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1.
Clin Infect Dis ; 76(11): 1875-1878, 2023 06 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37104384

ABSTRACT

In this article, we summarize findings from research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the Infectious Diseases Society of America to understand infectious disease (ID) workforce contributions to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response and their impacts. ID experts were found to have made diverse and unique contributions that went well beyond their usual responsibilities, with many spending several hours a week on these activities without additional compensation. These efforts were thought to not only build community resilience but also augment the ongoing public health response. Respondents also reported several hospital and clinical leadership roles taken on during the pandemic, such as developing protocols and leading clinical trials. We also make several policy recommendations, such as medical student debt relief and improved compensation, that will be needed to help fortify the ID workforce for future pandemics.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communicable Diseases , Humans , Public Health , Pandemics
2.
AIDS Behav ; 27(1): 344-357, 2023 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35916951

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated adaptations in how healthcare services are rendered. However, it is unclear how these adaptations have impacted HIV healthcare services across the United States. We conducted a systematic review to assess the impacts of the pandemic on service engagement, treatment adherence, and viral suppression. We identified 26 total studies spanning the beginning of the pandemic (March 11, 2020) up until November 5, 2021. Studies were conducted at the national, state, and city levels and included representation from all four CDC HIV surveillance regions. Studies revealed varying impacts of the pandemic on HIV healthcare retention/engagement, medication adherence, and viral suppression rates, including decreases in HIV healthcare visits, provider cancellations, and inability to get prescription refills. Telehealth was critical to ensuring continued access to care and contributed to improved retention and engagement in some studies. Disparities existed in who had access to the resources needed for telehealth, as well as among populations living with HIV whose care was impacted by the pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Humans , United States/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Delivery of Health Care , Treatment Adherence and Compliance
3.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 26(5): 1022-1024, 2020 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32310059

ABSTRACT

We examined Zika-related inquiries to CDC-INFO, the national contact center for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to identify potential communication gaps. The most frequently asked questions related to travel or geographic location of Zika (42% of all inquiries), information about laboratory testing (13%), or acquiring a Zika test (11%).


Subject(s)
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious , Zika Virus Infection , Zika Virus , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Communication , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Travel , United States/epidemiology , Zika Virus Infection/epidemiology
4.
J Public Health Manag Pract ; 26(2): 124-130, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31592985

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine outbreak response-associated costs, lessons learned, and challenges encountered during a local health department's response to a mumps outbreak. DESIGN: We conducted semistructured interviews with individuals directly involved in the response to a mumps outbreak and analyzed outbreak response-associated cost data. SETTING: In March-July 2018, a mumps outbreak occurred in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The outbreak primarily affected an immigrant community, some of whom spoke little or no English and were uninsured and/or undocumented. This necessitated an urgent response from the Chester County Health Department, which implemented a variety of public health interventions, including outreach to local health care providers and the execution of vaccination clinics at 2 local mushroom farms where case contacts worked. A total of 39 suspected or confirmed mumps cases were reported in Chester County, and 22 suspected or confirmed cases were reported by 2 neighboring jurisdictions. PARTICIPANTS: Health department employees (n = 7) and community partners (n = 2). Areas of expertise included emergency preparedness, nursing, medicine, disease surveillance, and epidemiology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Operational challenges encountered and lessons learned during the mumps outbreak response, including outbreak response-associated costs, which could inform other communities' planning and preparedness for outbreaks in similar populations and improve outbreak response operations. RESULTS: Immigration status emerged as a key challenge, which highlighted the importance of building trust through community outreach and partnerships and the need for culturally competent communication. In addition, vaccine availability, accessibility, and cost played a major role in response operations and necessitated the involvement of community partners to mitigate these barriers. Outbreak response-associated costs totaled $35 305. CONCLUSIONS: The challenges that occurred in this outbreak are broadly relevant to outbreaks that affect similar immigrant communities. Health departments that serve such populations can utilize these lessons to develop improved outbreak response plans that account for these challenges.


Subject(s)
Communication Barriers , Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Emigrants and Immigrants/statistics & numerical data , Mumps/diagnosis , Humans , Mumps/epidemiology , Mumps/transmission , Pennsylvania/epidemiology , Public Health/methods , Public Health/statistics & numerical data , Rubulavirus/pathogenicity
5.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 25(5)2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31002062

ABSTRACT

A strategic multilateral dialogue related to biosecurity risks in Southeast Asia, established in 2014, now includes participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and the United States. This dialogue is conducted at the nonministerial level, enabling participants to engage without the constraints of operating in their official capacities. Participants reflect on mechanisms to detect, mitigate, and respond to biosecurity risks and highlight biosecurity issues for national leadership. Participants have also identified factors to improve regional and global biosecurity, including improved engagement and collaboration across relevant ministries and agencies, sustainable funding for biosecurity programs, enhanced information sharing for communicable diseases, and increased engagement in international biosecurity forums.


Subject(s)
Containment of Biohazards , Security Measures , Asia, Southeastern , Containment of Biohazards/economics , Global Health , International Cooperation , Security Measures/economics
6.
Am J Public Health ; 109(S4): S297-S302, 2019 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31505154

ABSTRACT

Objectives. To identify and analyze common challenges from multiple US communities affected by the hepatitis A epidemic beginning in March 2017, and to identify operational lessons to support preparedness for similar future public health emergencies.Methods. We conducted semistructured interviews with health officials from 9 city or county health departments to collect the firsthand experience of public health responders. We collected data from January to October 2018 via teleconference. Key informants, whom we purposefully sampled, were senior public health officials who were directly involved in outbreak response or in preparing for potential hepatitis A outbreaks in their communities.Results. Several themes emerged during these discussions, including common challenges and solutions pertaining to sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, hepatitis A vaccination, health workforce availability and surge capacity, communication and stigma, and partnerships and coordination with local law enforcement and other stakeholders.Conclusions. By generating key, evidence-based operational lessons, this study can inform response activities in localities currently experiencing outbreaks as well as community preparedness for possible future outbreaks due to the presence of similar at-risk populations.


Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Hepatitis A/prevention & control , Public Health Administration/methods , Health Workforce , Hepatitis A/epidemiology , Hepatitis A/transmission , Hepatitis A Vaccines/administration & dosage , Hepatitis A Virus, Human , Humans , Public Health/methods , Sanitation , Social Stigma , United States , Vaccination
7.
BMC Public Health ; 19(1): 954, 2019 Jul 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31315597

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Since the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, the concept of measuring health security capacity has become increasingly important within the broader context of health systems-strengthening, enhancing responses to public health emergencies, and reducing global catastrophic biological risks. Efforts to regularly and sustainably track the evolution of health security capabilities and capacities over time - while also accounting for political, social, and environmental risks - could help countries progress toward eliminating sources of health insecurity. We sought to aggregate evidence-based principles that capture a country's baseline public health and healthcare capabilities, its health security system performance before and during infectious disease crises, and its broader social, political, security, and ecological risk environments. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of English-language scholarly and gray literature to identify evidence- and practice-based indicators and proxies for measuring health security at the country level over time. We then used a qualitative coding framework to identify recurrent themes in the literature and synthesize foundational principles for measuring global health security. Documents reviewed included English-language literature published after 2001 until the end of the research period-September 2017-to ensure relevance to the current global health security landscape; literature examining acute infectious disease threats with potential for transnational spread; and literature addressing global health security efforts at the country level. RESULTS: We synthesized four foundational principles for measuring global health security: measurement requires assessment of existing capacities, as well as efforts to build core public health, healthcare, and biosecurity capabilities; assessments of national programs and efforts to mitigate a critical subset of priority threats could inform efforts to generate useful metrics for global health security; there are measurable enabling factors facilitating health security-strengthening efforts; and finally, measurement requires consideration of social, political, and ecological risk environments. CONCLUSION: The themes identified in this review could inform efforts to systematically assess the impacts and effectiveness of activities undertaken to strengthen global health security.


Subject(s)
Global Health , Security Measures/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Models, Theoretical
8.
BMC Public Health ; 19(1): 1310, 2019 Oct 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31623594

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak was a wake-up call regarding the critical importance of resilient health systems. Fragile health systems can become overwhelmed during public health crises, further exacerbating the human, economic, and political toll. Important work has been done to describe the general attributes of a health system resilient to these crises, and the next step will be to identify the specific capacities that health systems need to develop and maintain to achieve resiliency. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature to identify recurring themes and capacities needed for health system resiliency to infectious disease outbreaks and natural hazards and any existing implementation frameworks that highlight these capacities. We also sought to identify the overlap of the identified themes and capacities with those highlighted in the World Health Organization's Joint External Evaluation. Sources of evidence included PubMed, Web of Science, OAIster, and the websites of relevant major public health organizations. RESULTS: We identified 16 themes of health system resilience, including: the need to develop plans for altered standards of care during emergencies, the need to develop plans for post-event recovery, and a commitment to quality improvement. Most of the literature described the general attributes of a resilient health system; no implementation frameworks were identified that could translate these elements into specific capacities that health system actors can employ to improve resilience to outbreaks and natural hazards in a variety of settings. CONCLUSIONS: An implementation-oriented health system resilience framework could help translate the important components of a health system identified in this review into specific capacities that actors in the health system could work to develop to improve resilience to public health crises. However, there remains a need to further refine the concept of resilience so that health systems can simultaneously achieve sustainable transformations in healthcare practice and health service delivery as well as improve their preparedness for emergencies.


Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Natural Disasters/prevention & control , Humans
9.
Am J Public Health ; 108(S3): S188-S193, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30192663

ABSTRACT

Rapid medical countermeasure (MCM) dispensing is an important intervention during a public health emergency. In the United States, MCM planning and exercising efforts have largely focused on dispensing therapeutics, with less emphasis on mass vaccination operations that would require additional specialized staff and infrastructure. Difficulties in distributing vaccines during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic highlighted the need for enhanced planning and exercising of plans for conducting mass vaccination campaigns. In Taiwan, seasonal influenza mass vaccination campaigns are conducted annually, which both mitigate the effects of seasonal influenza and serve as functional exercises for mass vaccination operations during a pandemic. To identify lessons that can be applied to mass vaccination planning in the United States and elsewhere, we conducted an in-person observation and data review of Taiwan's annual seasonal influenza mass vaccination efforts in October 2017. We offer findings and recommendations for enhancing preparedness for seasonal and pandemic influenza and other public health emergencies that would require mass vaccination.


Subject(s)
Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Mass Vaccination , Pandemics/prevention & control , Disaster Planning , Humans , Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage , Influenza Vaccines/therapeutic use , Public Health , Seasons , Taiwan , United States
10.
Risk Anal ; 38(12): 2514-2524, 2018 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29314118

ABSTRACT

News media plays a large role in the information the public receives during an infectious disease outbreak, and may influence public knowledge and perceptions of risk. This study analyzed and described the content of U.S. news media coverage of Zika virus and Zika response during 2016. A random selection of 800 Zika-related news stories from 25 print and television news sources was analyzed. The study examined 24 different messages that appeared in news media articles and characterized them using theories of risk perception as messages with characteristics that could increase perception of risk (risk-elevating messages; n = 14), messages that could decrease perception of risk (risk-minimizing messages; n = 8), or messages about travel or testing guidance (n = 2). Overall, 96% of news stories in the study sample contained at least one or more risk-elevating message(s) and 61% contained risk-minimizing message(s). The frequency of many messages changed after local transmission was confirmed in Florida, and differed between sources in locations with or without local transmission in 2016. Forty percent of news stories included messages about negative potential outcomes of Zika virus infection without mentioning ways to reduce risk. Findings from this study may help inform current federal, state, and local Zika responses by offering a detailed analysis of how news media are covering the outbreak and response activities as well as identifying specific messages appearing more or less frequently than intended. Findings identifying the types of messages that require greater emphasis may also assist public health communicators in responding more effectively to future outbreaks.


Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control/methods , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Mass Media , Risk Assessment/methods , Zika Virus Infection/prevention & control , Zika Virus Infection/therapy , Animals , Communication , Culicidae , Female , Florida , Humans , Information Dissemination , Male , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/prevention & control , Public Health , Television , Zika Virus
11.
J Public Health Manag Pract ; 24(4): 360-369, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29084119

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Local health departments (LHDs) are implementing a national mandate to engage community partners, including individuals, businesses, and community- and faith-based organizations in the larger public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) enterprise. OBJECTIVE: Investigate how LHDs of varying size and resource levels successfully engage the community in PHEP to help uncover "best practices" that aspiring agencies can replicate, particularly in low-resource environments. DESIGN: In-depth, semistructured qualitative interviews with practitioners from 9 highly performing LHDs. SETTING: Participating agencies comprised equal amounts of small (serving <50 000 residents), medium (serving 50 000-500 000 residents), and large (serving >500 000 residents) LHDs and were diverse in terms of geographic region, rural-urban environment, and governance structure. PARTICIPANTS: A cross section of LHD staff (n = 34) including agency leaders, preparedness coordinators, public information officers, and health educators/promoters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Local health department performance at community engagement as determined by top scores in 2 national LHD surveys (2012, 2015) regarding community engagement in PHEP. RESULTS: Based on key informant accounts, high-performing LHDs show a holistic, organization-wide commitment to, rather than discrete focus on, community engagement. Best practices clustered around 5 domains: administration (eg, top executive who models collaborative behavior), organizational culture (eg, solicitous rather than prescriptive posture regarding community needs), social capital (eg, mining preexisting community connections held by other LHD programs), workforce skills (eg, cultural competence), and methods/tactics (eg, visibility in community events unrelated to PHEP). CONCLUSIONS: For LHDs that wish to enhance their performance at community engagement in PHEP, change will entail adoption of evidence-based interventions (the technical "what") as well as evidence-based administrative approaches (the managerial "how"). Smaller, rural LHDs should be encouraged that, in the case of PHEP community engagement, they have unique social assets that may help offset advantages that larger, more materially resourced metropolitan health departments may have.


Subject(s)
Civil Defense/standards , Local Government , Patient Participation/methods , Public Health/methods , Humans , Interviews as Topic/methods , Organizational Culture , Patient Participation/psychology , Public Health/trends , Qualitative Research
12.
J Public Health Manag Pract ; 24(6): 510-518, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29595573

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: The experiences of communities that responded to confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in the United States provide a rare opportunity for collective learning to improve resilience to future high-consequence infectious disease events. DESIGN: Key informant interviews (n = 73) were conducted between February and November 2016 with individuals who participated in Ebola virus disease planning or response in Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; New York, New York; or Omaha, Nebraska; or had direct knowledge of response activities. Participants represented health care; local, state, and federal public health; law; local and state emergency management; academia; local and national media; individuals affected by the response; and local and state governments. Two focus groups were then conducted in New York and Dallas, and study results were vetted with an expert advisory group. RESULTS: Participants focused on a number of important areas to improve public health resilience to high-consequence infectious disease events, including governance and leadership, communication and public trust, quarantine and the law, monitoring programs, environmental decontamination, and waste management. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provided the basis for an evidence-informed checklist outlining specific actions for public health authorities to take to strengthen public health resilience to future high-consequence infectious disease events.


Subject(s)
Disaster Planning/methods , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/diagnosis , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/prevention & control , Public Health/instrumentation , Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Ebolavirus/pathogenicity , Focus Groups/methods , Georgia , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/therapy , Humans , Interviews as Topic/methods , Nebraska , New York , Public Health/methods , Public Health/standards , Quarantine/legislation & jurisprudence , Quarantine/methods , Texas
13.
Health Aff (Millwood) ; 43(6): 883-891, 2024 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38830163

ABSTRACT

People who inject drugs face many challenges that contribute to poor health outcomes, including drug overdose, HIV, and hepatitis C infections. These conditions require high-quality prevention and treatment services. Syringe services programs are evidence-based harm reduction programs, and they have established track records with people who inject drugs, earning them deep trust within this population. In Baltimore, Maryland, although many syringe support services were limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, the health department's syringe services programs remained operational, allowing for the continuation of harm reduction services, including naloxone distribution. This evaluation describes a collaborative effort to colocate infectious disease testing and COVID-19 vaccination with a syringe services program. Our evaluation demonstrated that colocation of important services with trusted community partners can facilitate engagement and is essential for service uptake. Maintaining adequate and consistent funding for these services is central to program success. Colocation of other services within syringe services programs, such as medications for opioid use disorder, wound care, and infectious disease treatment, would further expand health care access for people who inject drugs.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Needle-Exchange Programs , Substance Abuse, Intravenous , Humans , Baltimore , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines/supply & distribution , Harm Reduction , Health Services Accessibility , COVID-19 Testing , HIV Infections/prevention & control
14.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0302064, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38739666

ABSTRACT

Evidence suggests that reductions in healthcare utilization, including forgone care, during the COVID-19 pandemic may be contributing towards excess morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to describe individual and community-level correlates of forgone care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of participants (n = 2,003) who reported needing healthcare in two population-representative surveys conducted in Baltimore, MD in 2021 and 2021-2022. Abstracted data included the experience of forgone care, socio-demographic data, comorbidities, financial strain, and community of residence. Participant's community of residence were linked with data acquired from the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance relevant to healthcare access and utilization, including walkability and internet access, among others. The data were analyzed using weighted random effects logistic regression. Individual-level factors found to be associated with increased odds for forgone care included individuals age 35-49 (compared to 18-34), female sex, experiencing housing insecurity during the pandemic, and the presence of functional limitations and mental illness. Black/African American individuals were found to have reduced odds of forgone care, compared to any other race. No community-level factors were significant in the multilevel analyses. Moving forward, it will be critical that health systems identify ways to address any barriers to care that populations might be experiencing, such as the use of mobile health services or telemedicine platforms. Additionally, public health emergency preparedness planning efforts must account for the unique needs of communities during future crises, to ensure that their health needs can continue to be met. Finally, additional research is needed to better understand how healthcare access and utilization practices have changed during versus before the pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Baltimore/epidemiology , Female , Adult , Male , Middle Aged , Adolescent , Cross-Sectional Studies , Young Adult , Health Services Accessibility , Social Determinants of Health , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , Aged
15.
J Addict Med ; 17(5): e287-e289, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37788618

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe the impact of colocating COVID-19 vaccinations with local syringe service programs on vaccine completion among people who inject drugs. METHODS: Data were derived from 6 community-based clinics. People who inject drugs who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine from a colocated clinic partnering with a local syringe service program were included in the study. Vaccine completion was abstracted from electronic medical records; additional vaccinations were abstracted using health information exchanges embedded within the electronic medical records. RESULTS: Overall, 142 individuals with a mean age of 51 years, predominantly male (72%) and Black, non-Hispanic (79%) received COVID-19 vaccines. More than half elected to receive a 2-dose mRNA vaccine (51.4%). Eighty-five percent completed a primary series, and 71% of those who received a mRNA vaccine completed the 2-dose series. Booster uptake was 34% in those completing a primary series. CONCLUSIONS: Colocated clinics are an effective means of reaching vulnerable populations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and need for annual booster vaccines arises, it is important to bolster public support and funding to continue low-barrier preventive clinics colocated with harm reduction services for this population.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Drug Users , Male , Humans , Middle Aged , Female , COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19/prevention & control , Pandemics , mRNA Vaccines
16.
Health Policy Plan ; 38(3): 363-376, 2023 Mar 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36315461

ABSTRACT

Vaccination decision making in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has become increasingly complex, particularly in the context of numerous competing health challenges. LMICs have to make difficult choices on which vaccines to prioritize for introduction while considering a wide range of factors such as disease burden, vaccine impact, vaccine characteristics, financing and health care infrastructures, whilst adapting to each country's specific contexts. Our scoping review reviewed the factors that influence decision-making among policymakers for the introduction of new vaccines in LMICs. We identified the specific data points that are factored into the decision-making process for new vaccine introduction, whilst also documenting whether there have been any changes in decision-making criteria in new vaccine introduction over the last two decades. A comprehensive database search was conducted using a search strategy consisting of key terms and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) phrases related to policy, decision-making, vaccine introduction, immunization programmes and LMICs. Articles were screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 843 articles were identified, with 34 articles retained after abstract screening, full-text screening and grading with the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT). The Burchett framework for new vaccine introduction was used to identify indicators for vaccine-decision making and guided data extraction. Articles in our study represented a diverse range of perspectives and methodologies. Across articles, the importance of the disease, which included disease burden, costs of disease and political prioritization, coupled with economic factors related to vaccine price, affordability and financing were the most common criteria considered for new vaccine introduction. Our review identified two additional criteria in the decision-making process for vaccine introduction that were not included in the Burchett framework: communication and sociocultural considerations. Data from this review can support informed decision-making for vaccine introduction amongst policymakers and stakeholders in LMICs.


Subject(s)
Developing Countries , Vaccines , Humans , Delivery of Health Care , Vaccination
17.
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care ; 33(3): 348-352, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35025822

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: People who inject drugs often have a higher prevalence of risk factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and associated morbidity and mortality, compounded by challenges in health care access. This increased vulnerability underscores the critical need to prioritize people who inject drug in ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Co-location of syringe services, COVID-19 vaccination services, and other communicable disease testing has proved an effective model to provide necessary interventions without creating additional barriers. Here, we describe a partnership between the Baltimore City Health Department, Johns Hopkins Mobile Vaccine Unit, and the Center for Infectious Disease and Nursing Innovation at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to provide COVID-19 vaccination, HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, wound care, and linkage to care services co-located with a long-running syringe services program. We describe the services offered by each partner and lessons learned from this community-based co-location of services initiative.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Substance Abuse, Intravenous , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology , Syringes , Vaccination
18.
Perspect Public Health ; 142(1): 42-45, 2022 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33200687

ABSTRACT

AIMS: In June 2018, the Multnomah County Health Department located in Portland, Oregon, US, responded to a measles exposure in a local childcare facility. This analysis describes lessons learned and challenges encountered during this measles response that may inform public health policy and help other local public health authorities prepare for measles outbreaks. These lessons will become increasingly important as measles cases continue to increase in both the US and abroad. METHODS: A semi-structured videoconference interview was conducted with nine health department staff who were directly involved in the health department's response to the measles outbreak. Interview notes were iteratively discussed between all authors to identify those outbreak response challenges and lessons learned that were generalizable to the broader public health community. RESULTS: Some of the key challenges and lessons learned included the need for increased provider recognition and reporting of measles cases, difficulty in determining which staff and children to exclude from attending daycare during the 21-day postexposure monitoring period, determining who would be prioritized to receive immunoglobulin, and the need for childcare staff vaccine status requirements. CONCLUSION: Lessons from this response highlight important considerations for public health practitioners and policy makers. Given the relative severity of measles and the potential for spread in facilities that serve infants and young children, the public health community must continue to address key gaps through planning and policy.


Subject(s)
Child Care , Measles , Child , Child, Preschool , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Infant , Measles/epidemiology , Measles/prevention & control , Public Health
19.
Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc ; 40: 100950, 2022 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35005211

ABSTRACT

Background: Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to myocardial injury, evidenced by increases in specific biomarkers and imaging. Objective: To quantify the association between biomarkers of myocardial injury, coagulation, and severe COVID-19 and death in hospitalized patients. Methods: Studies were identified through a systematic search of indexed articles in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus, published between December 2019 to August 2021. Effect estimates from individual studies for association between markers of myocardial injury (Troponin), myocardial stretch (N-terminal-pro hormone BNP, NT-proBNP), and coagulopathy (D-Dimer) and death or severe/critical COVID-19 were pooled using inverse variance weighted random-effects model. Odds Ratios (OR), Hazard Ratios (HR), and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were pooled separately and reported by outcomes of critical/severe COVID-19 and death. A meta-analysis of proportions was also performed to summarize the pooled prevalence of co-morbidities in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Results: We included 62 articles, with a total of 41,013 patients. The pooled proportion of patients with history of hypertension was 39% (95% CI: 34-44%); diabetes, 21% (95% CI: 18%-24%); coronary artery disease, 13% (95% CI: 10-16%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 7% (95% CI: 5-8%); and history of cancer, 5% (95% CI: 4-7%). Elevated troponin was associated with higher pooled odds of critical/severe COVID-19 and death [Odds Ratio (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.42-2.16)]; and also separately for death (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.32-2.25), and critical/severe COVID-1919 (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.45-2.40). Elevations in NT-proBNP were also associated with higher severe COVID-19 and death (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.58-5.70). Increases in D-dimer levels was also significantly associated with critical/severe COVID-19 and death (pooled OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07-1.79). Conclusions: This meta-analysis synthesizes existing evidence showing that myocardial injury, and coagulopathy are complications of COVID-19. The durability of these complications and their contributions to long-term cardiac implications of the disease is still being investigated. Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 may benefit from minimally invasive assessment for markers of myocardial injury, stretch and coagulopathy for early risk stratification purposes.

20.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep ; 15(5): 551-556, 2021 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32308182

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This article describes implementation considerations for Ebola-related monitoring and movement restriction policies in the United States during the 2013-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and May 2017 with 30 individuals with direct knowledge of state-level Ebola policy development and implementation processes. Individuals represented 17 jurisdictions with variation in adherence to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, census region, predominant state political affiliation, and public health governance structures, as well as the CDC. RESULTS: Interviewees reported substantial resource commitments required to implement Ebola monitoring and movement restriction policies. Movement restriction policies, including for quarantine, varied from voluntary to mandatory programs, and, occasionally, quarantine enforcement procedures lacked clarity. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to improve future monitoring and movement restriction policies may include addressing surge capacity to implement these programs, protocols for providing support to affected individuals, coordination with law enforcement, and guidance on varying approaches to movement restrictions.


Subject(s)
Epidemics , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Africa, Western , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/epidemiology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/prevention & control , Humans , Policy Making , Public Health , United States
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