Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
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Heat-related emergency department visits - United States, May-September 2023
Vaidyanathan A , Gates A , Brown C , Prezzato E , Bernstein A . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (15) 324-329 Unprecedented heat waves can affect all persons, but some are more sensitive to the effects of heat, including children and adults with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and outdoor workers. Many regions of the United States experienced record-breaking high temperatures in 2023, with populations exposed to extremely high temperatures for prolonged periods. CDC examined emergency department (ED) visits associated with heat-related illness (HRI) from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program and compared daily HRI ED visit rates during the warm-season months (May-September) of 2023 with those during 2018-2022. In the 2023 warm-season months, daily HRI ED visit rates peaked in several regions and remained elevated for a prolonged duration. More males than females sought care in EDs for HRI, especially males aged 18-64 years. CDC issued multiple public health alerts using the Epidemic Information Exchange system to bring attention to increases in ED utilization for HRI. Deaths and illnesses associated with heat exposure are a continuing public health concern as climate change results in longer, hotter, and more frequent episodes of extreme heat. Near real-time monitoring of weather conditions and adverse health outcomes can guide public health practitioners' timing of risk communication and implementation of prevention measures associated with extreme heat. |
Immune response kinetics to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination among nursing home residents-Georgia, October 2020-July 2022
Chisty ZA , Li DD , Haile M , Houston H , DaSilva J , Overton R , Schuh AJ , Haynie J , Clemente J , Branch AG , Arons MM , Tsang CA , Pellegrini GJ Jr , Bugrysheva J , Ilutsik J , Mohelsky R , Comer P , Hundia SB , Oh H , Stuckey MJ , Bohannon CD , Rasheed MAU , Epperson M , Thornburg NJ , McDonald LC , Brown AC , Kutty PK . PLoS One 2024 19 (4) e0301367 BACKGROUND: Understanding the immune response kinetics to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination is important in nursing home (NH) residents, a high-risk population. METHODS: An observational longitudinal evaluation of 37 consenting vaccinated NH residents with/without SARS-CoV-2 infection from October 2020 to July 2022 was conducted to characterize the immune response to spike protein due to infection and/or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Antibodies (IgG) to SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike, nucleocapsid, and receptor binding domain protein antigens were measured, and surrogate virus neutralization capacity was assessed using Meso Scale Discovery immunoassays. The participant's spike exposure status varied depending on the acquisition of infection or receipt of a vaccine dose. Longitudinal linear mixed effects modeling was used to describe trajectories based on the participant's last infection or vaccination; the primary series mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was considered two spike exposures. Mean antibody titer values from participants who developed an infection post receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were compared with those who did not. In a subset of participants (n = 15), memory B cell (MBC) S-specific IgG (%S IgG) responses were assessed using an ELISPOT assay. RESULTS: The median age of the 37 participants at enrollment was 70.5 years; 30 (81%) had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 76% received Pfizer-BioNTech and 24% Moderna homologous vaccines. After an observed augmented effect with each spike exposure, a decline in the immune response, including %S IgG MBCs, was observed over time; the percent decline decreased with increasing spike exposures. Participants who developed an infection at least two weeks post-receipt of a vaccine were observed to have lower humoral antibody levels than those who did not develop an infection post-receipt. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that understanding the durability of immune responses in this vulnerable NH population can help inform public health policy regarding the timing of booster vaccinations as new variants display immune escape. |
JYNNEOS vaccine safety surveillance during the 2022 mpox outbreak using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and v-safe, United States, 2022-2023
Duffy J , Myers TR , Marquez P , Rouse D , Brown H , Zhang B , Shay DK , Moro PL . Sex Transm Dis 2024 BACKGROUND: In response to the 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States, people with higher potential for exposure to mpox were recommended to receive two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Vaccine safety was monitored using two complementary systems. METHODS: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a passive surveillance system that accepts reports of adverse events following vaccination. VAERS is capable of rapidly identifying rare adverse events and unusual reporting patterns. Medical records were requested and reviewed for adverse events of special interest, including myocarditis. Adverse event reporting rates were calculated as the number of verified adverse event cases divided by the number of JYNNEOS doses administered. V-safe for mpox was a voluntary smartphone-based vaccine safety surveillance system that sent enrolled persons text messages linked to health surveys asking about reactions and health impact events occurring after vaccination. RESULTS: There were 1,207,056 JYNNEOS doses administered in the United States. VAERS received 1,927 reports for JYNNEOS. The myocarditis reporting rate per million doses was 2.69 after dose 1 and 8.64 after dose 2. V-safe had 213 participants complete at least one health survey. Rates of injection site and systemic reactions were similar in the first week following dose 1 and dose 2. CONCLUSIONS: JYNNEOS vaccine safety surveillance findings from VAERS and v-safe did not identify any unexpected safety concerns. The VAERS reporting rate for myocarditis was similar to previously published population background rates. |
A mutation associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroids is widespread in US populations of the tropical lineage of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l
Stone NE , Ballard R , Bourgeois RM , Pemberton GL , McDonough RF , Ruby MC , Backus LH , López-Pérez AM , Lemmer D , Koch Z , Brophy M , Paddock CD , Kersh GJ , Nicholson WL , Sahl JW , Busch JD , Salzer JS , Foley JE , Wagner DM . Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024 15 (4) 102344 The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), is an important vector for Rickettsia rickettsii, causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Current public health prevention and control efforts to protect people involve preventing tick infestations on domestic animals and in and around houses. Primary prevention tools rely on acaricides, often synthetic pyrethroids (SPs); resistance to this chemical class is widespread in ticks and other arthropods. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. is a complex that likely contains multiple unique species and although the distribution of this complex is global, there are differences in morphology, ecology, and perhaps vector competence among these major lineages. Two major lineages within Rh. sanguineus s.l., commonly referred to as temperate and tropical, have been documented from multiple locations in North America, but are thought to occupy different ecological niches. To evaluate potential acaricide resistance and better define the distributions of the tropical and temperate lineages throughout the US and in northern Mexico, we employed a highly multiplexed amplicon sequencing approach to characterize sequence diversity at: 1) three loci within the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene, which contains numerous genetic mutations associated with resistance to SPs; 2) a region of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel gene (GABA-Cl) containing several mutations associated with dieldrin/fipronil resistance in other species; and 3) three mitochondrial genes (COI, 12S, and 16S). We utilized a geographically diverse set of Rh sanguineus s.l. collected from domestic pets in the US in 2013 and a smaller set of ticks collected from canines in Baja California, Mexico in 2021. We determined that a single nucleotide polymorphism (T2134C) in domain III segment 6 of the VGSC, which has previously been associated with SP resistance in Rh. sanguineus s.l., was widespread and abundant in tropical lineage ticks (>50 %) but absent from the temperate lineage, suggesting that resistance to SPs may be common in the tropical lineage. We found evidence of multiple copies of GABA-Cl in ticks from both lineages, with some copies containing mutations associated with fipronil resistance in other species, but the effects of these patterns on fipronil resistance in Rh. sanguineus s.l. are currently unknown. The tropical lineage was abundant and geographically widespread, accounting for 79 % of analyzed ticks and present at 13/14 collection sites. The temperate and tropical lineages co-occurred in four US states, and as far north as New York. None of the ticks we examined were positive for Rickettsia rickettsii or Rickettsia massiliae. |
Acute cardiac events in hospitalized older adults with respiratory syncytial virus infection
Woodruff RC , Melgar M , Pham H , Sperling LS , Loustalot F , Kirley PD , Austin E , Yousey-Hindes K , Openo KP , Ryan P , Brown C , Lynfield R , Davis SS , Barney G , Tesini B , Sutton M , Talbot HK , Zahid H , Kim L , Havers FP . JAMA Intern Med 2024 IMPORTANCE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause severe respiratory illness in older adults. Less is known about the cardiac complications of RSV disease compared with those of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and severity of acute cardiac events during hospitalizations among adults aged 50 years or older with RSV infection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study analyzed surveillance data from the RSV Hospitalization Surveillance Network, which conducts detailed medical record abstraction among hospitalized patients with RSV infection detected through clinician-directed laboratory testing. Cases of RSV infection in adults aged 50 years or older within 12 states over 5 RSV seasons (annually from 2014-2015 through 2017-2018 and 2022-2023) were examined to estimate the weighted period prevalence and 95% CIs of acute cardiac events. EXPOSURES: Acute cardiac events, identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification or International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification discharge codes, and discharge summary review. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Severe disease outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission, receipt of invasive mechanical ventilation, or in-hospital death. Adjusted risk ratios (ARR) were calculated to compare severe outcomes among patients with and without acute cardiac events. RESULTS: The study included 6248 hospitalized adults (median [IQR] age, 72.7 [63.0-82.3] years; 59.6% female; 56.4% with underlying cardiovascular disease) with laboratory-confirmed RSV infection. The weighted estimated prevalence of experiencing a cardiac event was 22.4% (95% CI, 21.0%-23.7%). The weighted estimated prevalence was 15.8% (95% CI, 14.6%-17.0%) for acute heart failure, 7.5% (95% CI, 6.8%-8.3%) for acute ischemic heart disease, 1.3% (95% CI, 1.0%-1.7%) for hypertensive crisis, 1.1% (95% CI, 0.8%-1.4%) for ventricular tachycardia, and 0.6% (95% CI, 0.4%-0.8%) for cardiogenic shock. Adults with underlying cardiovascular disease had a greater risk of experiencing an acute cardiac event relative to those who did not (33.0% vs 8.5%; ARR, 3.51; 95% CI, 2.85-4.32). Among all hospitalized adults with RSV infection, 18.6% required ICU admission and 4.9% died during hospitalization. Compared with patients without an acute cardiac event, those who experienced an acute cardiac event had a greater risk of ICU admission (25.8% vs 16.5%; ARR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.23-1.93) and in-hospital death (8.1% vs 4.0%; ARR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.36-2.31). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study over 5 RSV seasons, nearly one-quarter of hospitalized adults aged 50 years or older with RSV infection experienced an acute cardiac event (most frequently acute heart failure), including 1 in 12 adults (8.5%) with no documented underlying cardiovascular disease. The risk of severe outcomes was nearly twice as high in patients with acute cardiac events compared with patients who did not experience an acute cardiac event. These findings clarify the baseline epidemiology of potential cardiac complications of RSV infection prior to RSV vaccine availability. |
The geographic limits and life history of the tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826), in Australia with notes on the spread of Ehrlichia canis
Teo EJM , Evasco KL , Barker D , Levin ML , Barker SC . Int J Parasitol 2024 The tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei, is a tick of much medical, veterinary, and zoonotic importance. This tick has a nearly world-wide distribution due to its ability to survive and propagate in kennels and houses. Rhipicephalus linnaei is the vector of Ehrlichia canis, the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, an often debilitating disease of canids and, occasionally, humans. To prevent incursion of E. canis into Australia, dogs entering Australia have been required to have a negative immunofluorescence antibody test for E. canis. In May 2020 however, E. canis was detected in Western Australia. The detection of E. canis in Australia prompted disease investigation and concerted surveillance for R. linnaei and E. canis in regions across Australia. These investigations revealed that R. linnaei was established far beyond the previously recognised geographic limits of this tick. In the present paper, using records from various collections, published data, and data from our network of veterinarian collaborators and colleagues, we update the current geographic limits of R. linnaei in Australia. Our analyses revealed that the geographic range of R. linnaei in Australia is much wider than was previously supposed, particularly in Western Australia, and in South Australia. We also map, for the first time, where E. canis has been detected in Australia. Last, we discuss the possible routes of incursion and subsequently the factors which may have aided the spread of E. canis in Australia which led to the establishment of this pathogen in Australia. |
Inconsequential role for chemerin-like receptor 1 in the manifestation of ozone-induced lung pathophysiology in male mice
Johnston RA , Pilkington AW , Atkins CL , Boots TE , Brown PL , Jackson WT , Spencer CY , Siddiqui SR , Haque IU . Physiol Rep 2024 12 (8) e16008 We executed this study to determine if chemerin-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), a G(i/o) protein-coupled receptor expressed by leukocytes and non-leukocytes, contributes to the development of phenotypic features of non-atopic asthma, including airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to acetyl-β-methylcholine chloride, lung hyperpermeability, airway epithelial cell desquamation, and lung inflammation. Accordingly, we quantified sequelae of non-atopic asthma in wild-type mice and mice incapable of expressing CMKLR1 (CMKLR1-deficient mice) following cessation of acute inhalation exposure to either filtered room air (air) or ozone (O(3)), a criteria pollutant and non-atopic asthma stimulus. Following exposure to air, lung elastic recoil and airway responsiveness were greater while the quantity of adiponectin, a multi-functional adipocytokine, in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was lower in CMKLR1-deficient as compared to wild-type mice. Regardless of genotype, exposure to O(3) caused AHR, lung hyperpermeability, airway epithelial cell desquamation, and lung inflammation. Nevertheless, except for minimal genotype-related effects on lung hyperpermeability and BAL adiponectin, we observed no other genotype-related differences following O(3) exposure. In summary, we demonstrate that CMKLR1 limits the severity of innate airway responsiveness and lung elastic recoil but has a nominal effect on lung pathophysiology induced by acute exposure to O(3). |
Influence of eat, sleep, and console on infants pharmacologically treated for opioid withdrawal: A post hoc subgroup analysis of the ESC-NOW randomized clinical trial
Devlin LA , Hu Z , Merhar SL , Ounpraseuth ST , Simon AE , Lee JY , Das A , Crawford MM , Greenberg RG , Smith PB , Higgins RD , Walsh MC , Rice W , Paul DA , Maxwell JR , Fung CM , Wright T , Ross J , McAllister JM , Crowley M , Shaikh SK , Christ L , Brown J , Riccio J , Wong Ramsey K , Braswell EF , Tucker L , McAlmon K , Dummula K , Weiner J , White JR , Newman S , Snowden JN , Young LW . JAMA Pediatr 2024 IMPORTANCE: The function-based eat, sleep, console (ESC) care approach substantially reduces the proportion of infants who receive pharmacologic treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). This reduction has led to concerns for increased postnatal opioid exposure in infants who receive pharmacologic treatment. However, the effect of the ESC care approach on hospital outcomes for infants pharmacologically treated for NOWS is currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in opioid exposure and total length of hospital stay (LOS) for pharmacologically treated infants managed with the ESC care approach vs usual care with the Finnegan tool. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This post hoc subgroup analysis involved infants pharmacologically treated in ESC-NOW, a stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial conducted at 26 US hospitals. Hospitals maintained pretrial practices for pharmacologic treatment, including opioid type, scheduled opioid dosing, and use of adjuvant medications. Infants were born at 36 weeks' gestation or later, had evidence of antenatal opioid exposure, and received opioid treatment for NOWS between September 2020 and March 2022. Data were analyzed from November 2022 to January 2024. EXPOSURE: Opioid treatment for NOWS and the ESC care approach. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: For each outcome (total opioid exposure, peak opioid dose, time from birth to initiation of first opioid dose, length of opioid treatment, and LOS), we used generalized linear mixed models to adjust for the stepped-wedge design and maternal and infant characteristics. RESULTS: In the ESC-NOW trial, 463 of 1305 infants were pharmacologically treated (143/603 [23.7%] in the ESC care approach group and 320/702 [45.6%] in the usual care group). Mean total opioid exposure was lower in the ESC care approach group with an absolute difference of 4.1 morphine milligram equivalents per kilogram (MME/kg) (95% CI, 1.3-7.0) when compared with usual care (4.8 MME/kg vs 8.9 MME/kg, respectively; P = .001). Mean time from birth to initiation of pharmacologic treatment was 22.4 hours (95% CI, 7.1-37.7) longer with the ESC care approach vs usual care (75.4 vs 53.0 hours, respectively; P = .002). No significant difference in mean peak opioid dose was observed between groups (ESC care approach, 0.147 MME/kg, vs usual care, 0.126 MME/kg). The mean length of treatment was 6.3 days shorter (95% CI, 3.0-9.6) in the ESC care approach group vs usual care group (11.8 vs 18.1 days, respectively; P < .001), and mean LOS was 6.2 days shorter (95% CI, 3.0-9.4) with the ESC care approach than with usual care (16.7 vs 22.9 days, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: When compared with usual care, the ESC care approach was associated with less opioid exposure and shorter LOS for infants pharmacologically treated for NOWS. The ESC care approach was not associated with a higher peak opioid dose, although pharmacologic treatment was typically initiated later. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04057820. |
Severity of respiratory syncytial virus vs COVID-19 and influenza among hospitalized US adults
Surie D , Yuengling KA , DeCuir J , Zhu Y , Lauring AS , Gaglani M , Ghamande S , Peltan ID , Brown SM , Ginde AA , Martinez A , Mohr NM , Gibbs KW , Hager DN , Ali H , Prekker ME , Gong MN , Mohamed A , Johnson NJ , Srinivasan V , Steingrub JS , Leis AM , Khan A , Hough CL , Bender WS , Duggal A , Bendall EE , Wilson JG , Qadir N , Chang SY , Mallow C , Kwon JH , Exline MC , Shapiro NI , Columbus C , Vaughn IA , Ramesh M , Mosier JM , Safdar B , Casey JD , Talbot HK , Rice TW , Halasa N , Chappell JD , Grijalva CG , Baughman A , Womack KN , Swan SA , Johnson CA , Lwin CT , Lewis NM , Ellington S , McMorrow ML , Martin ET , Self WH . JAMA Netw Open 2024 7 (4) e244954 IMPORTANCE: On June 21, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for adults aged 60 years and older using shared clinical decision-making. Understanding the severity of RSV disease in adults can help guide this clinical decision-making. OBJECTIVE: To describe disease severity among adults hospitalized with RSV and compare it with the severity of COVID-19 and influenza disease by vaccination status. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cohort study, adults aged 18 years and older admitted to the hospital with acute respiratory illness and laboratory-confirmed RSV, SARS-CoV-2, or influenza infection were prospectively enrolled from 25 hospitals in 20 US states from February 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023. Clinical data during each patient's hospitalization were collected using standardized forms. Data were analyzed from August to October 2023. EXPOSURES: RSV, SARS-CoV-2, or influenza infection. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Using multivariable logistic regression, severity of RSV disease was compared with COVID-19 and influenza severity, by COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status, for a range of clinical outcomes, including the composite of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and in-hospital death. RESULTS: Of 7998 adults (median [IQR] age, 67 [54-78] years; 4047 [50.6%] female) included, 484 (6.1%) were hospitalized with RSV, 6422 (80.3%) were hospitalized with COVID-19, and 1092 (13.7%) were hospitalized with influenza. Among patients with RSV, 58 (12.0%) experienced IMV or death, compared with 201 of 1422 unvaccinated patients with COVID-19 (14.1%) and 458 of 5000 vaccinated patients with COVID-19 (9.2%), as well as 72 of 699 unvaccinated patients with influenza (10.3%) and 20 of 393 vaccinated patients with influenza (5.1%). In adjusted analyses, the odds of IMV or in-hospital death were not significantly different among patients hospitalized with RSV and unvaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.59-1.13; P = .22) or influenza (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.82-1.76; P = .35); however, the odds of IMV or death were significantly higher among patients hospitalized with RSV compared with vaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.02-1.86; P = .03) or influenza disease (aOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.62-4.86; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among adults hospitalized in this US cohort during the 16 months before the first RSV vaccine recommendations, RSV disease was less common but similar in severity compared with COVID-19 or influenza disease among unvaccinated patients and more severe than COVID-19 or influenza disease among vaccinated patients for the most serious outcomes of IMV or death. |
Clinical Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adults with ESKD Receiving Outpatient Hemodialysis
Bardossy AC , Korhonen L , Schatzman S , Gable P , Herzig C , Brown NE , Beshearse E , Varela K , Sabour S , Lyons AK , Overton R , Hudson M , Hernandez-Romieu AC , Alvarez J , Roman K , Weng M , Soda E , Patel PR , Grate C , Dalrymple LS , Wingard RL , Thornburg NJ , Halpin ASL , Folster JM , Tobin-D'Angelo M , Lea J , Apata I , McDonald LC , Brown AC , Kutty PK , Novosad S . Kidney360 12/28/2021 2 (12) 1917-1927 BACKGROUND: Patients with ESKD on maintenance dialysis receive dialysis in common spaces with other patients and have a higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections. They may have persistently or intermittently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests after infection. We describe the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the serologic response in a convenience sample of patients with ESKD to understand the duration of infectivity. METHODS: From August to November 2020, we enrolled patients on maintenance dialysis with SARS-CoV-2 infections from outpatient dialysis facilities in Atlanta, Georgia. We followed participants for approximately 42 days. We assessed COVID-19 symptoms and collected specimens. Oropharyngeal (OP), anterior nasal (AN), and saliva (SA) specimens were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, using RT-PCR, and sent for viral culture. Serology, including neutralizing antibodies, was measured in blood specimens. RESULTS: Fifteen participants, with a median age of 58 (range, 37‒77) years, were enrolled. Median duration of RT-PCR positivity from diagnosis was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR], 8‒24 days). Ten participants had at least one, for a total of 41, positive RT-PCR specimens ≥10 days after symptoms onset. Of these 41 specimens, 21 underwent viral culture; one (5%) was positive 14 days after symptom onset. Thirteen participants developed SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, 11 of which included neutralizing antibodies. RT-PCRs remained positive after seroconversion in eight participants and after detection of neutralizing antibodies in four participants; however, all of these samples were culture negative. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ESKD on maintenance dialysis remained persistently and intermittently SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR positive. However, of the 15 participants, only one had infectious virus, on day 14 after symptom onset. Most participants mounted an antibody response, including neutralizing antibodies. Participants continued having RT-PCR-positive results in the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, but without replication-competent virus detected. |
Strange Case of a Sojourn in Saranac
Chorba T . Emerg Infect Dis 12/28/2021 27 (3) 994-5 Robert Louis Stevenson, the renowned Scottish author and poet, was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. From childhood onward, he suffered from frequent chest infections, fevers, and hemoptysis. This master who gave us Treasure Island (1881–83), A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885), Kidnapped (1886), and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) lived his brief 44 years in an era when tuberculosis (then called consumption) was widespread in Europe but laboratory and radiologic diagnostics were not available. | | On March 24, 1882, the date on which World TB Day is based, Robert Koch announced his discovery of the causative organism of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Through Koch’s use of alkalinized methylene blue stain and a brown counterstain for contrast, this discovery laid to rest the theory that tuberculosis was congenital, a belief stemming from its extensive occurrence in families. In 1895, Wilhelm Röntgen first described the potential medical application of radiography when he captured the image of the bony and soft-tissue structures of his wife’s hand on a photographic plate. Without bacteriology or radiography, Stevenson’s persistently cachectic body habitus and pulmonary symptoms were thought to be consistent with tuberculosis, although other diagnoses have been proposed. These have included chronic idiopathic bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, any of which could potentially have been exacerbated by residual scarring from the bouts of pneumonia he experienced as a child and by his chain-smoking as an adult. |
Mapping the Complexity of Suicide by Combining Participatory Modeling and Network Science
Giabbanelli PJ , Galgoczy MC , Nguyen DM , Foy R , Rice KL , Nataraj N , Brown MM , Harper CR . Proc IEEE ACM Int Conf Adv Soc Netw Anal Min 12/28/2021 12 (1) 339-342 Suicide rates are steadily increasing among youth in the USA. Although several theories and frameworks of suicide have been developed, they do not account for some of the features that define suicide as a complex problem, such as a large number of interrelationships and cycles. In this paper, we create the first c omprehensive m ap o f a dverse c hildhood experiences (ACEs) and suicide for youth, by combining a participatory approach (involving 15 subject-matter experts) and network science. This results in a map of 946 edges and 361 concepts, in which we identify ACEs to be the most important factor (per degree centrality). The map is openly shared with the community to support further network analyses (e.g., decomposition into clusters). Similarly to the high-impact Foresight Map developed in the context of obesity, the largest map on suicide and ACEs to date presented in this paper can start a discussion at the crossroad of suicide research and network science, thus bringing new means to address a complex public health challenge. |
An environmental evaluation of urine-diverting dry toilets in Hiloweyn Camp, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia
Brown TW , Murphy JL , Akers P , Patrick M , Hill V , Mattioli M , Tsige Y , Adow A , Abdirashid M , Mohamed MN , Githiri D , Handzel T . Sci Total Environ 2024 926 171838 Safe and hygienic management of human waste is essential in humanitarian settings. Urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) can enable this management in some humanitarian emergency settings. A seeded, longitudinal environmental study was conducted in Hiloweyn refugee camp, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia, to measure Escherichia coli and Ascaris suum ova inactivation within closed UDDT vaults and to document environmental conditions (temperature, moisture content, and pH) that could influence inactivation. Hiloweyn camp represented an optimal location for a desiccation-based sanitation technology such as the UDDT. E. coli and Ascaris ova inactivation was observed in UDDTs under warm, dry, alkaline conditions at 6, 9, and 12 months of storage; UDDTs with samples containing <1000 E. coli/g total solids increased from 30 % to 95 % over 12 months, and a >2.8-log(10) reduction in Ascaris ova viability was observed after 6 months. Additional laboratory-based studies were conducted to provide insights into the field study findings and study the impact of hydrated lime on E. coli and Ascaris ova inactivation. Results suggest that adding hydrated lime to elevate pH > 12 may increase inactivation and decrease storage time. Overall, UDDTs could contribute to the safe and hygienic management of human waste in comparable warm and dry humanitarian settings. |
Characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Milucky J , Patel K , Patton ME , Kirley PD , Austin E , Meek J , Anderson EJ , Brooks A , Brown C , Mumm E , Salazar-Sanchez Y , Barney G , Popham K , Sutton M , Talbot HK , Crossland MT , Havers FP . Open Forum Infect Dis 2024 11 (3) ofae042 BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe disease among infants and older adults. Less is known about RSV among pregnant women. METHODS: To analyze hospitalizations with laboratory-confirmed RSV among women aged 18 to 49 years, we used data from the RSV Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RSV-NET), a multistate population-based surveillance system. Specifically, we compared characteristics and outcomes among (1) pregnant and nonpregnant women during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (2014-2018), (2) pregnant women with respiratory symptoms during the prepandemic and pandemic periods (2021-2023), and (3) pregnant women with and without respiratory symptoms in the pandemic period. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined whether pregnancy was a risk factor for severe outcomes (intensive care unit admission or in-hospital death) among women aged 18 to 49 years who were hospitalized with RSV prepandemic. RESULTS: Prepandemic, 387 women aged 18 to 49 years were hospitalized with RSV. Of those, 350 (90.4%) had respiratory symptoms, among whom 33 (9.4%) were pregnant. Five (15.2%) pregnant women and 74 (23.3%) nonpregnant women were admitted to the intensive care unit; no pregnant women and 5 (1.6%) nonpregnant women died. Among 279 hospitalized pregnant women, 41 were identified prepandemic and 238 during the pandemic: 80.5% and 35.3% had respiratory symptoms, respectively (P < .001). Pregnant women were more likely to deliver during their RSV-associated hospitalization during the pandemic vs the prepandemic period (73.1% vs 43.9%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Few pregnant women had severe RSV disease, and pregnancy was not a risk factor for a severe outcome. More asymptomatic pregnant women were identified during the pandemic, likely due to changes in testing practices for RSV. |
Correction: A mixed-methods approach for evaluating implementation processes and program costs for a hypertension management program implemented in a federally qualified health center
Tucker-Brown A , Spafford M , Wittenborn J , Rein D , Marshall A , Beasley KL , Vaughan M , Nelson N , Dougherty M , Ahn R . Prev Sci 2024 |
Introduction to the child abuse and neglect special issue "epidemiology, risk factors, and impacts of adverse childhood experiences in low- and middle-income countries."
Gilbert LK , Annor FB , Brown C , Dube SR . Child Abuse Negl 2024 106748 |
A measles IgM rapid diagnostic test to address challenges with national measles surveillance and response in Malaysia
Senin A , Noordin NM , Sani JAM , Mahat D , Donadel M , Scobie HM , Omar A , Chem YK , Zahari MI , Ismail F , Rahman RA , Hussin HM , Selvanesan S , Aziz ZA , Arifin Wnawm , Bakar RSA , Rusli N , Zailani MH , Soo P , Lo YR , Grabovac V , Rota PA , Mulders MN , Featherstone D , Warrener L , Brown DW . PLoS One 2024 19 (3) e0298730 INTRODUCTION: A lateral flow rapid diagnostic test (RDT) enables detection of measles specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody in serum, capillary blood, and oral fluid with accuracy consistent with enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The objectives of the study were: 1) to assess measles RDT inter-reader agreement between two clinic staff; 2) to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the measles RDT relative to standard surveillance testing in a low transmission setting; 3) to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of staff in clinics using the RDT; and 4) to assess the impact of RDT testing on the measles public health response in Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinic-based prospective evaluation included all suspected measles cases captured by routine measles surveillance at 34 purposely selected clinics in 15 health districts in Malaysia between September 2019 and June 2020, following day-long regional trainings on RDT use. Following informed consent, four specimens were collected from each suspected case, including those routinely collected for standard surveillance [serum for EIA and throat swabs for quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)] together with capillary blood and oral fluid tested with RDTs during the study. RDT impact was evaluated by comparing the rapidity of measles public health response between the pre-RDT implementation (December 2018 to August 2019) and RDT implementation periods (September 2019 to June 2020). To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of RDT use, staff involved in the public health management of measles at the selected sites were surveyed. RESULTS: Among the 436 suspect cases, agreement of direct visual readings of measles RDT devices between two health clinic staff was 99% for capillary blood (k = 0.94) and 97% for oral fluid (k = 0.90) specimens. Of the total, 45 (10%) were positive by measles IgM EIA (n = 44, including five also positive by RT-qPCR) or RT-qPCR only (n = 1), and 38 were positive by RDT (using either capillary blood or oral fluid). Using measles IgM EIA or RT-qPCR as reference, RDT sensitivity using capillary blood was 43% (95% CI: 30%-58%) and specificity was 98% (95% CI: 96%-99%); using oral fluid, sensitivity (26%, 95% CI: 15%-40%) and specificity (97%, 95% CI: 94%-98%) were lower. Nine months after training, RDT knowledge was high among staff involved with the public health management of measles (average quiz score of 80%) and was highest among those who received formal training (88%), followed by those trained during supervisory visits (83%). During the RDT implementation period, the number of days from case confirmation until initiation of public response decreased by about 5 days. CONCLUSION: The measles IgM RDT shows >95% inter-reader agreement, high retention of RDT knowledge, and a more rapid public health response. However, despite ≥95% RDT specificity using capillary blood or oral fluid, RDT sensitivity was <45%. Higher-powered studies using highly specific IgM assays and systematic RT-qPCR for case confirmation are needed to establish the role of RDT in measles elimination settings. |
Suicidal ideation and behaviors among high school students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019
Ivey-Stephenson AZ , Demissie Z , Crosby AE , Stone DM , Gaylor E , Wilkins N , Lowry R , Brown M . MMWR Suppl 2020 69 (1) 47-55 Suicide is the second leading cause of death among high school-aged youths 14-18 years after unintentional injuries. This report summarizes data regarding suicidal ideation (i.e., seriously considered suicide) and behaviors (i.e., made a suicide plan, attempted suicide, and made a suicide attempt requiring medical treatment) from CDC's 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results are reported overall and by sex, grade, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and sex of sexual contacts, overall and within sex groups. Trends in suicide attempts during 2009-2019 are also reported by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. During 2009-2019, prevalence of suicide attempts increased overall and among female, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and 12th-grade students. Data from 2019 reflect substantial differences by demographics regarding suicidal ideation and behaviors. For example, during 2019, a total of 18.8% of students reported having seriously considered suicide, with prevalence estimates highest among females (24.1%); white non-Hispanic students (19.1%); students who reported having sex with persons of the same sex or with both sexes (54.2%); and students who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (46.8%). Among all students, 8.9% reported having attempted suicide, with prevalence estimates highest among females (11.0%); black non-Hispanic students (11.8%); students who reported having sex with persons of the same sex or with both sexes (30.3%); and students who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (23.4%). Comprehensive suicide prevention can address these differences and reduce prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviors by implementing programs, practices, and policies that prevent suicide (e.g., parenting programs), supporting persons currently at risk (e.g., psychotherapy), preventing reattempts (e.g., emergency department follow-up), and attending to persons who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide. |
Dogs on the move: Estimating the risk of rabies in imported dogs in the United States, 2015-2022
Pieracci EG , Wallace R , Maskery B , Brouillette C , Brown C , Joo H . Zoonoses Public Health 2024 BACKGROUND: Dog-mediated rabies virus variant (DMRVV), a zoonotic pathogen that causes a deadly disease in animals and humans, is present in more than 100 countries worldwide but has been eliminated from the United States since 2007. In the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded four instances of rabies in dogs imported from DMRVV-enzootic countries since 2015. However, it remains uncertain whether the incidence of DMRVV among imported dogs from these countries significantly surpasses that of domestically acquired variants among domestic U.S. dogs. AIM: This evaluation aimed to estimate the number of dogs imported from DMRVV-enzootic countries and compare the risk of rabies between imported dogs and the U.S. domestic dog population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the CDC's dog import permit system (implemented during 2021 under a temporary suspension of dog importation from DMRVV-enzootic countries) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment system, each of which records a segment of dogs entering the U.S. from DMRVV-enzootic countries, was analysed. Additionally, we estimated the incidence rate of rabies in dogs imported from DMRVV-enzootic countries and compared it to the incidence rate within the general U.S. dog population, due to domestically acquired rabies variants, over the eight-year period (2015-2022). RESULTS: An estimated 72,589 (range, 62,660-86,258) dogs were imported into the United States annually between 2015 and 2022 from DMRVV-enzootic countries. The estimated incidence rate of rabies was 16 times higher (range, 13.2-19.4) in dogs imported from DMRVV-enzootic countries than that estimated for domestically acquired rabies in the general U.S. dog population. CONCLUSIONS: Preventing human exposure to dogs with DMRVV is a public health priority. The higher risk of rabies in dogs imported from DMRVV-enzootic countries supports the need for importation requirements aimed at preventing the reintroduction of DMRVV into the United States. |
Human exposures to Brucella canis from a pregnant dog during an international flight: Public health risks, diagnostic challenges and future considerations
Williams C , Swisher S , Miller N , Pinn-Woodcock T , Austin C , Hsiao SH , Arenas-Gamboa AM , Tiller R , Thacker T , Taetzsch S , Franklin-Guild R , Cutter L , Quance C , Hung CC , Maddox CW , Ernst M , Guarino C , Lanka S , Garcia-Gonzalez DG , Slager S , Sunavala Z , Brown C , Negron M , Pieracci EG . Zoonoses Public Health 2024 AIMS: This report documents the exposure of passengers and crew of a commercial international flight to the zoonotic pathogen Brucella canis after an infected dog aborted in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. This case demonstrates the challenges associated with brucellosis screening and the risks that airline personnel, airport employees and travellers face when animals with unrecognized zoonotic infections are transported. METHODS/RESULTS: The public health investigation of this case was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Health and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with a local veterinary clinic and several academic and federal diagnostic laboratories. It included an extensive diagnostic evaluation of the dam and aborted foetuses to confirm a diagnosis of canine brucellosis. Passengers, airline personnel and staff from the veterinary clinic where the dogs were treated underwent risk assessments, and clinic staff also received detailed guidance regarding infection prevention practices. CONCLUSIONS: Animal shelters and breeding programs are recommended to screen dogs routinely for brucellosis, but it is not unusual for domestic or imported animals to have unknown health histories, including the dog's brucellosis status, at the time of purchase, adoption, or re-homing. Testing recommendations and requirements vary by state, making it challenging for state public health and animal health agencies to monitor and respond appropriately. This case highlights the importance of Brucella spp. screening in sexually intact dogs prior to breeding, purchase, or domestic or international transportation of the dogs. The transportation of pregnant dogs may present a previously unrecognized public health threat in addition to contributing to unnecessary stress and health risks for pregnant animals. |
Interim effectiveness of updated 2023-2024 (monovalent xbb.1.5) COVID-19 vaccines against COVID-19-associated emergency department and urgent care encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults aged ≥18 years - VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023-January 2024
DeCuir J , Payne AB , Self WH , Rowley EAK , Dascomb K , DeSilva MB , Irving SA , Grannis SJ , Ong TC , Klein NP , Weber ZA , Reese SE , Ball SW , Barron MA , Naleway AL , Dixon BE , Essien I , Bride D , Natarajan K , Fireman B , Shah AB , Okwuazi E , Wiegand R , Zhu Y , Lauring AS , Martin ET , Gaglani M , Peltan ID , Brown SM , Ginde AA , Mohr NM , Gibbs KW , Hager DN , Prekker M , Mohamed A , Srinivasan V , Steingrub JS , Khan A , Busse LW , Duggal A , Wilson JG , Chang SY , Mallow C , Kwon JH , Exline MC , Columbus C , Vaughn IA , Safdar B , Mosier JM , Harris ES , Casey JD , Chappell JD , Grijalva CG , Swan SA , Johnson C , Lewis NM , Ellington S , Adams K , Tenforde MW , Paden CR , Dawood FS , Fleming-Dutra KE , Surie D , Link-Gelles R . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (8) 180-188 In September 2023, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended updated 2023-2024 (monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months to prevent COVID-19, including severe disease. However, few estimates of updated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended illness are available. This analysis evaluated VE of an updated COVID-19 vaccine dose against COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults aged ≥18 years during September 2023-January 2024 using a test-negative, case-control design with data from two CDC VE networks. VE against COVID-19-associated ED/UC encounters was 51% (95% CI = 47%-54%) during the first 7-59 days after an updated dose and 39% (95% CI = 33%-45%) during the 60-119 days after an updated dose. VE estimates against COVID-19-associated hospitalization from two CDC VE networks were 52% (95% CI = 47%-57%) and 43% (95% CI = 27%-56%), with a median interval from updated dose of 42 and 47 days, respectively. Updated COVID-19 vaccine provided increased protection against COVID-19-associated ED/UC encounters and hospitalization among immunocompetent adults. These results support CDC recommendations for updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccination. All persons aged ≥6 months should receive updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. |
The emergence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico requires a binational One Health approach
Foley J . J Am Vet Med Assoc 2024 1-7 Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an international and quintessential One Health problem. This paper synthesizes recent knowledge in One Health, binational RMSF concerns, and veterinary and human medical perspectives to this fatal, reemerging problem. RMSF, a life-threatening tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, emerged during the first decade of the 21st century in impoverished communities in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Lack of an index of suspicion, delay in diagnosis, and delayed initiation of antibiotic treatment contribute to fatality. Campaigns targeting dog neutering, restraint to residents' properties, and on-dog and on-premises treatment with acaricides temporarily reduce prevalence but are often untenable economically. Contemporary Mexican RMSF is hyperendemic in small communities and cities, whereas epidemics occur in the western US primarily in small tribal communities. In in both locations, the epidemics are fueled by free-roaming dogs and massive brown dog tick populations. In the US, RMSF has a case fatality rate of 5% to 7%; among thousands of annual cases in Mexico, case fatality often exceeds 30%.1,2 Numerous case patients in US border states have recent travel histories to northern Mexico. Veterinarians and physicians should alert the public to RMSF risk, methods of prevention, and the importance of urgent treatment with doxycycline if symptomatic. One Health professionals contribute ideas to manage ticks and rickettsial disease and provide broad education for the public and medical professionals. Novel management approaches include vaccine development and deployment, acaricide resistance monitoring, and modeling to guide targeted dog population management and other interventions. |
Meeting the aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines among older US adults, National Health Interview Survey 1998-2018
Hyde ET , Brown DR , Webber BJ , Piercy KL , Omura JD , Rose K , Whitfield GP . J Appl Gerontol 2024 7334648241232930 The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, second edition, recommends older adults participate in ≥150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity equivalent aerobic activity and ≥2 days per week of muscle-strengthening activity. We estimated prevalence and trends of meeting the guidelines among US adults aged ≥65 years from 1998 to 2018. Using the 1998-2018 National Health Interview Survey, we estimated the prevalence of meeting aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and combined physical activity guidelines stratified by age group, sex, race and ethnicity, and education level. Within age groups, we calculated prevalence differences by sociodemographic categories. Prevalence of meeting each guideline increased for all age groups and most sociodemographic subgroups. The increased magnitude of meeting the combined guideline from 1998-2000 to 2016-2018 differed across levels of educational attainment for most age groups. Despite increasing over time, the prevalence among older adults of meeting physical activity guidelines remains low (range for combined guideline: 7.2%-17.2%). |
Parks, trails, and greenways for physical activity: A Community Guide systematic economic review
Jacob V , Reynolds JA , Chattopadhyay SK , Hopkins DP , Brown DR , Devlin HM , Barrett A , Berrigan D , Crespo CJ , Heath GW , Brownson RC , Cuellar AE , Clymer JM , Chriqui JF . Am J Prev Med 2024 INTRODUCTION: This systematic economic review examined the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of park, trail, and greenway infrastructure interventions to increase physical activity or infrastructure use. METHODS: The search period covered the date of inception of publications databases through February 2022. Inclusion was limited to studies that reported cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness outcomes and were based in the United States and other high-income countries. Analyses were conducted during March 2022 through December 2022. All monetary values reported are in 2021 U.S. dollars. RESULTS: The search yielded 1 study based in the United States and 7 based on other high-income countries, with 1 reporting cost-effectiveness and 7 reporting cost-benefit outcomes. The cost-effectiveness study based in the United Kingdom reported $23,254 per disability-adjusted life year averted. The median benefit to cost ratio was 3.1 (Interquartile Interval: 2.9 to 3.9) based on 7 studies. DISCUSSION: The evidence shows that economic benefits exceed the intervention cost of park, trail, and greenway infrastructure. Given large differences in the size of infrastructure, intervention cost and economic benefits varied substantially across studies. There was insufficient number of studies to determine cost-effectiveness of these interventions. |
The cardinal rules: Principles of personal protective equipment for high-consequence infectious disease events
Donovan SK , Herstein JJ , Le AB , Gibbs SG , Beam EL , Brown CK , Lowe AE , Lowe JJ , Lawler JV . Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2024 1-3 In recognition of an increasing number of high-consequence infectious disease events, a group of subject-matter experts identified core safety principles that can be applied across all donning and doffing protocols for personal protective equipment. |
Phenylketonuria Scientific Review Conference: state of the science and future research needs.
Camp KM , Parisi MA , Acosta PB , Berry GT , Bilder DA , Blau N , Bodamer OA , Brosco JP , Brown CS , Burlina AB , Burton BK , Chang CS , Coates PM , Cunningham AC , Dobrowolski SF , Ferguson JH , Franklin TD , Frazier DM , Grange DK , Greene CL , Groft SC , Harding CO , Howell RR , Huntington KL , Hyatt-Knorr HD , Jevaji IP , Levy HL , Lichter-Konecki U , Lindegren ML , Lloyd-Puryear MA , Matalon K , MacDonald A , McPheeters ML , Mitchell JJ , Mofidi S , Moseley KD , Mueller CM , Mulberg AE , Nerurkar LS , Ogata BN , Pariser AR , Prasad S , Pridjian G , Rasmussen SA , Reddy UM , Rohr FJ , Singh RH , Sirrs SM , Stremer SE , Tagle DA , Thompson SM , Urv TK , Utz JR , van Spronsen F , Vockley J , Waisbren SE , Weglicki LS , White DA , Whitley CB , Wilfond BS , Yannicelli S , Young JM . Mol Genet Metab 2014 112 (2) 87-122 New developments in the treatment and management of phenylketonuria (PKU) as well as advances in molecular testing have emerged since the National Institutes of Health 2000 PKU Consensus Statement was released. An NIH State-of-the-Science Conference was convened in 2012 to address new findings, particularly the use of the medication sapropterin to treat some individuals with PKU, and to develop a research agenda. Prior to the 2012 conference, five working groups of experts and public members met over a 1-year period. The working groups addressed the following: long-term outcomes and management across the lifespan; PKU and pregnancy; diet control and management; pharmacologic interventions; and molecular testing, new technologies, and epidemiologic considerations. In a parallel and independent activity, an Evidence-based Practice Center supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality conducted a systematic review of adjuvant treatments for PKU; its conclusions were presented at the conference. The conference included the findings of the working groups, panel discussions from industry and international perspectives, and presentations on topics such as emerging treatments for PKU, transitioning to adult care, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory perspective. Over 85 experts participated in the conference through information gathering and/or as presenters during the conference, and they reached several important conclusions. The most serious neurological impairments in PKU are preventable with current dietary treatment approaches. However, a variety of more subtle physical, cognitive, and behavioral consequences of even well-controlled PKU are now recognized. The best outcomes in maternal PKU occur when blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations are maintained between 120 and 360 μmol/L before and during pregnancy. The dietary management treatment goal for individuals with PKU is a blood Phe concentration between 120 and 360 μmol/L. The use of genotype information in the newborn period may yield valuable insights about the severity of the condition for infants diagnosed before maximal Phe levels are achieved. While emerging and established genotype-phenotype correlations may transform our understanding of PKU, establishing correlations with intellectual outcomes is more challenging. Regarding the use of sapropterin in PKU, there are significant gaps in predicting response to treatment; at least half of those with PKU will have either minimal or no response. A coordinated approach to PKU treatment improves long-term outcomes for those with PKU and facilitates the conduct of research to improve diagnosis and treatment. New drugs that are safe, efficacious, and impact a larger proportion of individuals with PKU are needed. However, it is imperative that treatment guidelines and the decision processes for determining access to treatments be tied to a solid evidence base with rigorous standards for robust and consistent data collection. The process that preceded the PKU State-of-the-Science Conference, the conference itself, and the identification of a research agenda have facilitated the development of clinical practice guidelines by professional organizations and serve as a model for other inborn errors of metabolism. |
Pathology and monkeypox virus localization in tissues from immunocompromised patients with severe or fatal mpox
Ritter JM , Martines RB , Bhatnagar J , Rao AK , Villalba JA , Silva-Flannery L , Lee E , Bullock HA , Hutson CL , Cederroth T , Harris CK , Hord K , Xu Y , Brown CA , Guccione JP , Miller M , Paddock CD , Reagan-Steiner S . J Infect Dis 2024 BACKGROUND: Pathology and monkeypox virus (MPXV) tissue tropism in severe and fatal human mpox is not thoroughly described but can help elucidate the disease pathogenesis and the role of coinfections in immunocompromised patients. METHODS: We analyzed biopsy and autopsy tissues from 22 patients with severe or fatal outcomes to characterize pathology and viral antigen and DNA distribution in tissues by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Tissue-based testing for coinfections was also performed. RESULTS: Mucocutaneous lesions showed necrotizing and proliferative epithelial changes. Deceased patients with autopsy tissues evaluated had digestive tract lesions, and half had systemic tissue necrosis with thrombotic vasculopathy in lymphoid tissues, lung, or other solid organs. Half also had bronchopneumonia, and one-third had acute lung injury. All cases had MPXV antigen and DNA detected in tissues. Coinfections were identified in 5/16 (31%) biopsy and 4/6 (67%) autopsy cases. DISCUSSION: Severe mpox in immunocompromised patients is characterized by extensive viral infection of tissues and viremic dissemination that can progress despite available therapeutics. Digestive tract and lung involvement are common and associated with prominent histopathological and clinical manifestations. Coinfections may complicate mpox diagnosis and treatment. Significant viral DNA (likely correlating to infectious virus) in tissues necessitates enhanced biosafety measures in healthcare and autopsy settings. |
Expanding the evidence-base for improving sexual health among transgender communities: the importance of rigorous epidemiologic studies
Rushmore J , Learner ER , Bernstein KT . J Infect Dis 2024 Though approximately 1.3 million adults identify as transgender in United States (US) [1], | transgender populations remain marginalized and understudied in public health. Epidemiological | studies of health outcomes of transgender populations are infrequent, but available data show | alarming disparities with respect to sexual health between transgender and cisgender populations | [2-4]. Additionally, the few studies examining health, and specifically sexual health, of | transgender populations are often published in specialty journals. This highlights the important | work published by Brown et al. about sexual health of transgender women in this issue of The | Journal of Infectious Diseases. | Brown et al. greatly advance the field of transgender sexual health research by presenting baseline | findings for a multisite prospective cohort study called The Leading Innovation for Transgender | Women’s Health and Empowerment (LITE). Specifically, Brown et al. investigate the prevalence | and factors associated with bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among a communitybased sample of adult transgender women, stratified by HIV status, in six cities across the eastern | and southern US. The study highlights the high prevalence of bacterial STIs among transgender | women (16%) and differences in STI prevalence by HIV status(32% among transgender with HIV | versus 11% without HIV). These findings suggest unique considerations are needed for | transgender women with and without HIV and may help inform tailored interventions to curtail | sexual health inequities. Given the sparsity of robust epidemiologic data to inform best practices for improving the sexual and reproductive health of transgender persons, Brown et al.’s paper is | impactful. |
Descriptive analysis of targeted carbapenemase genes and antibiotic susceptibility profiles among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii tested in the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network-United States, 2017-2020
Sabour S , Bantle K , Bhatnagar A , Huang JY , Biggs A , Bodnar J , Dale JL , Gleason R , Klein L , Lasure M , Lee R , Nazarian E , Schneider E , Smith L , Snippes Vagnone P , Therrien M , Tran M , Valley A , Wang C , Young EL , Lutgring JD , Brown AC . Microbiol Spectr 2024 e0282823 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified CRAB as an urgent public health threat. In this paper, we used a collection of >6,000 contemporary clinical isolates to evaluate the phenotypic and genotypic properties of CRAB detected in the United States. We describe the frequency of specific carbapenemase genes detected, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and the distribution of CRAB isolates categorized as multidrug resistant, extensively drug-resistant, or difficult to treat. We further discuss the proportion of isolates showing susceptibility to Food and Drug Administration-approved agents. Of note, 84% of CRAB tested harbored at least one class A, B, or D carbapenemase genes targeted for detection and 83% of these carbapenemase gene-positive CRAB were categorized as extensively drug resistant. Fifty-four percent of CRAB isolates without any of these carbapenemase genes detected were still extensively drug-resistant, indicating that infections caused by CRAB are highly resistant and pose a significant risk to patient safety regardless of the presence of one of these carbapenemase genes. |
Demographic and travel characteristics and self-reported predeparture SARS-CoV-2 testing behavior in air passengers entering the United States from foreign destinations from July to September 2021
Panasci A , Gearhart S , Shaum A , Simental AJ , Mitchell C , Mitcham D , Williams G , Shake N , Brown C , Gertz AM . Immun Inflamm Dis 2023 11 (12) e1019 INTRODUCTION: From January 2021 to June 2022, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention required predeparture SARS-CoV-2 testing for all air passengers arriving into the United States from a foreign country. METHODS: Using data collected during a surveillance project, we described predeparture testing behavior among a convenience sample of international air passengers entering the United States from July to September 2021 at six US ports of entry. We analyzed pairwise relationships between self-reported test type, test timing, demographic and travel characteristics, and COVID-19 vaccination status using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Participants were more likely to get a NAAT versus antigen test if they identified as non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander (68.2%, n = 173), non-Hispanic Black (62.6%, n = 147), or if they preferred not to report race and ethnicity (60.8%, n = 209) when compared to those who identified as non-Hispanic White (47.1%, n = 1086, all p < 0.05). Those who identified as Hispanic or Latino (n = 671) were less likely to get a NAAT than the non-Hispanic White group (39.5% vs. 47.1%, p < 0.05). Participants arriving in the US from the Americas were less likely to get a NAAT (38.5%, n = 871) compared to those arriving from Europe (45.5%, n = 1165, p < 0.05). Participants who reported receiving their predeparture test 2 days or 3 or more days before departure were more likely to report receiving a NAAT (52.2%, n = 879, and 60.2%, n = 410, respectively) than those who reported testing within 1 day (41.4%, n = 1040, all p < 0.001) of departure. DISCUSSION: Test type was significantly associated with race and ethnicity, departure region, and test timing. Differences likely reflected regional disparities in the availability of tests at the time of the activity. Discrepancies in predeparture test timing and type worldwide may have consequences for the effectiveness and equity of travel requirements in future pandemics. |
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