2013 multistate outbreaks of Cyclospora cayetanensis infections associated with fresh produce: focus on the Texas investigations.

The 2013 multistate outbreaks contributed to the largest annual number of reported US cases of cyclosporiasis since 1997. In this paper we focus on investigations in Texas. We defined an outbreak-associated case as laboratory-confirmed cyclosporiasis in a person with illness onset between 1 June and 31 August 2013, with no history of international travel in the previous 14 days. Epidemiological, environmental, and traceback investigations were conducted. Of the 631 cases reported in the multistate outbreaks, Texas reported the greatest number of cases, 270 (43%). More than 70 clusters were identified in Texas, four of which were further investigated. One restaurant-associated cluster of 25 case-patients was selected for a case-control study. Consumption of cilantro was most strongly associated with illness on meal date-matched analysis (matched odds ratio 19·8, 95% confidence interval 4·0-∞). All case-patients in the other three clusters investigated also ate cilantro. Traceback investigations converged on three suppliers in Puebla, Mexico. Cilantro was the vehicle of infection in the four clusters investigated; the temporal association of these clusters with the large overall increase in cyclosporiasis cases in Texas suggests cilantro was the vehicle of infection for many other cases. However, the paucity of epidemiological and traceback information does not allow for a conclusive determination; moreover, molecular epidemiological tools for cyclosporiasis that could provide more definitive linkage between case clusters are needed.

Changes in clinic vaccination coverage after institution of measurement and feedback in 4 states and 2 cities.

BACKGROUND: Since 1995, states and jurisdictions receiving federal immunization funds have been required to perform annual measurements of vaccination coverage in their public clinics, based on data from Georgia where clinic coverage increased after the institution of a measurement and feedback intervention. OBJECTIVE: To determine if clinic vaccination coverage improved in localities that used the Georgia intervention model. DESIGN: Retrospective examination of clinic vaccination coverage data. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 19 to 35 months enrolled in clinics in localities that had applied the intervention for 4 years or longer. INTERVENTION: The Georgia intervention model: assessment of clinic vaccination coverage, feedback of the information to the clinic, incentives to clinics, and promotion of exchange of information among clinics (AFIX). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Change in median clinic coverage rates, based on the primary (4-3-1) vaccine series, with comparison to results of the National Immunization Survey. RESULTS: Four states and 2 cities that had applied the AFIX intervention for 4 years or longer were identified. The number of clinic records reviewed annually was 4639 to 18000 in 73 to 116 clinics for states, and 714 to 5276 in 8 to 25 clinics for cities. Median clinic coverage rose in all localities: Missouri, 44% (1992) to 93% (1997); Louisiana, 61% (1992) to 83% (1997); Colorado, 55% (1993) to 75% (1997); Iowa, 71% (1994) to 89% (1997); Boston, Mass, 41% (1994) to 79% (1997); and Houston, Tex, 28% (1994) to 84% (1997). The increase in clinic coverage exceeded that of the general population in 5 localities and was identical in the sixth. The average annual coverage rise attributable to the intervention was +5 percentage points per year (Georgia, +6 per year). The average crude direct program cost was $49533 per locality per year. CONCLUSION: The Georgia intervention model (AFIX) can be reproduced elsewhere and is associated with improvements in clinic vaccination coverage.

Sex variability in pediatric leukemia survival: large cohort evidence.

Purpose. Sex disparities in pediatric leukemia have been previously reported, and male children continue to present with poorer survival. However, the observed disparities are not fully understood. This current study sought to examine disparities in survival by the sex, and to determine if tumor prognostic factors impact on these disparities. Patients and Methods. We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results dataset of pediatric leukemia patients (ages 0-19 years) diagnosed in the United States from 1973 to 2006. There were 15,215 patients of whom 8,622 (65.7%) were boys and 6,593 (43.3%) were girls. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, log rank test, and Cox proportional hazard methods were used to assess the data. Results. The overall (both sexes) five-year survival rate was 67.9%. Girls had a survival rate of 70.1%, while the rate was 66.3% in boys. Girls had a significant 14% decreased risk of dying relative to boys, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 99% CI = 0.80-0.93. There were significant differences between boys and girls with respect to tumor cell type, race, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and number of primaries, P < 0.001. After controlling for these factors, the sex differences in survival persisted, with girls still less likely to die from leukemia compared to boys, adjusted HR (AHR) = 0.85, 99% CI = 0.72-1.00, P < 0.01. Conclusion. In a large population-based pediatric leukemia study, boys continued to show poorer survival. These disparities were not completely explained by treatment received, tumor prognostic or socio-demographic factors.

Is dental care utilization associated with oral cavity cancer in a large sample of community-based United States residents?

OBJECTIVES: Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx remains one of the 10 leading causes of cancer deaths in US. Besides smoking and alcohol consumption, there are no well-established risk factors. While poor dental care had been implicated, it is unknown if lack of dental care, implying poor dental hygiene predisposes to oral cavity cancer. This study aimed to assess the relationship between dental care utilization during the past 12 months and the prevalence of oral cavity cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional design of the National Health Interview Survey of Adult, noninstitutionalized US residents (n=30 475) was used to assess the association between dental care utilization and self-reported diagnosis of oral cavity cancer. Chi-square statistic was used to examine the crude association between the explanatory variable, dental care utilization and other covariates, while unconditional logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between oral cavity cancer and dental care utilization. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between those who utilized dental care during the past 12 months and those who did not with respect to education, income, age, marital status, and gender (P<0.05), but not health insurance coverage (P=0.53). In addition, those who utilized dental care relative to those who did not were 65% less likely to present with oral cavity cancer, prevalence odds ratio (POR), 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12-0.98. Further, higher income, advanced age, people of African heritage, and unmarried status were statistically significantly associated with oral cavity cancer (P<0.05), but health insurance coverage, alcohol use, and smoking were not, P>0.05. After simultaneously controlling for the relevant covariates, the association between dental care and oral cavity cancer did persist but imprecise. Thus, when compared with those who did not use dental care, those who did were 62% less likely to be diagnosed with oral cavity cancer, adjusted POR, 0.38, 95% CI, and 0.13-1.10. CONCLUSIONS: Among US adults residing in community settings, use of dental care during the past 12 months was marginally statistically significantly associated with oral cavity cancer, but clinically relevant in assessing oral cavity cancer prevalence in this sample. However, because of the nature of our data, which restricts temporal sequence, a large sample prospective study that may identify modifiable factors associated with oral cavity cancer development, namely poor dental care is needed.