Effect of Participative Web-Based Educational Modules on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Competency Among Medical Students: Single-Arm Interventional Study.

BACKGROUND: The number of new HIV diagnoses in the United States continues to slowly decline; yet, transgender women and men who have sex with men remain disproportionately affected. Key to improving the quality of prevention services are providers who are comfortable broaching the subjects of sexual health and HIV prevention with people across the spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations. Preservice training is a critical point to establish HIV prevention and sexual health education practices before providers' practice habits are established. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to develop participative web-based educational modules and test their impact on HIV prevention knowledge and awareness in future providers. METHODS: Sexual health providers at an academic hospital, research clinicians, community engagement professionals, and New York City community members were consulted to develop 7 web-based educational modules, which were then piloted among medical students. We assessed knowledge of HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and comfort assessing the prevention needs of various patients via web-based questionnaires administered before and after our educational intervention. We conducted exploratory factor analysis of the items in the questionnaire. RESULTS: Pre- and postmodule surveys were completed by 125 students and 89 students, respectively, from all 4 years of training. Before the intervention, the majority of students had heard of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (122/123, 99.2%) and postexposure prophylaxis (114/123, 92.7%). Before the training, 30.9% (38/123) of the students agreed that they could confidently identify a patient who is a candidate for pre-exposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis; this increased to 91% (81/89) after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight a need for increased HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention training in medical school curricula to enable future providers to identify and care for diverse at-risk populations. Participative web-based modules offer an effective way to teach these concepts.

Interpersonal Stigma, Mental Health, and Sexual Compulsivity Among an Online U.S. Sample of Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV.

This cross-sectional study sought to determine whether HIV-related interpersonal stigma was associated with the presence of sexual compulsivity (SC) in a national online sample of 936 men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV who reported recent suboptimal adherence to their antiretroviral therapy (ART) or virologic non-suppression. A modest association was found between perceptions of HIV-related interpersonal stigma and SC that was partially mediated by current mental health symptoms. White MSM were significantly more likely than Black MSM to report SC or HIV-related interpersonal stigma. Findings signal the need for therapeutic interventions that include behavioral and/or pharmacologic therapy to address overlapping intervention targets, including mental health, substance use, and sexual health. Future research should assess temporality of HIV-related interpersonal stigma and SC, as well as racial differences in relation to these constructs.

Documenting Educational Impact in the Promotion Dossier with an Enhanced Curriculum Vitae.

ABSTRACT: Faculty with a career focus on education in the health professions often have difficulty representing their academic accomplishments for due consideration in promotion decisions at their respective institutions. This problem occurs because the traditional curriculum vitae (CV) format which is most often used tends to focus on peer-reviewed accomplishments easily presented in lists, such as grants and publications. In some institutions, an educator portfolio is required in place of or in addition to the CV. However, creating or reviewing such a narrative-oriented document takes large amounts of time-time that most faculty or reviewers do not have. Having to use an educator portfolio also calls out the educator as different from the traditional research faculty member. To address this problem, we propose the solution of an Enhanced CV. The Enhanced CV includes much of what is presented in an educator portfolio but in a format closer to the traditional CV. Unlike a traditional CV, the Enhanced CV includes categories inclusive of educational contributions (eg, teaching, mentoring, and course leadership) and includes brief descriptions and/or impact statements to clarify the significance of the listed accomplishments. The Enhanced CV has been adopted at two very different institutions, where evidence is accumulating regarding the viability of the Enhanced CV as a solution to educators' problem of presenting their accomplishments for promotions. The lessons learned from these institutions illustrate how the Enhanced CV can increase the ability of educators to present their accomplishments and advance in rank in their academic careers.

Efficacy of an Online Blended Learning Curriculum to Improve Medical Student Urologic Education.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, limitations on in-person medical school clerkships created a deficit in urologic learning opportunities. We sought to develop and evaluate a blended curriculum of interactive online modules with small-group discussion to enhance the educational experience for medical students in urology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We created a curriculum of four online case-based urology modules. Between July and October 2020, 14 fourth-year medical students completed the modules. Students answered questions on a discussion board and engaged in asynchronous dialogue with 16 physicians, in addition to a weekly live review session. Students and physicians completed anonymous surveys to assess satisfaction and perceived learning outcomes, with questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Thirteen students (93% response rate) and 12 physicians (75% response rate) completed the survey. Overall, 12/13 students and 11/12 physicians "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that the modules improved the rotation. Students and physicians perceived that the modules were effective for learning/teaching foundational knowledge (average ratings 4.8 and 4.5, respectively) and facilitating performance assessment (4.4 and 4.0). Students reported high learning scores across multiple Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, and 12/13 students found the modules fun/engaging. The majority of students (12/13) and physicians (10/12) felt that the online modules should be incorporated into future urology electives. CONCLUSIONS: A blended learning curriculum utilizing online modules is an effective tool for enhancing urologic education, improving perceived learning outcomes and facilitating performance assessment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01427-3.

Transition-to-residency: pilot innovative, online case-based curriculum for medical students preparing for pediatric internships.

Background: There is increasing recognition in medical education that greater emphasis must be placed on preparing graduating medical students for their new roles as interns. Few publications in the literature have described transition-to-residency curricula specifically for students interested in pediatrics or pediatric-related fieldsApproach: We developed novel online pediatric cases, embedded within an innovative, hybrid transition-to-residency course, to address high yield, multi-disciplinary topics within the context of several of the AAMC's identified Entrustable Professional ActivitiesEvaluation: The pilot cases were evaluated over two academic years (2018, 2019) at a single academic medical center as part of routine student course evaluation (N = 18/35) with the 2019 evaluation containing additional retrospective pre-post survey questions (N = 9/18) assessing self-reported changes in knowledge. Almost all students were very satisfied or satisfied with the modules overall (94%), the quality of the resources provided (100%), and the structure and clarity of the presentation of the material (100%). Among the students who completed the retrospective pre-post survey after participation in the online modules, significant self-reported improvements were noted in writing orders to the pediatrics floor (Z = -2.07, p = 0.04), providing anticipatory guidance (Z = -2.0,p = 0.046), formulating a differential diagnosis for common pediatric conditions (Z = -2.24, P = 0.03), and preparedness for managing common pediatric floor emergencies (Z = -2.33, P = 0.02).Reflection: We demonstrated feasibility of implementation of an interactive, online case-based curriculum, medical student satisfaction with content and delivery, and increased self-reported knowledge after completion of the pilot pediatric cases on the online, asynchronous learning platform.

Reimagining the Away Rotation: A 4-Week Virtual Subinternship in Urology.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the first 4-week virtual subinternship in urology. DESIGN: Following a needs assessment, we established four course objectives: to teach foundational knowledge, assess students' abilities, highlight our program culture, and evaluate students' compatibility with our program. To meet these objectives, we developed a virtual curriculum that consisted of department conferences, small group didactic sessions, clinical/surgical encounters, interactive online modules, and informal sessions. At the conclusion of the subinternship, we sent anonymous surveys to students and physicians to measure success in meeting the course objectives. Student learning was measured using the framework of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. SETTING: The study was conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a tertiary care academic institution. PARTICIPANTS: Over a 2-month span, the virtual subinternship enrolled a total of 8 fourth-year medical students from 7 different medical schools in 5 different states. All residents and attending urologists in the Columbia University Department of Urology were involved in teaching. RESULTS: Overall, 100% of students and 63% of physicians rated the elective as "very good" or "excellent." The highest-rated components of the elective were the didactic curriculum and online modules. All course objectives were met, especially teaching foundational knowledge and highlighting program culture. Students reported high learning scores in all ACGME core competencies and urologic subspecialties, as well as increased confidence in managing a range of urologic conditions. The majority of students and physicians recommended incorporating virtual educational tools into future urology electives, particularly didactic sessions, online modules, and conferences/Grand Rounds presentations. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual subinternship in urology is a novel and successful model to enable student education, assessment, demonstration of program culture, and evaluation of student-program fit. This curriculum can serve as a template and springboard for the effective integration of virtual learning into surgical education.

History of Depression and Increased Risk of Sternal Wound Infection After Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Novel and Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor.

BACKGROUND: Sternal wound infection (SWI) is a leading cause of postoperative disease and death; the risk factors for SWI remain incompletely understood. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship between a preoperative history of depression and the risk of SWI after cardiothoracic surgery. METHODS: Among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery in a major academic medical center between 2007 and 2012, those in whom SWI developed (n = 129) were matched, by date of surgery, with those in whom it did not (n = 258). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the strength of relationships between risk factors and development of infection. History of depression was defined as a composite variable to increase the sensitivity of detection. RESULTS: History of depression as defined by our composite variable was associated with increased risk of SWI (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.7; P = .01). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated. CONCLUSIONS: History of depression was associated with increased risk of SWI. Future prospective studies are warranted to further investigate this relationship. Depression is highly treatable, and increased efforts to identify and treat depression preoperatively may be a critical step toward preventing infection-related disease and death.

Evaluation of Sex Positive! A Video eHealth Intervention for Men Living with HIV.

Sex Positive![+] is a two-arm, video-based web intervention aimed at reducing condomless anal sex (CAS) with partners of known and unknown serostatus that was delivered online to a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 830 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men living with HIV. Men in each arm received 6 weekly videos after completing a baseline assessment and 4 weekly booster videos following a 6-month assessment. Follow-up assessments were conducted every 3 months for 1 year. At 3-month follow-up, men in the intervention arm reported significantly reduced risk of having unknown serodiscordant CAS partners than men in the control arm (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.92), partially supporting study hypotheses. Aside from this finding, similar reductions in sexual risk behaviors were observed in both arms over the study period. There is much to be learned about video-based web interventions in terms of methodological development and intervention delivery, including frequency and duration of intervention components.

Developing a Video-Based eHealth Intervention for HIV-Positive Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) accounted for 67% of new US human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in 2012; however, less than 40% of HIV-positive GBMSM are virally suppressed. Preventing transmission from virally unsuppressed men who have condomless anal sex (CAS) with serodiscordant partners is a public health imperative. New HIV infections in GBMSM are attributed in part to online access to sex partners; therefore, low-cost eHealth interventions are a unique opportunity to reach men where they meet partners. OBJECTIVE: To describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial evaluating whether video-based messaging delivered online may lead to reductions in serodiscordant CAS and increased HIV disclosure. METHODS: Sex Positive!([+]) is a two-arm, phase III, video-based randomized controlled trial delivered online to GBMSM living with HIV. Participants in the intervention arm receive 10 video vignettes grounded in social learning and social cognitive theories that are designed to elicit critical thinking around issues of HIV transmission and disclosure. Participants in the attention control arm receive 10 video vignettes that focus on healthy living. All videos are optimized for mobile viewing. The study protocol includes five online assessments conducted over a 1-year period among 1500 US white, black, or Hispanic/Latino GBMSM living with HIV who report suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence or a detectable viral load in the past 12 months and recent CAS (past 6 months) with HIV-negative or unknown status male partners. Compared to the control arm, we hypothesize that men who watch the intervention videos will report at 12-month follow-up significantly fewer serodiscordant CAS partners, increased HIV disclosure, and improved social cognition (eg, condom use self-efficacy, perceived responsibility). RESULTS: Participant recruitment began in June 2015 and ended in December 2015. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol describes the underlying theoretical framework and measures, study design, recruitment challenges, and antifraud measures for an online, video-based randomized controlled trial that has the potential to decrease HIV transmission risk behaviors among HIV-positive GBMSM who struggle with ART adherence. The Sex Positive!([+]) intervention allows for participation through multiple Internet-based mediums and has the potential to reach and engage a broader population of HIV-positive GBMSM who are virally unsuppressed. CLINICALTRIAL: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02023580; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02023580 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6iHzA8wRG).

Prospective, multicenter study of ventricular assist device infections.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) improve survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure, but their use is frequently complicated by infection. There are limited data on the microbiology and epidemiology of these infections. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred fifty patients scheduled for VAD implantation were enrolled (2006-2008) at 11 US cardiac centers and followed prospectively until transplantation, explantation for recovery, death, or for 1 year. Eighty-six patients (57%) received HeartMate II devices. Data were collected on potential preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors for infection. Clinical, laboratory, and microbiological data were collected for suspected infections and evaluated by an infectious diseases specialist. Thirty-three patients (22%) developed 34 VAD-related infections with an incidence rate of 0.10 per 100 person-days (95% confidence interval, 0.073-0.142). The median time to infection was 68 days. The driveline was the most commonly infected site (n=28); 18 (64%) were associated with invasive disease. Staphylococci were the most common pathogen (47%), but pseudomonas or other Gram-negative bacteria caused 32% of infections. A history of depression and elevated baseline serum creatinine were independent predictors of VAD infection (adjusted hazard ratio=2.8 [P=0.007] and 1.7 [P=0.023], respectively). The HeartMate II was not associated with a decreased risk of infection. VAD infection increased 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio=5.6; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective, multicenter study demonstrates that infection frequently complicates VAD placement and is a continuing problem despite the use of newer, smaller devices. Depression and renal dysfunction may increase the risk of VAD infection. VAD infection is a serious consequence because it adversely affects patient survival. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01471795.

Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization is highly clonal across US cardiac centers.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the clonality of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the United States, although it is the predominant pathogen in infections involving prosthetic materials, including ventricular assist devices (VADs). METHODS: Seventy-five VAD recipients at 4 geographically diverse US cardiac centers were prospectively followed up to 1 year of VAD support. The anterior nares, sternum, and (future) driveline exit site were cultured for S. epidermidis before VAD insertion and at 7 times after surgery. Infection isolates were also collected. Isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A subset underwent susceptibility testing and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec and multilocus sequence typing. RESULTS: A total of 1559 cultures yielded 565 S. epidermidis isolates; 254 of 548 typed isolates (46%) belonged to 1 of 7 clonal types as defined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These clones were identified in up to 27 people distributed across all 4 cardiac centers. They caused 3 of 6 VAD-related infections. Disseminated clones were more antibiotic resistant than were less prevalent isolates (eg, 79% vs 54% methicillin resistant; P = .0021). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that healthcare-associated S. epidermidis infection is remarkably clonal. We describe S. epidermidis clones that are highly resistant to antibiotics distributed across US cardiac centers. These clones may have determinants that enhance transmissibility, persistence, or invasiveness. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01471795.

The NOSE study (nasal ointment for Staphylococcus aureus eradication): a randomized controlled trial of monthly mupirocin in HIV-infected individuals.

BACKGROUND: HIV-positive patients at HELP/PSI, Inc, an in-patient drug rehabilitation center, had a high baseline prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization (49%) and incidence of infection (17%) in a previous year-long study. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted to determine whether repeated nasal application of mupirocin ointment would decrease the odds of S. aureus nasal colonization in 100 HELP/PSI patients over an 8-month period. A 5-day course of study drug was given monthly, and colonization was assessed at baseline and 1 month after each treatment. S. aureus infection was a secondary outcome. RESULTS: In repeated-measures analysis, mupirocin reduced the odds of monthly S. aureus nasal colonization by 83% compared with placebo [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 0.17; P < 0.0001]. Subjects colonized at study entry had a 91% reduction in subsequent colonization (ORadj = 0.09; P < 0.0001). Mupirocin also suppressed S. aureus colonization in subjects not colonized at baseline (ORadj = 0.23; P = 0.006). There was no difference in infection rates between the mupirocin and placebo groups (hazard ratio = 0.49, P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Monthly application of nasal mupirocin significantly decreased S. aureus colonization in HIV patients in residential drug rehabilitation. Monthly mupirocin application has a potential role in long-term care settings or in HIV-positive patients with high rates of S. aureus colonization and infection.

Effect of left ventricular assist device infection on post-transplant outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we sought to confirm which types of device-related infections impact bridge-to-transplant rates. We also aimed to determine the effect of device-related infections on post-transplant survival and post-transplant infection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed paper and electronic medical records for 149 patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation as a bridge to transplantation at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center between 2000 and 2006. The primary outcome measures were survival to transplantation, post-transplant infection and post-transplant survival. RESULTS: Patients with sepsis were less likely to be successfully bridged to cardiac transplantation (7 of 22 vs 103 of 127, 31.8% vs 81.1%, p = 0.01). However, if transplanted, their survival rates at 1 year were not decreased (6 of 7 vs 85 of 103, 85.7% vs 82.5%, p = 1.00). No other pre-transplant device-related infection affected post-transplant survival at 1 year (22 of 27 vs 69 of 83, 81.5% vs 83.1%, p = 1.00). Pre-transplant drive-line infections predicted post-transplant infection in former drive-line or pocket sites (11 of 16 vs 14 of 94, 68.8% vs 14.9%, p = 0.01) and increased overall post-transplant hospital length of stay (16 vs 19 days, p = 0.04). They did not, however, affect post-transplant survival at 1 year (22 of 25 vs 69 of 85, 88% vs 81.2%, p = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Although survival to transplantation was diminished in LVAD patients with sepsis, if successfully transplanted, post-transplant survival was unaffected. Patients with local device infections and signs of early sepsis may warrant evaluation for urgent transplantation. A pre-transplant drive-line infection was associated with post-transplant infection in either the former pocket or drive-line site, and increased overall length of stay, but it did not decrease post-transplant survival.

Pathogenesis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen capable of causing a wide range of human diseases. However, the role of different virulence factors in the development of staphylococcal infections remains incompletely understood. Some clonal types are well equipped to cause disease across the globe, whereas others are facile at causing disease among community members. In this review, general aspects of staphylococcal pathogenesis are addressed, with emphasis on methicillin-resistant strains. Although methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains are not necessarily more virulent than methicillin-sensitive S. aureus strains, some MRSA strains contain factors or genetic backgrounds that may enhance their virulence or may enable them to cause particular clinical syndromes. We examine these pathogenic factors.

Mucormycosis of the upper extremity in a patient with alcoholic encephalopathy.

UNLABELLED: Cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic infection caused by fungi of the class Zygomycetes that can be rapidly fatal if unrecognized. The diagnosis of this infection is often made by infectious disease, dermatologic, or intensive care specialists. Lesions that affect the upper limb may require a hand surgeon to diagnose the infection. The diagnosis may be difficult to make, because these infectious lesions can be confused with ischemic pathology. We report on a rare case of cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus arrhizus in a patient with cirrhosis and renal failure who presented with an ischemic hand. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic V.

Ventricular assist device-related infections.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death in developed nations despite medical management. Cardiac transplantation is a potentially lifesaving intervention for approximately 4000 advanced heart failure patients per year; however, the demand for donor hearts far exceeds the supply. Ventricular assist devices provide temporary support for patients with severe heart failure until myocardial recovery occurs or a donor heart becomes available. For those ineligible for transplantation, ventricular assist devices may be used permanently and have demonstrated reduced mortality and an improved quality of life compared with continued medical therapy. Nonetheless, these devices are under-used, in part due to the frequency of complications. Device-related infections are one of the most frequent sequelae of ventricular assist device placement and occur in 18-59% of cases. Infections can involve any part of the device and confer substantial morbidity and mortality. Here, we provide an introduction to ventricular assist devices, explore the nature and pathogenesis of ventricular assist device-related infections, discuss problems with diagnosis, and present treatment and prevention strategies.

A molecular epidemiological analysis of 2 Staphylococcus aureus clonal types colonizing and infecting patients with AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) who use drugs appear to be at increased risk for colonization and infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Little is known about the nature of and risk factors responsible for this association. This study is among the first to prospectively follow carriage and infection in this uniquely high-risk population. METHODS: We prospectively followed the cases of 75 patients with AIDS in a residential drug treatment facility and screened for S. aureus nasal colonization and infection. RESULTS: Thirty-seven baseline cultures (49%) were positive for S. aureus, and 81% of subjects were colonized at least once during the study. Thirteen subjects experienced 17 infections. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and sequence-based typing methods revealed that 244 (92%) of the isolates belonged to either clonal type A or B. Clonal type A was methicillin-susceptible. Clonal type B consisted of 3 main subtypes (B1, B2, and B3), all with the same allelic profile (ST8) and staphylococcal protein A gene (spa) type (7). Of note, subtype B1 was methicillin-susceptible (ST8 and spa type 7), lacking mecA, whereas the other B clones were methicillin-resistant. Both clones were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Clonal type B isolates were relatively resistant, suggesting prior exposure to the health care setting. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a sustained high rate of S. aureus carriage and infection. It demonstrates the capacity of unique methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones with an established linkage to earlier outbreaks of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, as well as to human immunodeficiency virus--infected subjects, to persist in this residential setting. It also illustrates the apparent genetic instability or transmissibility of the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec type IV element.

The clonality of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage.

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is often a prelude to infection with the same strain. The prevailing assumption has been that colonized individuals carry a single strain. The present study investigated the frequency of simultaneous nasal carriage of multiple strains of S. aureus. Three bacterial colonies from plated samples from colonized subjects were initially compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Fourteen of 148 S. aureus-positive samples demonstrated at least a difference of a single band; 7 of these 14 samples contained different strains, and 3 of these 7 also belonged to different accessory gene regulator (agr) types. The remaining 7 samples contained clonally related isolates; 3 of these 7 contained pairs that differed by the presence or absence of the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec type IV. A mathematical model that we developed predicted that approximately 6.6% of S. aureus-colonized individuals carry >1 strain. The present study demonstrates that carriage of discordant S. aureus strains in individuals with nasal colonization occurs regularly and suggests that the nares are likely sites for horizontal genetic exchange among strains.