Infectious Diseases After Hydrologic Disasters.

Hydrologic disasters, including hurricanes, tsunamis, and severe flooding, have been associated with infectious diseases, particularly among vulnerable and displaced populations in resource-poor settings. Skin and soft tissue infections, gastrointestinal infections, respiratory infections, zoonotic infections, and vector-borne diseases each present unique threats to human health in this setting. Increased emergency physician awareness of these infectious diseases and their diagnosis and management helps optimize medical care for survivors after a hydrologic disaster and safeguard the health of disaster responders.

Factors affecting acceptance of routine human immunodeficiency virus screening by adolescents in pediatric emergency departments.

PURPOSE: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening in health care settings including emergency departments (EDs) is recommended for adolescents in the United States. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of and the factors affecting the HIV screening in pediatric EDs. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study of rapid opt-out oral HIV screening among adolescents ≥13 years of age was conducted in two pediatric EDs during 2009-2011. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the acceptance of HIV screening. RESULTS: During 24 months, 8,519 adolescents were approached for HIV screening; 6,184 (72.6%) did not opt out, and of those 5,764 (93.2%) were tested for HIV. Most adolescents who accepted testing were black (80.5%), female (57.6%), aged 15-17 years (50.1%), and District of Columbia residents (67.7%), and were accompanied by a guardian (69.1%). Acceptance of HIV screening varied by age, race/ethnicity, and state of residence, with younger (<15 years) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-2.09), non-black adolescents (aOR, .88; 95% CI, .77-.99) and non-District of Columbia residents (aOR, .86; 95% CI, .77-.96) being more likely to opt out of testing. Lower odds of opt-out of HIV testing were seen among adolescents with a guardian present (aOR, .42; 95% CI, .34-.53). The reasons for opt-out varied significantly by age and the presence of a guardian. CONCLUSIONS: The patient's age and the presence of a guardian were significantly associated with adolescents' decision and reasons to opt out of HIV screening in pediatric EDs. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the interventions needed to increase routine ED HIV screening in adolescents.