treat variants have not yet become established elsewhere. Variants that are resistant to both ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone have been identified, and azithromycin resistance has also appeared in several different variants across South Asia. The Consortium’s analyses provide valuable insights into the global distribution and transmission patterns of drug-resistant Typhi. Limited genetic data were available fromseveral regions, but data from travel-associated cases helped fill some regional gaps. These findings may help serve as a starting point for collective sharing and analyses of genetic data to inform local public health action. Funders need to provide ongoing supportto help fill global surveillance data gaps. | eng |
Ethylene oxide hemoglobin adducts in cord blood and offspring's size at birth: The NewGeneris European Cohort Study
Harding BN , Agramunt S , Pedersen M , Knudsen LE , Nielsen JKS , Wright J , Vafeiadi M , Merlo DF , Stayner L , Kelly-Reif K , Espinosa A , Bustamante M , Gützkow KB , Granum B , von Stedingk H , Rydberg P , Alexander J , Törnqvist M , Kogevinas M . Epidemiology 2024 35 (5) 710-720 BACKGROUND: Prenatal ethylene oxide exposure may have adverse effects on fetal development. We examined the relationships between ethylene oxide hemoglobin (Hb) adduct levels and offspring's size at birth in a prospective European mother-child study. METHODS: This study included 1106 singletons from the NewGeneris project (2006-2010) with ethylene oxide Hb adducts measured in cord blood. We examined the relationships between adduct levels and offspring's size at birth among all infants and separately among infants of nonsmokers, using linear regression models for birth weight and birth head circumference and logarithmic binomial regression models for small for gestational age. We examined potential interactions between CYP2E1 single nucleotide polymorphisms in cord blood and the effects of ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels on offspring birth size. RESULTS: Higher quartiles of adduct levels as a measure of exposure were associated with decreasing birth weight and head circumference in the overall population. Compared to infants in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile exhibited lower birth weight (-70.73 g, 95% confidence interval = -141.16, -0.30) and reduced head circumference (-0.30 cm, 95% confidence interval = -0.58, -0.02). We observed similar, albeit less pronounced, patterns among infants of nonsmokers. There was no evidence of an association between ethylene oxide Hb adducts and risk of small for gestational age, nor consistent evidence of an interaction with CYP2E1 polymorphisms on the association between EO Hb adduct levels and offspring's size at birth. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that higher ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels in cord blood are associated with a reduction in offspring birth size. |
Prenatal ultrasound use and risk of autism spectrum disorder: Findings from the case-control Study to Explore Early Development
Christensen D , Pazol K , Overwyk KJ , England LJ , Alexander AA , Croen LA , Dowling NF , Schieve LA , Tian LH , Tinker SC , Windham GC , Callaghan WM , Shapira SK . Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2023 37 (6) 527-535 BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating the association between prenatal ultrasounds and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have largely produced negative results. Concern remains due to the rising identification of children with ASD and ultrasound use. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between prenatal ultrasound use and ASD. METHODS: We used data from the Study to Explore Early Development, a multisite case-control study of preschool-aged children with ASD implemented during 2007-2012. We recruited cases from children receiving developmental disability services and randomly selected population controls from birth records. ASD case status was based on in-person standardised assessments. We stratified analyses by pre-existing maternal medical conditions and pregnancy complications associated with increased ultrasound use (ultrasound indications) and used logistic regression to model case status by increasing ultrasound counts. For pregnancies with medical record data on ultrasound timing, we conducted supplementary tests to model associations by trimester of exposure. RESULTS: Among 1524 singleton pregnancies, ultrasound indications were more common for ASD cases than controls; respectively, for each group, no indications were reported for 45.1% and 54.2% of pregnancies, while ≥2 indications were reported for 26.1% and 18.4% of pregnancies. The percentage of pregnancies with multiple ultrasounds varied by case status and the presence of ultrasound indications. However, stratified regression models showed no association between increasing ultrasound counts and case status, either for pregnancies without (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92, 1.11) or with ultrasound indications (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.95, 1.08). Trimester-specific analyses using medical record data showed no association in any individual trimester. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that prenatal ultrasound use increases ASD risk. Study strengths included gold-standard assessments for ASD case classification, comparison of cases with controls, and a stratified sample to account for conditions associated both with increased prenatal ultrasound use and ASD. |
Self-Reported Mask Use among Persons with or without SARS CoV-2 Vaccination -United States, December 2020-August 2021 (preprint)
Calamari LE , Weintraub WS , Santos R , Gibbs M , Bertoni AG , Ward LM , Saydah S , Plumb ID , Runyon MS , Wierzba TF , Sanders JW , Herrington D , Espeland MA , Williamson J , Mongraw-Chaffin M , Bertoni A , Alexander-Miller MA , Castri P , Mathews A , Munawar I , Seals AL , Ostasiewski B , Ballard CAP , Gurcan M , Ivanov A , Zapata GM , Westcott M , Blinson K , Blinson L , Mistysyn M , Davis D , Doomy L , Henderson P , Jessup A , Lane K , Levine B , McCanless J , McDaniel S , Melius K , O'Neill C , Pack A , Rathee R , Rushing S , Sheets J , Soots S , Wall M , Wheeler S , White J , Wilkerson L , Wilson R , Wilson K , Burcombe D , Saylor G , Lunn M , Ordonez K , O'Steen A , Wagner L , McCurdy LH , Gibbs MA , Taylor YJ , Calamari L , Tapp H , Ahmed A , Brennan M , Munn L , Dantuluri KL , Hetherington T , Lu LC , Dunn C , Hogg M , Price A , Leonidas M , Manning M , Rossman W , Gohs FX , Harris A , Priem JS , Tochiki P , Wellinsky N , Silva C , Ludden T , Hernandez J , Spencer K , McAlister L , Weintraub W , Miller K , Washington C , Moses A , Dolman S , Zelaya-Portillo J , Erkus J , Blumenthal J , Romero Barrientos RE , Bennett S , Shah S , Mathur S , Boxley C , Kolm P , Franklin E , Ahmed N , Larsen M , Oberhelman R , Keating J , Kissinger P , Schieffelin J , Yukich J , Beron A , Teigen J , Kotloff K , Chen WH , Friedman-Klabanoff D , Berry AA , Powell H , Roane L , Datar R , Correa A , Navalkele B , Min YI , Castillo A , Ward L , Santos RP , Anugu P , Gao Y , Green J , Sandlin R , Moore D , Drake L , Horton D , Johnson KL , Stover M , Lagarde WH , Daniel L , Maguire PD , Hanlon CL , McFayden L , Rigo I , Hines K , Smith L , Harris M , Lissor B , Cook V , Eversole M , Herrin T , Murphy D , Kinney L , Diehl P , Abromitis N , Pierre TSt , Heckman B , Evans D , March J , Whitlock B , Moore W , Arthur S , Conway J , Gallaher TR , Johanson M , Brown S , Dixon T , Reavis M , Henderson S , Zimmer M , Oliver D , Jackson K , Menon M , Bishop B , Roeth R , King-Thiele R , Hamrick TS , Ihmeidan A , Hinkelman A , Okafor C , Bray Brown RB , Brewster A , Bouyi D , Lamont K , Yoshinaga K , Vinod P , Peela AS , Denbel G , Lo J , Mayet-Khan M , Mittal A , Motwani R , Raafat M , Schultz E , Joseph A , Parkeh A , Patel D , Afridi B , Uschner D , Edelstein SL , Santacatterina M , Strylewicz G , Burke B , Gunaratne M , Turney M , Zhou SQ , Tjaden AH , Fette L , Buahin A , Bott M , Graziani S , Soni A , Mores C , Porzucek A , Laborde R , Acharya P , Guill L , Lamphier D , Schaefer A , Satterwhite WM , McKeague A , Ward J , Naranjo DP , Darko N , Castellon K , Brink R , Shehzad H , Kuprianov D , McGlasson D , Hayes D , Edwards S , Daphnis S , Todd B , Goodwin A , Berkelman R , Hanson K , Zeger S , Hopkins J , Reilly C , Edwards K , Gayle H , Redd S . medRxiv 2022 10 Wearing a facemask can help to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. We investigated self-reported mask use among subjects aged 18 years and older participating in the COVID-19 Community Research Partnership (CRP), a prospective longitudinal COVID-19 surveillance study in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. We included those participants who completed >=5 daily surveys each month from December 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021. Mask use was defined as self-reported use of a face mask or face covering on every interaction with others outside the household within a distance of less than 6 feet. Participants were considered vaccinated if they reported receiving >=1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Participants (n=17,522) were 91% non-Hispanic White, 68% female, median age 57 years, 26% healthcare workers, with 95% self-reported receiving >=1 COVID-19 vaccine dose through August; mean daily survey response was 85%. Mask use was higher among vaccinated than unvaccinated participants across the study period, regardless of the month of the first dose. Mask use remained relatively stable from December 2020 through April (range 71-80% unvaccinated; 86-93% vaccinated) and declined in both groups beginning in mid-May 2021 to 34% and 42% respectively in June 2021; mask use has increased again since July 2021. Mask use by all was lower during weekends and on Christmas and Easter, regardless of vaccination status. Independent predictors of higher mask use were vaccination, age >=65 years, female sex, racial or ethnic minority group, and healthcare worker occupation, whereas a history of self-reported prior COVID-19 illness was associated with lower use. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. This article is a US Government work. It is not subject to copyright under 17 USC 105 and is also made available for use under a CC0 license. |
Prediction of Susceptibility to First-Line Tuberculosis Drugs by DNA Sequencing.
Allix-Béguec C , Arandjelovic I , Bi L , Beckert P , Bonnet M , Bradley P , Cabibbe AM , Cancino-Muñoz I , Caulfield MJ , Chaiprasert A , Cirillo DM , Clifton DA , Comas I , Crook DW , De Filippo MR , de Neeling H , Diel R , Drobniewski FA , Faksri K , Farhat MR , Fleming J , Fowler P , Fowler TA , Gao Q , Gardy J , Gascoyne-Binzi D , Gibertoni-Cruz AL , Gil-Brusola A , Golubchik T , Gonzalo X , Grandjean L , He G , Guthrie JL , Hoosdally S , Hunt M , Iqbal Z , Ismail N , Johnston J , Khanzada FM , Khor CC , Kohl TA , Kong C , Lipworth S , Liu Q , Maphalala G , Martinez E , Mathys V , Merker M , Miotto P , Mistry N , Moore DAJ , Murray M , Niemann S , Omar SV , Ong RT , Peto TEA , Posey JE , Prammananan T , Pym A , Rodrigues C , Rodrigues M , Rodwell T , Rossolini GM , Sánchez Padilla E , Schito M , Shen X , Shendure J , Sintchenko V , Sloutsky A , Smith EG , Snyder M , Soetaert K , Starks AM , Supply P , Suriyapol P , Tahseen S , Tang P , Teo YY , Thuong TNT , Thwaites G , Tortoli E , van Soolingen D , Walker AS , Walker TM , Wilcox M , Wilson DJ , Wyllie D , Yang Y , Zhang H , Zhao Y , Zhu B . N Engl J Med 2018 379 (15) 1403-1415 BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends drug-susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex for all patients with tuberculosis to guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes. Whether DNA sequencing can be used to accurately predict profiles of susceptibility to first-line antituberculosis drugs has not been clear. METHODS: We obtained whole-genome sequences and associated phenotypes of resistance or susceptibility to the first-line antituberculosis drugs isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide for isolates from 16 countries across six continents. For each isolate, mutations associated with drug resistance and drug susceptibility were identified across nine genes, and individual phenotypes were predicted unless mutations of unknown association were also present. To identify how whole-genome sequencing might direct first-line drug therapy, complete susceptibility profiles were predicted. These profiles were predicted to be susceptible to all four drugs (i.e., pansusceptible) if they were predicted to be susceptible to isoniazid and to the other drugs or if they contained mutations of unknown association in genes that affect susceptibility to the other drugs. We simulated the way in which the negative predictive value changed with the prevalence of drug resistance. RESULTS: A total of 10,209 isolates were analyzed. The largest proportion of phenotypes was predicted for rifampin (9660 [95.4%] of 10,130) and the smallest was predicted for ethambutol (8794 [89.8%] of 9794). Resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide was correctly predicted with 97.1%, 97.5%, 94.6%, and 91.3% sensitivity, respectively, and susceptibility to these drugs was correctly predicted with 99.0%, 98.8%, 93.6%, and 96.8% specificity. Of the 7516 isolates with complete phenotypic drug-susceptibility profiles, 5865 (78.0%) had complete genotypic predictions, among which 5250 profiles (89.5%) were correctly predicted. Among the 4037 phenotypic profiles that were predicted to be pansusceptible, 3952 (97.9%) were correctly predicted. CONCLUSIONS: Genotypic predictions of the susceptibility of M. tuberculosis to first-line drugs were found to be correlated with phenotypic susceptibility to these drugs. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others.). |
Cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Washington State.
Bedford T , Greninger AL , Roychoudhury P , Starita LM , Famulare M , Huang ML , Nalla A , Pepper G , Reinhardt A , Xie H , Shrestha L , Nguyen TN , Adler A , Brandstetter E , Cho S , Giroux D , Han PD , Fay K , Frazar CD , Ilcisin M , Lacombe K , Lee J , Kiavand A , Richardson M , Sibley TR , Truong M , Wolf CR , Nickerson DA , Rieder MJ , Englund JA , Hadfield J , Hodcroft EB , Huddleston J , Moncla LH , Müller NF , Neher RA , Deng X , Gu W , Federman S , Chiu C , Duchin J , Gautom R , Melly G , Hiatt B , Dykema P , Lindquist S , Queen K , Tao Y , Uehara A , Tong S , MacCannell D , Armstrong GL , Baird GS , Chu HY , Shendure J , Jerome KR . medRxiv 2020 Following its emergence in Wuhan, China, in late November or early December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has rapidly spread throughout the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. Genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 strains allows for the reconstruction of transmission history connecting these infections. Here, we analyze 346 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from samples collected between 20 February and 15 March 2020 from infected patients in Washington State, USA. We found that the large majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections sampled during this time frame appeared to have derived from a single introduction event into the state in late January or early February 2020 and subsequent local spread, strongly suggesting cryptic spread of COVID-19 during the months of January and February 2020, before active community surveillance was implemented. We estimate a common ancestor of this outbreak clade as occurring between 18 January and 9 February 2020. From genomic data, we estimate an exponential doubling between 2.4 and 5.1 days. These results highlight the need for large-scale community surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 introductions and spread and the power of pathogen genomics to inform epidemiological understanding. |
Initial public health response and interim clinical guidance for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak - United States, December 31, 2019-February 4, 2020.
Patel A , Jernigan DB , 2019-nCOV CDC Response Team , Abdirizak Fatuma , Abedi Glen , Aggarwal Sharad , Albina Denise , Allen Elizabeth , Andersen Lauren , Anderson Jade , Anderson Megan , Anderson Tara , Anderson Kayla , Bardossy Ana Cecilia , Barry Vaughn , Beer Karlyn , Bell Michael , Berger Sherri , Bertulfo Joseph , Biggs Holly , Bornemann Jennifer , Bornstein Josh , Bower Willie , Bresee Joseph , Brown Clive , Budd Alicia , Buigut Jennifer , Burke Stephen , Burke Rachel , Burns Erin , Butler Jay , Cantrell Russell , Cardemil Cristina , Cates Jordan , Cetron Marty , Chatham-Stephens Kevin , Chatham-Stevens Kevin , Chea Nora , Christensen Bryan , Chu Victoria , Clarke Kevin , Cleveland Angela , Cohen Nicole , Cohen Max , Cohn Amanda , Collins Jennifer , Conners Erin , Curns Aaron , Dahl Rebecca , Daley Walter , Dasari Vishal , Davlantes Elizabeth , Dawson Patrick , Delaney Lisa , Donahue Matthew , Dowell Chad , Dyal Jonathan , Edens William , Eidex Rachel , Epstein Lauren , Evans Mary , Fagan Ryan , Farris Kevin , Feldstein Leora , Fox LeAnne , Frank Mark , Freeman Brandi , Fry Alicia , Fuller James , Galang Romeo , Gerber Sue , Gokhale Runa , Goldstein Sue , Gorman Sue , Gregg William , Greim William , Grube Steven , Hall Aron , Haynes Amber , Hill Sherrasa , Hornsby-Myers Jennifer , Hunter Jennifer , Ionta Christopher , Isenhour Cheryl , Jacobs Max , Jacobs Slifka Kara , Jernigan Daniel , Jhung Michael , Jones-Wormley Jamie , Kambhampati Anita , Kamili Shifaq , Kennedy Pamela , Kent Charlotte , Killerby Marie , Kim Lindsay , Kirking Hannah , Koonin Lisa , Koppaka Ram , Kosmos Christine , Kuhar David , Kuhnert-Tallman Wendi , Kujawski Stephanie , Kumar Archana , Landon Alexander , Lee Leslie , Leung Jessica , Lindstrom Stephen , Link-Gelles Ruth , Lively Joana , Lu Xiaoyan , Lynch Brian , Malapati Lakshmi , Mandel Samantha , Manns Brian , Marano Nina , Marlow Mariel , Marston Barbara , McClung Nancy , McClure Liz , McDonald Emily , McGovern Oliva , Messonnier Nancy , Midgley Claire , Moulia Danielle , Murray Janna , Noelte Kate , Noonan-Smith Michelle , Nordlund Kristen , Norton Emily , Oliver Sara , Pallansch Mark , Parashar Umesh , Patel Anita , Patel Manisha , Pettrone Kristen , Pierce Taran , Pietz Harald , Pillai Satish , Radonovich Lewis , Reagan-Steiner Sarah , Reel Amy , Reese Heather , Rha Brian , Ricks Philip , Rolfes Melissa , Roohi Shahrokh , Roper Lauren , Rotz Lisa , Routh Janell , Sakthivel Senthil Kumar Sarmiento Luisa , Schindelar Jessica , Schneider Eileen , Schuchat Anne , Scott Sarah , Shetty Varun , Shockey Caitlin , Shugart Jill , Stenger Mark , Stuckey Matthew , Sunshine Brittany , Sykes Tamara , Trapp Jonathan , Uyeki Timothy , Vahey Grace , Valderrama Amy , Villanueva Julie , Walker Tunicia , Wallace Megan , Wang Lijuan , Watson John , Weber Angie , Weinbaum Cindy , Weldon William , Westnedge Caroline , Whitaker Brett , Whitaker Michael , Williams Alcia , Williams Holly , Willams Ian , Wong Karen , Xie Amy , Yousef Anna . Am J Transplant 2020 20 (3) 889-895 This article summarizes what is currently known about the 2019 novel coronavirus and offers interim guidance. |
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