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Issue 16, April 25, 2017


CDC Science Clips: Volume 9, Issue 16, April 25, 2017

Each Tuesday, to enhance awareness of emerging scientific knowledge, selected science clips will be posted here for the public health community. The focus is applied public health research and prevention science that has the capacity to improve health now.

The report consists of these components:

  1. Top Articles of the Week

    Selected weekly by a senior CDC scientist from the standard sections listed below.
    The names of CDC authors are indicated in bold text.
    • Chronic Diseases and Conditions RSS Word feed
      • Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and strokes in younger adults
        George MG, Tong X, Bowman BA.
        JAMA Neurol. 2017 Apr 10.
        Importance: While stroke mortality rates have decreased substantially in the past 2 decades, this trend has been primarily limited to older adults. Increasing trends in stroke incidence and hospitalizations have been noted among younger adults, but there has been concern that this reflected improved diagnosis through an increased use of imaging rather than representing a real increase. Objectives: To determine whether stroke hospitalization rates have continued to increase and to identify the prevalence of associated stroke risk factors among younger adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: Hospitalization data from the National Inpatient Sample from 1995 through 2012 were used to analyze acute stroke hospitalization rates among adults aged 18 to 64 years. Hospitalization data from 2003 to 2012 were used to identify the prevalence of associated risk factors for acute stroke. Acute stroke hospitalizations were identified by the principal International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code and associated risk factors were identified by secondary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for each hospitalization. Main Outcomes and Measures: Trends in acute stroke hospitalization rates by stroke type, age, sex, and race/ethnicity, as well as the prevalence of associated risk factors by stroke type, age, and sex. Results: The 2003-2004 set included 362339 hospitalizations and the 2011-2012 set included 421815 hospitalizations. The major findings in this study are as follows: first, acute ischemic stroke hospitalization rates increased significantly for both men and women and for certain race/ethnic groups among younger adults aged 18 to 54 years; they have almost doubled for men aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44 years since 1995-1996, with a 41.5% increase among men aged 35 to 44 years from 2003-2004 to 2011-2012. Second, the prevalence of stroke risk factors among those hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke continued to increase from 2003-2004 through 2011-2012 for both men and women aged 18 to 64 years (range of absolute increase: hypertension, 4%-11%; lipid disorders, 12%-21%; diabetes, 4%-7%; tobacco use, 5%-16%; and obesity, 4%-9%). Third, the prevalence of having 3 to 5 risk factors increased from 2003-2004 through 2011-2012 (men: from 9% to 16% at 18-34 years, 19% to 35% at 35-44 years, 24% to 44% at 45-54 years, and 26% to 46% at 55-64 years; women: 6% to 13% at 18-34 years, 15% to 32% at 35-44 years, 25% to 44% at 45-54 years, and 27% to 48% at 55-65 years; P for trend < .001). Finally, hospitalization rates for intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage remained stable, with the exception of declines among men and non-Hispanic black patients aged 45 to 54 with subarachnoid hemorrhage (13.2/10000 to 10.3/10000 hospitalizations and 15.8/10000 to 11.5/10000 hospitalizations, respectively). Conclusions and Relevance: The identification of increasing hospitalization rates for acute ischemic stroke in young adults coexistent with increasing prevalence of traditional stroke risk factors confirms the importance of focusing on prevention in younger adults.

      • Incidence trends of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among youths, 2002-2012
        Mayer-Davis EJ, Lawrence JM, Dabelea D, Divers J, Isom S, Dolan L, Imperatore G, Linder B, Marcovina S, Pettitt DJ, Pihoker C, Saydah S, Wagenknecht L.
        N Engl J Med. 2017 Apr 13;376(15):1419-1429.
        Background Diagnoses of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in youths present a substantial clinical and public health burden. The prevalence of these diseases increased in the 2001-2009 period, but data on recent incidence trends are lacking. Methods We ascertained cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus at five study centers in the United States. Denominators (4.9 million youths annually) were obtained from the U.S. Census or health-plan member counts. After the calculation of annual incidence rates for the 2002-2012 period, we analyzed trends using generalized autoregressive moving-average models with 2-year moving averages. Results A total of 11,245 youths with type 1 diabetes (0 to 19 years of age) and 2846 with type 2 diabetes (10 to 19 years of age) were identified. Overall unadjusted estimated incidence rates of type 1 diabetes increased by 1.4% annually (from 19.5 cases per 100,000 youths per year in 2002-2003 to 21.7 cases per 100,000 youths per year in 2011-2012, P=0.03). In adjusted pairwise comparisons, the annual rate of increase was greater among Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites (4.2% vs. 1.2%, P<0.001). Overall unadjusted incidence rates of type 2 diabetes increased by 7.1% annually (from 9.0 cases per 100,000 youths per year in 2002-2003 to 12.5 cases per 100,000 youths per year in 2011-2012, P<0.001 for trend across race or ethnic group, sex, and age subgroups). Adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that the relative annual increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes among non-Hispanic whites (0.6%) was lower than that among non-Hispanic blacks, Asians or Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans (P<0.05 for all comparisons) and that the annual rate of increase among Hispanics differed significantly from that among Native Americans (3.1% vs. 8.9%, P=0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, and race or ethnic group, the relative annual increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes was 1.8% (P<0.001) and that of type 2 diabetes was 4.8% (P<0.001). Conclusions The incidences of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among youths increased significantly in the 2002-2012 period, particularly among youths of minority racial and ethnic groups. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.).

    • Communicable Diseases RSS Word feed
      • Mobile phone and internet use mostly for sex-seeking and associations with sexually transmitted infections and sample characteristics among black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men who have sex with men in 3 US cities
        Allen JE, Mansergh G, Mimiaga MJ, Holman J, Herbst JH.
        Sex Transm Dis. 2017 May;44(5):284-289.
        BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a relatively high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study examines the association of self-reported STIs and use of mobile phones and/or computer-based Internet to meet sexual partners among black and Hispanic/Latino MSM in the United States. METHODS: Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM (N = 853) were recruited from 3 US cities (Chicago, IL; Kansas City, MO; and Fort Lauderdale, FL) via online and community outreach. Men completed a computer-assisted, self-interview assessment on demographics, use of mobile phones and computer-based Internet for sex-seeking, sexual risk behavior, and self-reported bacterial STIs in the past year. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model independent associations of STIs and use of these technologies to meet sexual partners. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the sample reported having an STI in the past year; 29% reported using a mobile phone and 28% a computer-based Internet mostly for sex-seeking; and 22% reported using both. Number of male sexual partners (past year) was associated with any STI (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.06). Adjusting for human immunodeficiency virus status, number of male sexual partners (past year), and demographic variables, men who reported use of both mobile phones and computer-based Internet for sex-seeking had increased odds of reporting an STI (adjusted odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.75-3.83), as well as with separate reports of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (P’s < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced community education regarding STI prevention, testing, and treatment options are necessary among this subpopulation of MSM who may benefit from messaging via Internet and mobile phone application sites.

      • State-level gonorrhea rates and expedited partner therapy laws: insights from time series analyses
        Owusu-Edusei K, Cramer R, Chesson HW, Gift TL, Leichliter JS.
        Public Health. 2017 Mar 24;147:101-108.
        OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined state-level monthly gonorrhea morbidity and assessed the potential impact of existing expedited partner therapy (EPT) laws in relation to the time that the laws were enacted. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study. METHODS: We obtained state-level monthly gonorrhea morbidity (number of cases/100,000 for males, females and total) from the national surveillance data. We used visual examination (of morbidity trends) and an autoregressive time series model in a panel format with intervention (interrupted time series) analysis to assess the impact of state EPT laws based on the months in which the laws were enacted. RESULTS: For over 84% of the states with EPT laws, the monthly morbidity trends did not show any noticeable decreases on or after the laws were enacted. Although we found statistically significant decreases in gonorrhea morbidity within four of the states with EPT laws (Alaska, Illinois, Minnesota, and Vermont), there were no significant decreases when the decreases in the four states were compared contemporaneously with the decreases in states that do not have the laws. CONCLUSION: We found no impact (decrease in gonorrhea morbidity) attributable exclusively to the EPT law(s). However, these results do not imply that the EPT laws themselves were not effective (or failed to reduce gonorrhea morbidity), because the effectiveness of the EPT law is dependent on necessary intermediate events/outcomes, including sexually transmitted infection service providers’ awareness and practice, as well as acceptance by patients and their partners.

    • Disease Reservoirs and Vectors RSS Word feed
      • Evaluation of the SELECT Tick Control System (TCS), a host-targeted bait box, to reduce exposure to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Lyme disease endemic area of New Jersey
        Schulze TL, Jordan RA, Williams M, Dolan MC.
        J Med Entomol. 2017 Mar 15.
        We describe a 2-yr trial to evaluate the ability of SELECT Tick Control System (TCS) host-targeted bait boxes to reduce numbers of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis nymphs in a residential neighborhood. After four successive 9-wk deployments, nymphal and larval I. scapularis infestation prevalence and intensity were significantly reduced on target small mammals. In addition, these deployments resulted in 87.9% and 97.3% control of host-seeking nymphs in treatment sites at 1 yr and 2 yr postintervention, respectively. Installation of a protective metal cover around the SELECT TCS bait boxes eliminated nontarget wildlife damage to bait boxes that resulted in failure of previous bait box types. The results are discussed in the context of the residential environment and future research needs.

    • Genetics and Genomics RSS Word feed
      • Making genomic medicine evidence-based and patient-centered: a structured review and landscape analysis of comparative effectiveness research
        Phillips KA, Deverka PA, Sox HC, Khoury MJ, Sandy LG, Ginsburg GS, Tunis SR, Orlando LA, Douglas MP.
        Genet Med. 2017 Apr 13.
        Comparative effectiveness research (CER) in genomic medicine (GM) measures the clinical utility of using genomic information to guide clinical care in comparison to appropriate alternatives. We summarized findings of high-quality systematic reviews that compared the analytic and clinical validity and clinical utility of GM tests. We focused on clinical utility findings to summarize CER-derived evidence about GM and identify evidence gaps and future research needs. We abstracted key elements of study design, GM interventions, results, and study quality ratings from 21 systematic reviews published in 2010 through 2015. More than half (N = 13) of the reviews were of cancer-related tests. All reviews identified potentially important clinical applications of the GM interventions, but most had significant methodological weaknesses that largely precluded any conclusions about clinical utility. Twelve reviews discussed the importance of patient-centered outcomes, although few described evidence about the impact of genomic medicine on these outcomes. In summary, we found a very limited body of evidence about the effect of using genomic tests on health outcomes and many evidence gaps for CER to address.Genet Med advance online publication 13 April 2017Genetics in Medicine (2017); doi:10.1038/gim.2017.21.

      • Genotypic analysis of Tropheryma whipplei from patients with Whipple disease in the Americas
        Rollin DC, Paddock CD, Pritt BS, Cunningham SA, Denison AM.
        J Clin Pathol. 2017 Apr 06.
        Tropheryma whipplei, the agent of Whipple disease, causes a rare bacterial disease that may be fatal if not treated. The classical form of the disease includes diarrhoea, weight loss, arthritis, endocarditis and neurological manifestations. Genotyping studies done in Europe, Africa and Asia showed high genetic diversity with no correlation between genotypes and clinical features, but contributed to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease. More than 70 genotypes have been described. No similar assessment of T. whipplei in the USA and the Caribbean has been performed. In this study, we describe genetic analysis of DNA from histopathological samples obtained from 30 patients from the Americas with Whipple disease and compare the genotypes with those previously identified. Complete genotypes were obtained from 18 patients (60%). Only 4 genotypes were previously described, and 14 were newly reported, confirming the diversity of T. whipplei strains.

    • Health Economics RSS Word feed
      • Tax avoidance and evasion: Cigarette purchases from Indian reservations among US adult smokers, 2010-2011
        Wang X, Xu X, Tynan MA, Gerzoff RB, Caraballo RS, Promoff GR.
        Public Health Rep. 2017 Jan 01:33354917703653.
        Excise taxes are the primary public health strategy used to increase the price of cigarettes in the United States. Rather than quitting or reducing consumption of cigarettes, some price-sensitive smokers may avoid state and local excise taxes by purchasing cigarettes from Indian reservations. The objectives of this study were to (1) provide the most recent state-specific prevalence of purchases made on Indian reservations by non-American Indians/Alaska Natives (non-AI/ANs) and (2) assess the impact of these purchases on state tax revenues. We used data from a large national and state-representative survey, the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, which collects self-reported measures on cigarette use and purchases. Nationwide, 3.8% of non-AI/AN smokers reported purchasing cigarettes from Indian reservations. However, in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington State, about 15% to 30% of smokers reported making such purchases, resulting in annual tax revenue losses ranging from $3.5 million (Washington State) to $292 million (New York) during 2010-2011. Strategies to reduce the sale of non- or lower-taxed cigarettes to non-AI/ANs on Indian reservations have the potential to decrease smoking prevalence and recoup lost revenue from purchases made on reservations.

    • Laboratory Sciences RSS Word feed
      • Evaluation of TaqMan Array Card (TAC) for the detection of central nervous system infections in Kenya
        Onyango CO, Loparev V, Lidechi S, Bhullar V, Schmid DS, Radford K, Lo MK, Rota P, Johnson BW, Munoz J, Oneko M, Burton D, Black CM, Neatherlin J, Montgomery JM, Fields B.
        J Clin Microbiol. 2017 Apr 12.
        Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are often acute with significant morbidity and mortality. Routine diagnosis of such infections is limited in developing countries and requires modern equipment in advanced laboratories that may be unavailable to a number of patients in sub-Saharan Africa. We developed a TaqMan Array Card (TAC) that detects multiple pathogens simultaneously from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The 21-pathogen TAC assays include two parasites (Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba), six bacterial pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Bartonella) and 13 viruses (parechovirus, dengue, nipah, varicella zoster, mumps, measles, lyssa, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, Epstein Barr virus, enterovirus, cytomegalovirus and chikungunya). The card also includes human RNAse P as a nucleic acid extraction control and an internal manufacturer control (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)). This CNS-TAC can test up to eight samples for all 21 agents within 2.5 hours following nucleic acid extraction. The assay was validated for linearity, limit of detection, sensitivity and specificity by either using live viruses (dengue, mumps and measles) or nucleic acid material (nipah and chikungunya). Of the 120 samples tested by individual real-time PCR (IRTP), 35 were positive for eight different targets while CNS-TAC detected 37 positive samples across nine different targets. The TAC assays showed 85.6% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity across the assays. This assay may be useful for outbreak investigation and surveillance of suspected neurological disease.

    • Substance Use and Abuse RSS Word feed
      • 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 Apr 14;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.

      • Marijuana use and serum testosterone concentrations among U.S. males
        Thistle JE, Graubard BI, Braunlin M, Vesper H, Trabert B, Cook MB, McGlynn KA.
        Andrology. 2017 Apr 10.
        Marijuana has been reported to have several effects on the male reproductive system. Marijuana has previously been linked to reduced adult testosterone, however, a study in Denmark reported increased testosterone concentrations among marijuana users. This study was performed to estimate the effect of marijuana use on testosterone in U.S. males. Data on serum testosterone, marijuana use, and covariates for 1577 men from the 2011-2012 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Information on marijuana use was collected by a self-administered computer-assisted questionnaire. Serum testosterone was determined using isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The effects of marijuana use on serum testosterone concentrations were examined by frequency, duration, and recency of use. Adjusted means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of serum testosterone across levels of marijuana use were estimated using multiple linear regression weighted by the survey weights. The majority (66.2%) of the weighted study population reported ever using marijuana with 26.6% reporting current marijuana use. There was no difference in serum testosterone between ever users (adjusted mean = 3.69 ng/mL, 95% CI: 3.46, 3.93) and never users (adjusted mean = 3.70 ng/mL, 95% CI: 3.45, 3.98) upon multivariable analysis. However, serum testosterone was inversely associated with time since last regular use of marijuana (p-value for trend = 0.02). When restricted to men aged 18-29 years, this relationship strengthened (p-value for trend <0.01), and serum testosterone was also inversely associated with time since last use (p-value for trend <0.01), indicating that recency of use, and not duration or frequency, had the strongest relationship with testosterone levels. Serum testosterone concentrations were higher in men with more recent marijuana use. Studies are needed to determine the extent to which circulating testosterone concentrations mediate the relationship of marijuana use with male reproductive outcomes.

    • Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases RSS Word feed
      • Successful strategies implemented towards the elimination of canine rabies in the Western Hemisphere
        Velasco-Villa A, Escobar LE, Sanchez A, Shi M, Streicker DG, Gallardo-Romero NF, Vargas-Pino F, Gutierrez-Cedillo V, Damon I, Emerson G.
        Antiviral Res. 2017 Apr 04;143:1-12.
        Almost all cases of human rabies result from dog bites, making the elimination of canine rabies a global priority. During recent decades, many countries in the Western Hemisphere have carried out large-scale dog vaccination campaigns, controlled their free-ranging dog populations and enforced legislation for responsible pet ownership. This article reviews progress in eliminating canine rabies from the Western Hemisphere. After briefly summarizing the history of control efforts and describing the approaches listed above, we note that programs in some countries have been hindered by societal attitudes and severe economic disparities, which underlines the need to discuss measures that will be required to complete the elimination of canine rabies throughout the region. We also note that there is a constant threat for dog-maintained epizootics to re-occur, so as long as dog-maintained rabies “hot spots” are still present, free-roaming dog populations remain large, herd immunity becomes low and dog-derived rabies lyssavirus (RABLV) variants continue to circulate in close proximity to rabies-naive dog populations. The elimination of dog-maintained rabies will be only feasible if both dog-maintained and dog-derived RABLV lineages and variants are permanently eliminated. This may be possible by keeping dog herd immunity above 70% at all times, fostering sustained laboratory-based surveillance through reliable rabies diagnosis and RABLV genetic typing in dogs, domestic animals and wildlife, as well as continuing to educate the population on the risk of rabies transmission, prevention and responsible pet ownership. Complete elimination of canine rabies requires permanent funding, with governments and people committed to make it a reality. An accompanying article reviews the history and epidemiology of canine rabies in the Western Hemisphere, beginning with its introduction during the period of European colonization, and discusses how spillovers of viruses between dogs and various wild carnivores will affect future eradication efforts (Velasco-Villa et al., 2017).

  2. CDC Authored Publications
    The names of CDC authors are indicated in bold text.
    Articles published in the past 6-8 weeks authored by CDC or ATSDR staff.
  • Chronic Diseases and Conditions RSS Word feed
    1. Comparison of surveillance-based metrics for the assessment and monitoring of disease detection: simulation study about type 2 diabetes
      Brinks R, Hoyer A, Rolka DB, Kuss O, Gregg EW.
      BMC Med Res Methodol. 2017 Apr 11;17(1):54.
      BACKGROUND: Screening and detection of cases are a common public health priority for treatable chronic conditions with long subclinical periods. However, the validity of commonly-used metrics from surveillance systems for rates of detection (or case-finding) have not been evaluated. METHODS: Using data from a Danish diabetes register and a recently developed illness-death model of chronic diseases with subclinical conditions, we simulate two scenarios of different performance of case-finding. We report different epidemiological indices to assess case-finding in both scenarios and compare the validity of the results. RESULTS: The commonly used ratio of detected cases over total cases may lead to misleading conclusions. Instead, the ratio of undetected cases over persons without a diagnosis is a more valid index to distinguish the quality of case-finding. However, incidence-based measures are preferable to prevalence based indicators. CONCLUSION: Prevalence-based indices for assessing case-finding should be interpreted with caution. If possible, incidence-based indices should be preferred.

    2. CDC research on non-occupational NIHL
      Carroll Y, Eichwald J.
      Hearing Journal. 2017 ;70(4):40.
      [No abstract]

    3. Acceptance of peer navigators to reduce barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment among women with HIV infection in Tanzania
      Koneru A, Jolly PE, Blakemore S, McCree R, Lisovicz NF, Aris EA, Mtesigwa T, Yuma S, Mwaiselage JD.
      Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017 Apr 08.
      OBJECTIVE: To identify barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment, and determine acceptance toward peer navigators (PNs) to reduce barriers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women with HIV infection aged 19 years or older attending HIV clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, between May and August 2012. Data for sociodemographic characteristics, barriers, knowledge and attitude toward cervical cancer screening and treatment, and PNs were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: Among 399 participants, only 36 (9.0%) reported previous cervical cancer screening. A higher percentage of screened than unscreened women reported being told about screening by someone at the clinic (25/36 [69.4%] vs 132/363 [36.4%]; P=0.002), knew that screening was free (30/36 [83.3%] vs 161/363 [44.4%]; P<0.001), and obtained “good” cervical screening attitude scores (17/36 [47.2%] vs 66/363 [18.2%]; P=0.001). Most women (382/399 [95.7%]) did not know about PNs. When told about PNs, 388 (97.5%) of 398 women said they would like assistance with explanation of medical terms, and 352 (88.2%) of 399 said they would like PNs to accompany them for cervical evaluation and/or treatment. CONCLUSION: Use of PNs was highly acceptable and represents a novel approach to addressing barriers to cervical cancer screening and treatment.

    4. Hospitalizations for Crohn’s disease – United States, 2003-2013
      Malarcher CA, Wheaton AG, Liu Y, Greenlund SF, Greenlund SJ, Lu H, Croft JB.
      MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017 Apr 14;66(14):377-381.
      In 2009, an estimated 565,000 Americans had Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, constipation leading to bowel obstruction, and rectal bleeding. Symptoms sometimes intensify in severity and require hospitalization and surgeries of the small intestine, colon, or rectum. Hospital discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) were used to estimate U.S. hospitalizations for Crohn’s disease as both the first-listed and any-listed section sign discharge diagnosis and common surgical procedures during hospitalizations with Crohn’s disease as first-listed diagnosis from 2003 to 2013, the most recent decade of data. Despite new therapies that were expected to improve remission and reduce hospitalizations, estimated numbers (and age-adjusted rates per 100,000 U.S. population) of hospitalizations for Crohn’s disease as the first-listed diagnosis did not change significantly from 2003 to 2013. The proportion of these hospitalizations during which small bowel resection was performed decreased from 4.9% in 2003 to 3.9% in 2013 (p<0.05); however, colorectal resection and fistula repair rates remained stable. Hospital stays for any-listed Crohn’s disease increased from >120,000 (44.2 per 100,000) in 2003 to >196,000 (59.7 per 100,000) in 2013 (p<0.05). Patient education initiatives should focus on increasing awareness of exacerbating factors and medication compliance to prevent hospitalizations.

  • Communicable Diseases RSS Word feed
    1. Ebola virus disease and pregnancy: A review of the current knowledge of Ebola virus pathogenesis, maternal, and neonatal outcomes
      Bebell LM, Oduyebo T, Riley LE.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Mar 15;109(5):353-362.
      The 2014 to 2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa devastated local health systems and caused thousands of deaths. Historical reports from Zaire ebolavirus outbreaks suggested pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of severe illness and death, with mortality rates from 74 to 100%. In total, 111 cases of pregnant patients with EVD are reported in the literature, with an aggregate maternal mortality of 86%. Pregnancy-specific data published from the recent outbreak include four small descriptive cohort studies and five case reports. Despite limitations including reporting bias and small sample size, these studies suggest mortality in pregnant women may be lower than previously reported, with five of 13 (39%) infected women dying. Optimal treatments for pregnant women, and differences in EVD course between pregnant women and nonpregnant individuals, are major scientific gaps that have not yet been systematically addressed. Ebola virus may be transmitted from mother to baby in utero, during delivery, or through contact with maternal body fluids after birth including breast milk. EVD is almost universally fatal to the developing fetus, and limited fetal autopsy data prevent inferences on risk of birth defects. Decisions about delivery mode and other obstetric interventions should be individualized. WHO recommends close monitoring of survivors who later become pregnant, but does not recommend enhanced precautions at subsequent delivery. Although sexual transmission of Ebola virus has been documented, birth outcomes among survivors have not been published and will be important to appropriately counsel women on pregnancy outcomes and inform delivery precautions for healthcare providers.

    2. Geographic disparities in access to syringe services programs among young people with hepatitis C virus infection in the U.S
      Canary L, Hariri S, Campbell C, Young R, Whitcomb J, Kaufman H, Vellozzi C.
      Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr 11.
      Using commercial laboratory data, we found 80% of 29,382 young people currently infected with hepatitis C lived >10 miles from a syringe services program. The median distance was 37 miles, with greater distances in rural areas and Southern and Midwestern states. Strategies to improve access to preventive services are warranted.

    3. Sustained reduction in HIV diagnoses in Massachusetts, 2000-2014
      Cranston K, John B, Fukuda HD, Randall LM, Mermin J, Mayer KH, DeMaria A.
      Am J Public Health. 2017 May;107(5):794-799.
      OBJECTIVES: To describe secular trends in reported HIV diagnoses in Massachusetts concurrent with treatment access expansion. METHODS: We characterized cases of HIV infection reported to the Massachusetts HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program between 2000 and 2014 by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and exposure mode. We used Poisson regression to test the statistical significance of trends in diagnoses. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2014, annual new HIV infections diagnosed in Massachusetts decreased by 47% (P < .001 for trend). We observed significant reductions in diagnoses among women (58% when comparing 2000 with 2014), men (42%), Whites (54%), Blacks (51%), and Hispanics (35%; P < .001 for trend). New diagnoses decreased significantly among men who have sex with men (19%), persons who inject drugs (91%), and heterosexuals (86%; P < .001 for trend). We saw statistically significant downward trends among all men by race/ethnicity, but the trend among Black men who have sex with men was nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained reduction in new HIV diagnoses was concurrent with Massachusetts’s Medicaid expansion, state health care reform, and public health strategies to improve care access. A contributory effect of expanded HIV treatment and population-level viral suppression is hypothesized for future research.

    4. Changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate over time in South African HIV-1-infected patients receiving tenofovir: a retrospective cohort study
      De Waal R, Cohen K, Fox MP, Stinson K, Maartens G, Boulle A, Igumbor EU, Davies MA.
      J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Apr 10;20(1):1-8.
      INTRODUCTION: Tenofovir has been associated with decline in kidney function, but in patients with low baseline kidney function, improvements over time have been reported. Additionally, the magnitude and trajectory of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes may differ according to how eGFR is calculated. We described changes in eGFR over time, and the incidence of, and risk factors for, kidney toxicity, in a South African cohort. METHODS: We included antiretroviral-naive patients >/=16 years old who started tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2002 and 2013. We calculated eGFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), and Cockcroft-Gault equations. We described changes in eGFR from ART initiation using linear mixed effects regression. We described the incidence of eGFR <30 mL/min on treatment, and identified associations with low eGFR using Cox regression. RESULTS: We included 15156 patients with median age of 35.4 years (IQR 29.9-42.0), median CD4 cell count of 168 cells/microL (IQR 83-243), and median eGFR (MDRD) of 98.6 mL/min (IQR 84.4-115.6). Median duration of follow up on tenofovir was 12.9 months (IQR 5.1-23.3). Amongst those with a baseline and subsequent eGFR available, mean eGFR change from baseline at 12 months was -4.4 mL/min (95% CI -4.9 to -4.0), -2.3 (-2.5 to -2.1), and 0.6 (0.04 to 1.2) in those with baseline eGFR >/=90 mL/min; and 11.9 mL/min (11.0 to 12.7), 14.6 (13.5 to 15.7), and 11.0 (10.3 to 11.7), in those with baseline eGFR <90 mL/min, according to the MDRD, CKD-EPI (n = 11 112), and Cockcroft-Gault (n = 9 283) equations, respectively. Overall, 292 (1.9%) patients developed eGFR <30 mL/min. Significant associations with low eGFR included older age, baseline eGFR <60 mL/min, CD4 count <200 cells/microL, body weight <60 kg, and concomitant protease inhibitor use. CONCLUSION: Patients on tenofovir with baseline eGFR >/=90 mL/min experienced small but significant declines in eGFR over time when eGFR was estimated using the MDRD or CKD-EPI equations. However, eGFR increased in patients with eGFR <90 mL/min, regardless of which estimating equation was used. Decreases to below 30 mL/min were uncommon. In settings with limited access to laboratory testing, monitoring guidelines should consider focusing on higher risk patients.

    5. Virologic outcomes in early antiretroviral treatment: HPTN 052
      Eshleman SH, Wilson EA, Zhang XC, Ou SS, Piwowar-Manning E, Eron JJ, McCauley M, Gamble T, Gallant JE, Hosseinipour MC, Kumarasamy N, Hakim JG, Kalonga B, Pilotto JH, Grinsztejn B, Godbole SV, Chotirosniramit N, Santos BR, Shava E, Mills LA, Panchia R, Mwelase N, Mayer KH, Chen YQ, Cohen MS, Fogel JM.
      HIV Clin Trials. 2017 Apr 07:1-10.
      INTRODUCTION: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 trial demonstrated that early antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevented 93% of HIV transmission events in serodiscordant couples. Some linked infections were observed shortly after ART initiation or after virologic failure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors associated with time to viral suppression and virologic failure in participants who initiated ART in HPTN 052. METHODS: 1566 participants who had a viral load (VL) > 400 copies/mL at enrollment were included in the analyses. This included 832 in the early ART arm (CD4 350-550 cells/mm3 at ART initiation) and 734 in the delayed ART arm (204 with a CD4 < 250 cells/mm3 at ART initiation; 530 with any CD4 at ART initiation). Viral suppression was defined as two consecutive VLs </= 400 copies/mL after ART initiation; virologic failure was defined as two consecutive VLs > 1000 copies/mL > 24 weeks after ART initiation. RESULTS: Overall, 93% of participants achieved viral suppression by 12 months. The annual incidence of virologic failure was 3.6%. Virologic outcomes were similar in the two study arms. Longer time to viral suppression was associated with younger age, higher VL at ART initiation, and region (Africa vs. Asia). Virologic failure was strongly associated with younger age, lower educational level, and lack of suppression by three months; lower VL and higher CD4 at ART initiation were also associated with virologic failure. CONCLUSIONS: Several clinical and demographic factors were identified that were associated with longer time to viral suppression and virologic failure. Recognition of these factors may help optimize ART for HIV treatment and prevention.

    6. Moving towards test and start: learning from the experience of universal ART programs for HIV-infected pregnant/breastfeeding women
      Forhan SE, Modi S, Houston JC, Broyles LN.
      Aids. 2017 Apr 10.
      In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) after two randomized controlled trials revealed lower rates of mortality and serious illnesses among PLHIV receiving immediate ART compared to those receiving deferred ART. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa rapidly adopted this guidance and are implementing “test and start” programs.As this work begins, lessons learned from prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) Option B+ programs can inform decisions for new universal HIV treatment programs. The Option B+ approach involved initiation of lifelong treatment for all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women. Since its inception in Malawi in 2011 and WHO endorsement in 2012, widespread scale-up of Option B+ PMTCT programs in most resource-limited countries has resulted in a dramatic increase in ART coverage for HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women.Despite the overall success of the Option B+ universal lifelong treatment approach, program and operational research data highlight the need for additional focus on strategies to retain women in care. In this commentary, we highlight program considerations and lessons learned from Option B+ implementation experience in resource-limited countries which may help guide decisions and enhance the quality of general “test and start” programming.

    7. Sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with tuberculosis mortality in the United States, 2009-2013
      Hannah HA, Miramontes R, Gandhi NR.
      Public Health Rep. 2017 Jan 01:33354917698117.
      Objectives The objectives of our study were (1) to determine risk factors associated with tuberculosis (TB)-specific and non-TB-specific mortality among patients with TB and (2) to examine whether risk factors for TB-specific mortality differed from those for non-TB-specific mortality. Methods We obtained data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and included all patients who had TB between 2009 and 2013 in the United States and its territories. We used multinomial logistic regression analysis to determine the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of each risk factor for TB-specific and non-TB-specific mortality. Results Of 52 175 eligible patients with TB, 1404 died from TB, and 2413 died from other causes. Some of the risk factors associated with the highest odds of TB-specific mortality were multidrug-resistant TB diagnosis (aOR = 3.42; 95% CI, 1.95-5.99), end-stage renal disease (aOR = 3.02; 95% CI, 2.23-4.08), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI, 2.02-3.42), age 45-64 years (aOR = 2.57; 95% CI, 2.01-3.30) or age >/=65 years (aOR = 5.76; 95% CI, 4.37-7.61), and immunosuppression (aOR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.71-2.83). All of these risk factors except multidrug-resistant TB were also associated with increased odds of non-TB-specific mortality. Conclusion TB patients with certain risk factors have an elevated risk of TB-specific mortality and should be monitored before, during, and after treatment. Identifying the predictors of TB-specific mortality may help public health authorities determine which subpopulations to target and where to allocate resources.

    8. Projected demographic composition of the United States population of people living with diagnosed HIV
      Hood JE, Golden MR, Hughes JP, Goodreau SM, Siddiqi AE, Buskin SE, Hawes SE.
      AIDS Care. 2017 Apr 10:1-8.
      The transformation of HIV from a fatal disease to lifelong disease has resulted in an HIV-infected population that is growing and aging, placing new and increasing demands on public programs and health services. We used National HIV Surveillance System and US census data to project the demographic composition of the population of people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) in the United States through 2045. The input parameters for the projections include: (1) census projections, (2) number of people with an existing HIV diagnosis in 2013, (3) number of new HIV diagnoses in 2013, and (4) death rate within the PLWDH population in 2013. Sex-, risk group-, and race-specific projections were estimated through an adapted Leslie Matrix Model for age-structured populations. Projections for 2013-2045 suggest that the number of PLWDH in the U.S. will consistently grow, from 917,294 to 1,232,054, though the annual growth rate will slow from 1.8% to 0.8%. The number of PLWDH aged 55 years and older will increase from 232,113 to 470,221. The number of non-Hispanic (NH) African Americans/Blacks and Hispanics is projected to consistently grow, shifting the racial/ethnic composition of the US PLWDH population from 32 to 23% NH-White, 42 to 38% NH-Black, and 20-32% Hispanic between 2013 and 2045. Given current trends, the composition of the PLWDH population is projected to change considerably. Public health practitioners should anticipate large shifts in the age and racial/ethnic structure of the PLWDH population in the United States.

    9. Emergence of untreatable, multidrug-resistant HIV-1 in patients failing second-line therapy in Kenya
      Inzaule SC, Hamers RL, Mukui I, Were K, Owiti P, Kwaro D, de Wit TF, Zeh C.
      Aids. 2017 Apr 10.
      We performed a countrywide assessment of HIV drug resistance among 123 patients with virological failure on second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Kenya. The percentage of patients harboring intermediate-to-high-level resistance was 27% for lopinavir-ritonavir, 24% for atazanavir-ritonavir and 7% for darunavir-ritonavir, and 25% had complete loss of activity to all available first- and second-line drugs. Overall, one in four patients failing second-line ART have completely exhausted available antiretrovirals in Kenya, highlighting the need for increased access to third-line drugs.

    10. Assessments of Ebola knowledge, attitudes and practices in Forecariah, Guinea and Kambia, Sierra Leone, July-August 2015
      Jalloh MF, Bunnell R, Robinson S, Jalloh MB, Barry AM, Corker J, Sengeh P, VanSteelandt A, Li W, Dafae F, Diallo AA, Martel LD, Hersey S, Marston B, Morgan O, Redd JT.
      Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017 May 26;372(1721).
      The border region of Forecariah (Guinea) and Kambia (Sierra Leone) was of immense interest to the West Africa Ebola response. Cross-sectional household surveys with multi-stage cluster sampling procedure were used to collect random samples from Kambia (n = 635) in July 2015 and Forecariah (n = 502) in August 2015 to assess public knowledge, attitudes and practices related to Ebola. Knowledge of the disease was high in both places, and handwashing with soap and water was the most widespread prevention practice. Acceptance of safe alternatives to traditional burials was significantly lower in Forecariah compared with Kambia. In both locations, there was a minority who held discriminatory attitudes towards survivors. Radio was the predominant source of information in both locations, but those from Kambia were more likely to have received Ebola information from community sources (mosques/churches, community meetings or health workers) compared with those in Forecariah. These findings contextualize the utility of Ebola health messaging during the epidemic and suggest the importance of continued partnership with community leaders, including religious leaders, as a prominent part of future public health protection.This article is part of the themed issue ‘The 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic: data, decision-making and disease control’.

    11. Overcoming health system challenges for women and children living with HIV through the Global Plan
      Modi S, Callahan T, Rodrigues J, Kajoka MD, Dale HM, Langa JO, Urso M, Nchephe MI, Bongdene H, Romano S, Broyles LN.
      J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 May 01;75 Suppl 1:S76-s85.
      To meet the ambitious targets set by the Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive (Global Plan), the initial 22 priority countries quickly developed innovative approaches for overcoming long-standing health systems challenges and providing HIV testing and treatment to pregnant and breastfeeding women and their infants. The Global Plan spurred programs for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission to integrate HIV-related care and treatment into broader maternal, newborn, and child health services; expand the effectiveness of the health workforce through task sharing; extend health services into communities; strengthen supply chain and commodity management systems; reduce diagnostic and laboratory hurdles; and strengthen strategic supervision and mentorship. The article reviews the ongoing challenges for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs as they continue to strive for elimination of vertical transmission of HIV infection in the post-Global Plan era. Although progress has been rapid, health systems still face important challenges, particularly follow-up and diagnosis of HIV-exposed infants, continuity of care, and the promotion of services that are respectful and client centered.

    12. Improved HIV and TB knowledge and competence among mid-level providers in a cluster-randomized trial of one-on-one mentorship for task-shifting
      Naikoba S, Senjovu KD, Mugabe P, McCarthy C, Riley PL, Kadengye DT, Dalal S.
      J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 Apr 12.
      INTRODUCTION: Health worker shortages pose a challenge to the scale-up of HIV care and treatment in Uganda. Training mid-level providers (MLP) in the provision of HIV and TB treatment can expand existing health workforce capacity and access to HIV services. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized trial of, on-site clinical mentorship for HIV and TB care at 10 health facilities in rural Uganda. Twenty MLP and were randomly assigned to an intervention of eight hours a week of one on one mentorship, every six weeks over a nine month period; and another twenty to the control of no clinical mentorship. Enrolled MLP’s clinical knowledge and competence in management of HIV and TB was assessed using case scenarios and clinical observation at baseline, and immediately after the nine-month intervention. The performance of the study health facilities on eight TB and HIV care indicators was tracked over the nine months period using facility patient records. RESULTS: Thirty nine out of 40 enrolled MLP had case scenario and clinical observation scores for both the baseline and end of intervention assessments. The mean difference in difference was 16.7 %( 95% CI: 9.8-23.6, p<0.001) for the case scenario assessments and 25.9 %( 95%CI: 14.4-37.5, p<0.001) for the clinical observations. Onsite clinical mentorship was significantly associated with an overall improvement for five out of the eight health facility TB and HIV indicators tracked. CONCLUSIONS: One-on-one, on-site mentorship improves individual knowledge and competence, has a downstream effect on facility performance, and is a simple approach to training MLP for task-shifting.

    13. Brief report: Hormonal contraception is not associated with reduced ART effectiveness among women initiating ART: Evidence from longitudinal data
      Patel RC, Baeten JM, Heffron R, Hong T, Davis NL, Nanda K, Coombs RW, Lingappa JR, Bukusi EA, Hurst S, Thomas KK, Kourtis AP, Mugo N.
      J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 May 01;75(1):91-96.
      BACKGROUND: To explore the association between concomitant hormonal contraceptive and antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and (1) plasma viral suppression and (2) genital HIV shedding among HIV-positive women initiating ART. METHODS: We analyzed plasma viral load and genital viral RNA shedding from 1079 HIV-positive women initiating ART who were followed prospectively in 3 sub-Saharan African HIV prevention studies. Plasma and endocervical swab samples were collected every 6 months. Self-reported contraceptive use was categorized into injectable, implant, oral, or nonhormonal/no contraception. We used multivariate Cox regression to assess time to plasma viral suppression and logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to assess genital viral shedding for each contraceptive method. RESULTS: At the time of ART initiation, there were 211 (20%) injectable, 69 (6%) implant, 50 (5%) oral, and 749 (69%) nonhormonal or no method users. Plasma viral suppression was high (90% by 6 months) and hormonal contraceptives did not diminish time to plasma viral suppression as compared to nonhormonal/no methods [adjusted hazard ratios: injectables 0.89 (95% confidence interval: 0.75 to 1.07), implants 0.91 (0.68 to 1.23), and oral methods 1.33 (1.06 to 1.66)]. Genital viral shedding was uncommon any time after ART initiation (only 9% of samples had detectable viral shedding) and hormonal contraceptives were not associated with an increased detection of genital viral shedding [adjusted odds ratios: injectables 1.07 (0.69 to 1.65), implants 0.67 (0.31 to 1.49), and oral methods 0.56 (0.19 to 1.69)]. CONCLUSIONS: The hormonal contraceptives assessed were not associated with reduced ART effectiveness among HIV-positive women initiating ART. HIV-positive women should continue to be offered contraceptive options, including hormonal ones that best meet their needs.

    14. Cross-border solutions needed to address tuberculosis in migrating populations
      Posey DL, Marano N, Cetron MS.
      Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017 May 01;21(5):485-486.
      [No abstract]

    15. Confronting challenges in monitoring and evaluation: Innovation in the context of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive
      Radin AK, Abutu AA, Okwero MA, Adler MR, Anyaike C, Asiimwe HT, Behumbiize P, Efuntoye TA, King RL, Kisaakye LN, Ogundehin DT, Phelps BR, Watts H, Weissglas F.
      J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 May 01;75 Suppl 1:S66-s75.
      The Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive (Global Plan), which was launched in 2011, set a series of ambitious targets, including a reduction of new HIV infections among children by 90% by 2015 (from a baseline year of 2009) and AIDS-related maternal mortality by 50% by 2015. To reach these targets, the Global Plan called for unprecedented investments in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), innovative new approaches to service delivery, immense collective effort on the programmatic and policy fronts, and importantly, a renewed focus on data collection and use. We provide an overview of major achievements in monitoring and evaluation across Global Plan countries and highlight key challenges and innovative country-driven solutions using PMTCT program data. Specifically, we describe the following: (1) Uganda’s development and use of a weekly reporting system for PMTCT using short message service technology that facilitates real-time monitoring and programmatic adjustments throughout the transition to a “treat all” approach for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV (Option B+); (2) Uganda’s work to eliminate parallel reporting systems while strengthening the national electronic district health information system; and (3) how routine PMTCT program data in Nigeria can be used to estimate HIV prevalence at the local level and address a critical gap in local descriptive epidemiologic data to better target limited resources. We also identify several ongoing challenges in data collection, analysis, and use, and we suggest potential solutions.

    16. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
      Rota PA, Rota JS, Goodson JL.
      Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr 06.
      [No abstract]

    17. Evaluation of the Tuberculosis Infection Control Training Center, Tajikistan, 2014-2015
      Scott C, Mangan J, Tillova Z, Jensen PA, Ahmedov S, Ismoilova J, Trusov A.
      Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017 May 01;21(5):579-585.
      SETTING: Training center on tuberculosis (TB) infection control (IC) for health care workers in the Central Asian Republics region. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of TB IC training courses conducted at the Tuberculosis Infection Control Training Center in Machiton, Tajikistan. DESIGN: Participants who participated in training (n = 89) during the first year of operation (April 2014-February 2015) were invited to participate in a post-training interview. RESULTS: Of the 89 participants, 84 (94%) completed the interview and expressed satisfaction with the training. Eighty (95%) participants reported meeting with workplace leadership to discuss the training. Of these, 69 (85%) reported discussing changes required to meet TB IC standards. Self-reported changes in TB IC practices at work facilities post training included the creation of TB IC committees, designation of a TB IC focal person, TB IC planning, policies to separate infectious patients in waiting rooms, provision of masks for infectious patients, development of cough etiquette policies, improved glove availability, hand hygiene programs, and TB IC posters in waiting rooms. CONCLUSIONS: Participant satisfaction and reported changes in TB IC activities illustrate the potential of these training courses to improve TB IC in the region. Future training courses may be tailored to specific audiences using a structured conceptual framework to impact administration, budgeting, and facilities management of TB IC practices.

    18. Procalcitonin as a marker of etiology in adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia
      Self WH, Balk RA, Grijalva CG, Williams DJ, Zhu Y, Anderson EJ, Waterer GW, Courtney DM, Bramley AM, Trabue C, Fakhran S, Blaschke AJ, Jain S, Edwards KM, Wunderink RG.
      Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr 12.
      Background: Recent trials suggest procalcitonin-based guidelines can reduce antibiotic use for respiratory infections. However, the accuracy of procalcitonin to discriminate between viral and bacterial pneumonia requires further dissection. Methods: We evaluated the association between serum procalcitonin concentration at hospital admission with pathogens detected in a multicenter prospective surveillance study of adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. Systematic pathogen testing included cultures, serology, urine antigen tests, and molecular detection. Accuracy of procalcitonin to discriminate between viral and bacterial pathogens was calculated. Results: Among 1,735 patients, pathogens were identified in 645 (37%), including 169 (10%) with typical bacteria, 67 (4%) with atypical bacteria, and 409 (24%) with viruses only. Median procalcitonin concentration was lower with viral pathogens (0.09 ng/ml; interquartile range [IQR]: <0.05-0.54 ng/ml) than atypical bacteria (0.20 ng/ml; IQR: <0.05-0.87 ng/ml) [p=0.05], and typical bacteria (2.5 ng/ml; IQR: 0.29-12.2 ng/ml) [p<0.01]. Procalcitonin discriminated bacterial pathogens, including typical and atypical bacteria, from viral pathogens with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.77). A procalcitonin threshold of 0.1 ng/ml resulted in 80.9% (95% CI: 75.3%-85.7%) sensitivity and 51.6% (95% CI: 46.6%-56.5%) specificity for identification of any bacterial pathogen. Procalcitonin discriminated between typical bacteria and the combined group of viruses and atypical bacteria with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.82). Conclusion: No procalcitonin threshold perfectly discriminated between viral and bacterial pathogens, but higher procalcitonin strongly correlated with increased probability of bacterial pathogens, particularly typical bacteria.

    19. Willingness to distribute free rapid home HIV test kits and to test with social or sexual network associates among men who have sex with men in the United States
      Sharma A, Chavez PR, MacGowan RJ, McNaghten AD, Mustanski B, Gravens L, Freeman AE, Sullivan PS.
      AIDS Care. 2017 Apr 09:1-5.
      Peer-driven HIV prevention strategies can be effective in identifying high-risk persons with undiagnosed infections. Besides individual self-testing, other potential uses of rapid home HIV test kits include distributing them, and testing with others within one’s social or sexual networks. We sought to identify factors associated with the willingness to engage in these alternative activities among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. From May to October 2014, we surveyed 828 HIV-negative or unknown status MSM about multiple aspects of rapid home HIV testing. A greater proportion indicated being likely to distribute free oral fluid (OF) tests compared to free finger-stick blood (FSB) tests (91% versus 79%), and almost three-fourths (72%) reported being likely to test with their friends or sex partners in the future. MSM not identifying as homosexual/gay were less willing to distribute OF tests, and those with lower educational attainment were more willing to distribute FSB tests. MSM unaware of their HIV status were less likely to report potentially testing with others using free rapid home HIV tests compared to those who were HIV-negative. Finally, MSM willing to self-test were more likely to report future test kit distribution, and those willing to distribute kits were more likely to report potentially testing with others. Engaging individuals with positive attitudes towards these strategies in prevention efforts could help increase HIV testing levels among MSM. A greater understanding of the potential public health impact of rapid home HIV test kits is necessary.

    20. Sexual networks and infection transmission networks among men who have sex with men as causes of disparity and targets of prevention
      Spicknall IH, Gift TL, Bernstein KT, Aral SO.
      Sex Transm Infect. 2017 Apr 07.
      [No abstract]

    21. Association of HIV diagnosis rates and laws criminalizing HIV exposure in the United States
      Sweeney P, Gray SC, Purcell DW, Sewell J, Babu AS, Tarver BA, Prejean J, Mermin J.
      Aids. 2017 Apr 10.
      OBJECTIVE: To assess whether state criminal exposure laws are associated with HIV and stage 3 (AIDS) diagnosis rates in the United States. DESIGN: We assessed the relationship between HIV and stage 3 (AIDS) diagnosis data from the National HIV Surveillance System and the presence of a state criminal exposure law as identified through WestlawNext by using generalized estimating equations. METHODS: We limited analysis to persons aged >/=13 years with diagnosed HIV infection or AIDS reported to the National HIV Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The primary outcome measures were rates of diagnosis of HIV (2001-2010 in 33 states) and AIDS (1994-2010 in 50 states) per 100,000 individuals per year. In addition to criminal exposure laws, state-level factors evaluated for inclusion in models included income, unemployment, poverty, education, urbanicity, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: At the end of the study period, 30 states had laws criminalizing HIV exposure. In bivariate models (P < .05), unemployment, poverty, education, urbanicity, and race/ethnicity were associated with HIV and AIDS diagnoses. In final models, proportion of adults with less than a high school education and percentage of the population living in urban areas were significantly associated with HIV and AIDS diagnoses over time; criminal exposure laws were not associated with diagnosis rates. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between HIV or AIDS diagnosis rates and criminal exposure laws across states over time, suggesting that these laws have had no detectable HIV prevention effect.

    22. Acute kidney injury during treatment for latent tuberculous infection with rifampin
      Wortham JM, Goggin M, Mora C, Vandehey L, Manangan L, Powell KM.
      Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017 May 01;21(5):596-597.
      Treatment for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) is a key strategy for the elimination of tuberculosis. Rare adverse reactions associated with LTBI treatment have been reported. We report the only case of acute kidney injury reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance for LTBI treatment-related adverse events. The patient experienced rapid intravascular hemolysis, resulting in heme pigment nephropathy; he was hospitalized and received three hemodialysis treatments, but recovered without sequelae. While LTBI treatment-related adverse events are rare, health care providers should maintain clinical vigilance and regularly counsel patients to facilitate prompt diagnoses and effective clinical management of affected patients.

  • Disaster Control and Emergency Services RSS Word feed
    1. Administrative preparedness strategies: Expediting procurement and contracting cycle times during an emergency
      Hurst D, Sharpe S, Yeager VA.
      Public Health Rep. 2017 Jan 01:33354917698131.
      We assessed whether administrative preparedness processes that were intended to expedite the acquisition of goods and services during a public health emergency affect estimated procurement and contracting cycle times. We obtained data from 2014-2015 applications to the Hospital Preparedness Program and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (HPP-PHEP) cooperative agreements. We compared the estimated procurement and contracting cycle times of 61 HPP-PHEP awardees that did and did not have certain administrative processes in place. Certain processes, such as statutes allowing for procuring and contracting on the open market, had an effect on reducing the estimated cycle times for obtaining goods and services. Other processes, such as cooperative purchasing agreements, also had an effect on estimated procurement time. For example, awardees with statutes that permitted them to obtain goods and services in the open market had an average procurement cycle time of 6 days; those without such statutes had a cycle time of 17 days ( P = .04). PHEP awardees should consider adopting these or similar processes in an effort to reduce cycle times.

  • Disease Reservoirs and Vectors RSS Word feed
    1. Ecological niche model for predicting distribution of disease-vector mosquitoes in Yucatan State, Mexico
      Baak-Baak CM, Moo-Llanes DA, Cigarroa-Toledo N, Puerto FI, Machain-Williams C, Reyes-Solis G, Nakazawa YJ, Ulloa-Garcia A, Garcia-Rejon JE.
      J Med Entomol. 2017 Mar 07.
      The majority of the Yucatan State, Mexico, presents subtropical climate that is suitable for many species of mosquitoes that are known to be vectors of diseases, including those from the genera Aedes and Culex. The objective of this study is to identify the geographic distribution of five species from these two genera and estimate the human population at risk of coming in contact with them. We compiled distributional data for Aedes aegypti (L.), Aedes (Howardina) cozumelensis (Diaz Najera), Culex coronator Dyar and Knab, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Culex thriambus Dyar from several entomological studies in Yucatan between March 2010 and September 2014. Based on these data, we constructed ecological niche models to predict the spatial distribution of each species using the MaxEnt algorithm. Our models identified areas with suitable environments for Ae. aegypti in most of Yucatan. A similar percentage of urban (97.1%) and rural (96.5%) populations were contained in areas of highest suitability for Ae. aegypti, and no spatial pattern was found (Moran’s I = 0.33, P = 0.38); however, we found an association of abundance of immature forms of this species with annual mean temperature (r = 0.19, P </= 0.001) and annual precipitation (r = 0.21, P </= 0.001). Aedes cozumelensis is also distributed in most areas of the Yucatan State; Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. coronator, and Cx. thriambus are restricted to the northwest. The information generated in this study can inform decision-making to address control measures in priority areas with presence of these vectors.

    2. Effect of temperature thresholds on modeled Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) population dynamics
      Brown HE, Barrera R, Comrie AC, Lega J.
      J Med Entomol. 2017 Mar 13.
      Dynamic simulation models provide vector abundance estimates using only meteorological data. However, model outcomes may heavily depend on the assumptions used to parameterize them. We conducted a sensitivity analysis for a model of Aedes aegypti (L.) abundance using weather data from two locations where this vector is established, La Margarita, Puerto Rico and Tucson, Arizona. We tested the effect of simplifying temperature-dependent development and mortality rates and of changing development and mortality thresholds as compared with baselines estimated using biophysical models. The simplified development and mortality rates had limited effect on abundance estimates in either location. However, in Tucson, where the vector is established but has not transmitted viruses, a difference of 5 degrees C resulted in populations either surviving or collapsing in the hot Arizona mid-summer, depending on the temperature thresholds. We find three important implications of the observed sensitivity to temperature thresholds. First, this analysis indicates the need for better estimates of the temperature tolerance thresholds to refine entomologic risk mapping for disease vectors. Second, our results highlight the importance of extreme temperatures on vector survival at the marginal areas of this vector’s distribution. Finally, the model suggests that adaptation to warmer temperatures may shift regions of pathogen transmission.

    3. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) abundance model improved with relative humidity and precipitation-driven egg hatching
      Lega J, Brown HE, Barrera R.
      J Med Entomol. 2017 Apr 10.
      We propose an improved Aedes aegypti (L.) abundance model that takes into account the effect of relative humidity (RH) on adult survival, as well as rainfall-triggered egg hatching. The model uses temperature-dependent development rates described in the literature as well as documented estimates for mosquito survival in environments with high RH, and for egg desiccation. We show that combining the two additional components leads to better agreement with surveillance trap data and with dengue incidence reports in various municipalities of Puerto Rico than incorporating either alone or neither. Capitalizing on the positive association between disease incidence and vector abundance, this improved model is therefore useful to estimate incidence of Ae. aegypti-borne diseases in locations where the vector is abundant year-round.

    4. Prevalence, diversity, and host associations of Bartonella strains in bats from Georgia (Caucasus)
      Urushadze L, Bai Y, Osikowicz L, McKee C, Sidamonidze K, Putkaradze D, Imnadze P, Kandaurov A, Kuzmin I, Kosoy M.
      PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Apr 11;11(4):e0005428.
      Bartonella infections were investigated in seven species of bats from four regions of the Republic of Georgia. Of the 236 bats that were captured, 212 (90%) specimens were tested for Bartonella infection. Colonies identified as Bartonella were isolated from 105 (49.5%) of 212 bats Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence variation of the gltA gene differentiated 22 unique Bartonella genogroups. Genetic distances between these diverse genogroups were at the level of those observed between different Bartonella species described previously. Twenty-one reference strains from 19 representative genogroups were characterized using four additional genetic markers. Host specificity to bat genera or families was reported for several Bartonella genogroups. Some Bartonella genotypes found in bats clustered with those identified in dogs from Thailand and humans from Poland.

  • Environmental Health RSS Word feed
    1. Hospitalizations for heat-stress illness varies between rural and urban areas: an analysis of Illinois data, 1987-2014
      Jagai JS, Grossman E, Navon L, Sambanis A, Dorevitch S.
      Environ Health. 2017 Apr 07;16(1):38.
      BACKGROUND: The disease burden due to heat-stress illness (HSI), which can result in significant morbidity and mortality, is expected to increase as the climate continues to warm. In the United States (U.S.) much of what is known about HSI epidemiology is from analyses of urban heat waves. There is limited research addressing whether HSI hospitalization risk varies between urban and rural areas, nor is much known about additional diagnoses of patients hospitalized for HSI. METHODS: Hospitalizations in Illinois for HSI (ICD-9-CM codes 992.x or E900) in the months of May through September from 1987 to 2014 (n = 8667) were examined. Age-adjusted mean monthly hospitalization rates were calculated for each county using U.S. Census population data. Counties were categorized into five urban-rural strata using Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) (RUCC1, most urbanized to RUCC5, thinly populated). Average maximum monthly temperature ( degrees C) was calculated for each county using daily data. Multi-level linear regression models were used, with county as the fixed effect and temperature as random effect, to model monthly hospitalization rates, adjusting for the percent of county population below the poverty line, percent of population that is Non-Hispanic Black, and percent of the population that is Hispanic. All analyses were stratified by county RUCC. Additional diagnoses of patients hospitalized for HSI and charges for hospitalization were summarized. RESULTS: Highest rates of HSI hospitalizations were seen in the most rural, thinly populated stratum (mean annual summer hospitalization rate of 1.16 hospitalizations per 100,000 population in the thinly populated strata vs. 0.45 per 100,000 in the metropolitan urban strata). A one-degree Celsius increase in maximum monthly average temperature was associated with a 0.34 increase in HSI hospitalization rate per 100,000 population in the thinly populated counties compared with 0.02 per 100,000 in highly urbanized counties. The most common additional diagnoses of patients hospitalized with HSI were dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and acute renal disorders. Total and mean hospital charges for HSI cases were $167.7 million and $20,500 (in 2014 US dollars). CONCLUSION: Elevated temperatures appear to have different impacts on HSI hospitalization rates as function of urbanization. The most rural and the most urbanized counties of Illinois had the largest increases in monthly hospitalization rates for HSI per unit increase in the average monthly maximum temperature. This suggests that vulnerability of communities to heat is complex and strategies to reduce HSI may need to be tailored to the degree of urbanization of a county.

    2. Agreement between two methods for retrospective assessment of occupational exposure intensity to six chlorinated solvents: Data from The National Birth Defects Prevention Study
      Johnson CY, Rocheleau CM, Hein MJ, Waters MA, Stewart PA, Lawson CC, Reefhuis J.
      J Occup Environ Hyg. 2017 May;14(5):389-396.
      The wide variety of jobs encountered in population-based studies makes retrospective exposure assessment challenging in occupational epidemiology. In this analysis, two methods for estimating exposure intensity to chlorinated solvents are compared: rated (assigned by an expert rater) and modeled (assigned using statistical models). Estimates of rated and modeled intensities were compared for jobs held by mothers participating in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study with possible exposure to six chlorinated solvents: carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and trichloroethylene. For each possibly exposed job, an industrial hygienist assigned (1) an exposure intensity (rated intensity) and (2) determinants of exposure to be used in a statistical model of exposure intensity (modeled intensity). Of 12,326 reported jobs, between 31 (0.3%) and 746 (6%) jobs were rated as possibly exposed to each of the six solvents. Agreement between rated and modeled intensities was low overall (Spearman correlation coefficient range: -0.09 to 0.28; kappa range: -0.23 to 0.43). Although no air measurements were available to determine if rated or modeled estimates were more accurate, review of participants’ job titles showed that modeled estimates were often unexpectedly high given the low-exposure tasks found in these jobs. Differences between the high-exposure jobs used to create the statistical models (obtained from air measurements in the published literature) and the low-exposure jobs in the actual study population is a potential explanation for the disagreement between the two methods. Investigators should be aware that statistical models estimating exposure intensity using existing data from one type of worker population might not be generalizable to all populations of workers.

    3. El Nino and the shifting geography of cholera in Africa
      Moore SM, Azman AS, Zaitchik BF, Mintz ED, Brunkard J, Legros D, Hill A, McKay H, Luquero FJ, Olson D, Lessler J.
      Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Apr 10.
      The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other climate patterns can have profound impacts on the occurrence of infectious diseases ranging from dengue to cholera. In Africa, El Nino conditions are associated with increased rainfall in East Africa and decreased rainfall in southern Africa, West Africa, and parts of the Sahel. Because of the key role of water supplies in cholera transmission, a relationship between El Nino events and cholera incidence is highly plausible, and previous research has shown a link between ENSO patterns and cholera in Bangladesh. However, there is little systematic evidence for this link in Africa. Using high-resolution mapping techniques, we find that the annual geographic distribution of cholera in Africa from 2000 to 2014 changes dramatically, with the burden shifting to continental East Africa-and away from Madagascar and portions of southern, Central, and West Africa-where almost 50,000 additional cases occur during El Nino years. Cholera incidence during El Nino years was higher in regions of East Africa with increased rainfall, but incidence was also higher in some areas with decreased rainfall, suggesting a complex relationship between rainfall and cholera incidence. Here, we show clear evidence for a shift in the distribution of cholera incidence throughout Africa in El Nino years, likely mediated by El Nino’s impact on local climatic factors. Knowledge of this relationship between cholera and climate patterns coupled with ENSO forecasting could be used to notify countries in Africa when they are likely to see a major shift in their cholera risk.

    4. Variability and predictors of urinary concentrations of organophosphate flame retardant metabolites among pregnant women in Rhode Island
      Romano ME, Hawley NL, Eliot M, Calafat AM, Jayatilaka NK, Kelsey K, McGarvey S, Phipps MG, Savitz DA, Werner EF, Braun JM.
      Environ Health. 2017 Apr 11;16(1):40.
      BACKGROUND: Organophospate flame retardants (PFRs) are chemicals of emerging concern due to restrictions on polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardant formulations. We describe the occurrence, variability, and predictors of urinary metabolites of PFRs among pregnant women. METHODS: In 2014-2015, 59 women from Providence, RI provided up to 3 spot urine samples during pregnancy (~12, 28, and 35 weeks’ gestation). We created a pooled urine sample per woman and measured nine relevant metabolites in individual and pooled samples. We used linear mixed models to calculate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) across the 3 measurements and to assess sociodemographic and dietary predictors of PFRs. RESULTS: The median (IQR) of bis-2-chloroethyl phosphate (BCEP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP), and diphenyl phosphate (DPhP), the metabolites most frequently detected, from pooled samples were: 0.31 mug/L (0.17-0.54), 1.18 mug/L (0.64-2.19), 0.93 mug/L (0.72-1.97), respectively. We observed fair to good reproducibility for BCEP (ICC = 0.50), BDCPP (ICC = 0.60), and DPhP (ICC = 0.43), and excellent agreement between the urinary flame retardant metabolite concentrations averaged across pregnancy versus pooled urine sample concentrations for BCEP (ICC = 0.95), BDCPP (ICC = 0.89), and DPhP (ICC = 0.93). Adjusting for pertinent sociodemographic factors and gestational week of urine collection, each 1 kg increase in pre-pregnancy weight was associated with greater BCEP (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.1, 2.1), BDCPP (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.3, 2.7), and DPhP (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.0, 1.1). Dietary factors were generally not associated with urinary flame retardant metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary concentrations of BCEP, BDCPP, and DPhP were frequently detected among women in this pilot study and had fair reproducibility across pregnancy. Body size may be an important predictor of urinary flame retardant metabolite concentrations.

    5. Methodological approaches for monitoring opportunistic pathogens in premise plumbing: A review
      Wang H, Bedard E, Prevost M, Camper AK, Hill VR, Pruden A.
      Water Res. 2017 Mar 25;117:68-86.
      Opportunistic premise (i.e., building) plumbing pathogens (OPPPs, e.g., Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acanthamoeba, and Naegleria fowleri) are a significant and growing source of disease. Because OPPPs establish and grow as part of the native drinking water microbiota, they do not correspond to fecal indicators, presenting a major challenge to standard drinking water monitoring practices. Further, different OPPPs present distinct requirements for sampling, preservation, and analysis, creating an impediment to their parallel detection. The aim of this critical review is to evaluate the state of the science of monitoring OPPPs and identify a path forward for their parallel detection and quantification in a manner commensurate with the need for reliable data that is informative to risk assessment and mitigation. Water and biofilm sampling procedures, as well as factors influencing sample representativeness and detection sensitivity, are critically evaluated with respect to the five representative bacterial and amoebal OPPPs noted above. Available culturing and molecular approaches are discussed in terms of their advantages, limitations, and applicability. Knowledge gaps and research needs towards standardized approaches are identified.

  • Food Safety RSS Word feed
    1. Giardiasis outbreak associated with asymptomatic food handlers in New York State, 2015
      Figgatt M, Mergen K, Kimelstein D, Mahoney DM, Newman A, Nicholas D, Ricupero K, Cafiero T, Corry D, Ade J, Kurpiel P, Madison-Antenucci S, Anand M.
      J Food Prot. 2017 Apr 12:837-841.
      Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan that causes a gastrointestinal illness called giardiasis. Giardiasis outbreaks in the United States are most commonly associated with waterborne transmission and are less commonly associated with food, person-to-person, and zoonotic transmission. During June to September 2015, an outbreak of 20 giardiasis cases occurred and were epidemiologically linked to a local grocery store chain on Long Island, New York. Further investigation revealed three asymptomatic food handlers were infected with G. duodenalis , and one food handler and one case were coinfected with Cryptosporidium spp. Although G. duodenalis was not detected in food samples, Cryptosporidium was identified in samples of spinach dip and potato salad. The G. duodenalis assemblage and subtype from one of the food handlers matched two outbreak cases for which genotyping could be performed. This outbreak highlights the potential role of asymptomatically infected food handlers in giardiasis outbreaks.

  • Genetics and Genomics RSS Word feed
    1. Antibiotic resistance markers in strain Bp1651 of Burkholderia pseudomallei identified by genome sequence analysis
      Bugrysheva JV, Sue D, Gee JE, Elrod MG, Hoffmaster AR, Randall LB, Chirakul S, Tuanyok A, Schweizer HP, Weigel LM.
      Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 Apr 10.
      Burkholderia pseudomallei Bp1651 is resistant to several classes of antibiotics that are usually effective for treatment of melioidosis including beta-lactams such as penicillins (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), cephalosporins (ceftazidime), carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem), as well as tetracyclines and sulfonamides. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the Bp1651 genome, and analyzed the sequence using comparative genomic analyses with susceptible strains, keyword searches of the annotation, publicly available antimicrobial resistance prediction tools, and published reports. More than 100 genes in the Bp1651 sequence were identified as potentially contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Most notably, we identified three previously uncharacterized point mutations in penA, which codes for a class A beta-lactamase and was previously implicated in resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. The mutations result in amino acid changes T147A, D240G, and V261I. When individually introduced into select agent-excluded B. pseudomallei strain Bp82, D240G was found to contribute to ceftazidime resistance, and T147A contributed to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and imipenem resistance. This study provides the first evidence that mutations in penA may alter susceptibility to carbapenems in B. pseudomallei Another mutation of interest was a point mutation affecting the dihydrofolate reductase gene folA, which likely explains the trimethoprim resistance of this strain. Bp1651 was susceptible to aminoglycosides likely due to a frame shift in the amrB gene, the transporter subunit of the AmrAB-OprA efflux pump. These findings expand the role of penA to include resistance to carbapenems and may assist in development of molecular diagnostics that predict antimicrobial resistance and provide guidance for treatment of melioidosis.

    2. Virus genomes reveal factors that spread and sustained the Ebola epidemic
      Dudas G, Carvalho LM, Bedford T, Tatem AJ, Baele G, Faria NR, Park DJ, Ladner JT, Arias A, Asogun D, Bielejec F, Caddy SL, Cotten M, D’Ambrozio J, Dellicour S, Caro AD, Diclaro JW, Duraffour S, Elmore MJ, Fakoli LS, Faye O, Gilbert ML, Gevao SM, Gire S, Gladden-Young A, Gnirke A, Goba A, Grant DS, Haagmans BL, Hiscox JA, Jah U, Kugelman JR, Liu D, Lu J, Malboeuf CM, Mate S, Matthews DA, Matranga CB, Meredith LW, Qu J, Quick J, Pas SD, Phan MV, Pollakis G, Reusken CB, Sanchez-Lockhart M, Schaffner SF, Schieffelin JS, Sealfon RS, Simon-Loriere E, Smits SL, Stoecker K, Thorne L, Tobin EA, Vandi MA, Watson SJ, West K, Whitmer S, Wiley MR, Winnicki SM, Wohl S, Wolfel R, Yozwiak NL, Andersen KG, Blyden SO, Bolay F, Carroll MW, Dahn B, Diallo B, Formenty P, Fraser C, Gao GF, Garry RF, Goodfellow I, Gunther S, Happi CT, Holmes EC, Kargbo B, Keita S, Kellam P, Koopmans MP, Kuhn JH, Loman NJ, Magassouba N, Naidoo D, Nichol ST, Nyenswah T, Palacios G, Pybus OG, Sabeti PC, Sall A, Stroher U, Wurie I, Suchard MA, Lemey P, Rambaut A.
      Nature. 2017 Apr 12.
      The 2013-2016 West African epidemic caused by the Ebola virus was of unprecedented magnitude, duration and impact. Here we reconstruct the dispersal, proliferation and decline of Ebola virus throughout the region by analysing 1,610 Ebola virus genomes, which represent over 5% of the known cases. We test the association of geography, climate and demography with viral movement among administrative regions, inferring a classic ‘gravity’ model, with intense dispersal between larger and closer populations. Despite attenuation of international dispersal after border closures, cross-border transmission had already sown the seeds for an international epidemic, rendering these measures ineffective at curbing the epidemic. We address why the epidemic did not spread into neighbouring countries, showing that these countries were susceptible to substantial outbreaks but at lower risk of introductions. Finally, we reveal that this large epidemic was a heterogeneous and spatially dissociated collection of transmission clusters of varying size, duration and connectivity. These insights will help to inform interventions in future epidemics.

    3. Characterization of a triple-recombinant, reassortant rotavirus strain from the Dominican Republic
      Esona MD, Roy S, Rungsrisuriyachai K, Sanchez J, Vasquez L, Gomez V, Rios LA, Bowen MD, Vazquez M.
      J Gen Virol. 2017 Feb;98(2):134-142.
      We report the genome of a novel human triple-recombinant G4P[6-8_R] mono-reassortant strain identified in a stool sample from the Dominican Republic during routine facility-based rotavirus strain surveillance. The strain was designated as RVA/Human-wt/DOM/2013840364/2013/G4P[6-8_R], with a genomic constellation of G4-P[6-8_R]-I1-R1-C1-M1-(A1-A8_R)-N1-(T1-T7_R)-E1-H1. Recombinant gene segments NSP1 and NSP3 were generated as a result of recombination between genogroup 1 rotavirus A1 human strain and a genotype A8 porcine strain and between genogroup 1 rotavirus T1 human strain and a genotype T7 bovine strain, respectively. Analyses of the RNA secondary structures of gene segment VP4, NSP1 and NSP3 showed that all the recombinant regions appear to start in a loop (single-stranded) region and terminate in a stem (double-stranded) structure. Also, the VP7 gene occupied lineage VII within the G4 genotypes consisting of mostly porcine or porcine-like G4 strains, suggesting the occurrence of reassortment. The remaining gene segments clustered phylogenetically with genogroup 1 strains. This exchange of whole or partial genetic materials between rotaviruses by recombination and reassortment contributes directly to their diversification, adaptation and evolution.

    4. Whole-genome sequencing of a large panel of contemporary Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates indicates that a wild-type mtrA gene is common: Implications for inducible antimicrobial resistance
      Vidyaprakash E, Abrams AJ, Shafer WM, Trees DL.
      Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 Apr;61(4).
      [No abstract]

  • Health Economics RSS Word feed
    1. Cost of intervention delivery in a lifestyle weight loss trial in type 2 diabetes: results from the Look AHEAD clinical trial
      Rushing J, Wing R, Wadden TA, Knowler WC, Lawlor M, Evans M, Killean T, Montez M, Espeland MA, Zhang P.
      Obes Sci Pract. 2017 Mar;3(1):15-24.
      OBJECTIVE: The Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) trial was a randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the effects of 10 years of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) with a control condition of diabetes support and education (DSE) on health outcomes in over 5,000 participants with type 2 diabetes. The ILI had significantly greater weight losses than DSE throughout the trial. The goal of this analysis is to describe the cost of delivering the intervention. METHODS: The ILI was designed to promote weight loss and increase physical activity. It involved a combination of group plus individual intervention sessions, with decreasing frequency of contact over the 10 years. The intervention incorporated a variety of strategies, including meal replacement products, to improve weight loss outcomes. The costs of intervention delivery were derived from staff surveys of effort and from records of intervention materials from the 16 US academic clinical trial sites. Costs were calculated from the payer perspective and presented in 2012 dollars. RESULTS: During the first year, when intervention delivery was most intensive, the annual cost of intervention delivery, averaged (standard deviation) across clinical sites, was $2,864.6 ($513.3) per ILI participant compared with $202.4 ($76.6) per DSE participant. As intervention intensity declined, costs decreased, such that from years 5 to 9 of the trial, the annual cost of intervention was $1,119.8 ($227.7) per ILI participant and $102.9 ($33.0) per DSE participant. Staffing accounted for the majority of costs throughout the trial, with meal replacements and materials to promote adherence accounting for smaller shares. CONCLUSIONS: The sustained weight losses produced by the Look AHEAD intervention were supported by intervention costs that were within the range of other weight loss programmes. Future work will include an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the ILI and will contain additional follow-up data.

    2. Trends of lack of health insurance among US adults aged 18-64 years: findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1993-2014
      Zhao G, Okoro CA, Dhingra SS, Xu F, Zack M.
      Public Health. 2017 Feb 11;146:108-117.
      OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of lack of health insurance and its changes over time among adult residents (aged 18-64 years) in 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys. METHODS: We aggregated annual state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 1993 through 2014 to provide nationwide and state-based prevalence estimates for lack of insurance among adults aged 18-64 years. The adjusted prevalence was estimated using log-linear regression analyses with a robust variance estimator after controlling for demographic variables. The trend was assessed separately for the periods 1993-2010 and 2011-2014 due to methodologic changes in the BRFSS. RESULTS: From 1993 through 2010, the adjusted prevalence of lack of health insurance increased by 0.54% (P < 0.0001) annually (range: 16.3% in 1995 to 19.1% in 2005); this prevalence decreased significantly in 2014 (15.1%). In 2014, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas had the highest adjusted prevalences (range: 23.0-24.6%) of lack of health insurance, and DC, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island had the lowest (range: 6.2-10.1%). The changes in the prevalence of lack of insurance over time varied significantly by state. CONCLUSIONS: The nationwide prevalence of lack of health insurance decreased significantly in the past few years, especially in 2014 when about one-seventh of Americans aged 18-64 years reported lack of health insurance coverage. The huge variations in the prevalence of lack of health insurance and its changes over time among states suggest continuing efforts to ensure healthcare access for all Americans are needed to improve the overall health of the population.

  • Healthcare Associated Infections RSS Word feed
    1. Risk for Clostridium difficile infection after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant remains elevated in the postengraftment period
      Dubberke ER, Reske KA, Olsen MA, Bommarito KM, Seiler S, Silveira FP, Chiller TM, DiPersio J, Fraser VJ.
      Transplant Direct. 2017 Apr;3(4):e145.
      BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a frequent cause of diarrhea among allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. It is unknown whether risk factors for CDI vary by time posttransplant. METHODS: We performed a 3-year prospective cohort study of CDI in allogeneic HCT recipients. Participants were enrolled during their transplant hospitalizations. Clinical assessments were performed weekly during hospitalizations and for 12 weeks posttransplant, and monthly for 30 months thereafter. Data were collected through patient interviews and chart review, and included CDI diagnosis, demographics, transplant characteristics, medications, infections, and outcomes. CDI cases were included if they occurred within 1 year of HCT and were stratified by time from transplant. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for CDI. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-seven allogeneic HCT recipients were enrolled, including 63 (34%) patients who developed CDI. 38 (60%) CDI cases occurred during the preengraftment period (days 0-30 post-HCT) and 25 (40%) postengraftment (day >30). Lack of any preexisting comorbid disease was significantly associated with lower risk of CDI preengraftment (odds ratio [OR], 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-0.9). Relapsed underlying disease (OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.3-33.1), receipt of any high-risk antimicrobials (OR, 11.8; 95% CI, 2.9-47.8), and graft-versus-host disease (OR, 7.8; 95% CI, 2.0-30.2) were significant independent risk factors for CDI postengraftment. CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of CDI cases occurred during the postengraftment period in allogeneic HCT recipients, suggesting that surveillance for CDI should continue beyond the transplant hospitalization and preengraftment period. Patients with continued high underlying severity of illness were at increased risk of CDI postengraftment.

    2. Transmission of hepatitis A virus through combined liver-small intestine-pancreas transplantation
      Foster MA, Weil LM, Jin S, Johnson T, Hayden-Mixson TR, Khudyakov Y, Annambhotla PD, Basavaraju SV, Kamili S, Ritter JM, Nelson N, Mazariegos G, Green M, Himes RW, Kuhar DT, Kuehnert MJ, Miller JA, Wiseman R, Moorman AC.
      Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;23(4):590-596.
      Although transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) through blood transfusion has been documented, transmission through organ transplantation has not been reported. In August 2015, state health officials in Texas, USA, were notified of 2 home health nurses with HAV infection whose only common exposure was a child who had undergone multi-visceral organ transplantation 9 months earlier. Specimens from the nurses, organ donor, and all organ recipients were tested and medical records reviewed to determine a possible infection source. Identical HAV RNA sequences were detected from the serum of both nurses and the organ donor, as well as from the multi-visceral organ recipient’s serum and feces; this recipient’s posttransplant liver and intestine biopsy specimens also had detectable virus. The other organ recipients tested negative for HAV RNA. Vaccination of the donor might have prevented infection in the recipient and subsequent transmission to the healthcare workers.

    3. Introduction to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection: Prosthetic Joint Arthroplasty Section
      Segreti J, Parvizi J, Berbari E, Ricks P, Berrios-Torres SI.
      Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2017 Apr 13.
      Peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication of total joint arthroplasty that appears to be increasing as more of these procedures are performed. Numerous risk factors for incisional (superficial and deep) and organ/space (e.g., PJI) surgical site infections (SSIs) have been identified. A better understanding and reversal of modifiable risk factors may lead to a reduction in the incidence of incisional SSI and PJI. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recently updated the national Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. The updated guideline applies evidence-based methodology, presents recommendations for potential strategies to reduce the risk of SSI, and includes an arthroplasty-specific section. This article serves to introduce the guideline development process and to complement the Prosthetic Joint Arthroplasty section with background information on PJI-specific economic burden, epidemiology, pathogenesis and microbiology, and risk factor information.

    4. Factors leading to transmission risk of Acinetobacter baumannii
      Thom KA, Rock C, Jackson SS, Johnson JK, Srinivasan A, Magder LS, Roghmann MC, Bonomo RA, Harris AD.
      Crit Care Med. 2017 Apr 10.
      OBJECTIVES: To identify patient and healthcare worker factors associated with transmission risk of Acinetobacter baumannii during patient care. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: ICUs at a tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS: Adult ICU patients known to be infected or colonized with A. baumannii. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cultures of skin, respiratory tract, and the perianal area were obtained from participants and evaluated for the presence of A. baumannii. Healthcare worker-patient interactions were observed (up to five interactions/patient) and activities were recorded. Healthcare worker hands/gloves were sampled at room exit (prior to hand hygiene or glove removal) and then evaluated for the presence of A. baumannii. Two hundred fifty-four healthcare worker-patient interactions were observed among 52 patients; A. baumannii was identified from healthcare worker hands or gloves in 77 (30%) interactions. In multivariate analysis, multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (odds ratio, 4.78; 95% CI, 2.14-18.45) and specific healthcare worker activities (touching the bed rail [odds ratio, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.00-4.82], performing a wound dressing [odds ratio, 8.35; 95% CI, 2.07-33.63] and interacting with the endotracheal tube or tracheotomy site [odds ratio, 5.15; 95% CI, 2.10-12.60]), were associated with hand/glove contamination. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare worker hands/gloves are frequently contaminated with A. baumannii after patient care. Patient-level factors were not associated with an increased transmission risk; however, having multidrug-resistant-A. baumannii and specific healthcare worker activities led to an increased contamination risk. Our findings reveal a potential selective advantage possessed by multidrug-resistant-A. baumannii in this environment and suggest possible areas for future research.

  • Immunity and Immunization RSS Word feed
    1. Notes from the field: Complications of mumps during a university outbreak among students who had received 2 doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine – Iowa, July 2015-May 2016
      Donahue M, Schneider A, Ukegbu U, Shah M, Riley J, Weigel A, James L, Wittich K, Quinlisk P, Cardemil C.
      MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017 Apr 14;66(14):390-391.
      [No abstract]

    2. Live attenuated influenza vaccine use and safety in children and adults with asthma
      Duffy J, Lewis M, Harrington T, Baxter R, Belongia EA, Jackson LA, Jacobsen SJ, Lee GM, Naleway AL, Nordin J, Daley MF.
      Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017 Apr;118(4):439-444.
      BACKGROUND: Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) might increase the risk of wheezing in persons with asthma or children younger than 5 years with a history of recurrent wheezing. OBJECTIVE: To describe the use and assess the safety of LAIV in persons with asthma in the Vaccine Safety Datalink population. METHODS: We identified persons with asthma using diagnosis codes and medication records in 7 health care organizations over 3 influenza seasons (2008-2009 through 2010-2011) and determined their influenza vaccination rates. Using the self-controlled risk interval method, we calculated the incidence rate ratio of medically attended respiratory events in the 14 days after LAIV compared with 29 to 42 days after vaccination in persons 2 through 49 years old. RESULTS: In our population of 6.3 million, asthma prevalence was 5.9%. Of persons with asthma, approximately 50% received any influenza vaccine but less than 1% received LAIV. The safety study included 12,354 LAIV doses (75% in children; 93% in those with intermittent or mild persistent asthma). The incidence rate ratio for inpatient and emergency department visits for lower respiratory events (including asthma exacerbation and wheezing) was 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.63-1.51) and the incidence rate ratio for upper respiratory events was 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.48-1.86). The risk of lower respiratory events was similar for intermittent and mild persistent asthma, across age groups, and for seasonal trivalent LAIV and 2009 H1N1 pandemic monovalent LAIV. CONCLUSION: LAIV use in asthma was mostly in persons with intermittent or mild persistent asthma. LAIV was not associated with an increased risk of medically attended respiratory adverse events.

    3. Asthma exacerbations among asthmatic children receiving live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccines
      Ray GT, Lewis N, Goddard K, Ross P, Duffy J, DeStefano F, Baxter R, Klein NP.
      Vaccine. 2017 Apr 09.
      OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is a difference in the risk of asthma exacerbations between children with pre-existing asthma who receive live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) compared with inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified IIV and LAIV immunizations occurring between July 1, 2007 and March 31, 2014 among Kaiser Permanente Northern California members aged 2 to <18years with a history of asthma, and subsequent asthma exacerbations seen in the inpatient or Emergency Department (ED) setting. We calculated the ratio of the odds (OR) of an exacerbation being in the risk interval (1-14days) versus the comparison interval (29-42days) following immunization, separately for LAIV and IIV, and then examined whether the OR differed between children receiving LAIV and those receiving IIV (“difference-in-differences”). RESULTS: Among 387,633 immunizations, 85% were IIV and 15% were LAIV. Children getting LAIV vs. IIV were less likely to have “current or recent, persistent” asthma (25% vs. 47%), and more likely to have “remote history” of asthma (47% vs. 25%). Among IIV-vaccinated asthmatic children, the OR of an inpatient/ED asthma exacerbation was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.82-1.15). Among LAIV-vaccinated asthmatic children the OR was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.17-0.90). In the difference-in-differences analysis, the odds of asthma exacerbation following LAIV were less than IIV (Ratio of ORs: 0.40, CI: 0.17-0.95, p value: 0.04). CONCLUSION: Among children >/=2years old with asthma, we found no increased risk of asthma exacerbation following LAIV or IIV, and a decreased risk following LAIV compared to IIV.

  • Injury and Violence RSS Word feed
    1. Development of the SaFETy score: A clinical screening tool for predicting future firearm violence risk
      Goldstick JE, Carter PM, Walton MA, Dahlberg LL, Sumner SA, Zimmerman MA, Cunningham RM.
      Ann Intern Med. 2017 Apr 11.
      Background: Interpersonal firearm violence among youth is a substantial public health problem, and emergency department (ED) physicians require a clinical screening tool to identify high-risk youth. Objective: To derive a clinically feasible risk index for firearm violence. Design: 24-month prospective cohort study. Setting: Urban level 1 ED. Participants: Substance-using youths, age 14 to 24 years, seeking ED care for an assault-related injury and a proportionately sampled group of non-assault-injured youth enrolled from September 2009 through December 2011. Measurements: Firearm violence (victimization/perpetration) and validated questionnaire items. Results: A total of 599 youths were enrolled, and presence/absence of future firearm violence during follow-up could be ascertained in 483 (52.2% were positive). The sample was randomly split into training (75%) and post-score-construction validation (25%) sets. Using elastic-net penalized logistic regression, 118 baseline predictors were jointly analyzed; the most predictive variables fell predominantly into 4 domains: violence victimization, community exposure, peer influences, and fighting. By selection of 1 item from each domain, the 10-point SaFETy (Serious fighting, Friend weapon carrying, community Environment, and firearm Threats) score was derived. SaFETy was associated with firearm violence in the validation set (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.79); this association remained (OR, 1.44; CI, 1.20 to 1.76) after adjustment for reason for ED visit. In 5 risk strata observed in the training data, firearm violence rates in the validation set were 18.2% (2 of 11), 40.0% (18 of 45), 55.8% (24 of 43), 81.3% (13 of 16), and 100.0% (6 of 6), respectively. Limitations: The study was conducted in a single ED and involved substance-using youths. SaFETy was not externally validated. Conclusion: The SaFETy score is a 4-item score based on clinically feasible questionnaire items and is associated with firearm violence. Although broader validation is required, SaFETy shows potential to guide resource allocation for prevention of firearm violence. Primary Funding Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse R01024646.

  • Laboratory Sciences RSS Word feed
    1. Detection of Zika virus in desiccated mosquitoes by real-time reverse transcription PCR and plaque assay
      Burkhalter KL, Savage HM.
      Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;23(4):680-681.
      We assayed Zika virus-infected mosquitoes stored at room temperature for <30 days for live virus by using plaque assay and virus RNA by using real-time reverse transcription PCR. Viable virus was detected in samples stored <10 days, and virus RNA was detected in samples held for 30 days.

    2. Isolation and identification of compounds from Kalanchoe pinnata having human alphaherpesvirus and vaccinia virus antiviral activity
      Cryer M, Lane K, Greer M, Cates R, Burt S, Andrus M, Zou J, Rogers P, Hansen MD, Burgado J, Panayampalli SS, Day CW, Smee DF, Johnson BF.
      Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):1586-1591.
      CONTEXT: Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (Crassulaceae) is a succulent plant that is known for its traditional antivirus and antibacterial usage. OBJECTIVE: This work examines two compounds identified from the K. pinnata plant for their antivirus activity against human alphaherpesvirus (HHV) 1 and 2 and vaccinia virus (VACV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Compounds KPB-100 and KPB-200 were isolated using HPLC and were identified using NMR and MS. Both compounds were tested in plaque reduction assay of HHV-2 wild type (WT) and VACV. Both compounds were then tested in virus spread inhibition and virus yield reduction (VYR) assays of VACV. KPB-100 was further tested in viral cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay of HHV-2 TK-mutant and VYR assay of HHV-1 WT. RESULTS: KPB-100 and KPB-200 inhibited HHV-2 at IC50 values of 2.5 and 2.9 mug/mL, respectively, and VACV at IC50 values of 3.1 and 7.4 mug/mL, respectively, in plaque reduction assays. In virus spread inhibition assay of VACV KPB-100 and KPB-200 yielded IC50 values of 1.63 and 13.2 mug/mL, respectively, and KPB-100 showed a nearly 2-log reduction in virus in VYR assay of VACV at 20 mug/mL. Finally, KPB-100 inhibited HHV-2 TK- at an IC50 value of 4.5 mug/mL in CPE inhibition assay and HHV-1 at an IC90 of 3.0 mug/mL in VYR assay. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Both compounds are promising targets for synthetic optimization and in vivo study. KPB-100 in particular showed strong inhibition of all viruses tested.

    3. Multicenter performance assessment of the Carba NP Test
      Cunningham SA, Limbago B, Traczewski M, Anderson K, Hackel M, Hindler J, Sahm D, Alyanak E, Lawsin A, Gulvik CA, de Man TJ, Mandrekar JN, Schuetz AN, Jenkins S, Humphries R, Palavecino E, Vasoo S, Patel R.
      J Clin Microbiol. 2017 Apr 12.
      Eighty Gram-negative bacilli (54 Enterobacteriaceae and 26 non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli), obtained from multiple institutions in the United States were distributed in a blinded manner to seven testing laboratories to compare the performance of a test for detection of carbapenemase production, the Carba NP test. The Carba NP test was performed by all laboratories, following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) procedure. Site-versus-site comparisons demonstrated a high level of consistency for the Carba NP assay with just 3/21 site comparisons yielding a difference in sensitivity (p<0.05). Previously described limitations with blaOXA-48-like carbapenemases and blaOXA carbapenemases associated with Acinetobacter baumannii were noted. Based on these data, we demonstrate that the Carba NP test, when implemented with the standardized CLSI methodology, provides reproducible results across multiple sites for detection of carbapenemases.

    4. Development of a qualitative assay for screening of Bordetella pertussis isolates for pertussis toxin production
      Gates I, DuVall M, Ju H, Tondella ML, Pawloski L.
      PLoS One. 2017 ;12(4):e0175326.
      Bordetella pertussis infection has been increasing in the US, with reported cases reaching over 50,000 in 2012, a number last observed in the 1950s. Concurrently, B. pertussis lacking the pertactin protein, one of the immunogens included in the acellular vaccine formulations, has rapidly emerged since 2010, and has become the predominant circulating phenotype. Monitoring the production of the remaining acellular vaccine immunogens, such as pertussis toxin (Pt), is a critical next step. To date, methods for screening Pt have been either through genomic sequencing means or by conventional ELISAs. However, sequencing limits detection to the DNA level, missing potential disruptions in transcription or translation. Conventional ELISAs are beneficial for detecting the protein; however, they can often suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity. Here we describe a rapid, highly sensitive and specific electrochemiluminescent capture ELISA that can detect Pt production in prepared inactivated bacterial suspensions. Over 340 isolates were analyzed and analytical validation parameters, such as precision, reproducibility, and stability, were rigorously tested. Intra-plate and inter-plate variability measured at 9.8% and 11.5%, respectively. Refrigerated samples remained stable for two months and variability was unaffected (coefficient of variation was 12%). Interestingly, despite the intention of being a qualitative method, the assay was sensitive enough to detect a small, but statistically significant, difference in protein production between different pertussis promoter allelic groups of strains, ptxP1 and ptxP3. This technology has the ability to perform screening of multiple antigens at one time, thus, improving testing characteristics while minimizing costs, specimen volume, and testing time.

    5. Topical tenofovir protects against vaginal simian HIV infection in macaques coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis
      Makarova N, Henning T, Taylor A, Dinh C, Lipscomb J, Aubert R, Hanson D, Phillips C, Papp J, Mitchell J, McNicholl J, Garcia-Lerma GJ, Heneine W, Kersh E, Dobard C.
      Aids. 2017 Mar 27;31(6):745-752.
      BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis, two prevalent sexually transmitted infections, are known to increase HIV risk in women and could potentially diminish preexposure prophylaxis efficacy, particularly for topical interventions that rely on local protection. We investigated in macaques whether coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis reduces protection by vaginal tenofovir (TFV) gel. METHODS: Vaginal TFV gel dosing previously shown to provide 100 or 74% protection when applied either 30 min or 3 days before simian HIV(SHIV) challenge was assessed in pigtailed macaques coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis and challenged twice weekly with SHIV162p3 for up to 10 weeks (two menstrual cycles). Three groups of six macaques received either placebo or 1% TFV gel 30 min or 3 days before each SHIV challenge. We additionally assessed TFV and TFV diphosphate concentrations in plasma and vaginal tissues in Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis coinfected (n = 4) and uninfected (n = 4) macaques. RESULTS: Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis coinfections were maintained during the SHIV challenge period. All macaques that received placebo gel were SHIV infected after a median of seven challenges (one menstrual cycle). In contrast, no infections were observed in macaques treated with TFV gel 30 min before SHIV challenge (P < 0.001). Efficacy was reduced to 60% when TFV gel was applied 3 days before SHIV challenge (P = 0.07). Plasma TFV and TFV diphosphate concentrations in tissues and vaginal lymphocytes were significantly higher in Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis coinfected compared with Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis uninfected macaques. CONCLUSION: Our findings in this model suggest that Chlamydia trachomatis/Trichomonas vaginalis coinfection may have little or no impact on the efficacy of highly effective topical TFV modalities and highlight a significant modulation of TFV pharmacokinetics.

  • Maternal and Child Health RSS Word feed
    1. Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health system to symptoms of the Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies
      Conway KM, Ciafaloni E, Matthews D, Westfield C, James K, Paramsothy P, Romitti PA.
      Disabil Rehabil. 2017 Apr 11:1-8.
      PURPOSE: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, collectively referred to as dystrophinopathies, are X-linked recessive diseases that affect dystrophin production resulting in compromised muscle function across multiple systems. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health provides a systematic classification scheme from which body functions affected by a dystrophinopathy can be identified and used to examine functional health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The infrastructure of the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network was used to identify commonly affected body functions and link selected functions to clinical surveillance data collected through medical record abstraction. RESULTS: Seventy-one (24 second-, 41 third- and 7 fourth-level) body function categories were selected via clinician review and consensus. Of these, 15 of 24 retained second-level categories were linked to data elements from the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network surveillance database. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support continued development of a core set of body functions from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health system that are representative of disease progression in dystrophinopathies and the incorporation of these functions in standardized evaluations of functional health and implementation of individualized rehabilitation care plans. Implications for Rehabilitation Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, collectively referred to as dystrophinopathies, are X-linked recessive disorders that affect the production of dystrophin resulting in compromised muscle function across multiple systems. The severity and progressive nature of dystrophinopathies can have considerable impact on a patient’s participation in activities across multiple life domains. Our findings support continued development of an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health core set for childhood-onset dystrophinopathies. A standardized dystrophinopathy International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health documentation form can be used as a screening tool by rehabilitation professionals and for patient goal setting when developing rehabilitation plans. Patient reports of perceived functional health should be incorporated into the rehabilitation plan and therapeutic progress monitored by a standardized form.

    2. Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy
      Davis NL, King CC, Kourtis AP.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Mar 15;109(5):336-346.
      Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a DNA herpesvirus that is common worldwide. The two known main sources of primary CMV infection during pregnancy are through sexual activity and contact with young children. Primary infection occurs in approximately 1 to 4% of pregnancies, and is mostly asymptomatic in immunocompetent adults. However, primary infection may manifest as a mild mononucleosis or flu-like syndrome with persistent fever and fatigue. CMV can be transmitted from mother-to-child in utero, intrapartum, or during breastfeeding. Intrauterine transmission can lead to congenital CMV infection, a leading cause of permanent hearing and vision loss and neurological disability among children. Congenital CMV transmission rates are as high as 50% in women who acquire primary CMV infection during pregnancy, and less than 2% in women with nonprimary infection. There is no licensed CMV vaccine. Good hygiene practices and avoiding intimate contact with young children (e.g., kissing on the mouth and sharing utensils) have been suggested as an approach to prevent maternal primary CMV infection during pregnancy, but remains an unproven method of reducing the risk of congenital CMV infection. Approximately 1 in 10 infants who acquire CMV in utero will have clinical signs at birth, and an additional 10 to 15% will go on to develop late-onset sequelae. Antiviral treatment prenatally and postnatally has not proven effective at preventing congenital or postnatal CMV infection, and is not recommended for routine clinical care. However, antiviral treatment when initiated in the first month of life for symptomatic congenital CMV infection is recommended for improved neurodevelopmental and audiologic outcomes. Birth Defects Research 109:336-346, 2017. c.

    3. Survival disparities associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
      Hinton CF, Siffel C, Correa A, Shapira SK.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Apr 10.
      BACKGROUND: We assessed sociodemographic and clinical factors that are associated with survival among infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: Using data from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, we ascertained 150 infants born with CDH between 1979 and 2003 and followed via linkage with state vital records and the National Death Index. Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Survival increased from 40 to 62% over the study period. White infants born before 1988 were 2.9 times less likely to survive than those born after 1988. Black infants’ survival did not show significant improvement after 1988. White infants’ survival was not significantly affected by poverty, whereas black infants born in higher levels of poverty were 2.7 times less likely to survive than black infants born in lower levels of neighborhood poverty. White infants with multiple major birth defects were 2.6 times less likely to survive than those with CDH alone. The presence of multiple defects was not significantly associated with survival among black infants. CONCLUSIONS: Survival among infants and children with CDH has improved over time among whites, but not among blacks. Poverty is associated with lower survival among blacks, but not among whites. The presence of multiple defects is associated with lower survival among whites, but not among blacks. The differential effects of poverty and race should be taken into account when studying disparities in health outcomes.

    4. Lessons of severe maternal morbidity: A better understanding of SMM will lead to improved care for all women
      Kilpatrick SJ, Berg CJ.
      Contemporary Ob/Gyn. 2016 ;61(9):40-46.
      [No abstract]

    5. Secondary conditions among males with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy
      Latimer R, Street N, Conway KC, James K, Cunniff C, Oleszek J, Fox D, Ciafaloni E, Westfield C, Paramsothy P.
      J Child Neurol. 2017 Jan 01:883073817701368.
      Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are X-linked neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. Despite the involvement of multiple systems, secondary conditions among affected males have not been comprehensively described. Two hundred nine caregivers of affected males (aged 3-31 years) identified by the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network completed a mailed survey that included questions about secondary conditions impacting multiple body functions. The 5 most commonly reported conditions in males with Duchenne were cognitive deficits (38.4%), constipation (31.7%), anxiety (29.3%), depression (27.4%), and obesity (19.5%). Higher frequencies of anxiety, depression, and kidney stones were found among nonambulatory males compared to ambulatory males. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was more common in ambulatory than nonambulatory males. These data support clinical care recommendations for monitoring of patients with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy by a multidisciplinary team to prevent and treat conditions that may be secondary to the diagnosis.

    6. Addressing the effects of established and emerging infections during pregnancy
      Meaney-Delman D, Jamieson DJ, Rasmussen SA.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Mar 15;109(5):307-310.
      [No abstract]

    7. Major birth defects after vaccination reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 1990 to 2014
      Moro PL, Cragan J, Lewis P, Sukumaran L.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Apr 11.
      BACKGROUND: Major birth defects are important infant outcomes that have not been well studied in the postmarketing surveillance of vaccines given to pregnant women. We assessed the presence of major birth defects following vaccination in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a national spontaneous reporting system used to monitor the safety of vaccines in the United States. METHODS: We searched VAERS for reports of major birth defects during January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2014. We excluded birth defects from vaccines that had been studied in pregnancy registries or other epidemiological studies (e.g., human papilloma virus, varicella, measles/mumps/rubella, and anthrax vaccines). Birth defects were categorized into trimester of vaccination and classified based on the organs and/or systems affected. If several birth defects affecting different systems were described, we classified those as multiple body systems. Empirical Bayesian data mining was used to assess for disproportionate reporting. RESULTS: We identified 50 reports of major birth defects; in 28 reports, the vaccine was given during the first trimester; 25 were reports with single vaccines administered. Birth defects accounted for 0.03% of all reports received by VAERS during the study period and 3.2% of pregnancy reports; reported defects affected predominately the musculoskeletal (N = 10) or nervous (N = 10) systems. No unusual clusters or specific birth defects were identified. CONCLUSION: This review of the VAERS database found that major birth defects were infrequently reported, with no particular condition reported disproportionally. Birth defects after routine maternal vaccination will continue to be monitored in VAERS for signals to prompt future studies.

    8. Establishment of reference intervals during normal pregnancy through six months postpartum in western Kenya
      Odhiambo C, Omolo P, Oyaro B, Williamson J, Kinuthia J, Matemo D, Drake A, John-Stewart G, Zeh C.
      PLoS One. 2017 ;12(4):e0175546.
      BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is associated with changes in hematological and biochemistry values, yet there are no African reference intervals for clinical management of pregnant women. We sought to 1) develop laboratory reference intervals during pregnancy and up to 24 weeks postpartum and 2) determine the proportion of women in a previous clinical trial who would be misclassified as having out-of-range values using reference intervals from a United States (U.S.) population. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This was a longitudinal sub-study of 120 clinically healthy, HIV-uninfected, self-selected pregnant women seeking antenatal care services at either of two public hospitals in western Kenya. Blood specimens were obtained from consented women at gestational ages 28 and 36 weeks and at 2, 6, 14 and 24 weeks postpartum. Median and 95% reference intervals were calculated for immune-hematological and biochemistry parameters and compared to reference intervals from a Kenyan and United States (U.S.) population, using Wilcoxon tests. Differences with p</=0.05 were considered significant. Some hematological parameters, including hemoglobin and neutrophils showed significant variations compared to reference intervals for non-pregnant women. Hemoglobin values were significantly lower during pregnancy but were comparable to the values in non-pregnant women by 6 weeks postpartum. CD4, CD8 and platelets were significantly elevated in early postpartum but declined gradually, reaching normal levels by 24 weeks postpartum. Using the new hemoglobin reference levels from this study to estimate prevalence of ‘out of range’ values in a prior Kisumu research cohort of pregnant/postpartum women, resulted in 0% out of range values, in contrast to 96.3% using US non-pregnant reference values. CONCLUSION: There were substantial differences in U.S. and Kenyan values for immune-hematological parameters among pregnant/postpartum women, specifically in red blood cell parameters in late pregnancy and 2 weeks postpartum. Use of U.S. reference intervals markedly increases likelihood of out of range values, highlighting the need for suitable locally developed reference intervals.

    9. Folate deficiency is prevalent in women of childbearing age in Belize and is negatively affected by coexisting vitamin B-12 deficiency: Belize National Micronutrient Survey 2011
      Rosenthal J, Largaespada N, Bailey LB, Cannon M, Alverson CJ, Ortiz D, Kauwell GP, Sniezek J, Figueroa R, Daly R, Allen P.
      J Nutr. 2017 Apr 12.
      Background: Folate deficiency, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and anemia can have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Also, low vitamin B-12 reduces the formation of metabolically active folate.Objectives: We sought to establish the baseline prevalence of and factors associated with folate deficiency and insufficiency, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and anemia among women of childbearing age (WCBA) in Belize.Methods: In 2011, a national probability-based survey was completed among Belizean nonpregnant WCBA aged 15-49 y. Blood samples for determination of hemoglobin, folate (RBC and serum), and vitamin B-12 (plasma) and sociodemographic and health information were collected from 937 women. RBC and serum folate concentrations were measured by microbiologic assay (MBA). Folate status was defined based on both the WHO-recommended radioproteinbinding assay and the assay adjusted for the MBA.Results: The national prevalence estimates for folate deficiency in WCBA, based on serum and RBC folate concentrations by using the assay-matched cutoffs, were 11.0% (95% CI: 8.6%, 14.0%) and 35.1% (95% CI: 31.3%, 39.2%), respectively. By using the assay-matched compared with the WHO-recommended cutoffs, a substantially higher prevalence of folate deficiency was observed based on serum (6.9% absolute difference) and RBC folate (28.9% absolute difference) concentrations. The prevalence for RBC folate insufficiency was 48.9% (95% CI: 44.8%, 53.1%). Prevalence estimates for vitamin B-12 deficiency and marginal deficiency and anemia were 17.2% (95% CI: 14.2%, 20.6%), 33.2% (95% CI: 29.6%, 37.1%), and 22.7% (95% CI: 19.5%, 26.2%), respectively. The adjusted geometric means of the RBC folate concentration increased significantly (P-trend < 0.001) in WCBA who had normal vitamin B-12 status relative to WCBA who were vitamin B-12 deficient.Conclusions: In Belize, the prevalence of folate and vitamin B-12 deficiencies continues to be a public health concern among WCBA. Furthermore, low folate status co-occurred with low vitamin B-12 status, underlining the importance of providing adequate vitamin B-12 and folic acid intake through approaches such as mandatory food fortification.

    10. Preparing for biological threats: Addressing the needs of pregnant women
      Watson AK, Ellington S, Nelson C, Treadwell T, Jamieson DJ, Meaney-Delman DM.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Mar 15;109(5):391-398.
      Intentional release of infectious agents and biological weapons to cause illness and death has the potential to greatly impact pregnant women and their fetuses. We review what is known about the maternal and fetal effects of seven biological threats: Bacillus anthracis (anthrax); variola virus (smallpox); Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism); Burkholderia mallei (glanders) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis); Yersinia pestis (plague); Francisella tularensis (tularemia); and Rickettsia prowazekii (typhus). Evaluating the potential maternal, fetal, and infant consequences of an intentional release of an infectious agent requires an assessment of several key issues: (1) are pregnant women more susceptible to infection or illness compared to the general population?; (2) are pregnant women at increased risk for severe illness, morbidity, and mortality compared to the general population?; (3) does infection or illness during pregnancy place women, the fetus, or the infant at increased risk for adverse outcomes and how does this affect clinical management?; and (4) are the medical countermeasures recommended for the general population safe and effective during pregnancy? These issues help frame national guidance for the care of pregnant women during an intentional release of a biological threat.

  • Mining RSS Word feed
    1. Effects of mine strata thermal behavior and mine initial temperatures on mobile refuge alternative temperature
      Yantek DS, Yan L, Bissert PT, Klein MD.
      Mining Engineering. 2017 ;69(4):41-48.
      Federal regulations require the installation of refuge alternatives (RAs) in underground coal mines. Mobile RAs have a limited ability to dissipate heat, and heat buildup can lead to a life-threatening condition as the RA internal air temperature and relative humidity increase. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) performed heat testing on a 10-person tent-type training RA and contracted ThermoAnalytics Inc. to develop a validated thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The model was used to examine the effects of the constant mine strata temperature assumption, initial mine air temperature, initial mine strata surface temperature (MSST), initial mine strata temperature at depth (MSTD) and mine strata thermal behavior on RA internal air temperature using 117 W (400 Btu/h) of sensible heat input per simulated miner. For the studied RA, when the mine strata temperature was treated as a constant, the final predicted RA internal air temperature was 7.1 C (12.8 F) lower than it was when the mine strata thermal behavior was included in the model. A 5.6 C (10 F) increase in the initial MSST resulted in a 3.9 C (7.1 F) increase in the final RA internal air temperature, whereas a 5.6 C (10 F) increase in the initial MSTD yielded a 1.4 C (2.5 F) increase in the final RA internal air temperature. The results indicate that mine strata temperature increases and mine strata initial temperatures must be accounted for in the physical testing or thermal simulations of RAs.

  • Nutritional Sciences RSS Word feed
    1. Lunch salad bars in New Orleans’ middle and high schools: Student intake of fruit and vegetables
      Johnson CC, Myers L, Mundorf AR, O’Malley K, Spruance LA, Harris DM.
      Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Apr 13;14(4).
      The school lunch salad bar (SB) is a recommended food environmental strategy to increase access to, and consumption of fruit and vegetables (F/V). In a study to examine use of school lunch SBs, middle and high school students provided data via the Automated Self-Administered 24-h dietary recall (24HDR) tool for kids (ASA24-Kids-2012), a web-based data collection platform. Kilocalories were computed, food groups were assigned and F/V sources were obtained. Students (n = 718) from 12 schools with SBs and nine schools without SBs were approximately 87% African American, over 64% female and most were 7th and 8th graders. SB school students had higher median energy consumption at lunch but a higher percent of non-SB students reported eating fruit at lunch compared to SB students. Most students reporting eating F/V at lunch obtained F/V from the cafeteria main line; only 19.6% reported eating F/V exclusively from the SB. In SB schools median intake of cups F/V was higher among students using the SB (0.92) compared to those not using the SB (0.53). Results of this study are mixed, but encouraging. Additional factors, e.g., nutrition education, marketing, and kinds of foods offered on the SB need to be examined for potential influence on SB use.

  • Occupational Safety and Health RSS Word feed
    1. Exploring manganese fractionation using a sequential extraction method to evaluate welders’ gas metal arc welding exposures during heavy equipment manufacturing
      Hanley KW, Andrews R, Bertke S, Ashley K.
      Ann Work Expo Health. 2017 Jan 01;61(1):123-134.
      The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted an occupational exposure assessment study of manganese (Mn) in welding fume at three factories where heavy equipment was manufactured. The objective of this study was to evaluate exposures to different Mn fractions using a sequential extraction procedure. One hundred nine worker-days were monitored for either total or respirable Mn during gas metal arc welding. The samples were analyzed using an experimental method to separate different Mn fractions based on selective chemical solubility. The full-shift total particle size Mn time-weighted average (TWA) breathing zone concentrations ranged 0.38-26 for soluble Mn in a mild ammonium acetate solution; 3.2-170 for Mn0,2+ in acetic acid; 3.1-290 for Mn3+,4+ in hydroxylamine-hydrochloride; and non-detectable (ND)-130 microg m-3 for insoluble Mn fractions in hydrochloric and nitric acid. The summation of all the total particulate Mn TWA fractions yielded results that ranged from 6.9 to 610 microg m-3. The range of respirable size Mn TWA concentrations were 0.33-21 for soluble Mn; 15-140 for Mn0,2+; 14-170 for Mn3+,4+; 5.3-230 for insoluble Mn; and 36-530 microg m-3 for Mn (sum of fractions). Total particulate TWA GM concentrations of the Mn (sum) were 53 (GSD = 2.5), 150 (GSD = 1.7), and 120 (GSD = 1.8) microg m-3 for the three separate factories. Although all of the workers’ exposures were measured below the OSHA regulatory permissible exposure limit and NIOSH recommended exposure limit for Mn, 70 welders’ exposures exceeded the ACGIH Threshold Limit Values(R) for total Mn (100 microg m-3) and 29 exceeded the recently adopted respirable Mn TLV (20 microg m-3). This study shows that a welding fume exposure control and management program is warranted for Mn, which includes improved exhaust ventilation and may necessitate the use of respiratory protection, especially for welding parts that impede air circulation.

    2. Workplace violence and training required by new legislation among NJ nurses
      Ridenour ML, Hendricks S, Hartley D, Blando JD.
      J Occup Environ Med. 2017 ;59(4):e35-e40.
      Objective: The aim of this study was to examine nurses? knowledge of the state of New Jersey (NJ) Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Act, workplace violence training, and experience with workplace violence. Methods: In 2013, 309 (22.5% response rate) nurses returned a mailed survey. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: Ninety percent of respondents were female. When the perpetrator was a patient or a family member, the respondents experienced verbal abuse the most (57.8%), followed by threats (52.3%), and physical assault (38.3%). Respondents who had heard of the regulation (89.6%) received a higher proportion of training than those who had not heard of the regulation (57.9%) (P?<?0.0001). Conclusions: Nurses who received at least 80% of the required training components were more likely to feel more secure at work, suggesting that training is an important tool to address workplace violence.

    3. Review of hazards to female reproductive health in veterinary practice
      Scheftel JM, Elchos BL, Rubin CS, Decker JA.
      J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2017 Apr 15;250(8):862-872.
      OBJECTIVE To review publications that address female reproductive health hazards in veterinary practice, summarize best practices to mitigate reproductive risks, and identify current knowledge gaps. DESIGN Systematized review. SAMPLE English-language articles describing chemical, biological, and physical hazards present in the veterinary workplace and associations with adverse reproductive outcomes or recommendations for minimizing risks to female reproductive health. PROCEDURES Searches of the CAB abstracts database were performed in July 2012 and in May 2015 with the following search terms: veterinarians AND occupational hazards and vets.id AND occupational hazards.sh. Searches of the PubMed database were conducted in November 2012 and in May 2015 with the following medical subject heading terms: occupational exposure AND veterinarians; anesthetics, inhalation/adverse effects AND veterinarians; risk factors AND pregnancy AND veterinarians; pregnancy outcome AND veterinarians; and animal technicians AND occupational exposure. Two additional PubMed searches were completed in January 2016 with the terms disinfectants/toxicity AND female AND fertility/drug effects and veterinarians/psychology AND stress, psychological. No date limits were applied to searches. RESULTS 4 sources supporting demographic trends in veterinary medicine and 118 resources reporting potential hazards to female reproductive health were identified. Reported hazards included exposure to anesthetic gases, radiation, antineoplastic drugs, and reproductive hormones; physically demanding work; prolonged standing; and zoonoses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Demographic information suggested that an increasing number of women of reproductive age will be exposed to chemical, biological, and physical hazards in veterinary practice. Information on reproductive health hazards and minimizing risk, with emphasis on developing a safety-focused work culture for all personnel, should be discussed starting in veterinary and veterinary technical schools and integrated into employee training.

  • Parasitic Diseases RSS Word feed
    1. Species Identification and Resistance Status of Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes in Guinea
      Keita K, Camara D, Barry Y, Osse R, Wang L, Sylla M, Miller D, Leite L, Schopp P, Lawrence GG, Akogbeto M, Dotson EM, Guilavogui T, Keita M, Irish SR.
      J Med Entomol. 2017 Mar 02.
      Insecticide resistance is one of the primary threats to the recent gains in malaria control. This is especially true in Guinea, where long-lasting insecticidal nets are currently the primary vector control intervention. To better inform the national malaria control program on the current status of insecticide resistance in Guinea, resistance bioassays were conducted, using Anopheles gambiae s.l. Giles, in three sites. Molecular analyses were also done on An. gambiae s.l. to determine the species and find whether the target-site mutations kdr and Ace1R were present. Susceptibility tests revealed resistance to DDT and pyrethroids, although mosquitoes were susceptible to deltamethrin in two of the three sites tested. Mosquitoes were susceptible to bendiocarb, except in Kissidougou, Guinea. The kdr-west mutation was widespread and the frequency was 60% or more in all sites. However, the Ace1R mutation was present in low levels. Insecticide susceptibility should continue to be monitored in Guinea to ensure insecticide-based vector control methods remain effective.

  • Public Health Law RSS Word feed
    1. Legal authority for mosquito control and pesticide use in the United States
      Pepin D, Penn M.
      Public Health Rep. 2017 Jan 01:33354917704628.
      [No abstract]

  • Reproductive Health RSS Word feed
    1. Severity of diminished ovarian reserve and chance of success with assisted reproductive technology
      Kawwass JF, Boulet SL, Hipp HS, Session DR, Kissin DM, Jamieson DJ.
      J Reprod Med. 2017 April;62(2):153-160.
      OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between severe diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and assisted reproductive technology outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort including all United States’ fertility centers reporting to the CDC National ART Surveillance System, 2004-2012. Among women aged <41 (504,266 fresh autologous IVF cycles), we calculated cancellation rate/cycle and pregnancy rate/transfer, stratified by age, by maximum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Cancellation rate per cycle and pregnancy, live birth, and miscarriage rates per transfer were compared among women with and without DOR. We used multivariable log binomial regression, stratified by age, to calculate adjusted relative risk (aRR) for the association between DOR and these outcomes and, within DOR groups, between stimulation type and outcomes. RESULTS: Cancellation rate/cycle increased with increasing FSH and with DOR severity. For women aged <35 who underwent transfer, aRR for pregnancy and live birth indicated slightly reduced likelihood of these outcomes (severe vs. no DOR); confidence intervals approached the null. Among women with severe DOR, stimulation type was not associated with likelihood of pregnancy or live birth per transfer in any group except women ages 38-40. CONCLUSION: Women with severe DOR are at significantly increased risk of cancellation; however, those who undergo transfer have pregnancy and live birth chances similar to those of women without DOR after controlling for cycle characteristics.

  • Sciences, General RSS Word feed
    1. Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2017
      Amarasinghe GK, Bao Y, Basler CF, Bavari S, Beer M, Bejerman N, Blasdell KR, Bochnowski A, Briese T, Bukreyev A, Calisher CH, Chandran K, Collins PL, Dietzgen RG, Dolnik O, Durrwald R, Dye JM, Easton AJ, Ebihara H, Fang Q, Formenty P, Fouchier RA, Ghedin E, Harding RM, Hewson R, Higgins CM, Hong J, Horie M, James AP, Jiang D, Kobinger GP, Kondo H, Kurath G, Lamb RA, Lee B, Leroy EM, Li M, Maisner A, Muhlberger E, Netesov SV, Nowotny N, Patterson JL, Payne SL, Paweska JT, Pearson MN, Randall RE, Revill PA, Rima BK, Rota P, Rubbenstroth D, Schwemmle M, Smither SJ, Song Q, Stone DM, Takada A, Terregino C, Tesh RB, Tomonaga K, Tordo N, Towner JS, Vasilakis N, Volchkov VE, Wahl-Jensen V, Walker PJ, Wang B, Wang D, Wang F, Wang LF, Werren JH, Whitfield AE, Yan Z, Ye G, Kuhn JH.
      Arch Virol. 2017 Apr 07.
      In 2017, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by the inclusion of a total of 69 novel species. Five new rhabdovirus genera and one new nyamivirus genus were established to harbor 41 of these species, whereas the remaining new species were assigned to already established genera. Furthermore, non-Latinized binomial species names replaced all paramyxovirus and pneumovirus species names, thereby accomplishing application of binomial species names throughout the entire order. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).

  • Substance Use and Abuse RSS Word feed
    1. Patterns of marijuana and tobacco use associated with suboptimal self-rated health among US adult ever users of marijuana
      Tsai J, Rolle IV, Singh T, Boulet SL, McAfee TA, Grant AM.
      Prev Med Rep. 2017 Jun;6:251-257.
      The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of marijuana and tobacco use and their associations with suboptimal self-rated health (SRH) among US adults who reported “ever, even once, using marijuana or hashish.” Data came from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, restricting to respondents aged 20 years and older who reported using marijuana at least once in their lifetime (n = 3,210). We assessed the age-adjusted prevalence of mutually exclusive groups of regular (at least once a month for more than one year) and non-regular marijuana smoking by current (serum cotinine >/= 3.08 ng/mL) and not current use of tobacco. Suboptimal SRH status was defined as “fair” or “poor” in response to the question “Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?” We produced prevalence ratios with multivariable log-linear regression models. Among ever users of marijuana, the age-adjusted prevalence of regular marijuana smoking with current tobacco use, non-regular marijuana smoking with current tobacco use, and regular marijuana smoking without current tobacco use was 24.7%, 15.2%, and 21.1%, respectively. When compared to non-regular marijuana smokers without current tobacco use, the adjusted prevalence ratio for reporting suboptimal SRH was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.50-2.61), 1.82 (95% CI: 1.40-2.37), and 1.34 (95% CI: 1.05-1.69), respectively. In conclusion, among adult ever users of marijuana, current tobacco use is high and strongly associated with suboptimal SRH; regular marijuana smoking with or without current tobacco use is significantly associated with suboptimal SRH.

  • Vital Statistics RSS Word feed
    1. An evaluation of the American Community Survey indicators of disability
      Altman BM, Madans J, Weeks JD.
      Disabil Health J. 2017 Mar 15.
      BACKGROUND: Collection of data in the Census for implementing disability legislation has been continuous since 1970 although the questions used have changed several times. Concerns have been raised about the ability of the newest question set developed for the American Community Survey (ACS) to adequately represent the populations with disabilities because it does not capture all those eligible for certain benefit programs. OBJECTIVE: Using national data, we examine how the addition of questions on the receipt of SSI/SSDI changes the composition of the population identified by the ACS measures. In ancillary materials we also examine the addition of a work limitation question to the population identified by ACS measures. METHODS: Using descriptive secondary analysis of 2011 NHIS data we compare the characteristics of those identified by the ACS questions to those identified by the ACS questions and receipt of SSI/SSDI and those only receiving SSI/SSDI. The comparison is based on conditions, specific functional limitations and severity of limitation. RESULTS: Provide evidence that ACS questions identify a population representing persons at risk for participation difficulties including those who receive SSI/SSDI. The ACS population has higher proportions with mental health and development disabilities than comparison population. The ancillary data demonstrates the work limitation question does not make a significant difference in identifying recipients of SSI/SSDI. CONCLUSION: The analysis demonstrates that the disability measures developed for the ACS produce an unbiased picture of the population with disabilities by including persons with all conditions, more severe disability or selected types of functional limitations.

  • Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases RSS Word feed
    1. Preliminary epidemiologic assessment of human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) virus, China
      Jiang H, Wu P, Uyeki TM, He J, Deng Z, Xu W, Lv Q, Zhang J, Wu Y, Tsang TK, Kang M, Zheng J, Wang L, Yang B, Qin Y, Feng L, Fang VJ, Gao GF, Leung GM, Yu H, Cowling BJ.
      Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Apr 12.
      Background: Since 2014, 17 human cases of infection with the newly emerged highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) virus have been identified in China to date. The epidemiologic characteristics of laboratory-confirmed A(H5N6) cases were compared to A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) cases in mainland China. Methods: Data on laboratory-confirmed H5N6, H5N1, and H7N9 cases identified in mainland China were analysed to compare epidemiologic characteristics and clinical severity of the cases. Severity of the confirmed H5N6, H5N1 and H7N9 cases was estimated based on the risk of severe outcomes in hospitalized cases. Results: Reported H5N6 cases were older than H5N1 cases with a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions but younger than H7N9 cases. Epidemiological time-to-event distributions were similar among cases infected with the three viruses. In comparison to a fatality risk of 70% (30/43) for hospitalized H5N1 cases and 41% (319/782) for hospitalized H7N9 cases, 12 (75%) out of the 16 hospitalized H5N6 cases were fatal, and 15 (94%) required mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Similar epidemiologic characteristics and severity were observed in cases of H5N6 and H5N1 virus infection, while severity of H7N9 virus infections appeared lower. Continued surveillance of human infections with avian influenza A viruses remains an essential component of pandemic influenza preparedness.

    2. Perceptions on the risk communication strategy during the 2013 avian influenza A/H7N9 outbreak in humans in China: a focus group study
      Li R, Xie R, Yang C, Frost M.
      Western Pac Surveill Response J. 2016 Jul-Sep;7(3):21-28.
      OBJECTIVE: To identify the general public’s perceptions of the overall risk communication strategy carried out by Chinese public health agencies during the first wave of avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in humans in 2013. METHODS: Participants were recruited from communities in Beijing, Lanzhou and Hangzhou, China in May and June 2013 by convenience sampling. Demographics and other relevant information were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Focus group interviews were conducted using a set of nine pre-developed questions and a tested moderator guide. The interviews were audio recorded and were transcribed verbatim. The constant comparative method was used to identify trends and themes. RESULTS: A total of nine focus group interviews, with 94 participants recruited from nine communities, were conducted. Most participants received H7N9 information via television and the Internet. Most the participants appreciated the transparency and timeliness of the information released by the government. They expressed a sense of trust in the recommended public health advice and followed most of them. The participants suggested that the government release more information about clinical treatment outcomes, have more specific health recommendations that are practical to their settings and expand the use of new media channels for risk communication. CONCLUSION: The public perceived the overall risk communication strategy by the Chinese public health agencies as effective, though the moderator had a governmental agency title that might have biased the results. There is a need to expand the use of social media for risk communication in the future.

    3. Coxiella burnetii antibody seropositivity is not a risk factor for AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      Miller HK, Santo L, Camargo MC, Winkler CA, Goedert JJ, Kersh GJ, Rabkin CS.
      Blood. 2017 Apr 10.
      [No abstract]

    4. Studying the effects of emerging infections on the fetus: Experience with West Nile and Zika viruses
      Rasmussen SA, Meaney-Delman DM, Petersen LR, Jamieson DJ.
      Birth Defects Res. 2017 Mar 15;109(5):363-371.
      Emerging infections have the potential to produce adverse effects on the pregnant woman or her fetus; however, studying these effects is often challenging. We review our experiences with investigating the prenatal effects of two mosquito-borne infections that emerged in the past 2 decades, West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus. Concerns regarding teratogenicity were raised about both viruses; Zika virus has been confirmed to be teratogenic, while WNV appears not to increase the risk for adverse outcomes, although teratogenicity has not been excluded. Study designs used to examine the effects of both viruses include case reports and series, pregnancy registries, and cohort studies. Case-control studies and birth defects surveillance systems are being used to study the effects during pregnancy of Zika virus, but not the effects of WNV, because a specific phenotype was observed among infants with congenital Zika infection, but not among infants with congenital WNV infection. Experimental data that demonstrated that Zika virus was neurotropic have also been useful because they provided biologic plausibility for Zika virus’s teratogenic effects: these findings were consistent with observations in congenitally infected infants. Challenges encountered with studies to evaluate the effects of these infections include the broad range of possible adverse outcomes, the inability to include all infected pregnant women in studies because many infections are asymptomatic, and the difficulty with interpretation of diagnostic testing of infants (WNV and Zika) and pregnant women (Zika). This review might be helpful to guide future studies of the effects of emerging infections during pregnancy.

    5. Design strategies for efficient arbovirus surveillance
      Scarpino SV, Meyers LA, Johansson MA.
      Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;23(4):642-644.
      As public health agencies struggle to track and contain emerging arbovirus threats, timely and efficient surveillance is more critical than ever. Using historical dengue data from Puerto Rico, we developed methods for streamlining and designing novel arbovirus surveillance systems with or without historical disease data.

    6. Detection and molecular characterization of zoonotic poxviruses circulating in the Amazon region of Colombia, 2014
      Usme-Ciro JA, Paredes A, Walteros DM, Tolosa-Perez EN, Laiton-Donato K, Pinzon MD, Petersen BW, Gallardo-Romero NF, Li Y, Wilkins K, Davidson W, Gao J, Patel N, Nakazawa Y, Reynolds MG, Satheshkumar PS, Emerson GL, Paez-Martinez A.
      Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;23(4):649-653.
      During 2014, cutaneous lesions were reported in dairy cattle and farmworkers in the Amazon Region of western Colombia. Samples from 6 patients were analyzed by serologic and PCR testing, and results demonstrated the presence of vaccinia virus and pseudocowpox virus. These findings highlight the need for increased poxvirus surveillance in Colombia.

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DISCLAIMER: Articles listed in the CDC Science Clips are selected by the Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library to provide current awareness of the public health literature. An article's inclusion does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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