Digital Commons Network^™

Select Antimicrobial Resistance Trends In Kentucky’S Bovine Population And Antibiogram Development, Jessica Morehouse

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex problem that affects all of society and is driven by many interconnected factors. It is important to monitor AMR trends in veterinary medicine to accurately pursue appropriate antibiotic treatment of ill animals. Antibiogram development is also an important tool in guiding the veterinary practitioner in treating empirically or while a culture and susceptibility is being performed.

Methods: This study compared bacterial susceptibility in voluntary samples submitted to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Murray State University Breathitt Veterinary Center between 2012 and 2017. Equality of proportions was used to compare …

Fair Benefits And Its Critics: Who Is Right?, David Wendler, Seema K. Shah

Journal of Health Care Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Some Msm Blood Donors Move From A Lifetime Deferral To A One Year Ban “Finally” Or “Not Good Enough”?, Heather Printz

Journal of Health Care Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Patient Satisfaction Management In Office Visits And Telehealth In Health Care Technology, Todd Price

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth and remote medical treatments have begun to be more commonly used in healthcare systems. Researchers have theorized that providers' abilities to treat patients are not directly tied to the proximity of the patient to the doctor, but by the identification and treatment of the patient's symptoms. Although the treatment and cure rates are being established within individual health systems and professional medical associations, empirical research is lacking regarding patient satisfaction with this remote treatment situation. The purpose of this quantitative study was to address this gap by examining satisfaction ratings of patients between virtual provider visits and face-to-face provider …

Complementary Infant Feeding Practices In Afghanistan, Hasibullah Na Niayesh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children are at greater risk of malnutrition in Afghanistan than they are in many other countries. Malnutrition impairs the mental and physical growth of more than 50% of children in Afghanistan. It also exacerbates the risks of mortality by 45% in infants and children in Afghanistan. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding complementary feeding and malnutrition in children in Afghanistan. The precaution adoption process model served as a theoretical framework in this quantitative cross-sectional research study. Data analyzed were collected from 306 mothers and children at 6 randomly selected …

Factors That Influence The Formation Of Peanut Allergies In Children, Christie Gleason

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Allergies have the potential to be a life-long debilitating fight, especially the severe reactions from allergies such as anaphylaxis. Peanut allergies tend to be both common and severe, and they happen to be found hiding in many food products. People can have allergic reactions to food products that were made in the same facility as peanut products, that is why it is so important to be aware of the products that are being consumed. The incidence of peanut allergies has increased in the last decade, which is why it is crucial to study these allergies. This thesis looks at when …

Health Sciences Students' Interest In And Opinions About Global Health Experiences, John B. Oliphant

Articles

While there is a significant body of literature regarding the interest in global health experiences (GHEs) for medical students and resident physicians, there is very little published in the scholarly literature regarding whether college/university students who are not in medical school, but are interested in pursuing a medical, health science, or allied health career in their future are also interested in global health.

An anonymous electronic survey was sent to students enrolled in the College of Health Sciences and Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology to assess how important these students felt it was for them to learn about global …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Surveillance In Puerto Rico During The 2016 Zika Virus Epidemic, Chelsea G. Major, Emilio Dirlikov, Nicole A. Medina, Roberta Lugo-Robles, Desiree Matos, Jorge Muñoz-Jordán, Candimar Colón-Sánchez, Myriam García-Negrón, Marangely Olivero-Segarra, Graciela Malavé-González, Dana L. Thomas, Carlos A. Luciano, Stephen H. Waterman, James Sejvar, Tyler M. Sharp, Brenda Rivera-García

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon autoimmune disorder that follows infection or vaccination, and increased incidence has been reported during Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission. During the 2016 ZIKV epidemic, the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) implemented the Enhanced GBS Surveillance System (EGBSSS). Here, we describe EGBSSS implementation and evaluate completeness, validity, and timeliness.

METHODS: GBS cases were identified using passive surveillance and discharge diagnostic code for GBS. Completeness was evaluated by capture-recapture methods. Sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) for confirmed GBS cases were calculated for both case identification methods. Median time to completion of key time steps …

Spatiotemporal Variations In Coexisting Multiple Causes Of Death And The Associated Factors, Emmanuel Oluwatobi Salawu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study and practice of epidemiology and public health benefit from the use of mortality statistics, such as mortality rates, which are frequently used as key health indicators. Furthermore, multiple causes of death (MCOD) data offer important information that could not possibly be gathered from other mortality data. This study aimed to describe the interrelationships between various causes of death in the United States in order to improve the understanding of the coexistence of MCOD and thereby improve public health and enhance longevity. The social support theory was used as a framework, and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to …

Leadership Strategies For Retaining Mariners Aboard State Maritime Academy Training Ships, Augusta D. Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The shortage of qualified merchant marines in the United States requires State Maritime Academy (SMA) leaders to develop competitive retention strategies to retain merchant mariners aboard training vessels. The purpose of this single case study was to identify retention strategies that U.S. SMA leaders used to retain mariners aboard training ships. The conceptual framework of this study was Vroom's expectancy theory. The study participants consisted of 5 SMA leaders overseeing the mariners aboard a training vessel. Semistructured interviews and review of SMA documents pertaining to employment strategies provided the study data. The data analysis included collecting and coding data, and …

Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Daily Versus Depot Vitamin D3 Therapy In 0-16-Year-Old Newly Settled Refugees In Western Australia Over A Period Of 40 Weeks, Ushma Wadia, Wayne Soon, Paola Chivers, Aesen Thambiran, David Burgner, Sarah Cherian, Aris Siafarikas

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in newly settled refugees in Western Australia (WA). If adherence to daily vitamin D therapy is problematic, depot therapy is a therapeutic alternative. The aim of this study was to compare daily versus depot treatment and factors influencing the therapeutic outcome. Newly settled refugees (n = 151) with 25(OH)D levels less than 78 nmol/L were randomised to receive daily or depot vitamin D therapy with eight weekly interval follow up to 40 weeks. Biochemical and clinical parameters were collected at each visit. Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) examined the longitudinal changes over time controlling …

Generalizing Evidence From Randomized Trials Using Inverse Probability Of Sampling Weights, Ashley L. Buchanan, G. Hudgens, Stephen R. Cole, Katie R. Mollan, Paul E. Sax, Eric S. Daar, Adaora A. Adimora, Joseph J. Eron, Michael J. Mugavero

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Results obtained in randomized trials may not easily generalize to target populations. Whereas in randomized trials the treatment assignment mechanism is known, the sampling mechanism by which individuals are selected to participate in the trial is typically not known and assuming random sampling from the target population is often dubious. We consider an inverse probability of sampling weighted (IPSW) estimator for generalizing trial results to a target population. The IPSW estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. A consistent sandwich-type variance estimator is derived and simulation results are presented comparing the IPSW estimator to a previously proposed stratified …

1067. Comparative Effectiveness Of Nafcillin Or Oxacillin, Cefazolin, And Piperacillin/Tazobactam In Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia, Maya Beganovic, Cusumano, Vrishali Lopes, Kerry L. Laplante, Aisling R. Caffrey

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: β-Lactam antibiotics are recommended as first line for treatment of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia. The objective of this study was to compare effectiveness among β-lactam therapies in MSSA bacteremia patients that were exclusively treated with one antibiotic.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers with MSSA bacteremia from January 1, 2002 to October 1, 2015. Patients were included if they were treated exclusively with nafcillin, oxacillin, cefazolin, or piperacillin/tazobactam (i.e., monotherapy with no changes in therapy). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes were time to discharge, …

699. Relationship Between Klebsiella Pneumoniae Antimicrobial Resistance And Biofilm Formation, Jaclyn Cusumano, Daffinee, Megan Luther, Vrishali Lopes, Aisling R. Caffrey, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a frequently multidrug-resistant organism with a high propensity to form biofilm. K. pneumoniae is the most common carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and labeled an urgent threat by the CDC. The relationship between K. pneumoniae biofilm formation and specific antimicrobial resistance patterns has not been well defined.

Methods: K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 139) were evaluated for antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation (CDC, Providence VA Med. Ctr., Rhode Island Hosp., BEI, and ATCC). Susceptibility was based predominantly on 2017 CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) breakpoints. Isolates were categorized as multidrug-resistant (MDR: resistant to ≥ …

Clinical And Genetic Risk Factors For Biofilm-Forming Staphylococcus Aureus, Megan Luther, M. Parente, Aisling R. Caffrey, Katie Daffinee, Vrishali V. Lopes, Emily T. Martin, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

The molecular and clinical factors associated with biofilm-forming methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are incompletely understood. Biofilm production for 182 MRSA isolates obtained from clinical culture sites (2004 to 2013) was quantified. Microbiological toxins, pigmentation, and genotypes were evaluated, and patient demographics were collected. Logistic regression was used to quantify the effect of strong biofilm production (versus weak biofilm production) on clinical outcomes and independent predictors of a strong biofilm. Of the isolates evaluated, 25.8% (47/182) produced strong biofilms and 40.7% (74/182) produced weak biofilms. Strong biofilm-producing isolates were more likely to be from multilocus sequence typing (MLST) clonal complex 8 …

Assessing Individual And Disseminated Effects In Network-Randomized Studies, Ashley L. Buchanan, H. Vermund, Samuel R. Friedman, Donna Spiegelman

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Implementation trials often involve clustering via risk networks, where only some participants directly received the intervention. The individual effect is that among directly treated persons beyond being in an intervention network; the disseminated effect is that among persons engaged with those directly treated. We employ a causal inference framework and discuss assumptions and estimators for individual and disseminated effects and apply them to HIV Prevention Trials Network 037. HIV Prevention Trials Network 037 was a Phase III, network-level, randomized controlled HIV prevention trial conducted in the US and Thailand from 2002 to 2006 that recruited persons who injected drugs, who …

What Is The Role For Metronidazole In The Treatment Of Clostridium Difficile Infection? Results From A National Cohort Study Of Veterans With Initial Mild Disease, Haley J. Appaneal, R. Caffrey, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Metronidazole may still be an appropriate therapeutic option for mild Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in select patients, but data is limited to guide clinicians in identifying these patients.

Methods: Our two-stage study included a national cohort of Veterans with a first episode of mild CDI (2010–2014). First, among those treated with metronidazole, we identified predictors of success, defined as absence of all-cause mortality or recurrence 30-days post-treatment, using multivariable unconditional logistic regression. Second, among a subgroup of patients with characteristic/s predictive of success identified in the first-stage, we compared clinical outcomes among those treated with metronidazole compared …

Improved Survival With Continuation Of Statins In Bacteremic Patients, Ajinkta M. Pawar, L. Laplante, Tristan T. Timbrook, Aisling R. Caffrey

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objectives: Varying statin exposures in bacteremic patients have different impacts on mortality. Among patients with adherent statin use, we sought to evaluate the impact of statin continuation on inpatient mortality in bacteremic patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Optum Clinformatics^TM with matched Premier Hospital data (October 2009–March 2013). Patients with a primary diagnosis of bacteremia and 6 months of continuous enrollment prior to the admission, receiving antibiotics at least 2 days of antibiotics during the first 3 days of admission, were selected for inclusion. Furthermore, patients demonstrating adherent statin use based on 90 days of continuous …

Occurrence Of Virulent Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus Faecalis And Enterococcus Faecium In The Pigs, Farmers And Farm Environments In Malaysia, S.C. Tan, C.W. Chong, Cindy Shuan Ju Teh, P.T. Ooi, Kwai Lin Thong

Research Publications (2016 to 2020)

Background Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are ubiquitous opportunistic pathogens found in the guts of humans and farmed animals. This study aimed to determine the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, biofilm-forming ability and genotypes of E. faecalis and E. faecium from swine farms. Correlations between the genotypes, virulotypes, antibiotic resistance, and the environmental factors such as locality of farms and farm hygiene practice were explored. Methods E. faecalis and E. faecium strains were isolated from the oral, rectal and fecal samples of 140 pigs; nasal, urine and fecal samples of 34 farmers working in the farms and 42 environmental samples collected …

Disinfection By-Product Reduction Study Of A Small Central Florida Public Water System, Paul Staubus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The disinfection of water for potabilization has proven to be one of the most significant public achievements of the 20th century. Although chemical disinfectants are successfully utilized to inactivate acute pathogenic organisms, they may react with natural organic matter (NOM) to produce potentially-harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs). As a result, the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates DBPs such as total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). The research herein is focused on the formation, removal, and control of TTHMs and HAAs in a small public water system (PWS) in Polk County, Florida (County). Pilot-scale tests were implemented to determine the …

Serving Up Allergy Labeling: Mitigating Food Allergen Risks In Restaurants, Marie C. Boyd

Faculty Publications

Allergens in restaurant food cause many allergic reactions and deaths. Yet no federal, state, or local law adequately protects people from these harms. Although federal law requires the labeling of “major food allergens” in packaged food, there are no allergen labeling requirements for restaurant-type food. In addition, existing food safety requirements for restaurants are inadequate to prevent allergen cross contact.

The existing legal scholarship on food allergens in restaurants is limited. Much of the legal scholarship on labeling in restaurants focuses on menu labeling — the provision of calorie and other nutrition information to combat obesity. The requirements of Section …

Health Promotion In Elementary School Students, Madelyn J. Miles

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

The following project was created to address the rising epidemic of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is caused by many factors such as genetics, metabolism, community and neighborhood design, diet, exercise, and short sleep duration (Center for Disease Control: Childhood Obesity Facts). Social determinants of health, systems of oppression, and stigma can all influence the obesity epidemic. These include but are not limited to social status, location, culture, age, sexuality, ethnicity, and race. These identities can influence affordability and access to healthcare and further contribute to the obesity epidemic. It is important to understand these issues as a future provider. A …

Survival Mechanisms Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis In Human Primary Gingival Epithelial Cells: An Investigation Of Host Antibacterial Nox And Autophagy Systems, Joann Simone Roberts

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis, an opportunistic pathogen usurps gingival epithelial cells (GECs) as a primary intracellular niche for its colonization in the oral mucosa. P. gingivalis abrogates the effects of host danger molecule, extracellular ATP (eATP)/P2X7 signaling, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the mitochondria and NADPH oxidases (NOX) from primary GECs. Furthermore, P. gingivalis harnesses autophagic machinery to establish a replicative niche inside LC3-positive ER-rich autophagosomes. However, the antimicrobial functions of ROS production and precise characterization of the intracellular trafficking and fate of P. gingivalis in GECs are not well understood. Therefore, using a variety of phenotypic …

Unm Health Sciences Center Data Book 2017-18, University Of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center

Health Sciences Center Databook (1990-ongoing)

No abstract provided.

Quantifying Site-Level Usage And Certainty Of Absence For An Invasive Species Through Occupancy Analysis Of Camera-Trap Data, Amy J. Davis, Ryan Mccreary, Jeremiah Psiropoulos, Gary Brennan, Terry Cox, Andrew Partin, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Copyright Springer International Publishing

This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1579-x

A Review Of Classical Swine Fever Virus And Routes Of Introduction Into The United States And The Potential For Virus Establishment, Vienna R. Brown, Sarah N. Bevins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Classical swine fever (CSF) is caused by CSF virus (CSFV) which can be the source of substantial morbidity and mortality events in affected swine. The disease can take one of several forms (acute, chronic, or prenatal) and depending on the virulence of the inoculating strain may result in a lethal infection irrespective of the form acquired. Because of the disease-free status of the United States and the high cost of a viral incursion, a summary of US vulnerabilities for viral introduction and persistence is provided. The legal importation of live animals as well as animal products, byproducts, and animal feed …

On Hygiene In A Modern Peripheral City, Diego Armus

History Faculty Works

This chapter discusses hygiene in the making of modern Buenos Aires focusing on the hygienic imagination, the construction of a hygienic consensus, and the limits of hygiene discourses in daily life. The arrival of modern hygiene in Buenos Aires took place during a time of profound, rapid changes that were evident in almost every aspect of urban life, from social geography to politics to culture. The triumph of hygiene culture as a catalog of detailed indications for people's daily behavior was part and parcel of the medicalization process that gave shape to a new consensus about normalized urban manners. The …

2017 International Review, Ashlyn Whitbeck

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.

Food Insecurity In Urban Slums: Evidence From Ibadan Metropolis, Southwest Nigeria, Oluwakemi A. Obayelu

Journal for the Advancement of Developing Economies

Food insecurity is a major challenge among the urban poor who reside mainly in slums. The prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among households living in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria were therefore assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordered probit model. Food insecurity was found to be prevalent among the slum residents, with about 81% being food insecure. Nine out of every 10 (89.1%) households were male-headed. The largest proportion of the mildly food insecure (37%) household heads were less than 30 years old, while the largest proportion of moderately food insecure (45%) and severely food insecure …

Collaboration Across The Curriculum: Urban Planning & Public Health, Lula Geyre

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The way our communities are designed impacts our health. and there is an increasing need for collaboration between urban planners and public health professionals. Yet, it is not clear to what extent universities are preparing public health and planning students to work together. Our research will shed light on this important topic by evaluating the course requirements for both of these disciplines in accredited institutions and look at how they are addressing interprofessional issues such as land development, transportation policies, air/water quality, and community growth issues. The current study explores the availability of interdisciplinary courses in accredited undergraduate and graduate …