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2.
JAMA ; 330(18): 1769-1772, 2023 11 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37824710

ABSTRACT

Importance: To date, only 1 statewide prevalence survey has been performed for Acinetobacter baumannii (2009) in the US, and no statewide prevalence survey has been performed for Candida auris, making the current burden of these emerging pathogens unknown. Objective: To determine the prevalence of A baumannii and C auris among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in Maryland. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Maryland Multi-Drug Resistant Organism Prevention Collaborative performed a statewide cross-sectional point prevalence of patients receiving mechanical ventilation admitted to acute care hospitals (n = 33) and long-term care facilities (n = 18) between March 7, 2023, and June 8, 2023. Surveillance cultures (sputum, perianal, arm/leg, and axilla/groin) were obtained from all patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Sputum, perianal, and arm/leg cultures were tested for A baumannii and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Axilla/groin cultures were tested by polymerase chain reaction for C auris. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence of A baumannii, carbapenem-resistant A baumannii (CRAB), and C auris. Prevalence was stratified by type of facility. Results: All 51 eligible health care facilities (100%) participated in the survey. A total of 482 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were screened for A baumannii and 470 were screened for C auris. Among the 482 patients who had samples collected, 30.7% (148/482) grew A baumannii, 88 of the 148 (59.5%) of these A baumannii were CRAB, and C auris was identified in 31 of 470 (6.6%). Patients in long-term care facilities were more likely to be colonized with A baumannii (relative risk [RR], 7.66 [95% CI, 5.11-11.50], P < .001), CRAB (RR, 5.48 [95% CI, 3.38-8.91], P < .001), and C auris (RR, 1.97 [95% CI, 0.99-3.92], P = .05) compared with patients in acute care hospitals. Nine patients (29.0%) with cultures positive for C auris were previously unreported to the Maryland Department of Health. Conclusions: A baumannii, carbapenem-resistant A baumannii, and C auris were common among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in both acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities. Both pathogens were significantly more common in long-term care facilities than in acute care hospitals. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation in long-term care facilities are a high-risk population for emerging pathogens, and surveillance and prevention efforts should be targeted to these facilities.


Subject(s)
Acinetobacter Infections , Acinetobacter baumannii , Candida auris , Candidiasis , Health Facilities , Respiration, Artificial , Humans , Acinetobacter baumannii/isolation & purification , Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy , Acinetobacter Infections/epidemiology , Acinetobacter Infections/microbiology , Acinetobacter Infections/prevention & control , Candida auris/isolation & purification , Carbapenems/therapeutic use , Cross-Sectional Studies , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Prevalence , Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects , Respiration, Artificial/statistics & numerical data , Candidiasis/drug therapy , Candidiasis/epidemiology , Candidiasis/microbiology , Candidiasis/prevention & control , Maryland/epidemiology , Health Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Population Surveillance , Drug Resistance, Microbial
4.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 72(15): 404-410, 2023 Apr 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37053126

ABSTRACT

As of March 7, 2023, a total of 30,235 confirmed and probable monkeypox (mpox) cases were reported in the United States,† predominantly among cisgender men§ who reported recent sexual contact with another man (1). Although most mpox cases during the current outbreak have been self-limited, cases of severe illness and death have been reported (2-4). During May 10, 2022-March 7, 2023, 38 deaths among persons with probable or confirmed mpox¶ (1.3 per 1,000 mpox cases) were reported to CDC and classified as mpox-associated (i.e., mpox was listed as a contributing or causal factor). Among the 38 mpox-associated deaths, 94.7% occurred in cisgender men (median age = 34 years); 86.8% occurred in non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) persons. The median interval from symptom onset to death was 68 days (IQR = 50-86 days). Among 33 decedents with available information, 93.9% were immunocompromised because of HIV. Public health actions to prevent mpox deaths include integrated testing, diagnosis, and early treatment for mpox and HIV, and ensuring equitable access to both mpox and HIV prevention and treatment, such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) (5).


Subject(s)
Mpox (monkeypox) , Adult , Humans , Male , Black or African American , Disease Outbreaks , Mpox (monkeypox)/mortality , Public Health , United States/epidemiology
5.
Science ; 378(6619): 560-565, 2022 11 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36264825

ABSTRACT

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease endemic in Central and West Africa. In May 2022, dozens of non-endemic countries reported hundreds of monkeypox cases, most with no epidemiological link to Africa. We identified two lineages of monkeypox virus (MPXV) among two 2021 and seven 2022 US monkeypox cases: the major 2022 outbreak variant called B.1 and a minor contemporaneously sampled variant called A.2. Analyses of mutations among these two variants revealed an extreme preference for GA-to-AA mutations indicative of human APOBEC3 cytosine deaminase activity among Clade IIb MPXV (previously West African, Nigeria) sampled since 2017. Such mutations were not enriched within other MPXV clades. These findings suggest that APOBEC3 editing may be a recurrent and a dominant driver of MPXV evolution within the current outbreak.


Subject(s)
APOBEC Deaminases , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Monkeypox virus , Mpox (monkeypox) , RNA Editing , Humans , Mpox (monkeypox)/enzymology , Mpox (monkeypox)/virology , Monkeypox virus/genetics , Monkeypox virus/isolation & purification , Nigeria/epidemiology , United States/epidemiology , Mutation , Evolution, Molecular , APOBEC Deaminases/metabolism , Adenosine/genetics , Cytidine/genetics
6.
Clin Infect Dis ; 74(11): 2053-2056, 2022 06 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34473242

ABSTRACT

Among 9048 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 between January and May 2021 in Maryland, in regression-adjusted analysis, SARS-CoV-2 viruses carrying the spike protein mutation E484K were disproportionately prevalent among persons infected after full vaccination against COVID-19 compared with infected persons who were not fully vaccinated (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI: 1.36-2.83).


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , Humans , Maryland/epidemiology , Mutation , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
7.
BMJ Qual Saf ; 31(2): 153-162, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34887357

ABSTRACT

To evaluate changes in Clostridioides difficile incidence rates for Maryland hospitals that participated in the Statewide Prevention and Reduction of C. difficile (SPARC) collaborative. Pre-post, difference-in-difference analysis of non-randomised intervention using four quarters of preintervention and six quarters of postintervention National Healthcare Safety Network data for SPARC hospitals (April 2017 to March 2020) and 10 quarters for control hospitals (October 2017 to March 2020). Mixed-effects negative binomial models were used to assess changes over time. Process evaluation using hospital intervention implementation plans, assessments and interviews with staff at eight SPARC hospitals. Maryland, USA. All Maryland acute care hospitals; 12 intervention and 36 control hospitals. Participation in SPARC, a public health-academic collaborative made available to Maryland hospitals, with staggered enrolment between June 2018 and August 2019. Hospitals with higher C. difficile rates were recruited via email and phone. SPARC included assessments, feedback reports and ongoing technical assistance. Primary outcomes were C. difficile incidence rate measured as the quarterly number of C. difficile infections per 10 000 patient-days (outcome measure) and SPARC intervention hospitals' experiences participating in the collaborative (process measures). SPARC invited 13 hospitals to participate in the intervention, with 92% (n=12) participating. The 36 hospitals that did not participate served as control hospitals. SPARC hospitals were associated with 45% greater C. difficile reduction as compared with control hospitals (incidence rate ratio=0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.88, p=0.012). Key SPARC activities, including access to trusted external experts, technical assistance, multidisciplinary collaboration, an accountability structure, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and educational resources, were associated with hospitals reporting positive experiences with SPARC. SPARC intervention hospitals experienced 45% greater reduction in C. difficile rates than control hospitals. A public health-academic collaborative might help reduce C. difficile and other hospital-acquired infections in individual hospitals and at state or regional levels.


Subject(s)
Clostridioides difficile , Clostridium Infections , Cross Infection , Clostridioides , Clostridium Infections/epidemiology , Clostridium Infections/prevention & control , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Humans , Maryland/epidemiology , Osteonectin , Public Health , Quality Improvement
8.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 70(37): 1284-1290, 2021 Sep 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34529637

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection surveillance helps monitor trends in disease incidence and severe outcomes in fully vaccinated persons, including the impact of the highly transmissible B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Reported COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths occurring among persons aged ≥18 years during April 4-July 17, 2021, were analyzed by vaccination status across 13 U.S. jurisdictions that routinely linked case surveillance and immunization registry data. Averaged weekly, age-standardized incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for cases among persons who were not fully vaccinated compared with those among fully vaccinated persons decreased from 11.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.8-15.8) to 4.6 (95% CI = 2.5-8.5) between two periods when prevalence of the Delta variant was lower (<50% of sequenced isolates; April 4-June 19) and higher (≥50%; June 20-July 17), and IRRs for hospitalizations and deaths decreased between the same two periods, from 13.3 (95% CI = 11.3-15.6) to 10.4 (95% CI = 8.1-13.3) and from 16.6 (95% CI = 13.5-20.4) to 11.3 (95% CI = 9.1-13.9). Findings were consistent with a potential decline in vaccine protection against confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and continued strong protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalization and death. Getting vaccinated protects against severe illness from COVID-19, including the Delta variant, and monitoring COVID-19 incidence by vaccination status might provide early signals of changes in vaccine-related protection that can be confirmed through well-controlled vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/mortality , COVID-19/therapy , Humans , Incidence , Middle Aged , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
9.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 70(17): 627-631, 2021 Apr 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33914724

ABSTRACT

In late January 2021, a clinical laboratory notified the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) that the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.351 had been identified in a specimen collected from a Maryland resident with COVID-19 (1). The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 lineage was first identified in South Africa (2) and might be neutralized less effectively by antibodies produced after vaccination or natural infection with other strains (3-6). To limit SARS-CoV-2 chains of transmission associated with this index patient, MDH used contact tracing to identify the source of infection and any linked infections among other persons. The investigation identified two linked clusters of SARS-CoV-2 infection that included 17 patients. Three additional specimens from these clusters were sequenced; all three had the B.1.351 variant and all sequences were closely related to the sequence from the index patient's specimen. Among the 17 patients identified, none reported recent international travel or contact with international travelers. Two patients, including the index patient, had received the first of a 2-dose COVID-19 vaccination series in the 2 weeks before their likely exposure; one additional patient had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection 5 months before exposure. Two patients were hospitalized with COVID-19, and one died. These first identified linked clusters of B.1.351 infections in the United States with no apparent link to international travel highlight the importance of expanding the scope and volume of genetic surveillance programs to identify variants, completing contact investigations for SARS-CoV-2 infections, and using universal prevention strategies, including vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, to control the spread of variants of concern.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/virology , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/transmission , COVID-19 Testing , Cluster Analysis , Contact Tracing , Humans , Maryland/epidemiology , Phylogeny , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Travel
10.
Clin Infect Dis ; 72(11): 1992-1999, 2021 06 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32322889

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are commonly associated with acute respiratory illness. HAdV outbreaks are well documented in congregate military training settings, but less is known about outbreaks on college campuses. During fall 2018 and spring 2019, 5 United States (US) colleges reported increases in HAdV-associated respiratory illness. Investigations were performed to better understand HAdV epidemiology in this setting. METHODS: A case was defined as a student at one of the 5 colleges, with acute respiratory illness and laboratory-confirmed HAdV infection during October 2018-December 2018 or March-May 2019. Available respiratory specimens were typed by HAdV type-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and for a subset, whole genome sequencing was performed. We reviewed available medical records and cases were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included questions on symptom presentation, social history, and absenteeism. RESULTS: We identified 168 HAdV cases. Median age was 19 (range, 17-22) years and 102 cases (61%) were male. Eleven cases were hospitalized, 10 with pneumonia; 2 cases died. Among questionnaire respondents, 80% (75/94) missed ≥ 1 day of class because of their illness. Among those with a type identified (79%), HAdV types 4 and 7 were equally detected, with frequency of each varying by site. Genome types 4a1 and 7d were identified, respectively, by whole genome sequence analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HAdV respiratory illness was associated with substantial morbidity and missed class time among young, generally healthy adults on 5 US college campuses. HAdVs should be considered a cause of respiratory illness outbreaks in congregate settings such as college campuses.


Subject(s)
Adenovirus Infections, Human , Adenoviruses, Human , Respiratory Tract Infections , Adenoviridae , Adult , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Male , Phylogeny , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , United States , Young Adult
11.
Environ Res ; 188: 109773, 2020 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32559686

ABSTRACT

Campylobacter is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States. Campylobacter infections have most often been associated with food-related risk factors, such as the consumption of poultry and raw milk. Socioeconomic, agricultural and environmental factors, including drinking water source, can also influence the risk of campylobacteriosis. Approximately 19% of Maryland residents rely on private wells as their sole source of water. Given that the federal Safe Drinking Water Act does not regulate the water quality of private wells, these could be important non-foodborne transmission pathways for Campylobacter. To address this issue, data on the number of culture-confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection in Maryland between 2007 and 2016 were obtained from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. Cases were linked by zip code with data from the Maryland well permits registry, the 2010 U.S. Census, the 2016 American Community Survey, and the USDA Agricultural Census. Campylobacteriosis incidence rates and well prevalence were calculated by zip code. Negative binomial regression models were then constructed to evaluate the association between the prevalence of private wells, presence/absence of animal feeding operations and the incidence of campylobacteriosis across the physiographic provinces in Maryland. From 2007 to 2016, a total of 5746 cases of campylobacteriosis were reported in Maryland, and annual incidence rates ranged from 6.65 to 11.59 per 100,000 people. In our statewide analysis, a significant positive association was observed between well prevalence and increased campylobacteriosis incidence at the zip code level (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.11, 1.63). A significant positive association was also observed between well prevalence and increased campylobacteriosis incidence in the Appalachian and Coastal provinces of Maryland (IRR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.11, 7.76 and IRR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.25, 2.31, respectively). The presence of broiler chicken operations, increasing median age and percentage of residents living in poverty were also significantly associated with campylobacteriosis incidence at the zip code level in some physiographic provinces in Maryland. To our knowledge, these are the first US data to demonstrate an association between prevalence of private wells and campylobacteriosis incidence at the zip code level.


Subject(s)
Campylobacter Infections , Campylobacter , Drinking Water , Foodborne Diseases , Animals , Campylobacter Infections/epidemiology , Chickens , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Maryland/epidemiology , United States/epidemiology , Watchful Waiting
12.
Crit Care Resusc ; 21(4): 305-10, 2019 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31778639

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the use, understanding, trust and influence of the internet and other sources of health information used by the next of kin (NOK) of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: Multicentre structured survey. SETTING: The ICUs of 13 public and private Australian hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: NOK who self-identified as the primary surrogate decision maker for a patient admitted to the ICU. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency, understanding, trust and influence of online sources of health information, and the quality of health websites visited using the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) for medical and health websites. RESULTS: There were 473 survey responses. The median ICU admission days and number of ICU visits by the NOK at the time of completing the survey was 3 (IQR, 2-6 days) and 4 (IQR, 2-7), respectively. The most commonly reported sources of health information used very frequently were the ICU nurse (55.6%), ICU doctor (38.7%), family (23.3%), hospital doctor (21.4%), and the internet (11.3%). Compared with the 243 NOK (51.6%) not using the internet, NOK using the internet were less likely to report complete understanding (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.88), trust (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19-0.59), or influence (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.88) associated with the ICU doctor. Overall, the quality of the 40 different reported websites accessed was moderately high. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of ICU NOK report using the internet as a source of health information. Internet use is associated with lower reported understanding, trust and influence of the ICU doctor.


Subject(s)
Consumer Health Information , Decision Making , Information Seeking Behavior , Intensive Care Units , Internet/statistics & numerical data , Australia , Hospitalization , Humans , Surveys and Questionnaires , Trust
13.
AIDS Care ; 31(5): 621-628, 2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30430842

ABSTRACT

HIV nucleotide sequences generated through routine drug resistance testing (DRT) and reported to Maryland's Molecular HIV Surveillance system are most effective for elucidating transmission patterns and identifying outbreaks if DRT is ordered promptly and sequences are reported completely. Among reported cases of HIV infection newly diagnosed during 2011-2013 in Maryland residents aged ≥13 years, we assessed sequence ascertainment completeness. To better understand which populations were most likely to have a sequence, we examined associations between sequence ascertainment and clinical and demographic characteristics. During 2011-2013, 4423 new HIV infection diagnoses were reported; sequences were ascertained for 1282 (29.0%). Among 3267 cases with complete data, odds for having a sequence ascertained were highest for cases in persons living inside Maryland's Central Region with initial CD4 counts ≤500 cells/mm3 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-3.1). Sequence ascertainment did not vary significantly by patient age, sex, race/ethnicity or HIV transmission category. Educational interventions, policy changes and improved processes to increase timely DRT and subsequent sequence reporting with a focus on testing at entry to care, particularly for those with higher CD4 counts and those living outside the Central Region, might improve ascertainment completeness.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Drug Resistance, Viral , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV-1/drug effects , Mass Screening/organization & administration , Population Surveillance , Adolescent , Adult , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Infections/transmission , HIV Infections/virology , HIV-1/genetics , Humans , Male , Maryland , Middle Aged , Nucleotides , Odds Ratio
14.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 67(42): 1169-1173, 2018 Oct 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30359341

ABSTRACT

On September 17, 2017, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) was notified by fair and 4-H officials of ill swine at agricultural fair A, held September 14-17. That day, investigation of the 107 swine at fair A revealed five swine with fever and signs of upper respiratory tract illness. All five respiratory specimens collected from these swine tested positive for influenza A virus at the MDA Animal Health Laboratory, and influenza A(H3N2) virus was confirmed in all specimens by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). On September 18, MDA was notified by fair and 4-H officials that swine exhibitors were also ill. MDA alerted the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). A joint investigation with MDH and the local health department was started and later broadened to Maryland agricultural fairs B (September 13-17) and C (September 15-23). In total, 76 persons underwent testing for variant influenza, and influenza A(H3N2) variant (A(H3N2)v) virus infection was identified in 40 patients with exposure to swine at these fairs (Figure), including 30 (75%) who had more than one characteristic putting them at high risk for serious influenza complications; 24 (60%) of these were children aged <5 years. Twenty-six (65%) patients reported direct contact with swine (i.e., touching swine or swine enclosure), but 14 (35%) reported only indirect contact (e.g., walking through a swine barn). Two children required hospitalization; all patients recovered. This outbreak highlights the risk, particularly among children, for contracting variant influenza virus at agricultural fairs after direct or indirect swine contact. Publicizing CDC's recommendation that persons at high risk for serious influenza complications avoid pigs and swine barns might help prevent future variant influenza outbreaks among vulnerable groups (1).


Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/veterinary , Swine Diseases/virology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Agriculture , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Influenza, Human/virology , Male , Maryland/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/transmission , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology , Swine , Swine Diseases/transmission , Young Adult , Zoonoses
16.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 65(34): 915-6, 2016 Sep 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27585037

ABSTRACT

In June 2016, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) was notified of a nonpregnant woman who sought treatment for a subjective fever and an itchy rash, which was described as maculopapular by her provider. Laboratory testing at the Maryland DHMH Laboratories Administration confirmed Zika virus infection. Case investigation revealed that the woman had not traveled to a region with ongoing transmission of Zika virus, but did have sexual contact with a male partner who had recently traveled to the Dominican Republic. The male partner reported exposure to mosquitoes while traveling, but no symptoms consistent with Zika virus infection either before or after returning to the United States. The woman reported no other sex partners during the 14 days before onset of her symptoms and no receipt of blood products or organ transplants.


Subject(s)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral , Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis , Zika Virus Infection/transmission , Antibodies, Viral/isolation & purification , Asymptomatic Infections , Dominican Republic , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Male , Maryland , Travel , Unsafe Sex , Zika Virus/immunology , Zika Virus/isolation & purification
17.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 22(8): 1340-1347, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27434822

ABSTRACT

During 2013, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in Baltimore, MD, USA, received report of 2 Maryland residents whose surgical sites were infected with rapidly growing mycobacteria after cosmetic procedures at a clinic (clinic A) in the Dominican Republic. A multistate investigation was initiated; a probable case was defined as a surgical site infection unresponsive to therapy in a patient who had undergone cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic. We identified 21 case-patients in 6 states who had surgery in 1 of 5 Dominican Republic clinics; 13 (62%) had surgery at clinic A. Isolates from 12 (92%) of those patients were culture-positive for Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Of 9 clinic A case-patients with available data, all required therapeutic surgical intervention, 8 (92%) were hospitalized, and 7 (78%) required ≥3 months of antibacterial drug therapy. Healthcare providers should consider infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria in patients who have surgical site infections unresponsive to standard treatment.


Subject(s)
Medical Tourism , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/epidemiology , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/microbiology , Mycobacterium abscessus , Adolescent , Adult , Disease Outbreaks , Dominican Republic/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/drug therapy , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/economics , Surgery, Plastic/adverse effects , Surgical Wound Infection , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
18.
BMC Infect Dis ; 16: 354, 2016 07 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27450432

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Campylobacter infections have been associated with individual risk factors, such as the consumption of poultry and raw milk. Recently, a Maryland-based study identified community socioeconomic and environmental factors that are also associated with campylobacteriosis rates. However, no previous studies have evaluated the association between community risk factors and campylobacteriosis rates across multiple U.S. states. METHODS: We obtained Campylobacter case data (2004-2010; n = 40,768) from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) and socioeconomic and environmental data from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, the 2011 American Community Survey, and the 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture. We linked data by zip code and derived incidence rate ratios using negative binomial regression models. RESULTS: Community socioeconomic and environmental factors were associated with both lower and higher campylobacteriosis rates. Zip codes with higher percentages of African Americans had lower rates of campylobacteriosis (incidence rate ratio [IRR]) = 0.972; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.970,0.974). In Georgia, Maryland, and Tennessee, three leading broiler chicken producing states, zip codes with broiler operations had incidence rates that were 22 % (IRR = 1.22; 95 % CI = 1.03,1.43), 16 % (IRR = 1.16; 95 % CI = 0.99,1.37), and 35 % (IRR = 1.35; 95 % CI = 1.18,1.53) higher, respectively, than those of zip codes without broiler operations. In Minnesota and New York FoodNet counties, two top dairy producing areas, zip codes with dairy operations had significantly higher campylobacteriosis incidence rates (IRR = 1.37; 95 % CI = 1.22, 1.55; IRR = 1.19; 95 % CI = 1.04,1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Community socioeconomic and environmental factors are important to consider when evaluating the relationship between possible risk factors and Campylobacter infection.


Subject(s)
Campylobacter Infections/epidemiology , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Poultry Products/poisoning , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animal Husbandry , Animals , Campylobacter Infections/etiology , Chickens , Child , Child, Preschool , Environment , Female , Foodborne Diseases/etiology , Health Surveys , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Statistical , Public Health Surveillance , Residence Characteristics , Risk Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
19.
Environ Res ; 150: 166-172, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27290657

ABSTRACT

Nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. are a leading cause of foodborne illness. Risk factors for salmonellosis include the consumption of contaminated chicken, eggs, pork and beef. Agricultural, environmental and socioeconomic factors also have been associated with rates of Salmonella infection. However, to our knowledge, these factors have not been modeled together at the community-level to improve our understanding of whether rates of salmonellosis are variable across communities defined by differing factors. To address this knowledge gap, we obtained data on culture-confirmed Salmonella Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Newport and S. Javiana cases (2004-2010; n=14,297) from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), and socioeconomic, environmental and agricultural data from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, the 2011 American Community Survey, and the 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture. We linked data by zip code and derived incidence rate ratios using negative binomial regressions. Multiple community-level factors were associated with salmonellosis rates; however, our findings varied by state. For example, in Georgia (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR)=1.01; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.005-1.015) Maryland (IRR=1.01; 95% CI=1.003-1.015) and Tennessee (IRR=1.01; 95% CI=1.002-1.012), zip codes characterized by greater rurality had higher rates of S. Newport infections. The presence of broiler chicken operations, dairy operations and cattle operations in a zip code also was associated with significantly higher rates of infection with at least one serotype in states that are leading producers of these animal products. For instance, in Georgia and Tennessee, rates of S. Enteritidis infection were 48% (IRR=1.48; 95% CI=1.12-1.95) and 46% (IRR=1.46; 95% CI=1.17-1.81) higher in zip codes with broiler chicken operations compared to those without these operations. In Maryland, New Mexico and Tennessee, higher poverty levels in zip codes were associated with higher rates of infection with one or more Salmonella serotypes. In Georgia and Tennessee, zip codes with higher percentages of the population composed of African Americans had significantly higher rates of infection with one or more Salmonella serotypes. In summary, our findings show that community-level agricultural, environmental and socioeconomic factors may be important with regard to rates of infection with Salmonella Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Newport and Javiana.


Subject(s)
Food Microbiology , Salmonella Food Poisoning/epidemiology , Salmonella enterica/isolation & purification , Humans , Incidence , Salmonella Food Poisoning/microbiology , United States/epidemiology
20.
Environ Res ; 149: 216-221, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27214137

ABSTRACT

Consumption of contaminated poultry, raw milk and water are significant risk factors for Campylobacter infection. Previous studies also have investigated the association between weather (temperature and precipitation) and increased risk of campylobacteriosis, but limited information exists regarding the impacts of extreme heat and precipitation events on campylobacteriosis risk, and how such risk may differentially impact coastal communities. We obtained Campylobacter case data 2002-2012; n=4804) from the Maryland Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet). We identified extreme heat and extreme precipitation events during this time (2002-2012) using location and calendar day specific thresholds (95th percentile for extreme heat and 90th percentile for extreme precipitation) that were computed based on a 30-year baseline (1960-1989). We linked these datasets using GIS and used negative binomial generalized estimating equations adjusted for demographic confounders to calculate the association between exposure to extreme events and risk of campylobacteriosis in Maryland. We observed that a one-day increase in exposure to extreme precipitation events was associated with a 3% increase in risk of campylobacteriosis in coastal areas of Maryland (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.05), but such an association was not observed in noncoastal areas. Furthermore, the risk associated with extreme precipitation events was considerably higher during La Niña periods (IRR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.13), while there was no evidence of elevated risk during El Niño or ENSO Neutral periods. Exposure to extreme heat events was not associated with an increased risk of campylobacteriosis, except during La Niña periods (IRR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.08). Extreme precipitation events could result in flooding within coastal areas that may bring water contaminated with bacterial pathogens (originating from sources such as septic systems, municipal wastewater treatment plants and concentrated animal feeding operations) into close proximity with individuals, where frequency of contact may be higher.


Subject(s)
Campylobacter Infections/epidemiology , Campylobacter/isolation & purification , El Nino-Southern Oscillation , Extreme Heat , Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology , Rain , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Campylobacter Infections/microbiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Foodborne Diseases/microbiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Maryland/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Young Adult
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