Infectious Disease Commons^™

Assessing Hpv And Hpv Vaccine Awareness And Perception Amongst Undergraduate Students, Maura Hawkins

Honors Theses

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Vaccination rates remain low among college-aged students despite an effective vaccine being available. This study investigates HPV and HPV vaccination-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions among undergraduate students to inform targeted intervention strategies. Participants included undergraduate students (n = 19) who attended one of three focus groups conducted in April 2025 at the University of South Alabama. Structured interview guides explored HPV knowledge, perceived risk and severity, attitudes towards vaccination, autonomy in health decision-making, trust in health information sources, and preferred educational strategies. Discussions were …

Comparison Of Ecg Features, Cardiac Biomarkers, And Clinical Outcomes In Three Waves Of Hospitalized Covid-19 Pneumonia Patients With Cardiovascular Events, Yuchen Han, Jahnavi Sunkara, Tshura S Ali, Harideep Samanapally, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Fnu Deepti, Emma C. Huang, Justin J. Huang, Maiying Kong, Jiapeng Huang

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly evolving virus that can severely impact the cardiovascular system. With new variants, it is important to characterize wave-specific (defined by dominant circulating variants) clinical changes.

Methods

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 community acquired pneumonia at eight adult acute-care hospitals in the city of Louisville, KY was conducted. Patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) community acquired pneumonia who experienced a cardiovascular event between March 2020 and July 2022 were included in this analysis. Variant assignment was based on temporal prevalence rather than genomic confirmation, and …

A Rare And Challenging Polymicrobial Pleural Infection Involving Cupriavidus Pauculus In A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Multiple Complications, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Syeda Samiya Kamal, Muhammad Muneeb, Summaya Zafar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

A 58-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a history of treatment consisting of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and chronic prednisolone therapy, presented with fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and left leg cellulitis. She developed septic shock complicated by tension pneumothorax requiring emergency thoracostomy and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Pleural fluid culture grew Cupriavidus pauculus, a rare environmental gram-negative bacillus, alongside Burkholderia cepacia and Candida parapsilosis, indicating polymicrobial infection which was most likely predisposed by patient's immunosuppressed state from RA and prolonged steroid use. Treatment consisted of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, fluconazole, and cardiopulmonary support, and culminated in …

Htlv-1 And Atll: Epidemiology, Oncogenesis, And Opportunities For Community-Informed Research In The United States, Adrian D. Altieri, Sean P. Reilly, Abu Mansalay, Alan Khoo, Nettie Johnson, Zafar K. Khan, Amy Leader, Pooja Jain, Pierluigi Porcu

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first oncogenic human retrovirus, causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive neoplasm of mature CD4+ T-cells that is incurable in most patients and is associated with a median survival of less than 1 year. HTLV-1 also causes inflammatory disorders, including HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and uveitis. The estimated lifetime risks of ATLL and HAM/TSP in HTLV-1 carriers are 3-5% and 0.25-1.8%, respectively. Although there is uncertainty about other health effects of HTLV-1, a recent meta-analysis showed an association between HTLV-1 and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic diseases and a 57% increased risk …

A Cancer Education Needs Assessment: Informing Middle-Aged Female Patients About The Relationships Between Obesity And Women’S Health Concerns In The Reproductive System, Breast, And Endometrial Health, Batul Mirza

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Obesity significantly impacts women’s health, particularly among middle-aged women, by increasing the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial, and reproductive system cancers. This study examines the educational needs of this demographic group regarding obesity-related cancer risks and explores effective intervention strategies. Obesity-induced mechanisms – hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance – drive cancer susceptibility, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. The study employs a qualitative design, which includes interviews with subject matter experts (SMEs) and surveys of middle-aged women. The goal is to assess awareness, perceived barriers, and preferred learning methods. Findings suggest that with many …

The Effect Of Individual Variation On Epidemiological Dynamics: From Super-Spreaders To Landscapes Of Risk, Alexis Shannon Beagle

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Individuals that make up a population always display some level of variation between members. At the smallest scale, individuals always maintain genetic variation, but variation continues to arise at other scales of biological organization from physiological or immunological variation within individuals to variation in behavior between individuals that can be both genetically and environmentally mediated. The role of individual variation is particularly important in the context of infectious diseases because there is strong evidence that infections are highly heterogenous, indicating that patterns of individual variation drive a significant portion of the epidemiological patterns we observe. Individual variation leads to heterogeneity …

Supplementation With Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food Has No Effect On Adverse Outcomes Among Undernourished Children Aged 6–59 Months With Severe Pneumonia, Damalie Nalwanga, Elisa Giallongo, Victor Musiime, Sarah Kiguli, Peter Olupot-Olupot, Florence Alaroker, Robert Opoka, Abner Tagoola, Mainga Hamaluba, Christabel Mogaka

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objectives: To investigate the effect of supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6–59 months with severe pneumonia.

Methods: This secondary analysis of the COAST-Nutrition (ISRCTN10829073) included children hospitalized for severe pneumonia in Uganda and Kenya. Undernutrition was defined as having either a weight-for-age z score, height-for-age z score, or weight-for-height/length z score below the median of the WHO reference population (< 0) or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) below 13.5 cm. Participants were randomized to receive 1 sachet of RUTF daily for 8 weeks in addition to the usual diet (intervention) or usual diet alone (control). The primary composite outcome for adverse events was any one of mortality, re-admission, or deterioration of nutritional status by day 90 of follow-up.

Results: Of 846 main trial participants, 741 (88%) met the inclusion criteria (intervention: 374 versus control: 367). Of 687 (93%) participants in whom the primary outcome was assessed, 370 …

A Retrospective Study Of Pulmonary Function Tests In Bronchiectasis: An Infectious Disease Of The Respiratory System, Vinod Mutkule, Mahesh Shinde, Vidya Bapmare, Sangramsingh Dixit, Atharva Sharma, Kshitij Sarwey, Yogeshwari Patil, Sanket Jethlia, Aayushi Dwivedi, Disha Pardeshi, Anmol Rai, Kunal Shah, Vidhi Kalwar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Bronchiectasis, currently being recognized worldwide, is an abnormal dilatation of the bronchi and bronchioles brought on by recurrent cycles of inflammation and airway infection. Impaired pulmonary function has a predictive significance in bronchiectasis. When treating patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory diseases, pulmonary function tests (PFT) are useful examinations. Very few studies have been done on PFTs in bronchiectasis. The main aim of this study is to study PFTs in bronchiectasis.

Method: This is a retrospective observational study done on 50 patients over two years at the tertiary care center. The previous records of patients were collected from the …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance And Antimicrobial Stewardship Among Healthcare Workers In Outpatient Medical Centers In Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Mary Kaniu, Wahu Gitakah, Rupali Jain, Ann Munyare, Rodney Adam, Aliza Monroe Wise

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat with a projected 10 million deaths globally by 2050. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are coordinated efforts involving doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers. Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health providers is pivotal for implementing strategies to curb the spread of AMR. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding AMR and AMS among healthcare workers in Kenya.

Design: A qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews

Setting: 12 private outpatient clinics in Kenya.

Participants: Healthcare workers including administrators and clinicians. …

Estimation Of Therapeutic Threshold For Tuberculosis Using Adapted Nominal Group Technique And Clinical Vignettes In Clinical And Community Settings In Southern Africa, Alfred Kipyegon Keter, Alastair Van Heerden, Tom Decroo, Tom Boyles, Shannon Bosman, Thandanani Madonsela, Lindani Innocent Msimango, Lenika Naiken, Carlos Kiyan, Mashaete Kamele

Population Health, East Africa

Background: When confronted with diagnostic uncertainty and a decision on whether to start treatment or not, clinicians consider the potential harm and benefit of offering versus withholding treatment. Treatment can be offered if the probability of tuberculosis (TB) in the patient is above the “therapeutic threshold” (ThT): the probability of disease at which the expected utility of treating and not treating is the same. We estimated ThT for TB in clinical and community settings in Southern Africa using two methods: an adapted nominal group technique (aNGT), and decisions made based on clinical vignettes (CVs).

Methods: We enrolled health …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Adults Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Brian S. Shaw, Cara Slaton, Ian P. Murphy, Michael Mcalister, Daniel Egan, Kwabena Ayesu

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative sense single-stranded RNA virus (ssRNA) that primarily causes respiratory infections in both children and older adults. We examined clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized adult patients who tested positive for RSV.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study that examined adult patients admitted with a positive RSV test over two years across eight hospitals in Orlando, Florida.

Results: A total of 120 patients were included, of which 88 (73%) were 60 years old and older. Overall, patients with RSV infection were caucasian (62%) with a median age of 70 years and …

Outcomes Of Pregnant Icu Patients With Severe Covid-19 Pneumonia In Qatar During The Three Waves Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Layla J.M Kily, Sohel M.G Ahmed, Tamam A.K.M Alhusban, Mohammed J. Orompurath, Marcus Lance, Mogahed I.H Hussein, Salwa M. Abuyaqoub, Huda A. Saleh, Eynas Abdalla, Santhosh Gopalakrishnan

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Introduction: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 infection/pneumonia as they are known to be more vulnerable to viral infections. They require close monitoring and appropriate timely intervention to minimize the impact on both the mother and the fetus. Although the more prevalent Omicron variant led to fewer severe infections and fewer intensive care unit (ICU) admissions globally during the third wave, the effect on pregnant women and pregnancy outcomes was unknown. The vaccination campaign was thoroughly established by the third wave of the pandemic in Qatar. This retrospective descriptive cohort study investigates the characteristics, hospital stay, interventions, …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Association Of Non-Communicable Diseases With Severe Covid-19 Among People Living With And Without Diagnosed Hiv/Aids In New York State, Ravi Kumar Balu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: People living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) have a higher chance of co-infections and co-morbidities than the general population. When SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and later declared a pandemic, it was speculated that PLWDH might be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease outcomes given their increased vulnerability to other respiratory infections like influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and tuberculosis. However, several facets of COVID-19 disease in PLWDH are incompletely understood, including whether non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are strong risk factors for severe disease outcomes and death as they are in the general population.

Methods: The data …

Review Of The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, And Treatment Of Naegleria Fowleri-Induced Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, Terrance Zhang

MCB Articles

Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic, ubiquitous, free-living amoeba, but is also known as the “brain-eating” amoeba. This is the etiological agent of a rare and fulminant waterborne disease known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) that is acutely fatal in 90-99% of reported cases. Those who come into contact with infested waters are at risk of introducing the amoeba into their upper nasal canal, whence the trophozoite form is known to migrate along the olfactory nerve, through the cribriform plate, and enter the central nervous system. Although the exact pathogenesis of N. fowleri is not known, studies have demonstrated contact-dependent and …

Site-Specific Prevalence Of Human Papillomavirus Infection In Malaysian Men, Mohd Khairul Anwar Shafii

Student Works (2020-2029)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is among one of the common infections among the female population and is closely associated with cervical cancer. It has gained attention since the introduction of prophylactic HPV vaccines. However, the epidemiology of HPV infection among the male population in the Asian context remains largely unknown. The worldwide report on the prevalence of HPV infection among men varies depending on the target population and method of sampling. This study aims to determine the knowledge, and site-specific prevalence of anogenital HPV infection, and its associated factors among sexually active men in an urban middle-income Asian setting. The …

Client Perspectives On The Development Of A Rapid Prep Initiative At A Sexual Health Center In New Orleans, Louisiana, Aish Lovett, Rose Luder, Rebecca Lillis, Isolde Butler, Julia Siren, Samuel Gomez, Kevin Kamis, Oluyomi Obafemi, Sarah E. Rowan, Stefan Baral, Meredith E. Clement

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Uptake of PrEP remains suboptimal, especially in the Southern United States. Same-day or “Rapid PrEP Initiatives” (RPIs) in sexual health centers (SHCs) could facilitate access and overcome barriers to PrEP. We studied the adaptation of an RPI from Denver, Colorado to an SHC in New Orleans, Louisiana. Through focus group discussions (FGDs) with local SHC staff and PrEP providers, we developed a preliminary RPI model. In 5 FGDs with SHC clients referred for or taking PrEP, we gathered adaptation recommendations and feedback on model acceptability, feasibility, and utility. Providers and clients voiced unanimous support for the RPI. Clients favored the …

Case Report: Monkeypox Diagnosed In The Ed, Richard M. Baluyot, Joseph Pagano, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Rashes are one of the most common chief complaints we see as emergency medicine physicians on a day-to-day basis. Most of them tend to be self-limited and require very little workup and can be discharged home; however, it is our job to try to identify rashes that may require isolation in order to prevent an outbreak in our communities. Here we present a case of one such rash that has gained major media attention as of late, Monkeypox.

Modeling An Infection Outbreak With Quarantine: The Sibkr Model, Mikenna Dew, Amanda Langosch, Theadora Baker-Wallerstein

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

Influenza is a respiratory infection that places a substantial burden in the world population each year. In this project, we study and interpret a data set from a flu outbreak in a British boarding school in 1978 with mathematical modeling. First, we propose a generalization of the SIR model based on the quarantine measure in place and establish the long-time behavior of the model. By analyzing the model mathematically, we determine the analytic formulas of the basic reproduction number, the long-time limit of solutions, and the maximum number of infection population. Moreover, we estimate the parameters of the model based …

Design, Synthesis, X-Ray Crystallography, And Biological Activities Of Covalent, Non-Peptidic Inhibitors Of Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease, Md Ashraf-Uz-Zaman, Teck Khiang Chua, Xin Li, Yuan Yao, Bala Krishna Moku, Chandra Bhushan Mishra, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra, Yongcheng Song

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has infected billions of people worldwide with flu-like symptoms since its emergence in 2019. It has caused deaths of several million people. The viral main protease (Mpro) is essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication and therefore a drug target. Several series of covalent inhibitors of Mpro were designed and synthesized. Structure-activity relationship studies show that 1) several chloroacetamide- and epoxide-based compounds targeting Cys145 are potent inhibitors with IC50 values as low as 0.49 μM, and 2) Cys44 of Mpro is not nucleophilic for covalent inhibitor design. High resolution X-ray studies revealed the protein-inhibitor interactions and mechanisms of inhibition. …

Covid-19 Hospital Mortality Among Patients With Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Comparison Between Public And Private Healthcare Services In San Luis Potosí 2020–2022, María E. Torres-Acosta, Rocío M. Cubos-Moncada, Alan Y. Martínez-Castellanos

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: During 2019, México’s total public spending on health was 5.43% of the national gross domestic product, making it one of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that invested the least in developing public health systems. This study analyzes hospital mortality among intubated patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 according to type of institution in San Luis Potosí, México, from March 18, 2020, to April 7, 2022.

Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of publicly available information about mortality among intubated patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with respect to the type of hospitalization institution.

Results: …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Vector-Borne Disease Burden In The United States: Exploring The Epidemiological Evidence, Leah V. Loetman

Honors Theses

Climate change models predict shifts in vector-borne diseases (VBDs) around the world, including in the United States. However, to my knowledge there has yet to be a comprehensive descriptive epidemiological study examining prevalence, geographic distribution, and trends for all tick- and mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. I compiled data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which publishes yearly case numbers for 17 vector-borne diseases. However, these publications depend on a scattered framework of state regulations regarding disease reporting. I compiled data from the CDC to determine the current geographic distribution, prevalence, and trends of tick- and mosquito-borne …

Implementing A Nurse-Driven Clostridium Difficile Screening Protocol, Sandrela Magnuson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a prevalent infection often contracted in hospitals. CDI is also increasingly originating from community settings. In addition to the health risks associated with CDI, diagnosis of a hospital-acquired CDI can have a significant financial impact on hospital systems. When hospital acquired, hospital systems are no longer reimbursed by payers. Secondary to the increasing prevalence of community-acquired CDI, mechanisms for early detection and isolation are warranted.

Local Problem: J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has an integrated Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) electronic health record (EHR) screening questionnaire that requires updating to align with current guidelines.

Purpose: …

Unraveling The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage: A Comparative Research Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic Samples, Catherine G. Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a …

Using Phosphatidylethanol As An Adjunct To Self-Reported Alcohol Use Improves Identification Of Liver Fibrosis Risk, Pamela M. Murnane, Majid Afshar, Gabriel Chamie, Robert L. Cook, Tekeda Ferguson, Lamia Y. Haque, Karen R. Jacobson, Amy C. Justice, Theresa W. Kim, Mandana Khalili, Evgeny Krupitsky, Kathleen A. Mcginnis, Patricia Molina, Winnie R. Muyindike, Bronwyn Myers, Veronica L. Richards, Kaku So-Armah, Scott Stewart, Mark S. Sulkowski, Phyllis C. Tien, Judith A. Hahn

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Accurate assessment of alcohol use informs prevention and management of liver disease. We examined whether phosphatidylethanol (PEth, an alcohol metabolite) blood concentrations are associated with liver fibrosis risk independently of self-reported alcohol use, among persons with and without HIV. Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 12 studies from the United States, Russia, Uganda, and South Africa with PEth, AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption), and FIB-4 measurements. We conducted mixed-effects logistic regression of the relationship between PEth and AUDIT-C as continuous variables (after checking linearity), with high FIB-4 ( ≥ 2.67). We divided PEth (range 0-1000) by 83.3 to …

The Impact Of The Filmarray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel On Empiric Antibiotic Prescriptions In Patients With Suspected Community-Acquired Meningitis, Aaron Pathak, Caitlynn Pham, Sabra Shay, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The BioFire® FilmArray® meningitis/encephalitis (FA/ME) panel provides rapid testing for common cerebrospinal fluid pathogens. We compared empiric antibiotic utilization between patients with suspected community-acquired meningitis with and without an FA/ME panel ordered. No significant differences in antibiotic use were found.

A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study To Characterize Patients Hospitalized With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Adults And Coronavirus Disease 2019 In The United States, 2020-2021, Michael Melgar, Joseph Y Abrams, Shana Godfred-Cato, Ami B Shah, Amit Garg, Andrew Strunk, Mangala Narasimhan, Jonathan Koptyev, Alexandra Norden, David Musheyev, Fahmida Rashid, Rachel Tannenbaum, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Bela Patel, Siddharth Karanth, Chad J Achenbach, Gavin T Hall, Sara M Hockney, Matthew Caputo, Lilian M Abbo, Laura Beauchamps, Stephen Morris, Renzo O Cifuentes, Annabelle De St Maurice, Douglas S Bell, Kavitha K Prabaker, Fernando J Sanz Vidorreta, Evan Bryant, David K Cohen, Rohith Mohan, Christopher P Libby, Spencer Soohoo, Tristel J Domingo, Angela P Campbell, Ermias D Belay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) requires distinguishing it from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may affect clinical management.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we applied the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition to identify adults hospitalized with MIS-A at 6 academic medical centers from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Patients MIS-A were matched by age group, sex, site, and admission date at a 1:2 ratio to patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic COVID-19. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare demographic characteristics, …

Building Up A Genomic Surveillance Platform For Sars-Cov-2 In The Middle Of A Pandemic: A True North-South Collaboration, Waqasuddin Khan, Furqan Kabir, Samiah Kanwar, Fatima Aziz, Sahrish Muneer, Adil Kalam, Mehdia Ali, Nadia Ansari, Fyezah Jehan, Muhammad Imran Nisar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Next-generation sequencing technology has revolutionised pathogen surveillance over the last two decades. However, the benefits are not equitably distributed, with developing countries lagging far behind in acquiring the required technology and analytical capacity. Recent declines in the cost associated with sequencing-equipment and running consumables have created an opportunity for broader adoption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid diagnostics development and DNA sequencing revolutionised the ability to diagnose and sequence SARS-CoV-2 rapidly. Socioeconomic inequalities substantially impact the ability to sequence SARS-CoV-2 strains and undermine a developing country's pandemic preparedness. Low- and middle-income countries face additional challenges in establishing, maintaining and expanding genomic …

Delays In Hepatitis B Immunization Series Completion In People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Daanish Sheikh, Kristen A Staggers, Jennifer Carey, Wendy A Keitel, Robert L Atmar, Hana M El Sahly, Jennifer A Whitaker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated low hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine series completion among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective record review of persons entering HIV care at 2 clinics in Houston, Texas, between 2010 and 2018. Kaplan-Meier curves summarized time to receipt of HBV vaccines for those eligible for vaccination. We estimated the proportions of patients who had received 1, 2, or 3 HBV vaccine doses at 12 and 24 months after entry to care. A Prentice Williams and Peterson total time model was used to evaluate associations between patient characteristics and time to vaccination. …

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination As Defense Against Sars-Cov-2 (Badas): A Randomized Controlled Trial To Protect Healthcare Workers In The Usa By Enhanced Trained Immune Responses, Andrew R Dinardo, Moshe Arditi, Ashish M Kamat, Kent J Koster, Santiago Carrero, Tomoki Nishiguchi, Maxim Lebedev, Aaron B Benjamin, Pablo Avalos, Marisa Lozano, Madeleine G Moule, Brittany Mccune, Baysia Herron, Malik Ladki, Daanish Sheikh, Matthew Spears, Ivan A Herrejon, Courtney Dodge, Sathish Kumar, Robert W Hutchison, Theresa U Ofili, Lynne A Opperman, Jessica A Bernard, Seth P Lerner, George Udeani, Gabriel Neal, Mihai G Netea, Jeffrey D Cirillo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: A large epidemic, such as that observed with SARS-CoV-2, seriously challenges available hospital capacity, and this would be augmented by infection of healthcare workers (HCW). Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine against tuberculosis, with protective non-specific effects against other respiratory tract infections in vitro and in vivo. Preliminary analyses suggest that regions of the world with existing BCG vaccination programs have lower incidence and mortality from COVID-19. We hypothesize that BCG vaccination can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity.

METHODS: This will be a placebo-controlled adaptive multi-center randomized controlled trial. A total of 1800 individuals considered to be at …