Relationship between neighborhood census-tract level socioeconomic status and respiratory syncytial virus-associated hospitalizations in U.S. adults, 2015-2017.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children and adults. Socioeconomic status (SES) is known to influence many health outcomes, but there have been few studies of the relationship between RSV-associated illness and SES, particularly in adults. Understanding this association is important in order to identify and address disparities and to prioritize resources for prevention. METHODS: Adults hospitalized with a laboratory-confirmed RSV infection were identified through population-based surveillance at multiple sites in the U.S. The incidence of RSV-associated hospitalizations was calculated by census-tract (CT) poverty and crowding, adjusted for age. Log binomial regression was used to evaluate the association between Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission or death and CT poverty and crowding. RESULTS: Among the 1713 cases, RSV-associated hospitalization correlated with increased CT level poverty and crowding. The incidence rate of RSV-associated hospitalization was 2.58 (CI 2.23, 2.98) times higher in CTs with the highest as compared to the lowest percentages of individuals living below the poverty level (≥ 20 and < 5%, respectively). The incidence rate of RSV-associated hospitalization was 1.52 (CI 1.33, 1.73) times higher in CTs with the highest as compared to the lowest levels of crowding (≥5 and < 1% of households with > 1 occupant/room, respectively). Neither CT level poverty nor crowding had a correlation with ICU admission or death. CONCLUSIONS: Poverty and crowding at CT level were associated with increased incidence of RSV-associated hospitalization, but not with more severe RSV disease. Efforts to reduce the incidence of RSV disease should consider SES.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity and Insomnia-Related Sleep Disturbances: Longitudinal Associations in a Large, Gender-Balanced Cohort of Combat-Exposed Veterans.

Few studies have investigated the range and severity of insomnia-related sleep complaints among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the temporal association between insomnia and PTSD severity has yet to be examined. To examine these associations, a large, gender-balanced cohort of veterans (N = 1,649) of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts participated in longitudinal assessments of PTSD and insomnia-related symptoms over a period of 2.5 years following enrollment (range: 2-4 years). Data were obtained from multiple sources, including interviews, self-report assessments, and electronic medical record data. Three-fourths (74.0%) of veterans with PTSD diagnoses at Time 1 (T1) reported insomnia-related sleep difficulties on at least half the nights during the past 30 days, and one-third of participants had received a prescription for a sedative-hypnotic drug in the past year. Veterans without PTSD had fewer sleep problems overall, although the prevalence of sleep problems was high among all study participants. In longitudinal, cross-lagged panel models, the frequency of sleep problems at T1 independently predicted increases in PTSD severity at Time 2 (T2), B = 0.27, p < .001, after controlling for gender and relevant comorbidities. Conversely, T1 PTSD severity was associated with increasing sleep complaints at T2 but to a lesser degree, B = 0.04, p < .001. Moderately high rates of sedative-hypnotic use were seen in veterans with PTSD, with more frequent use in women compared to men (40.4% vs. 35.0%). Sleep complaints were highly prevalent overall and highlight the need for increased clinical focus on this area.

Spanish Abstracts by Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) Gravedad del TEPT y Trastornos del Sueño Relacionados con el Insomnio: Asociaciones Longitudinales en una gran Cohorte, Balanceados por Género. de Veteranos Expuestos al Combate SUEÑO, INSOMNIO Y SEVERIDAD DE TEPT Pocos estudios han investigado el rango y la gravedad de las quejas del sueño relacionadas con el insomnio entre veteranos con trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y la asociación temporal entre el insomnio y la severidad del TEPT aún no se han examinado. Para examinar estas asociaciones, una gran cohorte de veteranos (N = 1,649) de los conflictos de Irak y Afganistán, balanceados por género, participaron en evaluaciones longitudinales de TEPT y síntomas relacionados con el insomnio durante un período de 2.5 años posteriores a la inscripción (rango: 2-4 años). Los datos se obtuvieron de múltiples fuentes, incluyendo entrevistas, autoevaluaciones y datos de registros médicos electrónicos. Tres cuartos (74.0%) de los veteranos con diagnóstico de TEPT en el tiempo 1 (T1) informaron dificultades de sueño relacionadas con el insomnio en al menos la mitad de las noches durante los últimos 30 días, y un tercio de los participantes habían recibido una prescripción de un fármaco sedante-hipnótico en el último año. Los veteranos sin TEPT tenían menos problemas de sueño en general, aunque la prevalencia de problemas de sueño fue alta entre todos los participantes del estudio. En los modelos longitudinales de panel con retardo cruzado, la frecuencia de los problemas de sueño en T1 predijeron independientemente aumentos en la severidad del TEPT en el Tiempo 2 (T2), B = 0.27, p <.001, después controlar por género y comorbilidades relevantes. Por el contrario, la gravedad del TEPT en T1 se asoció con un aumento de las quejas de sueño en T2 pero en menor grado, B = 0.04, p <.001. Se observaron tasas moderadamente altas de uso de hipnóticos-sedativos en veteranos con TEPT, con un uso más frecuente en mujeres comparadas con hombres (40.4% vs. 35.0%). En general las quejas de sueño fueron altamente prevalentes y destacan la necesidad de una mayor focalización clínica en esta área.

Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water - United States, 2000-2014.

Outbreaks associated with exposure to treated recreational water can be caused by pathogens or chemicals in venues such as pools, hot tubs/spas, and interactive water play venues (i.e., water playgrounds). During 2000-2014, public health officials from 46 states and Puerto Rico reported 493 outbreaks associated with treated recreational water. These outbreaks resulted in at least 27,219 cases and eight deaths. Among the 363 outbreaks with a confirmed infectious etiology, 212 (58%) were caused by Cryptosporidium (which causes predominantly gastrointestinal illness), 57 (16%) by Legionella (which causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, a milder illness with flu-like symptoms), and 47 (13%) by Pseudomonas (which causes folliculitis ["hot tub rash"] and otitis externa ["swimmers' ear"]). Investigations of the 363 outbreaks identified 24,453 cases; 21,766 (89%) were caused by Cryptosporidium, 920 (4%) by Pseudomonas, and 624 (3%) by Legionella. At least six of the eight reported deaths occurred in persons affected by outbreaks caused by Legionella. Hotels were the leading setting, associated with 157 (32%) of the 493 outbreaks. Overall, the outbreaks had a bimodal temporal distribution: 275 (56%) outbreaks started during June-August and 46 (9%) in March. Assessment of trends in the annual counts of outbreaks caused by Cryptosporidium, Legionella, or Pseudomonas indicate mixed progress in preventing transmission. Pathogens able to evade chlorine inactivation have become leading outbreak etiologies. The consequent outbreak and case counts and mortality underscore the utility of CDC's Model Aquatic Health Code (https://www.cdc.gov/mahc) to prevent outbreaks associated with treated recreational water.

Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water - United States, 2000-2014.

Outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water can be caused by pathogens, toxins, or chemicals in fresh water (e.g., lakes, rivers) or marine water (e.g., ocean). During 2000-2014, public health officials from 35 states and Guam voluntarily reported 140 untreated recreational water-associated outbreaks to CDC. These outbreaks resulted in at least 4,958 cases of disease and two deaths. Among the 95 outbreaks with a confirmed infectious etiology, enteric pathogens caused 80 (84%); 21 (22%) were caused by norovirus, 19 (20%) by Escherichia coli, 14 (15%) by Shigella, and 12 (13%) by Cryptosporidium. Investigations of these 95 outbreaks identified 3,125 cases; 2,704 (87%) were caused by enteric pathogens, including 1,459 (47%) by norovirus, 362 (12%) by Shigella, 314 (10%) by Cryptosporidium, and 155 (5%) by E. coli. Avian schistosomes were identified as the cause in 345 (11%) of the 3,125 cases. The two deaths were in persons affected by a single outbreak (two cases) caused by Naegleria fowleri. Public parks (50 [36%]) and beaches (45 [32%]) were the leading settings associated with the 140 outbreaks. Overall, the majority of outbreaks started during June-August (113 [81%]); 65 (58%) started in July. Swimmers and parents of young swimmers can take steps to minimize the risk for exposure to pathogens, toxins, and chemicals in untreated recreational water by heeding posted advisories closing the beach to swimming; not swimming in discolored, smelly, foamy, or scummy water; not swimming while sick with diarrhea; and limiting water entering the nose when swimming in warm freshwater.

Fungal Pathogens as Causes of Acute Respiratory Illness in Hospitalized Veterans: Frequency of Fungal Positive Test Results Using Rapid Immunodiagnostic Assays.

Fungal respiratory illnesses caused by endemic mycoses can be nonspecific and are often mistaken for viral or bacterial infections. We performed fungal testing on serum specimens from patients hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) to assess the possible role of endemic fungi as etiologic agents. Patients hospitalized with ARI at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Houston, Texas, during November 2016-August 2017 were enrolled. Epidemiologic and clinical data, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples for viral testing (PCR), and serum specimens were collected at admission. We retrospectively tested remnant sera from a subset of patients with negative initial viral testing using immunoassays for the detection of Coccidioides and Histoplasma antibodies (Ab) and Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, and Histoplasma antigens (Ag). Of 224 patient serum specimens tested, 49 (22%) had positive results for fungal pathogens, including 30 (13%) by Coccidioides immunodiagnostic assays, 19 (8%) by Histoplasma immunodiagnostic assays, 2 (1%) by Aspergillus Ag, and none by Cryptococcus Ag testing. A high proportion of veterans hospitalized with ARI had positive serological results for fungal pathogens, primarily endemic mycoses, which cause fungal pneumonia. The high proportion of Coccidioides positivity is unexpected as this fungus is not thought to be common in southeastern Texas or metropolitan Houston, though is known to be endemic in southwestern Texas. Although serological testing suffers from low specificity, these results suggest that these fungi may be more common causes of ARI in southeast Texas than commonly appreciated and more increased clinical evaluation may be warranted.