Medical Specialties Commons^™

Fcrider: A Recombinant Fc Nanoparticle With Endogenous Adjuvant Activities For Hybrid Immunization, Changchuin Mao, Karen Eberle, Xiaojie Chen, Yiming Zhou, Jun Li, Hong Xin, Wenda Gao

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Active immunization (vaccination) induces long-lasting immunity with memory, which takes weeks to months to develop. Passive immunization (transfer of neutralizing antibodies) provides immediate protection, yet with high cost and effects being comparatively short-lived. No currently approved adjuvants are compatible with formulations to combine active and passive immunizations, not to mention their huge disparities in administration routes and dosage. To solve this, we engineered the Fc fragment of human IgG1 into a hexamer nanoparticle and expressed its afucosylated form in Fut8−/− CHO cells, naming it “FcRider.” FcRider is highly soluble with long-term stability, easily produced at high levels equivalent to those …

Evaluation For Mothers' Knowledge Of Childhood Tonsillitis, Ali Tahssen Alwan, Shukiryia Shadhan Chyad, Sahira Ayyed Abdul-Sahib

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: the inflammation of the tonsils is known as Tonsillitis; it is a well-known clinical condition that an infection of either virus or bacteria. It significantly affects children especially.

The aim of the present study was to identify knowledge of mother toward childhood tonsillitis and to find the relationship between mothers' knowledge of childhood of tonsillitis and some variables.

Methods: A cross section study design was adopted in order to achieve the objectives of study. data collection began from 17th September 2023 until 30th January 2024. A non-probability convenience sample of 160 mothers were recruited to the study. …

Parasitic Contamination Of Soil In The Southern United States, Christine Crudo Blackburn, Sally Mingshuang Yan, David Mccormick, Lauren Nicholas Herrera, Roumen Borilov Iordanov, Mark Daniel Bailey, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J Hotez, Rojelio Mejia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Parasites are generally associated with lower income countries in tropical and subtropical areas. Still, they are also prevalent in low-income communities in the southern United States. Studies characterizing the epidemiology of parasites in the United States are limited, resulting in little comprehensive understanding of the problem. This study investigated the environmental contamination of parasites in the southern United States by determining each parasite's contamination rate and burden in five low-income communities. A total of 499 soil samples of approximately 50 g were collected from public parks and private residences in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. A technique using …

The Il-6 Hypothesis In Covid-19: A Phase 2, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study To Evaluate The Efficacy And Safety Of Free Il-6 Sequestration By The Monoclonal Antibody Sirukumab In Severe And Critical Covid-19, Robert L. Gottlieb, Meredith Clement, Paul Cook, Audra Deveikis, Kap Sum Foong, Philip Robinson, Jihad Slim, Cedric W. Spak, Annemie Buelens, Katleen Callewaert, Sandra De Meyer, Wai Ling Mo, Inge Verbrugge, Liesbeth Van Wesenbeeck, Yanli Zhuang, Jason W. Chien, Magda Opsomer, Erika Van Landuyt

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Upregulation of IL-6 has been associated with worse prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Impact on IL-6 signalling has mostly been limited to clinical outcomes in IL-6 receptor antagonist trials. Methods: We performed a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04380961) of US-based hospitalised adults (< 85 years) with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe (low levels of supplemental oxygen) or critical disease (high levels of oxygen supplementation). Patients received sirukumab 5 mg/kg or placebo single dose IV on Day 1 plus standard of care. The primary endpoint was time to sustained clinical improvement up to Day 28 based on an ordinal scale. Secondary endpoints included clinical improvement, all-cause mortality, and safety. Following an interim analysis, the protocol was amended to only recruit patients with critical COVID-19. Findings: From May 2020 to March 2021, 209 patients were randomised; 112 had critical disease (72 sirukumab, 40 placebo) at baseline. Median time to sustained clinical improvement in critical patients was 17 and 23 days in the sirukumab and placebo groups (HR, 1∙1; 95% CI, 0∙66–1∙88; p > 0∙05). At Day 28, 59∙4% versus 55∙0% of patients achieved clinical improvement with sirukumab versus placebo and rates of all-cause mortality were 24∙6% versus 30∙0%, respectively. Rates of grade ≥ 3 adverse events were comparable between the sirukumab and placebo groups (25∙9% vs 32∙9%; all patients). Interpretation: In critical COVID-19 patients who received sirukumab, there …

Understanding Your Sepsis Diagnosis (Español), Providence Mmhm

Posters with QR Codes

Please see additional files:

1. Patient Education Graphic: Understand Your Sepsis Diagnosis
2. Patient Education Flyer: SEPTICEMIA Todo lo que necesita saber / SEPSIS What You Need to Know (Spanish)

Understanding Your Sepsis Diagnosis (English), Providence Mmhm

Posters with QR Codes

Please see additional files:

1. Patient Education Graphic: Understand Your Sepsis Diagnosis
2. Patient Education Flyer: Sepsis What You Need to Know

Emerging Special Pathogen C4i: Readiness Is Achieved Through Commitment, Collaboration, Coordination, Cooperation, And Innovation, Darrell Ruby, Christa Arguinchona, Lindsey Bandow, David Brett-Major, Barb Dunham, Heather M. Flavell, Jake Lacore, James Lawler, Patti Lord, Brian Rogge, Mark Vazquez, Jana Broadhurst

Conferences

High Consequence Infectious Disease preparedness in Alaska, a partnership. This presentation will detail how civilian and military stakeholders worked together to enhance readiness for management of an emerged special pathogen. Providence, as the Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), leveraged regional relationships and partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to integrate frontline special pathogen preparedness training in Alaska with an operational exercise to test interoperability of local high consequence infection prevention and control and case management workflows with the Isolation System for Treatment and Agile Response for High-Risk Infections (ISTARI). Providence led detailed frontline training …

Complete Genome Sequence Of An Indian Outbreak Strain Of Chikungunya Virus, Eshna Laha, Deepak Jena, Viplov K. Biswas, Sharad Singh, Sunil K. Raghav, Asit K. Pattnaik, Soma Chattopadhyay

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of an Indian strain of chikungunya virus isolated from an infected patient from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during a massive outbreak in 2005–2006. The genome length spans 11,811 nucleotides and has a poly(A) tail of 29 residues at the 3′ end.

Clinical Features Of Chagas Disease Progression And Severity, Maria Carmo P Nunes, Caryn Bern, Eva H Clark, Antonio L Teixeira, Israel Molina

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chagas disease, the most common form of nonischaemic cardiomyopathy globally, is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Latin America. Chagas cardiomyopathy has a wide clinical spectrum and prognosis, which is primarily determined by the severity of left ventricular dysfunction. Chagas disease also affects the brain, particularly manifesting as cardioembolic strokes and cognitive impairments. Disease progression is influenced by various factors such as anti-parasite treatments, host-parasite interactions, and other determinants. This review explores Chagas disease, covering clinical presentations, the range of severity of Chagas cardiomyopathy, and neurological manifestations. We investigate factors that influence the progression of cardiomyopathy, …

Unveiling The Complexity Of Nocardia Septic Arthritis In An Immunocompromised Patient: A Case Report, Steven A. Kessler, Meghan R. Mansour, Ali Khreisat, Mamon Tahhan

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Nocardiosis is the systemic manifestation of Nocardia infection, often found in immunocompromised individuals. Nocardia are transmitted via inhalation or skin wounds, disseminating hematogenously to organs and rarely, joints. We present a patient with immunosuppression who developed gout of the knee with superimposed Nocardial septic arthritis and a possible subsequent systemic infection.

Case Presentation

A 74-year-old man presented with left lower extremity swelling and pain. He was taking immunosuppressive medication for antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-positive vasculitis. A week prior, an arthrocentesis test was positive for gout. He received prednisone without improvement. A repeat arthrocentesis was positive for Nocardia farcinica septic arthritis. …

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Following Influenza B: A Case Report, Kathryn E. Mcgraw, Amanda P. Porter, Alyssa M. Moffitt, Marina E M Golden, Heather Stewart

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy that presents with a triad of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney impairment. It can be attributed to mutations in an array of different complement proteins leading to the overactivation of the complement system, the most impacted being the alternative pathway. Though rare, influenza B has been documented as a potential trigger to the development of aHUS.

Case Presentation

We discuss a 10-year-old girl with a history of aHUS who was found to have a repeat episode of aHUS following an influenza B infection. There have only been a few …

A Clinical Review On Spinal Epidural Abscess: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, And Management For Emergency Medicine And Hospitalist Physicians, Madeline A. Guy, Jeffrey S. Guy

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA), a critical surgical emergency, demands prompt recognition and intervention to prevent severe complications and fatalities. The incidence of SEA is notably increasing, particularly among individuals with diabetes, intravenous drug use, or a history of invasive spinal procedures. Although SEA can manifest through various clinical symptoms, the presence of its classic triad—back pain, fever, and neurological deficits—is noteworthy despite its occurrence in only 10% to 13% of cases. Identifying this triad is vital due to its high specificity for SEA, which is essential to guiding swift diagnostic and therapeutic actions in a condition where early intervention is …

Preventive Effects Of Quercetin On The Leaky Gut By Suppression Of Il-1beta-Induced Transcription Factors Involved In An Inflammatory Pathway In Colonic Epithelial Cells, Wannaporn Chayalak, Sumpun Thammacharoen, Chatsri Deachapunya, Sutthasinee Poonyachoti

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Flavonol quercetin (Q), found in vegetables and fruits, demonstrates the most potent anti-inflammatory effect. The preventive effect and cellular mechanisms of Q (Q1, Q10, and Q100 µM) on IL-1β induced leaky gut via the signaling molecules of inflammatory pathway, NF-κB p65-iκB/or p38/ERK1/2/MLCK/phospho(p)-MLC were investigated in Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxic effect of Q was initially determined by MTT assay. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and apical-to-basolateral fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD-4) flux were used to determine paracellular permeability. The protein expression of signaling molecules was examined by Western blot analysis, and their target MLCK mRNA expression was determined using real-time PCR. All Q …

Vaginitis And Risk Of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Results Of A Multi-Center U.S. Clinical Study Using Sti Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing, Jane R Schwebke, Paul Nyirjesy, Melissa Dsouza, Damon Getman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Significant increases in rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) are occurring in the United States. We present results of a U.S. study examining the intersection of STIs and vaginitis. Among 1,051 women with diagnoses for the presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and/or symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), 195 (18.5%) had one or more STIs, including 101 (9.6%) with TV, 24 (2.3%) with CT, 9 (0.8%) with NG, and 93 (8.8%) with MG. STI prevalence in BV-positive women was 26.3% (136/518), significantly higher than STI …

Infant And Adult Human Intestinal Enteroids Are Morphologically And Functionally Distinct, Grace O Adeniyi-Ipadeola, Julia D Hankins, Amal Kambal, Xi-Lei Zeng, Ketki Patil, Victoria Poplaski, Carolyn Bomidi, Hoa Nguyen-Phuc, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Fabio Stossi, Sue E Crawford, Sarah E Blutt, Allison L Speer, Mary K Estes, Sasirekha Ramani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

UNLABELLED: Human intestinal enteroids (HIEs) are gaining recognition as physiologically relevant models of the intestinal epithelium. While HIEs from adults are used extensively in biomedical research, few studies have used HIEs from infants. Considering the dramatic developmental changes that occur during infancy, it is important to establish models that represent infant intestinal characteristics and physiological responses. We established jejunal HIEs from infant surgical samples and performed comparisons to jejunal HIEs from adults using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and morphologic analyses. We then validated differences in key pathways through functional studies and determined whether these cultures recapitulate known features of the infant …

Candida Auris Inpatient Screening In Collaboration With The Public Health Department., Christian Greco, Heather Smith, Brandy Gilbert, Jennifer Martin, Justin Smyer, Michael Haden, Christina Liscynesky, Shandra R Day, Nora Colburn

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that is associated with nosocomial outbreaks in patients with extensive health care exposure and treatment outside the United States. The Ohio Department of Health recommends C auris screening in high-risk patients. However, this can be operationally difficult for many health care facilities. This report describes a C auris and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales inpatient screening program done in collaboration with state public health.

Addendum: A Small Molecule Produced By Lactobacillus Species Blocks Candida Albicans Filamentation By Inhibiting A Dyrk1-Family Kinase, Jessie Macalpine, Martin Daniel-Ivad, Zhongle Liu, Junko Yano, Nicole M. Revie, Robert T. Todd, Peter J. Stogios, Hiram Sanchez, Teresa R. O'Meara, Thomas A. Tompkins, Alexei Savchenko, Anna Selmecki, Amanda O. Veri, David R. Andes, Paul L. Fidel, Nicole Robbins, Justin Nodwell, Luke Whitesell, Leah E. Cowen

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Outcome Of Corynebacterial Bloodstream Infection In Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Brief Report And Systematic Review, Supavit Chesdachai, Larry M Baddour, M Rizwan Sohail, Bharath Raj Palraj, Malini Madhavan, Hussam Tabaja, Michele T Mcginnis, Madiha Fida, Douglas W Challener, Daniel C Desimone

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiac implantable electronic device infection in the context of corynebacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) remains poorly understood. From 2012 to 2023 at Mayo Clinic, 4 of 12 patients with corynebacterial BSI had cardiac implantable electronic device infection: 1 patient was diagnosed during a relapsing BSI episode. Undefined source, persistent BSI, and the presence of a prosthetic cardiac valve were common characteristics.

Detection Of Soil-Transmitted Helminths And Schistosoma Spp By Nucleic Acid Amplification Test: Results Of The First 5 Years Of The Only International External Quality Assessment Scheme, Annemiek H J Schutte, Rob Koelewijn, Sitara S R Ajjampur, Bruno Levecke, James S Mccarthy, Rojelio Mejia, Steven A Williams, Jaco J Verweij, Lisette Van Lieshout, Jaap J Van Hellemond

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) result in a significant global health burden, particularly in rural communities in low and middle-income countries. While microscopy remains the primary diagnostic method for STH and SCH in resource-limited settings, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are gaining prominence as tools for evaluation of public health control programs in endemic countries, and individual diagnosis in high-income countries. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of NAATs, previous research has highlighted inter-laboratory variations, both in technical and clinical performance, justifying the need for continuous proficiency testing.

METHODOLOGY: Results from 5 rounds over a 5-year …

Trends Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections Among Thai Pediatric Patients, Pintip Suchartlikitwong, Nopphon Wuthinantiwong, Watsamon Jantarabenjakul, Noppadol Wacharachaisurapol, Jiratchaya Sophonphan, Tanittha Chatsuwan, Thanyawee Puthanakit

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background While reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have been reported, vancomycin prescription rates have remained high.

Objectives We aimed to update trends in pediatric prevalence and antibiotic susceptibilities of MRSA infections.

Methods We conducted a retrospective study in patients aged S. aureus infections during 2016-2022 at a Thai tertiary-care hospital. MRSA was defined when resistant to cefoxitin or oxacillin MIC of >4 µg/mL. Patients with MRSA infections and their first isolates were classified into HA-MRSA or CA-MRSA based on surveillance definitions. Antibiotic susceptibilities were tested using the VITEK 2XL automated system and disk diffusion. The annual prevalence of …

Hepatitis A Cases On The Rise And What Can Be Done About It, Dana Mccarney, Stephen Rawlings

Journal of Maine Medical Center

No abstract provided.

School Knowledge Of Infectious Diseases In Schools: Conducting Surveillance And On-Demand, Symptomatic Respiratory Viral Testing In A Large Pre-Kindergarten-12th Grade School District., Jennifer E. Schuster, Tamoor T Chohdry, Chris T. Young, Brian R. Lee, Dithi Banerjee, Anjana Sasidharan, Olivia M Almendares, Hannah L Kirking, Janelle Porter, Anila Deliu, Shannon Tilsworth, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer Goldman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Limited data about acute respiratory illness (ARI) and respiratory virus circulation are available in congregate community settings, specifically schools. To better characterize the epidemiology of ARI and respiratory viruses in schools, we developed School Knowledge of Infectious Diseases in Schools (School KIDS).

METHODS: School KIDS is a prospective, respiratory viral testing program in a large metropolitan school district (pre-kindergarten-12th grade) in Kansas City, Missouri. During the 2022-2023 school year, all students and staff were eligible to participate in surveillance respiratory viral testing at school by submitting observed self-administered nasal swabs monthly. Participants could also submit a nasal swab for …

Bile Acid-Sensitive Human Norovirus Strains Are Susceptible To Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 2 Inhibition, Victoria Tenge, B Vijayalakshmi Ayyar, Khalil Ettayebi, Sue E Crawford, Nicole M Hayes, Yi-Ting Shen, Frederick H Neill, Robert L Atmar, Mary K Estes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a diverse group of RNA viruses that cause endemic and pandemic acute viral gastroenteritis. Previously, we reported that many HuNoV strains require bile or bile acid (BA) to infect human jejunal intestinal enteroid cultures. BA was not essential for the replication of a pandemic-causing GII.4 HuNoV strain. We found the hydrophobic BA glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) promotes the replication of the BA-dependent strain GII.3 in jejunal enteroids. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of the G-protein-coupled BA receptor, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2), by JTE-013, reduced GII.3 infection dose-dependently and inhibited GII.3 cellular uptake in enteroids. Herein, we sought …

Ruptured Infectious Pseudoaneurysm Of The Common Carotid Artery In A 14-Year-Old Girl. Management In The Dr Congo, Alphonse Nzomvuama, Jean Jacques Kalongo, Blondel Bayenekene, Stéphane Yanda, M. Jacques Nsuami

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The infectious pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery is a rare observation in children. We present a case of ruptured infectious common carotid aneurysm in a 14-year-old girl managed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We performed an arterial reconstruction with a saphenous vein patch. Post-operative course was simple. The patient was discharged from the hospital at post-operative day 15. She was doing well and had returned to school. Rupture of an infectious pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery constitutes a serious, life-threatening accident. As we have shown in this case report, its management with successful results is indeed possible, …

Multicenter Analysis Of Valganciclovir Prophylaxis In Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients, Marc Foca, Salih Demirhan, Flor M Munoz, Kristen G Valencia Deray, Claire E Bocchini, Tanvi S Sharma, Gilad Sherman, William J Muller, Taylor Heald-Sargent, Lara Danziger-Isakov, Samantha Blum, Juri Boguniewicz, Samantha Bacon, Tuhina Joseph, Jodi Smith, Monica I Ardura, Yin Su, Gabriela M Maron, Jose Ferrolino, Betsy C Herold

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Valganciclovir is the only approved antiviral for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention in pediatric solid organ transplantation (SOT). Additional approaches may be needed to improve outcomes.

METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study from 2016 to 2019 was conducted of pediatric SOT recipients in whom at least 3 months of valganciclovir prophylaxis was planned. Episodes of CMV DNA in blood (DNAemia), CMV disease, drug-related toxicities, as well as other infections in the first year posttransplant and demographic and clinical data were collected. CMV DNAemia in the first year after prophylaxis or during prophylaxis (breakthrough) was analyzed by multivariate hazard models.

RESULTS: Among the …

Patient Perspectives On Using Telemedicine During In-Center Hemodialysis: A Qualitative Study, Trenton M Haltom, Susie Q Lew, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Glenn M Chertow, Allison Jaure, Kevin F Erickson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the United States federal government expanded originating telemedicine sites to include outpatient dialysis units. For the first time, nephrology practitioners across the United States could replace face-to-face visits with telemedicine for patients receiving in-center hemodialysis. This study describes patients' perspectives on the use of telemedicine during in-center hemodialysis.

STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients from underserved populations (older, less educated, unemployed, persons of color) receiving in-center hemodialysis who used telemedicine with their nephrologist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Telephone semistructured interviews were …

Provider Experiences With Daily Use Of Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators In Health Care, Morgan Lane, Lisa Pompeii, Janelle Rios, Elisa Benavides, Marie Kasbaum, Scott Patlovich, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Adam Hornbeck, Caitlin Mcclain, Rohan Fernando, Margaret Sietsema, Colleen Kraft

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: During public health emergencies, demand for N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs) can outpace supply. Elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) are a potential alternative that are reusable and provide the same or higher levels of protection. This study sought to examine the practical aspects of EHMR use among health care personnel (HCP).

Methods: Between September and December 2021, 183 HCPs at 2 tertiary referral centers participated in this 3-month EHMR deployment, wearing the EHMR whenever respiratory protection was required according to hospital protocols (ie, when an N95 FFR would typically be worn) and responding to surveys about their experience.

Results: …

عدوى المستشفيات, Afaf Taha

Al Jinan الجنان

Despite the progress in the medical fields and technologies used, and the use of a number of antibiotics to eliminate microorganisms that attack the human body, bacterial infections still a major cause of patient deaths. The irony is that hospitals patients turn to for hospitalization are the source of infection caused by microorganisms resistant to a number of antibiotics. The researcher discusses this problem and tells us that the hospital is an ideal place for transmitting pathogens because patients with similar diseases placed in closed groups and are in contact with health workers so that both become a hotbed for …

Identifying Overdose Risk Factors For People Hospitalized With Injection Drug Use-Associated Infections In Maine, Melanie Mait, Kim Murray, Tania D. Strout, Kinna Thakarar

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: The overdose crisis continues to be a significant problem, particularly in rural states such as Maine. The objectives of this study were to: 1) describe demographic and health characteristics and 2) identify overdose risk factors among people in Maine hospitalized with injection drug use (IDU)-associated infections.

Methods: We performed descriptive analysis of demographics, health characteristics, and injection practices, stratified by lifetime history of overdose. We conducted an exploratory logistic regression analysis, controlling for gender, homelessness, having experienced an emergency department (ED) visit in the past 3-months, and endorsement of injecting alone in the past 30 days to examine …

Chagas Disease In Immunocompromised Patients, Eva H Clark, Louisa A Messenger, Jeffrey D Whitman, Caryn Bern

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

As Chagas disease remains prevalent in the Americas, it is important that healthcare professionals and researchers are aware of the screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment recommendations for the populations of patients they care for and study. Management of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in immunocompromised hosts is challenging, particularly because, regardless of antitrypanosomal treatment status, immunocompromised patients with Chagas disease are at risk for T. cruzi reactivation, which can be lethal. Evidence-based practices to prevent and manage T. cruzi reactivation vary depending on the type of immunocompromise. Here, we review available data describing Chagas disease epidemiology, testing, and management practices for various …