Host Response Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Activation Associated with COVID-19 Severity and Mortality: A GeoSentinel Prospective Observational Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems emphasized the need for rapid and effective triage tools to identify patients at risk of severe or fatal infection. Measuring host response markers of inflammation and endothelial activation at clinical presentation may help to inform appropriate triage and care practices in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: We enrolled patients with COVID-19 across five GeoSentinel clinical sites (in Italy, Belgium, Canada, and the United States) from September 2020 to December 2021, and analyzed the association of plasma markers, including soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTREM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), complement component C5a (C5a), von Willebrand factor (VWF-a2), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), with 28-day (D28) mortality and 7-day (D7) severity (discharged, hospitalized on ward, or died/admitted to the ICU). RESULTS: Of 193 patients, 8.9% (16 of 180) died by D28. Higher concentrations of suPAR were associated with increased odds of mortality at D28 and severity at D7 in univariable and multivariable regression models. The biomarkers sTREM-1 and IL-1Ra showed bivariate associations with mortality at D28 and severity at D7. IL-6, VWF, C5a, and IL-8 were not as indicative of progression to severe disease or death. Conclusions: Our findings confirm previous studies' assertions that point-of-care tests for suPAR and sTREM-1 could facilitate the triage of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may help guide hospital resource allocation.

Analysis of Monkeypox Virus Exposures and Lesions by Anatomic Site.

We used cross-sectional data from 226 patients with monkeypox virus to investigate the association between anatomic exposure site and lesion development. Penile, anorectal, and oral exposures predicted lesion presence at correlating anatomic sites. Exposure site also predicted the first lesion site of the penis and anus.

The population-level impact of introducing rapid diagnostic tests on syphilis transmission in Canadian arctic communities - a mathematical modeling study.

Background: Canadian Arctic communities have experienced sustained syphilis transmission, with diagnoses rates 18-times higher than the national average. Remoteness from laboratory facilities leads to delays between syphilis screening and treatment, contributing to onward transmission. Rapid diagnostic tests can eliminate treatment delays via testing at the point-of-care. This study aims to describe syphilis diagnostic gaps and to estimate the impact of introducing rapid diagnostic tests at the point-of-care on syphilis transmission. Methods: To assess the population-level impact of deploying rapid diagnostic tests, an individual-based model was developed using detailed surveillance data, population surveys, and a prospective diagnostic accuracy field study. The model was calibrated to syphilis diagnoses (2017-2022) from a community of approximately 1,050 sexually active individuals. The impacts of implementing rapid diagnostic tests using whole blood (sensitivity: 92% for infectious and 81% for non-infectious syphilis; specificity: 99%) from 2023 onward was calculated using the annual median fraction of cumulative new syphilis infections averted over 2023-2032. Findings: The median modeled syphilis incidence among sexually active individuals was 44 per 1,000 in 2023. Males aged 16-30 years exhibited a 51% lower testing rate than that of their female counterparts. Maintaining all interventions constant at their 2022 levels, implementing rapid diagnostic tests could avert a cumulative 33% (90% credible intervals: 18-43%) and 37% (21-46%) of new syphilis infections over 5 and 10 years, respectively. Increasing testing rates and contact tracing may enhance the effect of rapid diagnostic tests. Interpretation: Implementing rapid diagnostic tests for syphilis in Arctic communities could reduce infections and enhance control of epidemics. Such effective diagnostic tools could enable rapid outbreak responses by providing same-day testing and treatment at the point-of-care. Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Patient characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in international travellers: a GeoSentinel analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis, with Enterobacterales including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae playing significant roles. While international travel to low- and middle-income countries is linked to colonisation with AMR Enterobacterales, the clinical implications, particularly the risk of subsequent infection, remain unclear due to limited data. We aimed to characterise E. coli and K. pneumoniae infections in travellers and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of their isolates. METHODS: We analysed data on E. coli and K. pneumoniae infections in travellers collected at GeoSentinel sites between 2015 and 2022, focusing on epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics. We defined multi-drug resistance (MDR) as non-susceptibility to agents from at least three drug classes. RESULTS: Over the 8-year period, we included 655 patients (median age 41 years; 74% female) from 57 sites in 27 countries, with 584 E. coli and 72 K. pneumoniae infections. Common travel regions included Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South-Central Asia. Urinary tract infections predominated. Almost half (45%) were hospitalised. Among infections with antimicrobial susceptibility data across three or more drug classes, 203/544 (37%) E. coli and 19/67 (28%) K. pneumoniae demonstrated MDR. Over one-third of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were non-susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and cotrimoxazole, with 38% and 28% non-susceptible to fluoroquinolones, respectively. Travellers to South-Central Asia most frequently had isolates non-susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and carbapenems. We observed increasing frequencies of phenotypic extended spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenem resistance over time. CONCLUSIONS: E. coli and K. pneumoniae infections in travellers, particularly those to Asia, may be challenging to empirically treat. Our analysis highlights the significant health risks these infections pose to travellers and emphasises the escalating global threat of AMR. Enhanced, systematic AMR surveillance in travellers is needed, along with prospective data on infection risk post travel-related AMR organism acquisition.

Epidemiology of travel-associated dengue from 2007 to 2022: A GeoSentinel analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a leading cause of febrile illness among international travellers. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of imported dengue in returning travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel sites from 2007 to 2022. METHODS: We retrieved GeoSentinel records of dengue among travellers residing in non-endemic countries. We considered dengue confirmed when diagnosed by a positive dengue virus (DENV)-specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, positive NS-1 antigen and/or anti-DENV IgG seroconversion, and probable when diagnosed by single anti-DENV IgM or high-titre anti-DENV IgG detection. Severe dengue was defined as evidence of clinically significant plasma leakage or bleeding, organ failure, or shock, according to the 2009 World Health Organization guidance. Complicated dengue was defined as either severe dengue or dengue with presence of any warning sign. Analyses were descriptive. RESULTS: This analysis included 5958 travellers with confirmed (n = 4859; 81.6%) or probable (n = 1099; 18.4%) dengue. The median age was 33 years (range: <1-91); 3007 (50.5%) travellers were female. The median travel duration was 21 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 15-32). The median time between illness onset and GeoSentinel site visit was 7 days (IQR: 4-15). The most frequent reasons for travel were tourism (67.3%), visiting friends or relatives (12.2%) and business (11.0%). The most frequent regions of acquisition were South East Asia (50.4%), South Central Asia (14.9%), the Caribbean (10.9%) and South America (9.2%). Ninety-five (1.6%) travellers had complicated dengue, of whom 27 (0.5%) had severe dengue and one died. Of 2710 travellers with data available, 724 (26.7%) were hospitalized. The largest number of cases (n = 835) was reported in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of international travellers should be aware of the risk of acquiring dengue and receive appropriate pre-travel counselling regarding preventive measures. Prospective cohort studies are needed to further elucidate dengue risk by destination and over time, as well as severe outcomes and prolonged morbidity (long dengue) due to travel-related dengue.

Intestinal protozoa in returning travellers: a GeoSentinel analysis from 2007 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged diarrhoea is common amongst returning travellers and is often caused by intestinal protozoa. However, the epidemiology of travel-associated illness caused by protozoal pathogens is not well described. METHODS: We analysed records of returning international travellers with illness caused by Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora cayetanensis or Cystoisospora belli, reported to the GeoSentinel Network during January 2007-December 2019. We excluded records of travellers migrating, with an unascertainable exposure country, or from GeoSentinel sites that were not located in high-income countries. RESULTS: There were 2517 cases, 82.3% giardiasis (n = 2072), 11.4% cryptosporidiosis (n = 287), 6.0% cyclosporiasis (n = 150) and 0.3% cystoisosporiasis (n = 8). Overall, most travellers were tourists (64.4%) on long trips (median durations: 18-30 days). Cryptosporidiosis more frequently affected people < 18 years (13.9%) and cyclosporiasis affected people ≥ 40 years (59.4%). Giardiasis was most frequently acquired in South Central Asia (45.8%) and sub-Saharan Africa (22.6%), cryptosporidiosis in sub-Saharan Africa (24.7%) and South-Central Asia (19.5%), cyclosporiasis in South East Asia (31.3%) and Central America (27.3%), and cystoisosporiasis in sub-Saharan Africa (62.5%). Cyclosporiasis cases were reported from countries of uncertain endemicity (e.g. Cambodia) or in countries with no previous evidence of this parasite (e.g. French Guiana). The time from symptom onset to presentation at a GeoSentinel site was the longest amongst travellers with giardiasis (median: 30 days). Over 14% of travellers with cryptosporidiosis were hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides new insights into the epidemiology and clinical significance of four intestinal protozoa that can cause morbidity in international travellers. These data might help optimize pretravel advice and post-travel management of patients with travel-associated prolonged gastrointestinal illnesses. This analysis reinforces the importance of international travel-related surveillance to identify sentinel cases and areas where protozoal infections might be undetected or underreported.

Chikungunya infection in returned travellers: results from the geosentinel network, 2005-2020.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an important travel-related disease because of its rapid geographical expansion and potential for prolonged morbidity. Improved understanding of the epidemiology of travel-related chikungunya infections may influence prevention strategies including education and vaccination. METHODS: We analysed data from travellers with confirmed or probable chikungunya reported to GeoSentinel sites from 2005 to 2020. Confirmed chikungunya was defined as a compatible clinical history plus either virus isolation, positive nucleic acid test or seroconversion/rising titre in paired sera. Probable chikungunya was defined as a compatible clinical history with a single positive serology result. RESULTS: 1202 travellers (896 confirmed and 306 probable) with chikungunya were included. The median age was 43 years (range 0-91; interquartile range [IQR]: 31-55); 707 (58.8%) travellers were female. Most infections were acquired in the Caribbean (28.8%), Southeast Asia (22.8%), South Central Asia (14.2%) and South America (14.2%). The highest numbers of chikungunya cases reported to GeoSentinel were in 2014 (28.3%), 2015 (14.3%) and 2019 (11.9%). The most frequent reasons for travel were tourism (n = 592; 49.3%) and visiting friends or relatives (n = 334; 27.7%). The median time to presentation to a GeoSentinel site was 23 days (IQR: 7-52) after symptom onset. In travellers with confirmed chikungunya and no other reported illnesses, the most frequently reported symptoms included musculoskeletal symptoms (98.8%), fever/chills/sweats (68.7%) and dermatologic symptoms (35.5%). Among 917 travellers with information available, 296 (32.3%) had a pretravel consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Chikungunya was acquired by international travellers in almost 100 destinations globally. Vector precautions and vaccination where recommended should be integrated into pretravel visits for travellers going to areas with chikungunya or areas with the potential for transmission. Continued surveillance of travel-related chikungunya may help public health officials and clinicians limit the transmission of this potentially debilitating disease by defining regions where protective measures (e.g. pretravel vaccination) should be strongly considered.

Intravenous Liposomal Amphotericin B Efficacy and Safety for Cutaneous and Mucosal Leishmaniasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Tegumentary leishmaniasis is often subject to limited funding, underpowered studies, and a paucity of high-quality interventional studies. Intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) has been increasingly used to treat cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis (CL and ML, respectively) despite the lack of well-conducted interventional studies. We conducted a systematic review to consolidate the descriptive evidence on the efficacy and safety of L-AmB in treating CL and ML. Methods: Several online databases and the reference lists of included studies were searched to extract data from 132 studies comprising both case reports and case series. The population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design strategy and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used. Results: Of 132 studies included, 92 were case reports and 40 were case series. Of the 92 cases, 65 (82.3%) were considered cured after receiving L-AmB as part of their treatment regimen. Twenty-one of the 92 (22.8%) cases reported adverse reactions to L-AmB. A pooled cure rate of 87.0% (95% CI, 79.0%-92.0%) was reported for the 38 case series that reported on treatment efficacy; 40.7% of the cases were associated with an adverse reaction. Conclusions: Observational data on cure rates using L-AmB suggest efficacy between 80% and 90%, similar to rates reported for other antileishmanial drugs. The highest efficacy rates were observed when a single cycle of L-AmB was administered to patients with mild-moderate CL and ML. The limitations of this study include the heterogeneity observed among the included studies and the increased likelihood of publication bias associated with the inclusion of case reports and case series. This systematic review further illustrates the need for high-quality comparative trials of intravenous L-AmB for the treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Travel-Related Diagnoses Among U.S. Nonmigrant Travelers or Migrants Presenting to U.S. GeoSentinel Sites - GeoSentinel Network, 2012-2021.

Problem/Condition: During 2012-2021, the volume of international travel reached record highs and lows. This period also was marked by the emergence or large outbreaks of multiple infectious diseases (e.g., Zika virus, yellow fever, and COVID-19). Over time, the growing ease and increased frequency of travel has resulted in the unprecedented global spread of infectious diseases. Detecting infectious diseases and other diagnoses among travelers can serve as sentinel surveillance for new or emerging pathogens and provide information to improve case identification, clinical management, and public health prevention and response. Reporting Period: 2012-2021. Description of System: Established in 1995, the GeoSentinel Network (GeoSentinel), a collaboration between CDC and the International Society of Travel Medicine, is a global, clinical-care-based surveillance and research network of travel and tropical medicine sites that monitors infectious diseases and other adverse health events that affect international travelers. GeoSentinel comprises 71 sites in 29 countries where clinicians diagnose illnesses and collect demographic, clinical, and travel-related information about diseases and illnesses acquired during travel using a standardized report form. Data are collected electronically via a secure CDC database, and daily reports are generated for assistance in detecting sentinel events (i.e., unusual patterns or clusters of disease). GeoSentinel sites collaborate to report disease or population-specific findings through retrospective database analyses and the collection of supplemental data to fill specific knowledge gaps. GeoSentinel also serves as a communications network by using internal notifications, ProMed alerts, and peer-reviewed publications to alert clinicians and public health professionals about global outbreaks and events that might affect travelers. This report summarizes data from 20 U.S. GeoSentinel sites and reports on the detection of three worldwide events that demonstrate GeoSentinel's notification capability. Results: During 2012-2021, data were collected by all GeoSentinel sites on approximately 200,000 patients who had approximately 244,000 confirmed or probable travel-related diagnoses. Twenty GeoSentinel sites from the United States contributed records during the 10-year surveillance period, submitting data on 18,336 patients, of which 17,389 lived in the United States and were evaluated by a clinician at a U.S. site after travel. Of those patients, 7,530 (43.3%) were recent migrants to the United States, and 9,859 (56.7%) were returning nonmigrant travelers.Among the recent migrants to the United States, the median age was 28.5 years (range = <19 years to 93 years); 47.3% were female, and 6.0% were U.S. citizens. A majority (89.8%) were seen as outpatients, and among 4,672 migrants with information available, 4,148 (88.8%) did not receive pretravel health information. Of 13,986 diagnoses among migrants, the most frequent were vitamin D deficiency (20.2%), Blastocystis (10.9%), and latent tuberculosis (10.3%). Malaria was diagnosed in 54 (<1%) migrants. Of the 26 migrants diagnosed with malaria for whom pretravel information was known, 88.5% did not receive pretravel health information. Before November 16, 2018, patients' reasons for travel, exposure country, and exposure region were not linked to an individual diagnosis. Thus, results of these data from January 1, 2012, to November 15, 2018 (early period), and from November 16, 2018, to December 31, 2021 (later period), are reported separately. During the early and later periods, the most frequent regions of exposure were Sub-Saharan Africa (22.7% and 26.2%, respectively), the Caribbean (21.3% and 8.4%, respectively), Central America (13.4% and 27.6%, respectively), and South East Asia (13.1% and 16.9%, respectively). Migrants with diagnosed malaria were most frequently exposed in Sub-Saharan Africa (89.3% and 100%, respectively).Among nonmigrant travelers returning to the United States, the median age was 37 years (range = <19 years to 96 years); 55.7% were female, 75.3% were born in the United States, and 89.4% were U.S. citizens. A majority (90.6%) were seen as outpatients, and of 8,967 nonmigrant travelers with available information, 5,878 (65.6%) did not receive pretravel health information. Of 11,987 diagnoses, the most frequent were related to the gastrointestinal system (5,173; 43.2%). The most frequent diagnoses among nonmigrant travelers were acute diarrhea (16.9%), viral syndrome (4.9%), and irritable bowel syndrome (4.1%).Malaria was diagnosed in 421 (3.5%) nonmigrant travelers. During the early (January 1, 2012, to November 15, 2018) and later (November 16, 2018, to December 31, 2021) periods, the most frequent reasons for travel among nonmigrant travelers were tourism (44.8% and 53.6%, respectively), travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) (22.0% and 21.4%, respectively), business (13.4% and 12.3%, respectively), and missionary or humanitarian aid (13.1% and 6.2%, respectively). The most frequent regions of exposure for any diagnosis among nonmigrant travelers during the early and later period were Central America (19.2% and 17.3%, respectively), Sub-Saharan Africa (17.7% and 25.5%, respectively), the Caribbean (13.0% and 10.9%, respectively), and South East Asia (10.4% and 11.2%, respectively).Nonmigrant travelers who had malaria diagnosed were most frequently exposed in Sub-Saharan Africa (88.6% and 95.9% during the early and later period, respectively) and VFRs (70.3% and 57.9%, respectively). Among VFRs with malaria, a majority did not receive pretravel health information (70.2% and 83.3%, respectively) or take malaria chemoprophylaxis (88.3% and 100%, respectively). Interpretation: Among ill U.S. travelers evaluated at U.S. GeoSentinel sites after travel, the majority were nonmigrant travelers who most frequently received a gastrointestinal disease diagnosis, implying that persons from the United States traveling internationally might be exposed to contaminated food and water. Migrants most frequently received diagnoses of conditions such as vitamin D deficiency and latent tuberculosis, which might result from adverse circumstances before and during migration (e.g., malnutrition and food insecurity, limited access to adequate sanitation and hygiene, and crowded housing,). Malaria was diagnosed in both migrants and nonmigrant travelers, and only a limited number reported taking malaria chemoprophylaxis, which might be attributed to both barriers to acquiring pretravel health care (especially for VFRs) and lack of prevention practices (e.g., insect repellant use) during travel. The number of ill travelers evaluated by U.S. GeoSentinel sites after travel decreased in 2020 and 2021 compared with previous years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions. GeoSentinel detected limited cases of COVID-19 and did not detect any sentinel cases early in the pandemic because of the lack of global diagnostic testing capacity. Public Health Action: The findings in this report describe the scope of health-related conditions that migrants and returning nonmigrant travelers to the United States acquired, illustrating risk for acquiring illnesses during travel. In addition, certain travelers do not seek pretravel health care, even when traveling to areas in which high-risk, preventable diseases are endemic. Health care professionals can aid international travelers by providing evaluations and destination-specific advice.Health care professionals should both foster trust and enhance pretravel prevention messaging for VFRs, a group known to have a higher incidence of serious diseases after travel (e.g., malaria and enteric fever). Health care professionals should continue to advocate for medical care in underserved populations (e.g., VFRs and migrants) to prevent disease progression, reactivation, and potential spread to and within vulnerable populations. Because both travel and infectious diseases evolve, public health professionals should explore ways to enhance the detection of emerging diseases that might not be captured by current surveillance systems that are not site based.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes Among Travelers With Severe Dengue : A GeoSentinel Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus is a flavivirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and is an important cause of illness worldwide. Data on the severity of travel-associated dengue illness are limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes among international travelers with severe dengue or dengue with warning signs as defined by the 2009 World Health Organization classification (that is, complicated dengue). DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and analysis of travelers with complicated dengue reported to GeoSentinel from January 2007 through July 2022. SETTING: 20 of 71 international GeoSentinel sites. PATIENTS: Returning travelers with complicated dengue. MEASUREMENTS: Routinely collected surveillance data plus chart review with abstraction of clinical information using predefined grading criteria to characterize the manifestations of complicated dengue. RESULTS: Of 5958 patients with dengue, 95 (2%) had complicated dengue. Eighty-six (91%) patients had a supplemental questionnaire completed. Eighty-five of 86 (99%) patients had warning signs, and 27 (31%) were classified as severe. Median age was 34 years (range, 8 to 91 years); 48 (56%) were female. Patients acquired dengue most frequently in the Caribbean (n = 27 [31%]) and Southeast Asia (n = 21 [24%]). Frequent reasons for travel were tourism (46%) and visiting friends and relatives (32%). Twenty-one of 84 (25%) patients had comorbidities. Seventy-eight (91%) patients were hospitalized. One patient died of nondengue-related illnesses. Common laboratory findings and signs were thrombocytopenia (78%), elevated aminotransferase (62%), bleeding (52%), and plasma leakage (20%). Among severe cases, ophthalmologic pathology (n = 3), severe liver disease (n = 3), myocarditis (n = 2), and neurologic symptoms (n = 2) were reported. Of 44 patients with serologic data, 32 confirmed cases were classified as primary dengue (IgM+/IgG-) and 12 as secondary (IgM-/IgG+) dengue. LIMITATIONS: Data for some variables could not be retrieved by chart review for some patients. The generalizability of our observations may be limited. CONCLUSION: Complicated dengue is relatively rare in travelers. Clinicians should monitor patients with dengue closely for warning signs that may indicate progression to severe disease. Risk factors for developing complications of dengue in travelers need further prospective study. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, International Society of Travel Medicine, Public Health Agency of Canada, and GeoSentinel Foundation.

Genomic Epidemiology of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Outbreak in a US Major League Soccer Club: Was It Travel Related?

Background: Professional soccer athletes are at risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). United States Major League Soccer (MLS) uses protocol-based SARS-CoV-2 testing for identification of individuals with coronavirus disease 2019. Methods: Per MLS protocol, fully vaccinated players underwent SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction testing weekly; unvaccinated players were tested every other day. Demographic and epidemiologic data were collected from individuals who tested positive, and contact tracing was performed. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on positive specimens, and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify potential transmission patterns. Results: In the fall of 2021, all 30 players from 1 MLS team underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing per protocol; 27 (90%) were vaccinated. One player who had recently traveled to Africa tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; within the following 2 weeks, 10 additional players and 1 staff member tested positive. WGS yielded full genome sequences for 10 samples, including 1 from the traveler. The traveler's sample was Delta sublineage AY.36 and was closely related to a sequence from Africa. Nine samples yielded other Delta sublineages including AY.4 (n = 7), AY.39 (n = 1), and B.1.617.2 (n = 1). The 7 AY.4 sequences clustered together; suggesting a common source of infection. Transmission from a family member visiting from England to an MLS player was identified as the potential index case. The other 2 AY.4 sequences differed from this group by 1-3 nucleotides, as did a partial genome sequence from an additional team member. Conclusions: WGS is a useful tool for understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in professional sports teams.

Rapid diagnostic testing for syphilis in Arctic communities (the STAR study): a multisite prospective field diagnostic accuracy study in an intended-use setting.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the field diagnostic accuracy of a syphilis rapid test (RDT), using serum and whole blood by non-laboratorians in two Canadian Arctic communities. METHODS: We implemented a multisite prospective field evaluation wherein patients were screened by an RDT containing treponemal and non-treponemal components (Chembio DPP® Syphilis Screen & Confirm) between January 2020 and December 2021. Venous whole blood and serum were collected for rapid testing and compared with laboratory-based serology reference testing using a reverse sequence algorithm of treponemal and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) testing. RESULTS: Overall, 135 whole blood and 139 serum specimens were collected from 161 participants during clinical encounters. Treponemal-RDT sensitivity against a treponemal-reference standard (38/161 confirmed cases) was similar for serum (78% [95% CI: 61-90%]) and whole blood (81% [95% CI: 63-93%]). In those with RPR titres ≥1:8 (i.e. suggestive of recent/active infection), sensitivity increased to 93% (95% CI: 77-99%) for serum and 92% (95% CI: 73-99%) for whole blood. Treponemal-RDT specificity was excellent (99% [95% CI: 95-100%]) for both specimen types. Non-treponemal-RDT sensitivity against RPR was 94% (95% CI: 80-99%) for serum and 79% (95% CI: 60-92%) for whole blood. Sensitivity increased to 100% (95% CI: 88-100%) for serum and 92% (95% CI: 73-99%) for whole blood when RPR titres ≥1:8. RDT performance with whole blood was similar to that with serum. DISCUSSION: Non-laboratorians using the RDT accurately identified individuals with infectious syphilis under real-world conditions in an intended-use setting at the point of care. Implementing the RDT can eliminate treatment delays and may enhance disease control.

Impact, healthcare utilization and costs of travel-associated mosquito-borne diseases in international travellers: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: International travellers frequently acquire infectious diseases whilst travelling, yet relatively little is known about the impact and economic burden of these illnesses on travellers. We conducted a prospective exploratory costing study on adult returning travellers with falciparum malaria, dengue, chikungunya or Zika virus. METHODS: Patients were recruited in eight Travel and Tropical Medicine clinics between June 2016 and March 2020 upon travellers' first contact with the health system in their country of residence. The patients were presented with a structured 52-question self-administered questionnaire after full recovery to collect information on patients' healthcare utilization and out-of-pocket costs both in the destination and home country, and about income and other financial losses due to the illness. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients participated in the study (malaria, 66; dengue, 51; chikungunya, 8; Zika virus, 9; all fully recovered; median age 40; range 18-72 years). Prior to travelling, 42% of patients reported procuring medical evacuation insurance. Across the four illnesses, only 7% of patients were hospitalized abroad compared with 61% at home. Similarly, 15% sought ambulatory services whilst abroad compared with 61% at home. The average direct out-of-pocket hospitalization cost in the destination country (USD $2236; range: $108-$5160) was higher than the direct out-of-pocket ambulatory cost in the destination country (USD $327; range: $0-$1560), the direct out-of-pocket hospitalization cost at home (USD $35; range: $0-$120) and the direct out-of-pocket ambulatory costs at home (US$45; range: $0-$192). Respondents with dengue or malaria lost a median of USD $570 (Interquartile range [IQR] 240-1140) and USD $240 (IQR 0-600), respectively, due to their illness, whilst those with chikungunya and Zika virus lost a median of USD $2400 (IQR 1200-3600) and USD $1500 (IQR 510-2625), respectively. CONCLUSION: Travellers often incur significant costs due to travel-acquired diseases. Further research into the economic impact of these diseases on travellers should be conducted.

The WE SENSE study protocol: A controlled, longitudinal clinical trial on the use of wearable sensors for early detection and tracking of viral respiratory tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory tract infections (VRTI) are extremely common. Considering the profound social and economic impact of COVID-19, it is imperative to identify novel mechanisms for early detection and prevention of VRTIs, to prevent future pandemics. Wearable biosensor technology may facilitate this. Early asymptomatic detection of VRTIs could reduce stress on the healthcare system by reducing transmission and decreasing the overall number of cases. The aim of the current study is to define a sensitive set of physiological and immunological signature patterns of VRTI through machine learning (ML) to analyze physiological data collected continuously using wearable vital signs sensors. METHODS: A controlled, prospective longitudinal study with an induced low grade viral challenge, coupled with 12 days of continuous wearable biosensors monitoring surrounding viral induction. We aim to recruit and simulate a low grade VRTI in 60 healthy adults aged 18-59 years via administration of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). Continuous monitoring with wearable biosensors will include 7 days pre (baseline) and 5 days post LAIV administration, during which vital signs and activity-monitoring biosensors (embedded in a shirt, wristwatch and ring) will continuously monitor physiological and activity parameters. Novel infection detection techniques will be developed based on inflammatory biomarker mapping, PCR testing, and app-based VRTI symptom tracking. Subtle patterns of change will be assessed via ML algorithms developed to analyze large datasets and generate a predictive algorithm. CONCLUSION: This study presents an infrastructure to test wearables for the detection of asymptomatic VRTI using multimodal biosensors, based on immune host response signature. CliniclTrials.govregistration:NCT05290792.

Strongyloidiasis-related lung involvement: too much of a bad thing.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Strongyloidiasis is a soil-transmitted helminthiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects 300-900 million individuals globally. Strongyloides stercoralis is associated with cutaneous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal clinical manifestations. Chronicity is due to an autoinfective cycle, and host immunosuppression can lead to severe and fatal disease. Lung involvement is significant in severe strongyloidiasis, and Strongyloides has a complex association with a number of lung diseases, which will be discussed in this review. RECENT FINDINGS: The treatment of chronic lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with corticosteroids is an important risk factor for Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome (SHS)/disseminated strongyloidiasis. The use of corticosteroids in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and potentially COVID-19-induced eosinopenia are risk factors for severe strongyloidiasis. Recent findings have demonstrated a significant immunomodulatory role of Strongyloides in both latent and active pulmonary tuberculosis associated to an impaired immune response and poor outcomes in active pulmonary tuberculosis. SUMMARY: Strongyloides lung involvement is a common finding in severe infection. Prompt recognition of Strongyloides infection as well as prevention of severe disease by screening or presumptive treatment are important goals in order to improve Strongyloides outcomes in at-risk population.