Geographic Variation and Environmental Predictors of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Laboratory Surveillance, Virginia, USA, 2021-20231.

Because epidemiologic and environmental risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported only infrequently, little information exists about those factors. The state of Virginia, USA, requires certain ecologic features to be included in reports to the Virginia Department of Health, presenting a unique opportunity to study those variables. We analyzed laboratory reports of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus infections in Virginia during 2021-2023. MAC/M. abscessus was isolated from 6.19/100,000 persons, and 2.37/100,000 persons had MAC/M. abscessus lung disease. M. abscessus accounted for 17.4% and MAC for 82.6% of cases. Saturated vapor pressure was associated with MAC/M. abscessus prevalence (prevalence ratio 1.414, 95% CI 1.011-1.980; p = 0.043). Self-supplied water use was a protective factor (incidence rate ratio 0.304, 95% CI 0.098-0.950; p = 0.041). Our findings suggest that a better understanding of geographic clustering and environmental water exposures could help develop future targeted prevention and control efforts.

Factors Impacting the Implementation of Mobile Integrated Health Programs for the Acute Care of Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Emergency services utilization is increasing in older adult populations. Many such encounters may be preventable with better access to acute care in the community. Mobile integrated health (MIH) programs leverage mobile resources to deliver care and services to patients in the out-of-hospital environment and have the potential to improve clinical outcomes and decrease health care costs; however, they have not been widely implemented. We assessed barriers, potential facilitators, and other factors critical to the implementation of MIH programs with key vested partners. METHODS: Professional and community-member partners were purposefully recruited to participate in recorded structured interviews. The study team used the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) framework to develop an interview guide and codebook. Coders employed a combination of deductive and inductive coding strategies to identify common themes across partner groups. RESULTS: The study team interviewed 22 participants (mean age 56, 68% female). A cohort of professional subject matter experts included physicians, paramedics, public health personnel, and hospital administrators. A cohort of lay community partners included patients and caregivers. Coders identified three prominent themes that impact MIH implementation. First, MIH is disruptive to existing clinical workflows. Second, using MIH to improve patients' experience during acute care encounters is key to intervention adoption. Finally, legislative action is needed to augment central financial and regulatory policies to ensure the adoption of MIH programs. CONCLUSIONS: Common themes impacting the implementation of MIH programs were identified across vested partner groups. Multilevel strategies are needed to address patient adoption, clinical partners' workflow, and legislative policies to ensure the success of MIH programs.

Evaluation of an online SBIRT training program.

Background: While human ecosystem disruptions have happened in the past, the COVID-19 pandemic is the first situation to warrant such a large, world-wide transition to online education. The pandemic has increased the need for intervention with people in varying stages of substance use disorders.Objectives: In response to the need for more evidence-based, online educational and training options to address this need, this study used pre-posttest evaluations to determine the efficacy of an online training for a specific evidence-based intervention, Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Services (SBIRT).Methods: Social Work students from two universities completed a 4-hour, online training in SBIRT which included a pre/posttest, demographic variables, a satisfaction scale, and a measure of self-efficacy. Mixed Effects Linear regression was used to model the repeated measures of SBIRT knowledge and efficacy, while a linear regression model was used to measure the relationship between satisfaction and participant characteristics.Results: Participants were mostly female (85.9%), mostly White/Caucasian (72.9%), and most already had a bachelor's degree (50%) or higher (9.6%). Individuals who were White, non-Hispanic/Latinx, or had master's level or doctoral level mental health training were more likely to have higher SBIRT scores. Those with the highest levels of self-efficacy had the lowest change scores on the knowledge test. Overall, there was an almost threefold increase in SBIRT knowledge posttraining, indicating the viability of this training format, which is similar to findings from studies of in-person trainings of SBIRT which also found increases in SBIRT knowledge.Conclusion: Recommendations based on the results are provided to encourage improved student outcomes from this type of e-learning.

Hackathon as a way to raise awareness and foster innovation for stroke / Hackathon como uma maneira de aumentar a conscientização e promover a inovação no AVC

ABSTRACT The ‘Time is Brain” concept has been a major focus in the World Stroke Awareness Campaign. Objective We describe our experience with a Hackathon (junction of hack+marathon), a 24 hour event of innovation- and technology-based project development, focused around detecting stroke. Method The Hackathon was held during a Brazilian Student’s union (BRASA) congress involving students from engineering and other technological disciplines. Results Four teamscompleted the 24-hour challenge; two teams opted the stroke challenge. One team proposed improving detection using a mobile sensor Fit-Bit combined with a smart-phone to contact emergency dispatch. The other team developed a game, in which kids would play a role as a neurologist; to diagnosis stroke with objective to increase awareness. Conclusion Hackathons can focus attention on innovation and improvement opportunities to support the World Stroke Campaign, as well as other campaigns to raise awareness for other health or social problems.

RESUMO O conceito ‘Tempo é Cérebro “tem sido um grande foco na Campanha Mundial de conscientização sobre AVC. Objetivo Nós descrevemos experiência com Hackathon (junção das palavras hack+marathon) , um evento de 24 horas voltado a desenvolvimento de inovação tecnológica, centrada em torno de detecção de AVC. Método O Hackathon aconteceu durante o congresso da Associação de Estudante Brasileiros no Exterior (BRASA), envolvendo estudantes de engenharia e disciplinas tecnológicas. Resultados Quatro equipes completaram o desafio, duas optaram pelo desafio sobre AVC, uma propôs a detecção usando um sensor Fit-Bit e um telefone móvel para detecção e contato com a emergência. A outra equipe desenvolveu um jogo para as crianças detectarem AVC. Conclusão Hackathon pode focar a atenção em inovações e oportunidades de melhorias como um adicional a Campanha Mundial contra AVC, bem como em outras campanhas de conscientização para outras doenças ou problemas sociais.

Lean thinking turns ‘time is brain’ into reality / Pensamento enxuto faz ‘tempo é cérebro’ virar realidade

Intravenous rt-PA is an effective recanalizing treatment for ischemic stroke within 4 and half hours from its onset (Onset-to-Treatment [OTT]), with the best result seen in those treated within 90 minutes OTT. Yet few patients currently are treated in this time frame. From the standpoint of process improvement or a lean thinking perspective, there is a potential opportunity to reduce the time by eliminating non-value-added steps in each element of the stroke survival chain. The reduction in one time element does not necessarily shift the OTT under 90 minutes. Most likely, the reduction in OTT requires a coordinated approach to track and improve all elements of OTT, from the patient’s ability to recognize the onset of stroke up to delivery of medication. Shortening this total time should be a considered an indicator of quality improvement in acute stroke care.

Tratamento intravenoso com rt- PA é eficaz na recanalização do acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico (AVCI) no prazo de até 4 horas e meia de seu início (OTT), com o melhor resultado visto naqueles tratados dentro de 90 minutos OTT. Apesar disso, poucos são tratados neste período de tempo. Do ponto de vista da melhoria de processos ou uma perspectiva de pensamento enxuto, há uma oportunidade potencial para reduzir o tempo ao eliminar etapas que não agregam valor em cada elemento da cadeia de sobrevivência do paciente com acidente vascular cerebral. A diminuição da OTT requer uma abordagem coordenada em conjunto para controlar e melhorar todos os elementos de OTT, a capacidade do paciente para reconhecer o início do icto até à administração da medicação. Encurtar esse tempo total deve ser um considerado um indicador da melhoria da qualidade no atendimento AVCI agudo.