Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Seasonality, Clinical Characteristics, And Outcomes Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease By Subtype Among Children Aged <5 Years: New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, 2016-2020., Ariana P. Toepfer, Justin Z. Amarin, Andrew J. Spieker, Laura S. Stewart, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Joana Y. Lively, Pedro A. Piedra, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Brian Rha, James Chappell, Meredith Mcmorrow, Heidi Moline, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory illnesses in children. RSV can be broadly categorized into 2 major subtypes: A and B. RSV subtypes have been known to cocirculate with variability in different regions of the world. Clinical associations with viral subtype have been studied among children with conflicting findings such that no conclusive relationships between RSV subtype and severity have been established.

METHODS: During 2016-2020, children aged/guardian interviews, chart reviews, and collection of midturbinate nasal plus/minus throat swabs for RSV (RSV-A, RSV-B, and untyped) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: Among 6398 RSV-positive …

Approach For Defining Human Adenovirus Infection And Disease For Central Review Adjudication In Clinical Studies., Brian T. Fisher, Jesse Blumenstock, Craig L K Boge, Sydney Shuster, Alix E. Seif, Michael Green, Marian G. Michaels, Jessie L. Alexander, Monica I. Ardura, Tamara P. Miller, Diego R. Hijano, William J. Muller, Jennifer E. Schuster, Abby M. Green, Daniel E. Dulek, Adriana E. Kajon, Lara Danziger-Isakov

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) recipients are at risk for morbidity and mortality from human adenovirus (HAdV). HAdV can be detected in an asymptomatic state, referred to as infection or with signs or symptoms of illness, referred to as disease. Standardized case definitions are needed to distinguish infection from disease and allow for consistent reporting in both observational cohort studies and therapeutic clinical trials.

METHODS: A working group of experts in virology, transplant infectious disease, and HCT was assembled to develop HAdV infection and disease definitions with the degree of certainty (i.e., possible, probable, and proven). Definitions were …

Durability Of Original Monovalent Mrna Vaccine Effectiveness Against Covid-19 Omicron-Associated Hospitalization In Children And Adolescents - United States, 2021-2023., Laura D. Zambrano, Margaret M. Newhams, Regina M. Simeone, Amanda B. Payne, Michael Wu, Amber O. Orzel-Lockwood, Natasha B. Halasa, Jemima M. Calixte, Pia S. Pannaraj, Kanokporn Mongkolrattanothai, Julie A Boom, Leila C Sahni, Satoshi Kamidani, Kathleen Chiotos, Melissa A Cameron, Aline B Maddux, Katherine Irby, Jennifer E. Schuster, Elizabeth H. Mack, Austin Biggs, Bria M. Coates, Kelly N. Michelson, Katherine E. Bline, Ryan A. Nofziger, Hillary Crandall, Charlotte V. Hobbs, Shira J. Gertz, Sabrina M. Heidemann, Tamara T. Bradford, Tracie C. Walker, Stephanie P. Schwartz, Mary Allen Staat, Samina S. Bhumbra, Janet R. Hume, Michele Kong, Melissa S. Stockwell, Thomas J. Connors, Melissa L. Cullimore, Heidi R. Flori, Emily R. Levy, Natalie Z. Cvijanovich, Matt S. Zinter, Mia Maamari, Cindy Bowens, Danielle M. Zerr, Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill, Ivan Gonzalez, Angela P. Campbell, Adrienne G. Randolph, Overcoming Covid-19 Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Pediatric COVID-19 vaccination is effective in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalization, but duration of protection of the original monovalent vaccine during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance merits evaluation, particularly given low coverage with updated COVID-19 vaccines. During December 19, 2021-October 29, 2023, the Overcoming COVID-19 Network evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of ≥2 original monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses against COVID-19-related hospitalization and critical illness among U.S. children and adolescents aged 5-18 years, using a case-control design. Too few children and adolescents received bivalent or updated monovalent vaccines to separately evaluate their effectiveness. Most case-patients (persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result) were unvaccinated, despite …

Case Of Human Orthohantavirus Infection, Michigan, Usa, 2021, Samuel M Goodfellow, Robert A Nofchissey, Dustin Arsnoe, Chunyan Ye, Seonghyeon Lee, Jieun Park, Won-Keun Kim, Kartik Chandran, Shannon L M Whitmer, John D Klena, Jonathan W Dyal, Trevor Shoemaker, Diana Riner, Mary Grace Stobierski, Kimberly Signs, Steven B Bradfute

Journal Articles

Orthohantaviruses cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome; most cases occur in the southwest region of the United States. We discuss a clinical case of orthohantavirus infection in a 65-year-old woman in Michigan and the phylogeographic link of partial viral fragments from the patient and rodents captured near the presumed site of infection.

Accuracy Of Influenza Icd-10 Diagnosis Codes In Identifying Influenza Illness In Children., James W. Antoon, Tess Stopczynski, Justin Z. Amarin, Laura S. Stewart, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Mary A. Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Ariana Perez, Heidi L. Moline, Andrew J. Spieker, Carlos G. Grijalva, Samantha M. Olson, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Studies of influenza in children commonly rely on coded diagnoses, yet the ability of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes to identify influenza in the emergency department (ED) and hospital is highly variable. The accuracy of newer International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes to identify influenza in children is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of ICD-10 influenza discharge diagnosis codes in the pediatric ED and inpatient settings.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Children younger than 18 years presenting to the ED or inpatient settings with fever and/or respiratory symptoms at 7 …

Non-Thermal Plasma Reduces Hsv-1 Infection Of And Replication In Hacat Keratinocytes In Vitro, Julia Sutter, Jascha Brettschneider, Brian Wigdahl, Peter Bruggeman, Fred Krebs, Vandana Miller

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a lifelong pathogen characterized by asymptomatic latent infection in the trigeminal ganglia (TG), with periodic outbreaks of cold sores caused by virus reactivation in the TG and subsequent replication in the oral mucosa. While antiviral therapies can provide relief from cold sores, they are unable to eliminate HSV-1. We provide experimental results that highlight non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a new alternative therapy for HSV-1 infection that would resolve cold sores faster and reduce the establishment of latent infection in the TG. Additionally, this study is the first to explore the use of NTP …

Notes From The Field: Reemergence Of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infections In Children And Adolescents After The Covid-19 Pandemic, United States, 2018-2024., Chris Edens, Benjamin R. Clopper, Jourdan Devies, Alvaro Benitez, Erin R. Mckeever, Dylan Johns, Bernard Wolff, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Fatimah S. Dawood, Lakshmi Radhakrishnan, Christina Quigley, Leila C. Sahni, Natasha Halasa, Laura S. Stewart, Meredith L. Mcmorrow, Brett Whitaker, Danielle M. Zerr, Vasanthi Avadhanula, John V. Williams, Marian G. Michaels, Aaron Kite-Powell, Janet A. Englund, Mary Allen Staat, Kathleen Hartnett, Heidi L. Moline, Adam L. Cohen, Maureen Diaz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

The Durability Of Antibody Responses Of Two Doses Of High-Dose Relative To Two Doses Of Standard-Dose Inactivated Influenza Vaccine In Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial., Jennifer E. Schuster, Lubna Hamdan, Daniel E. Dulek, Carrie L. Kitko, Einas Batarseh, Zaid Haddadin, Laura S. Stewart, Anna Stahl, Molly Potter, Herdi Rahman, Spyros A. Kalams, Claire E. Bocchini, Elizabeth A. Moulton, Susan E. Coffin, Monica I. Ardura, Rachel L. Wattier, Gabriela Maron, Michael Grimley, Grant Paulsen, Christopher J. Harrison, Jason L. Freedman, Paul A. Carpenter, Janet A. Englund, Flor M. Munoz, Lara Danziger-Isakov, Andrew J. Spieker, Natasha B. Halasa, Pediatric Hct Flu Study

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Our previous study established a 2-dose regimen of high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine (HD-TIV) to be immunogenically superior compared to a 2-dose regimen of standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (SD-QIV) in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. However, the durability of immunogenicity and the role of time post-HCT at immunization as an effect modifier are unknown.

METHODS: This phase II, multi-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial compared HD-TIV to SD-QIV in children 3-17 years old who were 3-35 months post-allogeneic HCT, with each formulation administered twice, 28-42 days apart. Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers were measured at baseline, 28-42 days following each …

Clarification Of Adverse Drug Reactions By A Pharmacovigilance Team Results In Increased Antibiotic Re-Prescribing At A Freestanding United States Children's Hospital., Keith Feldman, Sarah Suppes, Jennifer Goldman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Documentation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is a key factor in guiding future prescribing. However, incomplete documentation is common and often fails to distinguish implicated drugs as true allergies. This in turn leads to unnecessary avoidance of implicated drug classes and may result in sub-optimal prescribing. Pharmacovigilance (PV) programs utilize a systematic approach to clarify ADR documentation and are known to improve patient safety. Yet it remains unclear if PV alters prescribing. Or, if the existence of the ADR documentation itself continues to prompt avoidance of implicated drugs. To address this, our work presents a retrospective cohort study assessing if …

Sars-Cov-2 Epidemiology And Covid-19 Mrna Vaccine Effectiveness Among Infants And Children Aged 6 Months-4 Years - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July 2022-September 2023., Ayzsa Tannis, Janet A. Englund, Ariana Perez, Elizabeth J. Harker, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Natasha B. Halasa, Laura S. Stewart, John V. Williams, Marian G. Michaels, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster, Leila C. Sahni, Julie A. Boom, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Benjamin R. Clopper, Yingtao Zhou, Meredith L. Mcmorrow, Eileen J. Klein, Heidi L. Moline

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

SARS-CoV-2 infection in young children is often mild or asymptomatic; however, some children are at risk for severe disease. Data describing the protective effectiveness of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization in this population are limited. Data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, a prospective population-based surveillance system, were used to estimate vaccine effectiveness using a test-negative, case-control design and describe the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in infants and children aged 6 months-4 years during July 1, 2022-September 30, 2023. Among 7,434 children included, 5% received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, and 95% received a negative …

The Modified Clinical Progression Scale For Pediatric Patients: Evaluation As A Severity Metric And Outcome Measure In Severe Acute Viral Respiratory Illness., Shannon B. Leland, Steven J. Staffa, Margaret M. Newhams, Robinder G. Khemani, John C. Marshall, Cameron C. Young, Aline B. Maddux, Mark W. Hall, Scott L. Weiss, Adam J. Schwarz, Bria M. Coates, Ronald C. Sanders, Michele Kong, Neal J. Thomas, Ryan A. Nofziger, Melissa L. Cullimore, Natasha B. Halasa, Laura L. Loftis, Natalie Z. Cvijanovich, Jennifer E. Schuster, Heidi Flori, Shira J. Gertz, Janet R. Hume, Samantha M. Olson, Manish M. Patel, David Zurakowski, Adrienne G. Randolph, Pediatric Acute Lung And Sepsis Investigator’S Network Pediatric Intensive Care Influenza Study Group (Palisi Picflu) Investigators And Overcoming Covid-19 Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: To develop, evaluate, and explore the use of a pediatric ordinal score as a potential clinical trial outcome metric in children hospitalized with acute hypoxic respiratory failure caused by viral respiratory infections.

DESIGN: We modified the World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale for pediatric patients (CPS-Ped) and assigned CPS-Ped at admission, days 2-4, 7, and 14. We identified predictors of clinical improvement (day 14 CPS-Ped ≤ 2 or a three-point decrease) using competing risks regression and compared clinical improvement to hospital length of stay (LOS) and ventilator-free days. We estimated sample sizes (80% power) to detect a 15% clinical …

Pharmacokinetics And Safety Of A Single Dose Of Telavancin In Pediatric Subjects 2-17 Years Of Age., John S. Bradley, Jennifer Goldman, Laura P. James, Byron Kaelin, Breanne H Y Gibson, Antonio Arrieta

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Antimicrobial resistance increases infection morbidity in both adults and children, necessitating the development of new therapeutic options. Telavancin, an antibiotic approved in the United States for certain bacterial infections in adults, has not been examined in pediatric patients. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the short-term safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of a single intravenous infusion of telavancin in pediatric patients. Single-dose safety and PK of 10 mg/kg telavancin was investigated in pediatric subjects >12 months to ≤17 years of age with known or suspected bacterial infection. Plasma was collected up to 24-h post-infusion and analyzed for concentrations of …

Comparison Of Bacterial Culture With Biofire® Filmarray® Multiplex Pcr Screening Of Archived Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens From Children With Suspected Bacterial Meningitis In Nigeria, S Obaro, F Hassan-Hanga, N Medugu, Rasaq Olaosebikan, G Olanipekun, B Jibir, S Gambo, Theresa Ajose, Carissa Duru, B Ebruke, H D Davies

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of bacterial meningitis remains a challenge in most developing countries due to low yield from bacterial culture, widespread use of non-prescription antibiotics, and weak microbiology laboratories. The objective of this study was to compare the yield from standard bacterial culture with the multiplex nested PCR platform, the BioFire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (BioFire ME Panel), for cases with suspected acute bacterial meningitis.

METHODS: Following Gram stain and bacterial culture on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from children aged less than 5 years with a clinical suspicion of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) as defined by the WHO guidelines, residual CSF specimens …

Effectiveness Of Maternal Mrna Covid-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Against Covid-19-Associated Hospitalizations In Infants Aged <6 Months During Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Predominance - 20 States, March 9, 2022-May 31, 2023., Regina M. Simeone, Laura D. Zambrano, Natasha B. Halasa, Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, Margaret M. Newhams, Michael J. Wu, Amber O. Orzel-Lockwood, Satoshi Kamidani, Pia S. Pannaraj, Katherine Irby, Aline B. Maddux, Charlotte V. Hobbs, Melissa A. Cameron, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Michele Kong, Ryan A. Nofziger, Jennifer E. Schuster, Hillary Crandall, Janet R. Hume, Mary A. Staat, Elizabeth H. Mack, Tamara T. Bradford, Sabrina M. Heidemann, Emily R. Levy, Shira J. Gertz, Samina S. Bhumbra, Tracie C. Walker, Katherine E. Bline, Kelly N. Michelson, Matt S. Zinter, Heidi R. Flori, Angela P. Campbell, Adrienne G. Randolph, Overcoming Covid-19 Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Infants aged < 6 months are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccination during pregnancy has been associated with protection against infant COVID-19-related hospitalization. The Overcoming COVID-19 Network conducted a case-control study during March 9, 2022-May 31, 2023, to evaluate the effectiveness of maternal receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine dose (vaccine effectiveness [VE]) during pregnancy against COVID-19-related hospitalization in infants aged < 6 months and a subset of infants aged < 3 months. VE was calculated as (1 - adjusted odds ratio) x 100% among all infants aged < 6 months and < 3 months. Case-patients (infants hospitalized for COVID-19 outside of birth hospitalization and who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result) and control patients (infants hospitalized for COVID-19-like illness with a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result) were compared. Odds ratios were determined using multivariable logistic regression, comparing the odds of receipt of a maternal COVID-19 vaccine dose (completion of a 2-dose vaccination series or a third or higher dose) during pregnancy with maternal nonvaccination between case- and control patients. VE of maternal vaccination during pregnancy against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 35% (95% CI = 15%-51%) among infants aged < 6 months and 54% (95% CI = 32%-68%) among infants aged < 3 months. Intensive care unit admissions occurred in 23% of all case-patients, and invasive mechanical ventilation was more common among infants of unvaccinated (9%) compared with vaccinated mothers (1%) (p = 0.02). Maternal vaccination during pregnancy provides some protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations among infants, particularly those aged < 3 months. Expectant mothers should remain current with COVID-19 vaccination to protect themselves and their infants from hospitalization and severe outcomes associated with COVID-19.

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus In Person Living With Hiv, Connecticut, Usa, 2021, Jonathan Dyal, Shiv Gandhi, Caitlin M Cossaboom, Austin Leach, Ketan Patel, Marjorie Golden, Joseph Canterino, Marie-Louise Landry, Debi Cannon, Mary Choi, Inna Krapiunaya, John D Klena, Trevor Shoemaker

Journal Articles

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is an underreported cause of miscarriage and neurologic disease. Surveillance remains challenging because of nonspecific symptomatology, inconsistent case reporting, and difficulties with diagnostic testing. We describe a case of acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus disease in a person living with HIV in Connecticut, USA, identified by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Infants Admitted To Us Intensive Care Units For Rsv Infection During The 2022 Seasonal Peak., Natasha Halasa, Laura D. Zambrano, Justin Z. Amarin, Laura S. Stewart, Margaret M. Newhams, Emily R. Levy, Steven L. Shein, Christopher L. Carroll, Julie C. Fitzgerald, Marian G. Michaels, Katherine Bline, Melissa L. Cullimore, Laura Loftis, Vicki L. Montgomery, Asumthia S. Jeyapalan, Pia S. Pannaraj, Adam J. Schwarz, Natalie Z. Cvijanovich, Matt S. Zinter, Aline B. Maddux, Melania M. Bembea, Katherine Irby, Danielle M. Zerr, Joseph D. Kuebler, Christopher J. Babbitt, Mary Glas Gaspers, Ryan A. Nofziger, Michele Kong, Bria M. Coates, Jennifer E. Schuster, Shira J. Gertz, Elizabeth H. Mack, Benjamin R. White, Helen Harvey, Charlotte V. Hobbs, Heda Dapul, Andrew D. Butler, Tamara T. Bradford, Courtney M. Rowan, Kari Wellnitz, Mary Allen Staat, Cassyanne L. Aguiar, Saul R. Hymes, Adrienne G. Randolph, Angela P. Campbell, Rsv-Pic Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and infant hospitalization worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of RSV-related critical illness in US infants during peak 2022 RSV transmission.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used a public health prospective surveillance registry in 39 pediatric hospitals across 27 US states. Participants were infants admitted for 24 or more hours between October 17 and December 16, 2022, to a unit providing intensive care due to laboratory-confirmed RSV infection.

EXPOSURE: Respiratory syncytial virus.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Data were captured on demographics, …

Notes From The Field: Multipathogen Respiratory Virus Testing Among Primary And Secondary School Students And Staff Members In A Large Metropolitan School District - Missouri, November 2, 2022-April 19, 2023., Jennifer Goldman, Brian R. Lee, Janelle Porter, Anila Deliu, Shannon Tilsworth, Olivia M. Almendares, Sadia Sleweon, Hannah L. Kirking, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Evolutionary And Functional History Of The Escherichia Coli K1 Capsule., Sergio Arredondo-Alonso, George Blundell-Hunter, Zuyi Fu, Rebecca A. Gladstone, Alfred Fillol-Salom, Jessica Loraine, Elaine Cloutman-Green, Pål J. Johnsen, Ørjan Samuelsen, Anna K. Pöntinen, François Cléon, Susana Chavez-Bueno, Miguel A. De La Cruz, Miguel A. Ares, Manivanh Vongsouvath, Agnieszka Chmielarczyk, Carolyne Horner, Nigel Klein, Alan Mcnally, Joice N. Reis, José R. Penadés, Nicholas R. Thomson, Jukka Corander, Peter W. Taylor, Alex J. Mccarthy

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Escherichia coli is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in humans. Capsule polysaccharide has an important role in bacterial pathogenesis, and the K1 capsule has been firmly established as one of the most potent capsule types in E. coli through its association with severe infections. However, little is known about its distribution, evolution and functions across the E. coli phylogeny, which is fundamental to elucidating its role in the expansion of successful lineages. Using systematic surveys of invasive E. coli isolates, we show that the K1-cps locus is present in a quarter of bloodstream infection isolates and has emerged …

Sars-Cov-2 Screening Testing Programs For Safe In-Person Learning In K-12 Schools., Ibukunoluwa C. Kalu, Kanecia O. Zimmerman, Jennifer Goldman, Dana Keener Mast, Ashley M. Blakemore, Ganga Moorthy, Angelique E. Boutzoukas, Melissa M. Campbell, Diya Uthappa, Jesse Delarosa, Jessica M. Potts, Laura J. Edwards, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Daniel K. Benjamin, Tara K. Mann, Jennifer E. Schuster

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) screening testing is a recommended mitigation strategy for schools, although few descriptions of program implementation are available.

METHODS: Kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) students and staff practicing universal masking during the delta and omicron variant waves from five schools in Durham, North Carolina and eight schools in Kansas City, Missouri participated; Durham's program was structured as a public health initiative facilitated by school staff, and Kansas City's as a research study facilitated by a research team. Tests included school-based rapid antigen or polymerase chain reaction testing, at-home rapid antigen testing, and off-site …

Mortality And Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events In Hospitalized Patients With Atrial Fibrillation With Covid-19, Lucas Wang, Lawrence Hoang, Kristopher Aten, Mujahed Abualfoul, Victor Canela, Sri Prathivada, Michael Vu, Yi Zhao, Manavjot Sidhu

Journal Articles

COVID-19 results in increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF). However, little is known about the combined effect of AF and COVID-19 on patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine if AF, specifically new-onset AF (NOAF), is associated with increased risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This multicenter retrospective analysis identified 2,732 patients with COVID-19 admitted between March and December 2020. Data points were manually reviewed in the patients' electronic health records. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess if AF was associated with death or MACE. Patients with AF …

Bnt162b2 Mrna Vaccination Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 Is Associated With A Decreased Likelihood Of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children Aged 5-18 Years-United States, July 2021 - April 2022., Laura D. Zambrano, Margaret M. Newhams, Samantha M. Olson, Natasha B. Halasa, Ashley M. Price, Amber O. Orzel, Cameron C. Young, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Aline B. Maddux, Katherine E. Bline, Satoshi Kamidani, Keiko M. Tarquinio, Kathleen Chiotos, Jennifer E. Schuster, Melissa L. Cullimore, Sabrina M. Heidemann, Charlotte V. Hobbs, Ryan A. Nofziger, Pia S. Pannaraj, Melissa A. Cameron, Tracie C. Walker, Stephanie P. Schwartz, Kelly N. Michelson, Bria M. Coates, Heidi R. Flori, Elizabeth H. Mack, Laura Smallcomb, Shira J. Gertz, Samina S. Bhumbra, Tamara T. Bradford, Emily R. Levy, Michele Kong, Katherine Irby, Natalie Z. Cvijanovich, Matt S. Zinter, Cindy Bowens, Hillary Crandall, Janet R. Hume, Manish M. Patel, Angela P. Campbell, Adrienne G. Randolph, Overcoming Covid-19 Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), linked to antecedent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is associated with considerable morbidity. Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by vaccination might also decrease MIS-C likelihood.

METHODS: In a multicenter, case-control, public health investigation of children ages 5-18 years hospitalized from 1 July 2021 to 7 April 2022, we compared the odds of being fully vaccinated (2 doses of BNT162b2 vaccine ≥28 days before hospital admission) between MIS-C case-patients and hospital-based controls who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. These associations were examined by age group, timing of vaccination, …

Risk Factors For Ebola Virus Persistence In Semen Of Survivors In Liberia, Jonathan Dyal, Aaron Kofman, Jomah Z Kollie, John Fankhauser, Romeo Orone, Moses J Soka, Uriah Glaybo, Armah Kiawu, Edna Freeman, Giovanni Giah, Henry D Tony, Mylene Faikai, Mary Jawara, Kuku Kamara, Samuel Kamara, Benjamin Flowers, Mohammed L Kromah, Rodel Desamu-Thorpe, James Graziano, Shelley Brown, Maria E Morales-Betoulle, Deborah L Cannon, Kaihong Su, Susanne L Linderman, Mateusz Plucinski, Eric Rogier, Richard S Bradbury, W Evan Secor, Katherine E Bowden, Christi Phillips, Mary N Carrington, Yeon-Hwa Park, Maureen P Martin, Maria Del Pilar Aguinaga, Robert Mushi, Dana L Haberling, Elizabeth D Ervin, John D Klena, Moses Massaquoi, Tolbert Nyenswah, Stuart T Nichol, David E Chiriboga, Desmond E Williams, Steven H Hinrichs, Rafi Ahmed, Benjamin T Vonhm, Pierre E Rollin, Lawrence J Purpura, Mary J Choi

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Long-term persistence of Ebola virus (EBOV) in immunologically privileged sites has been implicated in recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This study was designed to understand how the acute course of EVD, convalescence, and host immune and genetic factors may play a role in prolonged viral persistence in semen.

METHODS: A cohort of 131 male EVD survivors in Liberia were enrolled in a case-case study. "Early clearers" were defined as those with 2 consecutive negative EBOV semen test results by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) ≥2 weeks apart within …

Circulation Of Rhinoviruses And/Or Enteroviruses In Pediatric Patients With Acute Respiratory Illness Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic In The Us., Danielle A. Rankin, Andrew J. Spieker, Ariana Perez, Anna L. Stahl, Herdi K. Rahman, Laura S. Stewart, Jennifer E. Schuster, Joana Y. Lively, Zaid Haddadin, Varvara Probst, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Mary A. Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Monica M. Mcneal, Christopher J. Harrison, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Susan I. Gerber, Meredith Mcmorrow, Brian Rha, James D. Chappell, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Claire M. Midgley, Natasha B. Halasa, Nvsn Network Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses, which continued to circulate during the COVID-19 pandemic, are commonly detected in pediatric patients with acute respiratory illness (ARI). Yet detailed characterization of rhinovirus and/or enterovirus detection over time is limited, especially by age group and health care setting.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify and characterize rhinovirus and/or enterovirus detection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents seeking medical care for ARI at emergency departments (EDs) or hospitals.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), a multicenter, active, prospective surveillance platform, for pediatric patients who sought …

Prospective Evaluation Of The Fungitell® (1→3) Beta-D-Glucan Assay As A Diagnostic Tool For Invasive Fungal Disease In Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Report From The Children's Oncology Group, William R Otto, Christopher C Dvorak, Craig L K Boge, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Adam J Esbenshade, Michael L Nieder, Sarah Alexander, William J Steinbach, Ha Dang, Doojduen Villaluna, Lu Chen, Micah Skeens, Theoklis E Zaoutis, Lillian Sung, Brian T Fisher

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Non-invasive biomarkers, such as the beta-D-glucan assay, may improve the diagnosis of IFD. The objective was to define the utility of surveillance testing using Fungitell® beta-D-glucan (BDG) assay in children receiving antifungal prophylaxis in the immediate post-HCT period.

METHODS: Weekly surveillance blood testing with the Fungitell® BDG assay was performed during the early post-HCT period in the context of a randomized trial of children, adolescents, and young adults undergoing allogeneic HCT allocated to triazole or caspofungin prophylaxis. Positivity was defined at …

A Survey With Interventional Components Delivered On Tablet Devices Versus Usual Care To Increase Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Cisgender Black Women: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Mandy J Hill, Angela M Heads, Robert Suchting, Angela L Stotts

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Cisgender (cis) Black women in the USA are more likely to become HIV positive during their lifetime than other women. We developed and implemented a behavioral intervention, Increasing PrEP (iPrEP), the first pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at motivating cis Black women to be willing to use PrEP for HIV prevention and attend an initial PrEP clinic visit following an emergency department visit.

METHODS: Eligible participants were Black cisgender women ages 18-55 years who acknowledged recent condomless sex and substance use. Participants were randomized to iPrEP or usual care (UC). iPrEP is a survey-based intervention designed to raise …

Antibody Duration After Infection From Sars-Cov-2 In The Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey, Michael D Swartz, Stacia M Desantis, Ashraf Yaseen, Frances A Brito, Melissa A Valerio-Shewmaker, Sarah E Messiah, Luis G Leon-Novelo, Harold W Kohl, Cesar L Pinzon-Gomez, Tianyao Hao, Shiming Zhang, Yashar Talebi, Joy Yoo, Jessica R Ross, Michael O Gonzalez, Leqing Wu, Steven H Kelder, Mark Silberman, Samantha Tuzo, Stephen J Pont, Jennifer A Shuford, David Lakey, Eric Boerwinkle

Journal Articles

Understanding the duration of antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus that causes COVID-19 is important to controlling the current pandemic. Participants from the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey (Texas CARES) with at least 1 nucleocapsid protein antibody test were selected for a longitudinal analysis of antibody duration. A linear mixed model was fit to data from participants (n = 4553) with 1 to 3 antibody tests over 11 months (1 October 2020 to 16 September 2021), and models fit showed that expected antibody response after COVID-19 infection robustly increases for 100 days postinfection, and predicts …

Factors Associated With Prevalent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection And Disease Among Adolescents And Adults Exposed To Rifampin-Resistant Tuberculosis In The Household, Soyeon Kim, Anneke C. Hesseling, Xingye Wu, Michael D. Hughes, N. Sarita Shah, Sanjay Gaikwad, Nishi Kumarasamy, Erika Mitchell, Mey Leon, Pedro Gonzales, Sharlaa Badal-Faesen, Madeleine Lourens, Sandy Nerette, Justin Shenje, Petra De Koker, Supalert Nedsuwan, Lerato Mohapi, Unoda A. Chakalisa, Rosie Mngqbisa, Rodrigo Otávio Da Silva Escada, Samuel Ouma, Barbara Heckman, Linda Naini, Amita Gupta, Susan Swindells, Gavin Churchyard, Actg A5300/Impaact 2003 Phoenix Feasibility Study Team

Journal Articles: Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND: Understanding factors associated with prevalent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and prevalent TB disease in household contacts of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) may be useful for TB program staff conducting contact investigations.

METHODS: Using data from a cross-sectional study that enrolled index participants with rifampin-resistant pulmonary TB and their household contacts (HHCs), we evaluated HHCs age ≥15 years for factors associated with two outcomes: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and TB disease. Among HHCs who were not already diagnosed with current active TB disease by the TB program, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was determined by interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). TB disease was adjudicated …

The Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies Within The Community Of A Private Tertiary University In The Philippines: A Serial Cross Sectional Study, Lourdes S. Tanchanco, Jenica Clarisse Y. Sy, Angel Belle C. Dy, Myla D. Levantino, Arianna Maever L. Amit, John Wong, Kirsten Angeles, John Paul Vergara

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions. This study determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among administrators, faculty, staff, and students of a private tertiary academic institution in the Philippines over a 7 month period. It employed a serial cross-sectional method using qualitative and quantitative COVID-19 antibody test kits. A total of 1,318 participants were tested, showing 47.80% of the study population yielding IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 virus. A general increase in seroprevalence was observed from June to December 2021, which coincided with the vaccine roll-out of …

Respiratory Virus Surveillance Among Children With Acute Respiratory Illnesses - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, 2016-2021., Ariana Perez, Joana Y. Lively, Aaron Curns, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Natasha B. Halasa, Mary Allen Staat, Peter G. Szilagyi, Laura S. Stewart, Monica M. Mcneal, Benjamin Clopper, Yingtao Zhou, Brett L. Whitaker, Elizabeth Lemasters, Elizabeth Harker, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Gayle E. Langley, Susan I. Gerber, Angela Campbell, Aron J. Hall, Brian Rha, Meredith Mcmorrow, New Vaccine Surveillance Network Collaborators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) is a prospective, active, population-based surveillance platform that enrolls children with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) at seven pediatric medical centers. ARIs are caused by respiratory viruses including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and most recently SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), which result in morbidity among infants and young children (1-6). NVSN estimates the incidence of pathogen-specific pediatric ARIs and collects clinical data (e.g., underlying medical conditions and vaccination status) to assess risk factors for severe disease and calculate influenza and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Current NVSN …

Cross-Reactive Immunity Against The Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Variant Is Low In Pediatric Patients With Prior Covid-19 Or Mis-C., Juanjie Tang, Tanya Novak, Julian Hecker, Gabrielle Grubbs, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Lorenza Bellusci, Sara Pourhashemi, Janet Chou, Kristin Moffitt, Natasha B. Halasa, Stephanie P. Schwartz, Tracie C. Walker, Keiko M. Tarquinio, Matt S. Zinter, Mary A. Staat, Shira J. Gertz, Natalie Z. Cvijanovich, Jennifer E. Schuster, Laura L. Loftis, Bria M. Coates, Elizabeth H. Mack, Katherine Irby, Julie C. Fitzgerald, Courtney M. Rowan, Michele Kong, Heidi R. Flori, Aline B. Maddux, Steven L. Shein, Hillary Crandall, Janet R. Hume, Charlotte V. Hobbs, Adriana H. Tremoulet, Chisato Shimizu, Jane C. Burns, Sabrina R. Chen, Hye Kyung Moon, Christoph Lange, Adrienne G. Randolph, Surender Khurana

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Neutralization capacity of antibodies against Omicron after a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents is not well studied. Therefore, we evaluated virus-neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron variants by age-stratified analyses (5 years of age. As expected, convalescent pediatric COVID-19 and MIS-C cohorts demonstrate higher neutralization titers than hospitalized acute COVID-19 patients. Overall, children and adolescents show some loss of cross-neutralization against all variants, with the most pronounced loss against Omicron. In contrast to SARS-CoV-2 infection, children vaccinated twice demonstrated higher titers against Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron. These findings can influence transmission, re-infection …