Digital Commons Network^™

Rare Case Of Osteomyelitis Caused By Achromobacter Xylosoxidans, Christopher P. Girgis, Tyler L. Coye, Elizabeth Ansert, Amanda L. Killeen, Peter A. Crisologo

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rare opportunistic aerobe that has rarely been documented in the literature as a causative agent for osteomyelitis. It can present with antibiotic resistance, making treatment without operative management challenging. We present the case of a 51-year-old male with a past medical history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The patient presented to a clinic with a grade 2 infection to the right fifth digit, as defined by the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot, and was subsequently admitted for intravenous antibiotics and operative management. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signal of the phalanges of the fifth …

Testing The Antigenic Potential Of Transmembrane Proteins To Develop A Thermostable Tuberculosis Mof-Liposomal Vaccine, Sneha Kumari, Jonathan Martinez-Garcia, Ryanne Nicole Ehrman, Wendy Tang, Joshua Miles, Priyanka Basak, Thomas Sinclair Howlett, Yalini Hansika Wijesundara, Ziqi Wang, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases and continues to be a major health risk in many parts of the world. Even today, the century-old Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is the only formulation on the market and is ineffective for several sections of the global population responsible for transmission. In the search for antigens that can mount a robust immune response, we have reported the recombinant expression and purification of two novel membrane proteins, the Cation transporter protein V (CtpV) and the Mycobacterial copper transporter B (MctB) present on the membrane surface of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CtpV was tested …

The Internist's Post V.1 N.11, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine, Eunbee Cho, Osiris Fernandez, Hector D. Preciado, Sobia Memon, Diana Acosta Pozo, Corey Haines, Roque Mifuji Lira, Martha Solis, Cesar Gutierrez

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Understanding Women, Infant And Children Feeding Decisions In Emergencies: The Case Of Covid-19 And The Formula Shortage, Davida Mensah, Edmund F. Agyemang, Constance Gewa

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: The advantages of breastfeeding and its role in emergencies are undeniable. Studies show that many women in developed countries choose formula over breastmilk, even in emergencies. Nevertheless, no one knows if postpartum women under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program turned out to breastfeed or re-lactate their infants during these crises. This study aims to better understand WIC participants' perceptions about breastfeeding their babies in emergencies.

Methods: A chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between breastfeeding choice and demographic characteristics and potential covariates of respondents. A post hoc analysis using Dunn's multiple comparisons test …

Reversing Chronic Disease Through Functional Medicine: Acknowledging Privilege And Seeking Justice, Rosalynn A. Vega

Anthropology Faculty Publications

This piece is based on twenty-eight months of digital-auto-ethnographic research. While my research methods included traditional ethnographic research in face-to-face settings and digital ethnography, my personal experience is also embedded in the work. In this piece, you will find “interludes” that provide glimpses into my healing journey. When writing in this autoethnographic register, I provide “thick descriptions” (Geertz 3) of how I experienced illness and recovery. By including my own story, I am acknowledging that the observed and the observer are inextricably intertwined. All ethnography is relational. Ethnographic data results from a trusting relationship between ethnographer and participant. Furthermore, in …

Gene-Environment Interactions In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights From Mexican American Populations, Eron G. Manusov, Vincent P. Diego, Marcio Almeida, Jacob Galan, Auwal A. Bala, Marco Arriaga, Natasha Garcia-Rodriguez, Renee Hernandez, Satish Kumar, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent and complex condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This chapter explores the genotype-by-environment interactions that contribute to the development and progression of NAFLD in the Mexican American population. Using advanced genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics approaches, we investigated how specific genetic variants interact with environmental factors such as depression, acculturation stress, and social determinants of health, to influence NAFLD risk and severity. Our findings reveal significant genotype-by-environment interactions for key NAFLD-related traits, including HbA1c, AST/ALT ratio, and steatosis-controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). We also discuss the application of cutting-edge proteomic and transcriptomic …

Lipid Discovery Enabled By Sequence Statistics And Machine Learning, Priya M. Christensen, Jonathan Martin, Aparna Uppuluri, Luke R. Joyce, Yahan Wei, Ziqiang Guan, Faruck Morcos, Kelli L. Palmer

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Bacterial membranes are complex and dynamic, arising from an array of evolutionary pressures. One enzyme that alters membrane compositions through covalent lipid modification is MprF. We recently identified that Streptococcus agalactiae MprF synthesizes lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (Lys-PG) from anionic PG, and a novel cationic lipid, lysyl-glucosyldiacylglycerol (Lys-Glc-DAG), from neutral glycolipid Glc-DAG. This unexpected result prompted us to investigate whether Lys-Glc-DAG occurs in other MprF-containing bacteria, and whether other novel MprF products exist. Here, we studied protein sequence features determining MprF substrate specificity. First, pairwise analyses identified several streptococcal MprFs synthesizing LysGlc-DAG. Second, a restricted Boltzmann machine-guided approach led us to discover an …

Randomized Clinical Trial To Compare Cryopreserved And Lyopreserved Umbilical Cord Tissue To Treat Complex Diabetic Foot Wounds, Lawrence A. Lavery, Mehmet A. Suludere, Matthew J. Johnson, Amanda Killeen, Katherine M. Raspovic, Peter A. Crisologo, Arthur Tarricone

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

To compare the incidence of infection, wound closure and time to wound closure in patients treated with cryopreserved (CPUT) and lyopreserved umbilical tissue (LPUT) in complex diabetic surgical wounds. This single-blinded 12-week randomized clinical trial compared cryopreserved and lyopreserved amniotic cord tissue to treat complex diabetic foot wounds. LPUT or CRAT was applied at baseline and again after four weeks. We enrolled subjects with UT2A-D and 3A-D wounds (depth to tendon, muscle, or bone with infection and/or PAD) and excluded subjects with ABI < 0.5 or TBI < 0.3, untreated osteomyelitis, and autoimmune diseases. We used a 3-D camera to evaluate wound area and volume. The mean baseline wound areas were 12.9 ± 10.7 cm2 for CPUT and 11.7 ± 7.0 cm2 for LPUT. The mean baseline wound volume was 7.5 ± 8.1 for CPUT and 9.2 ± 10.2 cm3 for LPUT. There was no difference between CPUT and LPUT in wound closure (36.8% vs 19.0%, P = .21) or infection (10.5% vs 4.8%, P = .60). There was no difference in mean …

Interaction Between Type 2 Diabetes And Past Covid-19 On Active Tuberculosis, Liz E. Calles-Cabanillas, Genesis P. Aguillón-Durán, Doris Ayala, Jose A. Caso, Miguel Garza, Mateo Joya-Ayala, Raúl Loera-Salazar, America Cruz-González, John M. Thomas Iii, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Background

The global setback in tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and mortality in the post-COVID-19 era has been partially attributed to pandemic-related disruptions in healthcare systems. The additional biological contribution of COVID-19 to TB is less clear. The goal of this study was to determine if there is an association between COVID-19 in the past 18 months and a new TB episode, and the role played by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidity in this relationship.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 new active TB patients and 373 non-TB controls, identified between June 2020 and November 2021 in communities along …

The Effects Of Livestock On Mosquito Diversity And Abundance In Hidalgo County, Taylor Nicole Moya

Theses and Dissertations

Mosquitoes are detrimental to animals and threaten humans. More information is needed on how farm animal presence may impact mosquito abundance and diversity at farms. My goal in this study is to determine if there is any correlation between animal abundance or diversity on a farm and the abundance and diversity of mosquitoes collected. Hidalgo County, Texas, has a subtropical desert climate, ideal for mosquitoes. I hypothesized that the mosquito abundance and diversity indices would increase as the livestock abundance or diversity increases. Adult mosquitoes were collected using two CO2-baited light traps per farm from Spring 2022 to Fall 2022. …

Assessing The Influence Of Native And Invasive Grasses On The Behavior Of Aedes Aegypti In South Texas, Emily Medelez

Theses and Dissertations

Invasive grasses in South Texas can have widespread negative effects, displacing native species, reducing biodiversity, and posing risks to public health. These grasses may flourish in moist, shaded environments, which not only support their growth but also creates habitats favorable for mosquito activity. This can increase the population and alter the behavior of mosquitoes, potentially raising the risk of disease transmission. In this thesis, I look at the behavior of mosquito species Aedes aegypti, primary vector of the yellow fever virus. I analyzed the influence of oviposition, flight and resting behaviors. I tested the relative attraction of Aedes mosquitoes …

Lipid-Based Niclosamide Delivery: Comparative Efficacy, Bioavailability, And Potential As A Cancer Drug, Jihoo Woo, Russel Wiggins, Shizue Mito

School of Medicine Publications

Niclosamide, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug, has demonstrated significant potential as a repurposed anti-cancer agent due to its ability to interfere with multiple oncogenic pathways. However, its clinical application has been hindered by poor solubility and bioavailability. Lipid-based nanocarrier systems such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and lipid nanoemulsions (LNE), along with lipid prodrugs, have successfully been employed by researchers to overcome these limitations and improve niclosamide’s pharmacokinetic profile. Lipids are the core organic compounds which serve as the foundation of these advanced drug delivery methods and in turn play a critical role in enhancing niclosamide’s …

Impact Of Pegylated Liposomes On Cytotoxicity Of Tamoxifen And Piperine On Mcf-7 Human Breast Carcinoma Cells, Klaudi K. Vaiphei, A Prabakaran, Singh Snigdha, Satyajit Laxman Murkute, Purusottam Mohapatra, Rakesh Kumar Sahoo, Sanya Batheja, Umesh Gupta, Anu Puri, Upal Roy

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Tamoxifen (TMF) is an anticancer agent used for managing estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. It has limited therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer, which could be enhanced by the coadministration of herbal drugs like piperine (PIP). However, the hydrophobic nature of TMF and PIP restricts their therapeutic application. Therefore, the present study focuses on the impact of the anticancer activity of TMF in combination with PIP and after entrapping them into liposomes (TMF-PIP-LPs and TMF-PIP-PEG-LPs). The liposomes were prepared using the thin film hydration method. In addition, the morphology of the prepared liposomes was found spherical after SEM and TEM analyses. Further, …

Enterococcus Faecium: Evolution, Adaptation, Pathogenesis And Emerging Therapeutics, Yahan Wei, Dennise Palacios Araya, Kelli L. Palmer

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

The opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecium colonizes humans and a wide range of animals, endures numerous stresses, resists antibiotic treatment and stubbornly persists in clinical environments. The widespread application of antibiotics in hospitals and agriculture has contributed to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, which causes many hospital-acquired infections. In this Review, we explore recent discoveries about the evolutionary history, the environmental adaptation and the colonization and dissemination mechanisms of E. faecium and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. These studies provide critical insights necessary for developing novel preventive and therapeutic approaches against vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and also reveal the intricate interrelationships …

Honey Targets Ribosome Biogenesis Components To Suppress The Growth Of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Aun A. Bangash, Sahir S. Alvi, Muhammad Bangash, Haider Ahsan, Shiza Khan, Rida Shareef, Georgina Villanueva, Divyam Bansal, Mudassier Ahmad, Dae Joon Kim, Subhash Chauhan, Bilal B. Hafeez

School of Medicine Publications

Simple Summary

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the deadliest forms of cancer with limited therapeutic options. The available conventional therapies are highly toxic and often show resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulated ribosome biogenesis has been linked to the survival and aggressive phenotypes of many tumor types, including PanCa. Thus, targeting ribosome biogenesis could be a novel approach for suppressing the growth of PanCa. The current study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of honey against PanCa. Our results demonstrated that honey induces apoptosis and inhibits the growth and invasive potential of PanCa cells by …

Navigating The Uncommon: Providencia Rettgeri In Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Nikita Gambhir, Heather V. Tran, Stephanie N. Campbell, Mihir Panchal

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

A case study presents with a rare microorganism, Providencia rettgeri, as a pathogen identified in a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer with osteomyelitis. P. rettgeri remains an emerging pathogen with documented drug-resistant hospital associated infections. Given the rarity of this organism in such wounds and its intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotics, this study aims to understand the pathogen’s role in diabetic foot infections and improve clinical management practices.

Providencia has been classified as Critical Priority 1 on World Health Organization’s global priority pathogen list for the need of new antibiotics, highlighting its international significance. P. rettgeri tends to grow in nosocomial …

Trajectories Of Diabetes-Related Sequelae For Identifying Transition Probabilities, And Optimal Timepoints For Prevention Of Ulceration, Infection, And Amputation, Daniel C. Jupiter, Yuanyi Zhang, Naohiro Shibuya

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

To reduce diabetes-related complications and to avoid futile procedures, foot and ankle surgeons need to understand the relative timings of catastrophic events, their incidence, and probabilities of transitions between disease states in diabetes in different patient populations. For this study, we tracked medical events (including an initial diagnosis of diabetes, ulcer, wound care, osteomyelitis, amputation, and reamputation, in order of severity) and the time between each such event in patients with diabetes, stratifying by sex, race, and ethnicity. We found that the longest average duration between the different lower extremity states was a diagnosis of diabetes to the occurrence of …

Stealthy Intrusion: Multivalve Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Carlos Luis Alejos Aguero, Duc Khiem Ngo, Maria E. Torres Perez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) typically targets a single valve, with involvement of more valves being rare. Timely targeted therapy hinges on identifying the responsible microorganism through blood culture. However, blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE), representing 5% of all endocarditis cases, poses diagnostic challenges and is associated with higher long-term mortality rates compared to blood culture-positive endocarditis (BCPE).

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), end stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis, and 30- years of cocaine use presented with an abnormal echocardiogram. The patient reported a two-week history of chills, sweat, generalized weakness, and exertional …

Houston, We Have A Problem: Diagnostic Difficulties In The Aids Patient With Tuberculosis Infection, Hector D. Preciado, Maria E. Torres, Muhammad A. Siddiqui, Liza Salloum, Lee Gelpi, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious death worldwide with 1.5 million deaths annually and nearly 1/4th of the world’s population (1.7 billion) infected with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in 2014. Its diagnosis conventionally relies on tuberculin skin testing (TST), and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) which relies on the production of Interferon Gamma (IFN-y) in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific antigens. IGRA is a useful tool for detecting latent TB disease, and can be used as an adjunct for the diagnosis of active TB cases. Increases in IFN-y levels might support the diagnosis of a new TB …

The Hidden Dangers Of Cocaine: A Rare Case Of Necrotic Penile Ulcer, Roy Kondapavuluru, Khairiya Haj-Yahya, Elimar Gonzalez, Victor Tran, Roque Mifuji, Luis Rosas

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is highly addictive with a wide potential for abuse as a recreational drug. The use of cocaine in an estimated 3 million Texans and 560 million Americans, has led to a growing health care hazard with many detrimental effects. Physiologically, cocaine causes significant vasoconstriction often leading to venous occlusion with subsequent ulceration and necrosis of mucosal membranes. Although cocaine is typically abused by inhalation or intravenous routes, few cases of injection into the genital region have been reported as means of abuse, leading to priapism, vasculitis, and in some cases …

Pseudogout: A Rare Cause Of Pseudoseptic Arthritis - A Case Report, Yareli Durazo, Corey Haines, Elimar Gonzalez, Brandon Cantazaro, Michael Sander

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Pseudoseptic arthritis is the umbrella term designated to various mimics when they present with clinical stigmata indicative of septic arthritis. The underlying causes of these mimics can vary, depending on whether they are associated with autoimmune inflammatory arthritis or crystalline-associated inflammatory arthritis such as gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD). In clinical practice, pseudoseptic arthritis can be difficult to differentiate from infectious arthritis, leading to frequent misdiagnosis. However, key differences will exist in the joint aspirate. With septic arthritis, the synovial fluid cultures are positive. However, with pseudoseptic arthritis, the synovial fluid may appear purulent but is sterile. …

Surviving The Shock: Critical Management Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Septic Shock In A Pregnant Patient, Oliverio J. Abarca Guzman, Michelle Minero

Research Colloquium

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia is a known cause of septic shock, but its occurrence in the context of chorioamnionitis during pregnancy, especially with imminent abortion of one twin, is rare. This case report highlights the critical care management and outcomes of a 24-year-old woman who developed septic shock due to Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia.

Case Presentation: A 24-year-old gravida 4, para 2 woman at 17 weeks gestation with a dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy presented in septic shock after delivering a nonviable twin A at home. Suspected sepsis secondary to chorioamnionitis with retained placenta was confirmed by laboratory results showing Klebsiella pneumoniae …

Birth Defect Trends Within Texas Public Health Region 11, 2000-2019: An Analysis Of Texas Department Of State Health Services Public Data, Jonathan M. Hebert, Miguel A. Lopez, Padmanabhan Rengasamy

Research Colloquium

Background: South Texas is a medically underserved area with pockets of low socioeconomic status and poor access to healthcare, including prenatal care. This paper aims to monitor the changes in prevalence for cardiac, circulatory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neural tube birth defects in this region in the last two decades to monitor the effectiveness of current public health efforts.

Methods: Public data on 20 birth defects from the Texas Department of State Health Services were obtained for decades 2000-2010 and 2010-2019 in Texas Public Health Region 11 and the remaining regions of Texas. Prevalences and odds ratios for all birth defects …

Atypical Clinical Presentation Of Murine Typhus Infection In Relative Immunosuppressed Patient In South Texas, Johanna Mora, Kirhyn Stein, Hernan Guanajuato, Sobia Memon, Laura Garcia, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a zoonotic infection transmitted to humans via fleas. It typically begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and nausea. Most cases resolve without complications after a 7–14-day incubation period. The primary reservoirs are rats, opossums, cats, and dogs. This case highlights an atypical presentation of murine typhus in an immunosuppressed patient in South Texas.

Case Presentation: 34-year-old female with ankylosing spondylitis treated recently with secukinumab presented to her Primary Care Physician (PCP) due to fevers. PCP ordered laboratory workup which was unrevealing. Four days later, the patient went to the …

Antibodies Gone Rogue: Autoimmunity Pairs With Antibiotic Allergy, Shubhank Goyal, Jose Jonathan Loayza Pintado, Cesar Uribe

Research Colloquium

Background: Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) is a rare and complex disorder marked by severe dysautonomia, profoundly affecting a patient's quality of life. Treatment typically involves immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions, which play a critical role in managing symptoms and improving patient outcomes. Managing AAG alongside acute infections such as cystitis, especially in patients with complicated drug allergies and sensitivities, presents unique clinical challenges. This case is noteworthy due to the patient’s rare combination of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, chronic orthostatic hypotension, and a history of severe allergic reactions to antibiotics, complicating both infection management and treatment planning. The use of immunoglobulins in the …

The Internist's Post V.1 N.7, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine, Diana Othon Martinez, Edgar Dorsey Trevino, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Ramon Elizondo Romo, Carlos Alejos Aguero, Roque Mifuji Lira, Martha Solis, Cesar Gutierrez

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Non-Communicable Diseases Among Household Contacts Of People With Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review And Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Yohhei Hamada, Matteo Quartagno, Farihah Malik, Keolebogile Ntshamane, Anna Tisler, Sanjay Gaikwad, Carlos Acuna-Villaorduna, Perumal Kannabiran Bhavani, Bachti Alisjahbana, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among household contacts of people with tuberculosis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. We searched Medline, Embase and the Global Index Medicus from inception to 16 May 2023. We included studies that assessed for at least one non-communicable disease among household contacts of people with clinical tuberculosis. We estimated the non-communicable disease prevalence through mixed effects logistic regression for studies providing individual participant data, and compared it with estimates from aggregated data meta-analyses. Furthermore, we compared age and sex-standardised non-communicable disease prevalence with national-level estimates standardised for …

Zinc And Diabetes: A Connection Between Micronutrient And Metabolism, Rahnuma Ahmad, Ronald A. Shaju, Azeddine Atfi, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem and a major contributor to mortality and morbidity. The management of this condition typically involves using oral antidiabetic medication, insulin, and appropriate dietary modifications, with a focus on macronutrient intake. However, several human studies have indicated that a deficiency in micronutrients, such as zinc, can be associated with insulin resistance as well as greater glucose intolerance. Zinc serves as a chemical messenger, acts as a cofactor to increase enzyme activity, and is involved in insulin formation, release, and storage. These diverse functions make zinc an important trace element for the regulation of blood …

A Systematic Review Of Diabetic Foot Infections: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, And Management Strategies, Sabyasachi Maity, Noah Leton, Narendra Nayak, Ameet Jha, Nikhilesh Anand, Kamala Thompson, Danielle Boothe, Alexandra Cromer, Yaliana Garcia, Aliyah Al-Islam

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Diabetic foot infection represents a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure worldwide. Accurate diagnosis relies on a comprehensive assessment integrating clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and microbiological analysis. Management necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing surgical intervention, antimicrobial therapy, and advanced wound care strategies. Preventive measures are paramount in reducing the incidence and severity, emphasizing patient education, regular foot screenings, and early intervention.

Methods: The researchers performed a systematic review of literature using PUBMED MESH keywords. Additionally, the study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews at the Center for Reviews …

Evolving Community Preparedness: Analysis Of United States Pandemic Health Disaster Readiness, Jessy Rugeyo

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown substantial gaps in counties' preparedness and response capacity across the United States. This study analyzes the relationship between county-level pandemic preparedness and confirmed COVID-19 cases using secondary data from the FEMA's National Household Survey (NHS) and county-level COVID-19 data from the CDC. The data show a negative relationship between preparedness levels and COVID-19 positive rates, highlighting the necessity of proactive readiness measures. Individual risk assessment, motivation for preparedness, and socioeconomic variables have a major influence on confirmed cases. Higher levels of education, income, and preparedness are associated with lower positive rates, emphasizing the importance of …