Digital Commons Network^™

Randomized Controlled Trial Of Oral Vancomycin Treatment In Clostridioides Difficile-Colonized Patients, Skye R S Fishbein, Tiffany Hink, Kimberly A Reske, Candice Cass, Emily Struttmann, Zainab Hassan Iqbal, Sondra Seiler, Jennie H Kwon, C A Burnham, Gautam Dantas, Erik R Dubberke

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

A Randomized Control Trial To Test A Peer Support Group Approach For Reducing Social Isolation And Depression Among Female Mexican Immigrants, Janet Page-Reeves, Cristina Murray-Krezan, Lidia Regino, Jackie Perez, Molly Bleecker, Daniel Perez, Bill Wagner, Susan Tigert, Elaine L. Bearer, Cathleen E. Willging

Pathology Research and Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Female Mexican Immigrants (FMIs) experience high rates of depression compared with other populations. For this population, depression is often exacerbated by social isolation associated with the experience of immigration. Aim 1. To measure whether a culturally situated peer group intervention will reduce depression and stress associated with the experience of immigration. Aim 2. To test whether an intervention using a "women's funds of knowledge" approach results in improved resilience, knowledge and empowerment. Aim 3. To investigate whether a culturally situated peer group intervention using a women's funds of knowledge approach can give participants a sense and experience of social …

Relationship Between Clinicopathologic Factors And Fdg Avidity In Radioiodine-Negative Recurrent Or Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma, Le Ngoc Ha, Amir Iravani, Nguyen Thi Nhung, Ngo Thi Minh Hanh, Febby Hutomo, Mai Hong Son

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the relationship between clinicopathologic factors, BRAF

METHODS: From 2015 to 2018 all patients with suspected recurrent or metastatic radioiodine-negative DTC patients who underwent FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) were retrospectively reviewed. Suspected lesions on FDG PET/CT were biopsied and underwent BRAF

RESULTS: Sixty-three consecutive patients, 55 (87.3%) female, with median age of 48 (range 17-81) were included. The majority of patients had BRAF

CONCLUSION: The majority of recurrent or metastatic RAI-negative DTC have BRAF

The R-Enantiomer Of Ketorolac Reduces Ovarian Cancer Tumor Burden In Vivo, Martha M. Grimes, S Ray Kenney, Dayna R. Dominguez, Kathryn J. Brayer, Yuna Guo, Angela Wandinger-Ness, Laurie G. Hudson

Pathology Research and Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Rho-family GTPases, including Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) and cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42), are important modulators of cancer-relevant cell functions and are viewed as promising therapeutic targets. Based on high-throughput screening and cheminformatics we identified the R-enantiomer of an FDA-approved drug (ketorolac) as an inhibitor of Rac1 and Cdc42. The corresponding S-enantiomer is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with selective activity against cyclooxygenases. We reported previously that R-ketorolac, but not the S-enantiomer, inhibited Rac1 and Cdc42-dependent downstream signaling, growth factor stimulated actin cytoskeleton rearrangements, cell adhesion, migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cell lines and …

Disparities In Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Among Pregnant And Post-Partum Women, Mohamed M Gad, Islam Y Elgendy, Ahmed N Mahmoud, Anas M Saad, Toshiaki Isogai, Isadora Sande Mathias, Rabel Misbah Rameez, Johnny Chahine, Hani Jneid, Samir R Kapadia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

The incidence of cardiovascular disease among pregnant women is rising in the United States. Data on racial disparities for the major cardiovascular events during pregnancy are limited.

Methods and Results

Pregnant and post‐partum women hospitalized from January 2007 to December 2017 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The outcomes of interest included: in‐hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between race and in‐hospital outcomes. Among 46 700 637 pregnancy‐related hospitalizations, 21 663 575 (46.4%) were White, 6 302 089 (13.5%) were Black, and 8 914 …

Molecular Characterization Of Cryptosporidium Spp. From Humans In Ethiopia, Ambachew W. Hailu, Abraham Degarege, Haileeyesus Adamu, Damien Costa, Venceslas Villier, Abdelmounaim Mouhajir, Loic Favennec, Romy Razakandrainibe, Beyene Petros

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Data on the distribution and genotype of Cryptosporidium species is limited in Ethiopia. This study examined the presence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium species circulating in Ethiopian human population. Stool samples collected from patients who visited rural (n = 94) and urban (n = 93) health centers in Wurgissa and Hawassa district, respectively, were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopy, nested PCR and real-time PCR. To detect infection with PCR, analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA was performed. Subtyping was performed by sequencing a fragment of GP60 gene. The overall prevalence of infection was 46% (n = 86) …

The Impact Of Perinatal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection During The Peripartum Period., O. Janssen, M. Thompson, S. Milburn, R. Green, B. Wagner, A. Bianco, A. Stroustrup

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Towards Digestible Digital Health Solutions: Application Of A Health Literacy Inclusive Development Framework For Peripartum Depression Management, Alexandra Zingg, Tavleen Singh, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Women of low income and education have lower levels of peripartum depression (PPD) literacy, limiting their ability to recognize symptoms and make informed healthcare decisions. Existing digital solutions and underlying development frameworks for PPD lack an integrative approach addressing health literacy and related disparities. Therefore, we develop an integrative framework for digital content engineering in PPD self-management consisting of (a) user needs analysis, (b) inclusion of eHealth literacy principles (science and health literacy), and (c) mapping user needs to the Behavioral Intervention Technology model. Results revealed that perinatal women seeking mental health care prefer information in multisensory formats, and knowledge …

Performance Of An Affordable Urine Self-Sampling Method For Human Papillomavirus Detection In Mexican Women, Rubí Hernández-López, Luis Hermosillo, Leith León-Maldonado, Rafael Velázquez-Cruz, Leticia Torres-Ibarra, Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce, Attila Lörincz, Cosette M. Wheeler, F Xavier Bosch, Jack Cuzick, Berenice Rivera-Paredez, Belinda Nedjai, Jorge Salmerón

Pathology Research and Scholarship

INTRODUCTION: Urine self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening is a non-invasive method that offers several logistical advantages and high acceptability, reducing barriers related to low screening coverage. This study developed and evaluated the performance of a low-cost urine self-sampling method for HPV-testing and explored the acceptability and feasibility of potential implementation of this alternative in routine screening.

METHODS: A series of sequential laboratory assays examined the impact of several pre-analytical conditions for obtaining DNA from urine and subsequent HPV detection. Initially, we assessed the effect of ethylaminediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a DNA preservative examining several variables including EDTA …

Lying In Wait: The Resurgence Of Dengue Virus After The Zika Epidemic In Brazil, Anderson Fernandes Brito, Lais Ceschini Machado, Rachel J. Oidtman, Márcio Junio Lima Siconelli, Quan Minh Tran, Joseph R. Fauver, Rodrigo Dias De Oliveira Carvalho, Filipe Zimmer Dezordi, Mylena Ribeiro Pereira, Luiza Antunes De Castro-Jorge, Elaine Cristina Manini Minto, Luzia Márcia Romanholi Passos, Chaney C. Kalinich, Mary E. Petrone, Emma Allen, Guido Camargo España, Angkana T. Huang, Derek A. T. Cummings, Guy Baele, Rafael Freitas Oliveira Franca, Benedito Antônio Lopes Da Fonseca, T. Alex Perkins, Gabriel Luz Wallau, Nathan D. Grubaugh

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

After the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in the Americas in 2016, both Zika and dengue incidence declined to record lows in many countries in 2017-2018, but in 2019 dengue resurged in Brazil, causing ~2.1 million cases. In this study we use epidemiological, climatological and genomic data to investigate dengue dynamics in recent years in Brazil. First, we estimate dengue virus force of infection (FOI) and model mosquito-borne transmission suitability since the early 2000s. Our estimates reveal that DENV transmission was low in 2017-2018, despite conditions being suitable for viral spread. Our study also shows a marked decline in dengue susceptibility …

Risk Factors For Workplace Sexual Harassment In Female Truck Drivers, Kimberly Marie Riddle

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Sexual harassment is one of the most common forms of workplace violence in the United States. Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted verbal and physical behaviors of a sexual nature (e.g., physical advances, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate sexist or sexual comments or jokes, pornography, or other unwanted conduct) that creates an uncomfortable working environment or interferes with the employee’s job responsibilities. In general, it is estimated that nearly one in every two women have experienced sexual harassment at the workplace over their lifetime. In male-dominated occupations, such as truck driving, law enforcement, firefighting, and construction, females may have a …

Cxcl17 Is A Specific Diagnostic Biomarker For Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1n1) That Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome, Jose Alberto Choreño-Parra, Shabaana A Khader, Et Al

Open Access Publications

The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CXCL17) is chemotactic for myeloid cells, exhibits bactericidal activity, and exerts anti-viral functions. This chemokine is constitutively expressed in the respiratory tract, suggesting a role in lung defenses. However, little is known about the participation of CXCL17 against relevant respiratory pathogens in humans. Here, we evaluated the serum levels and lung tissue expression pattern of CXCL17 in a cohort of patients with severe pandemic influenza A(H1N1) from Mexico City. Peripheral blood samples obtained on admission and seven days after hospitalization were processed for determinations of serum CXCL17 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The …

Association Of Circulating Sex Hormones With Inflammation And Disease Severity In Patients With Covid-19, Sandeep Dhindsa, Nan Zhang, Michael J. Mcphaul, Zengru Wu, Amit K. Ghoshal, Emma C. Erlich, Kartik Mani, Gwendalyn J. Randolph, John R. Edwards, Philip A. Mudd, Abhinav Diwan

Open Access Publications

Importance: Male sex is a risk factor for developing severe COVID-19 illness. It is not known whether sex hormones contribute to this predisposition.

Objective: To investigate the association of concentrations of serum testosterone, estradiol, and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1, concentrations of which are regulated by sex hormone signaling) with COVID-19 severity.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted using serum samples collected from consecutive patients who presented from March through May 2020 to the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, with COVID-19 (diagnosed using nasopharyngeal swabs).

Exposures: Testosterone, estradiol, and IGF-1 concentrations were measured at …

Characteristics And Outcomes Among Us Patients Hospitalized For Ischemic Stroke Before Vs During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Adam De Havenon, John P. Ney, Brian Callaghan, Samuel Hohmann, Ernie Shippey, Shadi Yaghi, Mohammad Anadani, Jennifer J. Majersik

Open Access Publications

Importance: After the emergence of COVID-19, studies reported a decrease in hospitalizations of patients with ischemic stroke (IS), but there are little to no data regarding hospitalizations for the remainder of 2020, including outcome data from a large cohort of patients with IS and comorbid COVID-19.

Objective: To assess hospital discharge rates, demographic factors, and outcomes of hospitalization associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among US patients with IS before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base on 324 013 patients with IS at 478 nonfederal hospitals …

Response To Ibudilast Treatment According To Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Disease Phenotype, Andrew D Goodman, Janel K Fedler, Jon Yankey, Elizabeth A Klingner, Dixie J Ecklund, Christopher V Goebel, Robert A Bermel, Marianne Chase, Christopher S Coffey, Eric C Klawiter, Robert T Naismith, Robert J Fox, Sprint-Ms Investigators

Open Access Publications

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether a treatment effect of ibudilast on brain atrophy rate differs between participants with primary (PPMS) and secondary (SPMS) progressive multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Progressive forms of MS are both associated with continuous disability progression. Whether PPMS and SPMS differ in treatment response remains unknown.

DESIGN/METHODS: SPRINT-MS was a randomized, placebo-controlled 96-week phase 2 trial in both PPMS (n = 134) and SPMS (n = 121) patients. The effect of PPMS and SPMS phenotype on the rate of change of brain atrophy measured by brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) was examined by fitting a three-way interaction linear-mixed model. Adjustment for …

Rna-Seq Identifies Genes Whose Proteins Are Upregulated During Syncytia Development In Murine C2c12 Myoblasts And Human Bewo Trophoblasts, Christopher Azar, Mark C Valentine, Julie Trausch-Azar, Lisa Rois, Moe Mahjoub, D Michael Nelson, Alan L Schwartz

Open Access Publications

The fusion of villous cytotrophoblasts into the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast is critical for the essential functions of the mammalian placenta. Using RNA-Seq gene expression, quantitative protein expression, and siRNA knockdown we identified genes and their cognate proteins which are similarly upregulated in two cellular models of mammalian syncytia development (human BeWo cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast and murine C2C12 myoblast to myotube). These include DYSF, PDE4DIP, SPIRE2, NDRG1, PLEC, GPR146, HSPB8, DHCR7, and HDAC5. These findings provide avenues for further understanding of the mechanisms underlying mammalian placental syncytiotrophoblast development.

Lack Of Association Between Acute Stroke, Post-Stroke Dementia, Race, And Β-Amyloid Status, Lauren N Koenig, Lena M Mccue, Elizabeth Grant, Parinaz Massoumzadeh, Catherine M Roe, Chengjie Xiong, Krista L Moulder, Liang Wang, Allyson R Zazulia, Peggy Kelly, Aylin Dincer, Aiad Zaza, Joshua S Shimony, Tammie L S Benzinger, John C Morris

Open Access Publications

INTRODUCTION: Stroke and Alzheimer disease share risk factors and often co-occur, and both have been reported to have a higher prevalence in African Americans as compared to non-Hispanic whites. However, their interaction has not been established. The objective of this study was to determine if preclinical Alzheimer disease is a risk factor for stroke and post-stroke dementia and whether racial differences moderate this relationship.

METHODS: This case-control study was analyzed in 2019 using retrospective data from 2007 to 2013. Participants were adults age 65 and older with and without acute ischemic stroke. Recruitment included word of mouth and referrals in …

Immunological Findings And Clinical Outcomes Of Infants With Positive Newborn Screening For Severe Combined Immunodeficiency From A Tertiary Care Center In The U.S., Vasudha Mantravadi, Jeffrey J Bednarski, Michelle A Ritter, Hongjie Gu, Ana L Kolicheski, Caroline Horner, Megan A Cooper, Maleewan Kitcharoensakkul

Open Access Publications

The implementation of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) newborn screening has played a pivotal role in identifying these patients early in life as well as detecting various milder forms of T cell lymphopenia (TCL). In this study we reviewed the diagnostic and clinical outcomes, and interesting immunology findings of term infants referred to a tertiary care center with abnormal newborn SCID screens over a 6-year period. Key findings included a 33% incidence of non-SCID TCL including infants with novel variants in

Antigen Presenting Cells Link The Female Genital Tract Microbiome To Mucosal Inflammation, With Hormonal Contraception As An Additional Modulator Of Inflammatory Signatures, Elizabeth H Byrne, Barry L Hykes, Scott A Handley, Et Al

Open Access Publications

The microbiome of the female genital tract (FGT) is closely linked to reproductive health outcomes. Diverse, anaerobe-dominated communities with low

Mr Elastography Demonstrates Reduced White Matter Shear Stiffness In Early-Onset Hydrocephalus, M E Wagshul, J P Mcallister, D D Limbrick Jr, S Yang, W Mowrey, J T Goodrich, A Meiri, D M Morales, A Kobets, R Abbott

Open Access Publications

INTRODUCTION: Hydrocephalus that develops early in life is often accompanied by developmental delays, headaches and other neurological deficits, which may be associated with changes in brain shear stiffness. However, noninvasive approaches to measuring stiffness are limited. Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) of the brain is a relatively new noninvasive imaging method that provides quantitative measures of brain tissue stiffness. Herein, we aimed to use MRE to assess brain stiffness in hydrocephalus patients compared to healthy controls, and to assess its associations with ventricular size, as well as demographic, shunt-related and clinical outcome measures.

METHODS: MRE was collected at two imaging sites …

Clinical And Immunological Factors That Distinguish Covid-19 From Pandemic Influenza A(H1n1), José Alberto Choreño-Parra, Shabaana A Khader, Et Al

Open Access Publications

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global health threat with the potential to cause severe disease manifestations in the lungs. Although COVID-19 has been extensively characterized clinically, the factors distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses are unknown. Here, we compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A(H1N1). We observed a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms, increased tissue injury markers, and a histological pattern of alveolar pneumonia in pandemic influenza A(H1N1) patients. Conversely, dry cough, gastrointestinal symptoms and interstitial lung pathology were …

Outcomes Associated With Social Distancing Policies In St Louis, Missouri, During The Early Phase Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elvin H. Geng, Joshua Schwab, Randi Foraker, Branson Fox, Christine M. Hoehner, Mario Schootman, Aaloke Mody, William Powderly, Byron Yount, Keith Woeltje, Maya Petersen

Open Access Publications

Importance: In the absence of a national strategy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many public health decisions fell to local elected officials and agencies. Outcomes of such policies depend on a complex combination of local epidemic conditions and demographic features as well as the intensity and timing of such policies and are therefore unclear.

Objective: To use a decision analytical model of the COVID-19 epidemic to investigate potential outcomes if actual policies enacted in March 2020 (during the first wave of the epidemic) in the St Louis region of Missouri had been delayed.

Design, Setting, and Participants: A previously …

Comprehensive Assessment Of A Nationwide Simulation-Based Course For Artificial Life Support, Mateusz Puslecki, Ahmed S Said, Et Al

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Successful implementation of medical technologies applied in life-threatening conditions, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires appropriate preparation and training of medical personnel. The pandemic has accelerated the creation of new ECMO centers and has highlighted continuous training in adapting to new pandemic standards. To reach high standards of patients' care, we created the first of its kind, National Education Centre for Artificial Life Support (NEC-ALS) in 40 million inhabitants' country in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The role of the Center is to test and promote the novel or commonly used procedures as well as to develop staff …

Neuronal Activity In Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex During Economic Choices Under Variable Action Costs, Xinying Cai, Camillo Padoa-Schioppa

Open Access Publications

The role of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACCd) in decision making has often been discussed but remains somewhat unclear. On the one hand, numerous studies implicated this area in decisions driven by effort or action cost. On the other hand, work on economic choices between goods (under fixed action costs) found that neurons in ACCd encoded only post-decision variables. To advance our understanding of the role played by this area in decision making, we trained monkeys to choose between different goods (juice types) offered in variable amounts and with different action costs. Importantly, the task design dissociated computation of …

Information Content Differentiates Enhancers From Silencers In Mouse Photoreceptors, Ryan Z. Friedman, David M. Granas, Connie A. Myers, Joseph C. Corbo, Barak A. Cohen, Michael A. White

Open Access Publications

Enhancers and silencers often depend on the same transcription factors (TFs) and are conflated in genomic assays of TF binding or chromatin state. To identify sequence features that distinguish enhancers and silencers, we assayed massively parallel reporter libraries of genomic sequences targeted by the photoreceptor TF cone-rod homeobox (CRX) in mouse retinas. Both enhancers and silencers contain more TF motifs than inactive sequences, but relative to silencers, enhancers contain motifs from a more diverse collection of TFs. We developed a measure of information content that describes the number and diversity of motifs in a sequence and found that, while both …

An Absence Of Equipoise: Examining Surgeons' Decision Talk During Encounters With Women Considering Breast Cancer Surgery, Mary C. Politi, Catherine H. Saunders, Victoria F. Grabinski, Renata W. Yen, Amy E. Cyr, Marie-Anne Durand, Glyn Elwyn

Open Access Publications

Shared decision-making is recommended for decisions with multiple reasonable options, yet clinicians often subtly or explicitly guide choices. Using purposive sampling, we performed a secondary analysis of 142 audio-recorded encounters between 13 surgeons and women eligible for breast-conserving surgery with radiation or mastectomy. We trained 9 surgeons in shared decision-making and provided them one of two conversation aids; 4 surgeons practiced as usual. Based on a published taxonomy of treatment recommendations (pronouncements, suggestions, proposals, offers, assertions), we examined how surgeons framed choices with patients. Many surgeons made assertions providing information and advice (usual care 71% vs. intervention 66%; p = …

Public Preferences For Social Distancing Policy Measures To Mitigate The Spread Of Covid-19 In Missouri, Ingrid Eshun-Wilson, Aaloke Mody, Virginia Mckay, Matifadza Hlatshwayo, Cory Bradley, Vetta Thompson, David V. Glidden, Elvin H. Geng

Open Access Publications

Importance: Policies to promote social distancing can minimize COVID-19 transmission but come with substantial social and economic costs. Quantifying relative preferences among the public for such practices can inform locally relevant policy prioritization and optimize uptake.

Objective: To evaluate relative utilities (ie, preferences) for COVID-19 pandemic social distancing strategies against the hypothetical risk of acquiring COVID-19 and anticipated income loss.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This survey study recruited individuals living in the Missouri area from May to June 2020 via randomly distributed unincentivized social media advertisements and local recruitment platforms for members of minority racial and ethnic groups. Participants answered …

Mortality In Hemodialysis Patients With Covid-19, The Effect Of Paricalcitol Or Calcimimetics, María Dolores Arenas Jimenez, Adriana S Dusso, Et Al

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: In COVID-19 patients, low serum vitamin D (VD) levels have been associated with severe acute respiratory failure and poor prognosis. In regular hemodialysis (HD) patients, there is VD deficiency and markedly reduced calcitriol levels, which may predispose them to worse outcomes of COVID-19 infection. Some hemodialysis patients receive treatment with drugs for secondary hyperparathyroidism, which have well known pleiotropic effects beyond mineral metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VD status and the administration of active vitamin D medications, used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism, on survival in a cohort of COVID-19 positive HD patients. …

Rubella Virus Infected Macrophages And Neutrophils Define Patterns Of Granulomatous Inflammation In Inborn And Acquired Errors Of Immunity, Ludmila Perelygina, Amy Musiek, Et Al

Open Access Publications

Rubella virus (RuV) has recently been found in association with granulomatous inflammation of the skin and several internal organs in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). The cellular tropism and molecular mechanisms of RuV persistence and pathogenesis in select immunocompromised hosts are not clear. We provide clinical, immunological, virological, and histological data on a cohort of 28 patients with a broad spectrum of IEI and RuV-associated granulomas in skin and nine extracutaneous tissues to further delineate this relationship. Combined immunodeficiency was the most frequent diagnosis (67.8%) among patients. Patients with previously undocumented conditions, i.e., humoral immunodeficiencies, a secondary immunodeficiency, …

Characteristics Of Sars-Cov-2 Transmission Among Meat Processing Workers In Nebraska, Usa, And Effectiveness Of Risk Mitigation Measures, Jocelyn J. Herstein, Abraham Degarege, Derry Stover, Christopher Austin, Michelle M. Schwedhelm, James V. Lawler, John Lowe, Athena K. Ramos, Matthew Donahue

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the meat processing industry in the United States. We sought to detail demographics and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections among workers in Nebraska meat processing facilities and determine the effects of initiating universal mask policies and installing physical barriers at 13 meat processing facilities. During April 1-July 31, 2020, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 5,002 Nebraska meat processing workers (attack rate 19%). After initiating both universal masking and physical barrier interventions, 8/13 facilities showed a statistically significant reduction in COVID-19 incidence inspecifically, high attack rates among meat processing industry …