Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Shigella sonnei Cluster Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chicago, Illinois-July-October 2022.

Drug-resistant shigellosis is increasing, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). During July-October 2022, an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Shigella sonnei cluster of 9 patients was identified in Chicago, of whom 8 were MSM and 6 were festival attendees. The cluster also included 4 domestic travelers to Chicago. Sexual health care for MSM should include shigellosis diagnosis and prevention.

Brief Report: Self-Reported HIV-Positive Status but Subsequent HIV-Negative Test Results in Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment Survey Participants-11 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2015-2018.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing is a critical step to accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) because early diagnosis can facilitate earlier initiation of ART. This study presents aggregated data of individuals who self-reported being HIV-positive but subsequently tested HIV-negative during nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment surveys conducted in 11 countries from 2015 to 2018. METHOD: Survey participants aged 15 years or older were interviewed by trained personnel using a standard questionnaire to determine HIV testing history and self-reported HIV status. Home-based HIV testing and counseling using rapid diagnostic tests with return of results were performed by survey staff according to the respective national HIV testing services algorithms on venous blood samples. Laboratory-based confirmatory HIV testing for all participants identified as HIV-positives and self-reported positives, irrespective of HIV testing results, was conducted and included Geenius HIV-1/2 and DNA polymerase chain reaction if Geenius was negative or indeterminate. RESULTS: Of the 16,630 participants who self-reported as HIV-positive, 16,432 (98.6%) were confirmed as HIV-positive and 198 (1.4%) were HIV-negative by subsequent laboratory-based testing. Participants who self-reported as HIV-positive but tested HIV-negative were significantly younger than 30 years, less likely to have received ART, and less likely to have received a CD4 test compared with participants who self-reported as HIV-positive with laboratory-confirmed infection. CONCLUSIONS: A small proportion of self-reported HIV-positive individuals could not be confirmed as positive, which could be due to initial misdiagnosis, deliberate wrong self-report, or misunderstanding of the questionnaire. As universal ART access is expanding, it is increasingly important to ensure quality of HIV testing and confirmation of HIV diagnosis before ART initiation.

Healthcare providers' knowledge and clinical practice surrounding shigellosis - DocStyles Survey, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Shigellosis is an acute diarrheal disease transmitted through contaminated food, water, objects, poor hand hygiene, or sexual activity. Healthcare providers (HCP) may not be aware of the multiple routes of Shigella transmission, populations at increased risk, or importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). This study assessed HCP knowledge and clinical practices regarding shigellosis and antibiotic resistance. METHODS: Porter Novelli Public Services administered a web-based survey (Fall DocStyles 2020) to HCP in the United States. Pediatricians, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants completed questions about knowledge and clinical practice of acute diarrhea and shigellosis. RESULTS: Of 2196 HCP contacted, 1503 responded (68% response rate). Most identified contaminated food (85%) and water (79%) as routes of Shigella transmission; fewer recognized person-to-person contact (40%) and sexual activity (18%). Men who have sex with men (MSM) were identified as being at risk for shigellosis by 35% of respondents. Most reported counseling patients to wash hands (86%) and avoid food preparation (77%) when ill with shigellosis; 29% reported recommending avoiding sex. Many HCP reported treating shigellosis empirically with ciprofloxacin (62%) and azithromycin (32%), and 29% reported using AST to guide treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several gaps in shigellosis knowledge among HCP including MSM as a risk group, person-to-person transmission, and appropriate antibiotic use. Improving HCP education could prevent the spread of shigellosis, including drug-resistant infections, among vulnerable populations.

Shigellosis outbreak among persons experiencing homelessness-San Diego County, California, October-December 2021.

During October 2021, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency identified five cases of shigellosis among persons experiencing homelessness (PEH). We conducted an outbreak investigation and developed interventions to respond to shigellosis outbreaks among PEH. Confirmed cases occurred among PEH with stool-cultured Shigella sonnei; probable cases were among PEH with Shigella-positive culture-independent diagnostic testing. Patients were interviewed to determine infectious sources and risk factors. Fifty-three patients were identified (47 confirmed, 6 probable); 34 (64%) were hospitalised. None died. No point source was identified. Patients reported inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities, including public restrooms closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After implementing interventions, including handwashing stations, more frequent public restroom cleaning, sanitation kit distribution, and isolation housing for ill persons, S. sonnei cases decreased to preoutbreak frequencies. Improving public sanitation access was associated with decreased cases and should be considered to prevent outbreaks among PEH.

Provider Perspectives: Identification and Follow-up of Infants who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

OBJECTIVE: Without timely screening, diagnosis, and intervention, hearing loss can cause significant delays in a child's speech, language, social, and emotional development. In 2019, Texas had nearly twice the average rate of loss to follow-up (LFU) or loss to documentation (LTD; i.e., missing documentation of services received) among infants who did not pass their newborn hearing screening compared to the United States overall (51.1 vs. 27.5%). We aimed to identify factors contributing to LFU/LTD among infants who do not pass their newborn hearing screening in Texas. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected through semistructured qualitative interviews with 56 providers along the hearing care continuum, including hospital newborn hearing screening program staff, audiologists, primary care physicians, and early intervention (EI) program staff located in three rural and urban public health regions in Texas. Following recording and transcription of the interviews, we used qualitative data analysis software to analyze themes using a conventional content analysis approach. RESULTS: Frequently cited barriers included problems with family access to care, difficulty contacting patients, problems with communication between providers and referrals, lack of knowledge among providers and parents, and problems using the online reporting system. Providers in rural areas more often mentioned problems with family access to care and contacting families compared to providers in urban areas. CONCLUSION: These findings provide insight into strategies that public health professionals and health care providers can use to work together to help further increase the number of children identified early who may benefit from EI services. KEY POINTS: · Infants with suspected hearing loss may not receive timely diagnosis or early intervention.. · We interviewed healthcare providers in Texas along the hearing care continuum.. · Findings suggest strategies to increase the number of children with hearing loss identified early..

Positive Influences and Challenges for the Deaf Community Navigating Access to HIV Information, Testing, and Treatment in Kampala, Uganda: A Qualitative Study.

Although sub-Saharan Africa has the highest HIV burden globally, few studies have investigated disabilities and HIV in this region. We conducted a secondary analysis of text data from in-depth interviews (2014-2015) to describe HIV perceptions among a subsample of 73 deaf individuals participating in the Crane survey, Kampala, Uganda. Being deaf was defined as being profoundly or functionally deaf, having deafness onset 5 + years ago, and preferring sign language to communicate. Among participants ever tested for HIV (47%), most (88%) had a negative test. Thematic analysis revealed overcoming challenges/barriers followed by socioeconomic status, support systems, HIV, stigma, abuse, and health conditions as major themes. An unanticipated finding was the role of sex work to support basic living needs. The data showed related themes among participants, suggesting a complex context in which deaf participants experience HIV prevention and treatment. It is important to tailor HIV interventions for deaf and disabled persons.

Demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of persons under investigation for Coronavirus Disease 2019-United States, January 17-February 29, 2020.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), evolved rapidly in the United States. This report describes the demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of 544 U.S. persons under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 with complete SARS-CoV-2 testing in the beginning stages of the pandemic from January 17 through February 29, 2020. METHODS: In this surveillance cohort, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided consultation to public health and healthcare professionals to identify PUI for SARS-CoV-2 testing by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR. Demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics of PUI were reported by public health and healthcare professionals during consultation with on-call CDC clinicians and subsequent submission of a CDC PUI Report Form. Characteristics of laboratory-negative and laboratory-positive persons were summarized as proportions for the period of January 17-February 29, and characteristics of all PUI were compared before and after February 12 using prevalence ratios. RESULTS: A total of 36 PUI tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were classified as confirmed cases. Confirmed cases and PUI testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 had similar demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic characteristics. Consistent with changes in PUI evaluation criteria, 88% (13/15) of confirmed cases detected before February 12, 2020, reported travel from China. After February 12, 57% (12/21) of confirmed cases reported no known travel- or contact-related exposures. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can inform preparedness for future pandemics, including capacity for rapid expansion of novel diagnostic tests to accommodate broad surveillance strategies to assess community transmission, including potential contributions from asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections.

Mass SARS-CoV-2 Testing in a Dormitory-Style Correctional Facility in Arkansas.

Objectives. To assess SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a correctional facility and recommend mitigation strategies.Methods. From April 29 to May 15, 2020, we established the point prevalence of COVID-19 among incarcerated persons and staff within a correctional facility in Arkansas. Participants provided respiratory specimens for SARS-CoV-2 testing and completed questionnaires on symptoms and factors associated with transmission.Results. Of 1647 incarcerated persons and 128 staff tested, 30.5% of incarcerated persons (range by housing unit = 0.0%-58.2%) and 2.3% of staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among those who tested positive and responded to symptom questions (431 incarcerated persons, 3 staff), 81.2% and 33.3% were asymptomatic, respectively. Most incarcerated persons (58.0%) reported wearing cloth face coverings 8 hours or less per day, and 63.3% reported close contact with someone other than their bunkmate.Conclusions. If testing remained limited to symptomatic individuals, fewer cases would have been detected or detection would have been delayed, allowing transmission to continue. Rapid implementation of mass testing and strict enforcement of infection prevention and control measures may be needed to mitigate spread of SARS-CoV-2 in this setting.