Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-8 (of 8 Records) |
Query Trace: Callis A[original query] |
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Opioid Use Fueling HIV Transmission in an Urban Setting: An Outbreak of HIV Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs-Massachusetts, 2015-2018.
Alpren C , Dawson EL , John B , Cranston K , Panneer N , Fukuda HD , Roosevelt K , Klevens RM , Bryant J , Peters PJ , Lyss SB , Switzer W , Burrage A , Murray A , Agnew-Brune C , Stiles T , McClung P , Campbell EM , Breen C , Randall LM , Dasgupta S , Onofrey S , Bixler D , Hampton K , Jaeger JL , Hsu KK , Adih W , Callis B , Goldman LR , Danner SP , Jia H , Tumpney M , Board A , Brown C , DeMaria A Jr , Buchacz K . Am J Public Health 2019 110 (1) e1-e8 Objectives. To describe and control an outbreak of HIV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID).Methods. The investigation included people diagnosed with HIV infection during 2015 to 2018 linked to 2 cities in northeastern Massachusetts epidemiologically or through molecular analysis. Field activities included qualitative interviews regarding service availability and HIV risk behaviors.Results. We identified 129 people meeting the case definition; 116 (90%) reported injection drug use. Molecular surveillance added 36 cases to the outbreak not otherwise linked. The 2 largest molecular groups contained 56 and 23 cases. Most interviewed PWID were homeless. Control measures, including enhanced field epidemiology, syringe services programming, and community outreach, resulted in a significant decline in new HIV diagnoses.Conclusions. We illustrate difficulties with identification and characterization of an outbreak of HIV infection among a population of PWID and the value of an intensive response.Public Health Implications. Responding to and preventing outbreaks requires ongoing surveillance, with timely detection of increases in HIV diagnoses, community partnerships, and coordinated services, all critical to achieving the goal of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 14, 2019: e1-e8. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305366). |
Notes from the Field: HIV diagnoses among persons who inject drugs - northeastern Massachusetts, 2015-2018
Cranston K , Alpren C , John B , Dawson E , Roosevelt K , Burrage A , Bryant J , Switzer WM , Breen C , Peters PJ , Stiles T , Murray A , Fukuda HD , Adih W , Goldman L , Panneer N , Callis B , Campbell EM , Randall L , France AM , Klevens RM , Lyss S , Onofrey S , Agnew-Brune C , Goulart M , Jia H , Tumpney M , McClung P , Dasgupta S , Bixler D , Hampton K , Jaeger JL , Buchacz K , DeMaria A Jr . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019 68 (10) 253-254 From 2000 to 2014, the number of annual diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Massachusetts declined 47% (1). In August 2016, however, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) received reports of five new HIV cases among persons who inject drugs from a single community health center in the City of Lawrence (2). On average, less than one case per month among persons who inject drugs had been reported in Lawrence during 2014–2015 from all providers. Surveillance identified additional cases of HIV infection among such persons linked to Lawrence and Lowell, in northeastern Massachusetts, during 2016–2017. In 2018, MDPH and CDC conducted an investigation to characterize the outbreak and recommend control measures. |
Perceptions and acceptability of an experimental Ebola vaccine among health care workers, frontline staff, and the general public during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone
Jalloh MF , Jalloh MB , Albert A , Wolff B , Callis A , Ramakrishnan A , Cramer E , Sengeh P , Pratt SA , Conteh L , Hajjeh R , Bunnell R , Redd JT , Ekstrom AM , Nordenstedt H . Vaccine 2019 37 (11) 1495-1502 INTRODUCTION: Experimental Ebola vaccines were introduced during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Planning for the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola (STRIVE) was underway in late 2014. We examined hypothetical acceptability and perceptions of experimental Ebola vaccines among health care workers (HCWs), frontline workers, and the general public to guide ethical communication of risks and benefits of any experimental Ebola vaccine. METHODS: Between December 2014 and January 2015, we conducted in-depth interviews with public health leaders (N=31), focus groups with HCWs and frontline workers (N=20), and focus groups with members of the general public (N=15) in Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, Port Loko, Bombali, and Tonkolili districts. Themes were identified using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Across all participant groups, not knowing the immediate and long-term effects of an experimental Ebola vaccine was the most serious concern. Some respondents feared that experimental vaccines may cause Ebola, lead to death, or result in other adverse events. Among HCWs, not knowing the level of protection provided by experimental Ebola vaccines was another concern. HCWs and frontline workers were motivated to help find a vaccine for Ebola to help end the outbreak. General public participants cited positive experiences with routine childhood immunization in Sierra Leone. DISCUSSION: Our formative assessment prior to STRIVE's implementation in Sierra Leone helped identify concerns, motivations, and information gaps among potential participants of an experimental Ebola vaccine trial, at the time when an unprecedented outbreak was occurring in the country. The findings from this assessment were incorporated early in the process to guide ethical communication of risks and benefits when discussing informed consent for possible participation in the vaccine trial that was launched later in 2015. |
Implementing a multisite clinical trial in the midst of an Ebola outbreak: Lessons learned from the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola
Carter RJ , Idriss A , Widdowson MA , Samai M , Schrag SJ , Legardy-Williams JK , Estivariz CF , Callis A , Carr W , Webber W , Fischer ME , Hadler S , Sahr F , Thompson M , Greby SM , Edem-Hotah J , Momoh RM , McDonald W , Gee JM , Kallon AF , Spencer-Walters D , Bresee JS , Cohn A , Hersey S , Gibson L , Schuchat A , Seward JF . J Infect Dis 2018 217 S16-s23 The Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola (STRIVE), a phase 2/3 trial of investigational rVSVG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine, was conducted during an unprecedented Ebola epidemic. More than 8600 eligible healthcare and frontline response workers were individually randomized to immediate (within 7 days) or deferred (within 18-24 weeks) vaccination and followed for 6 months after vaccination for serious adverse events and Ebola virus infection. Key challenges included limited infrastructure to support trial activities, unreliable electricity, and staff with limited clinical trial experience. Study staff made substantial infrastructure investments, including renovation of enrollment sites, laboratories, and government cold chain facilities, and imported equipment to store and transport vaccine at </=-60oC. STRIVE built capacity by providing didactic and practical research training to >350 staff, which was reinforced with daily review and feedback meetings. The operational challenges of safety follow-up were addressed by issuing mobile telephones to participants, making home visits, and establishing a nurse triage hotline. Before the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone had limited infrastructure and staff to conduct clinical trials. Without interfering with the outbreak response, STRIVE responded to an urgent need and helped build this capacity. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov [NCT02378753] and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry [PACTR201502001037220]. |
Lessons learned in clinical trial communication during an Ebola outbreak: The implementation of STRIVE
Callis A , Carter VM , Ramakrishnan A , Albert AP , Conteh L , Barrie AA , Fahnbulleh L , Koroma MM , Saidu S , Williams O , Samai M . J Infect Dis 2018 217 S40-s47 Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov [NCT02378753] and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry [PACTR201502001037220]. |
The Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine Against Ebola: An evaluation of rVSVG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine tolerability and safety during the West Africa Ebola outbreak
Samai M , Seward JF , Goldstein ST , Mahon BE , Lisk DR , Widdowson MA , Jalloh MI , Schrag SJ , Idriss A , Carter RJ , Dawson P , Kargbo SAS , Leigh B , Bawoh M , Legardy-Williams J , Deen G , Carr W , Callis A , Lindblad R , Russell JBW , Petrie CR , Fombah AE , Kargbo B , McDonald W , Jarrett OD , Walker RE , Gargiullo P , Bash-Taqi D , Gibson L , Fofanah AB , Schuchat A . J Infect Dis 2018 217 S6-s15 Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov [NCT02378753] and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry [PACTR201502001037220]. |
Characteristics of fentanyl overdose - Massachusetts, 2014-2016
Somerville NJ , O'Donnell J , Gladden RM , Zibbell JE , Green TC , Younkin M , Ruiz S , Babakhanlou-Chase H , Chan M , Callis BP , Kuramoto-Crawford J , Nields HM , Walley AY . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017 66 (14) 382-386 Opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts increased 150% from 2012 to 2015 (1). The proportion of opioid overdose deaths in the state involving fentanyl, a synthetic, short-acting opioid with 50-100 times the potency of morphine, increased from 32% during 2013-2014 to 74% in the first half of 2016 (1-3). In April 2015, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and CDC reported an increase in law enforcement fentanyl seizures in Massachusetts, much of which was believed to be illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) (4). To guide overdose prevention and response activities, in April 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner collaborated with CDC to investigate the characteristics of fentanyl overdose in three Massachusetts counties with high opioid overdose death rates. In these counties, medical examiner charts of opioid overdose decedents who died during October 1, 2014-March 31, 2015 were reviewed, and during April 2016, interviews were conducted with persons who used illicit opioids and witnessed or experienced an opioid overdose. Approximately two thirds of opioid overdose decedents tested positive for fentanyl on postmortem toxicology. Evidence for rapid progression of fentanyl overdose was common among both fatal and nonfatal overdoses. A majority of interview respondents reported successfully using multiple doses of naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdose, to reverse suspected fentanyl overdoses. Expanding and enhancing existing opioid overdose education and prevention programs to include fentanyl-specific messaging and practices could help public health authorities mitigate adverse effects associated with overdoses, especially in communities affected by IMF. |
Implementing an Ebola vaccine study - Sierra Leone
Widdowson MA , Schrag SJ , Carter RJ , Carr W , Legardy-Williams J , Gibson L , Lisk DR , Jalloh MI , Bash-Taqi DA , Kargbo SA , Idriss A , Deen GF , Russell JB , McDonald W , Albert AP , Basket M , Callis A , Carter VM , Ogunsanya KR , Gee J , Pinner R , Mahon BE , Goldstein ST , Seward JF , Samai M , Schuchat A . MMWR Suppl 2016 65 (3) 98-106 In October 2014, the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences of the University of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and CDC joined the global effort to accelerate assessment and availability of candidate Ebola vaccines and began planning for the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola (STRIVE). STRIVE was an individually randomized controlled phase II/III trial to evaluate efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus Ebola vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV). The study population was health care and frontline workers in select chiefdoms of the five most affected districts in Sierra Leone. Participants were randomized to receive a single intramuscular dose of rVSV-ZEBOV at enrollment or to receive a single intramuscular dose 18-24 weeks after enrollment. All participants were followed up monthly until 6 months after vaccination. Two substudies separately assessed detailed reactogenicity over 1 month and immunogenicity over 12 months. During the 5 months before the trial, STRIVE and partners built a research platform in Sierra Leone comprising participant follow-up sites, cold chain, reliable power supply, and vaccination clinics and hired and trained at least 350 national staff. Wide-ranging community outreach, informational sessions, and messaging were conducted before and during the trial to ensure full communication to the population of the study area regarding procedures and current knowledge about the trial vaccine. During April 9-August 15, 2015, STRIVE enrolled 8,673 participants, of whom 453 and 539 were also enrolled in the safety and immunogenicity substudies, respectively. As of April 28, 2016, no Ebola cases and no vaccine-related serious adverse events, which by regulatory definition include death, life-threatening illness, hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, or permanent disability, were reported in the study population. Although STRIVE will not produce an estimate of vaccine efficacy because of low case frequency as the epidemic was controlled, data on safety and immunogenicity will support decisions on licensure of rVSV-ZEBOV.The activities summarized in this report would not have been possible without collaboration with many U.S. and international partners (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/partners.html). |
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