Infectious Disease Commons^™

Murine Typhus In Georgia: Historical Context And A Probable Case Of Resurgence Where Previously-Thought Eradicated, Giovanni Mella-Velazquez, Christopher He, Bolanle Akinsola, Judson Miller

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a flea-borne illness historically endemic to the southeastern United States, with initial cases reported in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Following vector control efforts, incidence declined significantly, and the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable disease list in 1987. While recent cases have been reported in select regions, murine typhus has not been documented in Georgia for decades. We present a pediatric case in Atlanta that may represent the first reported instance in nearly 40 years, suggesting possible reemergence in the Southeast.

Methods: We conducted a case report analysis of a pediatric …

Countering Hpv Vaccine Misinformation On Social Media: Practical Strategies For Healthcare Providers, David Baldwin

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a highly effective strategy for preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers; however, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to optimal vaccination rates. Social media has become a major source of health information while simultaneously amplifying misinformation that influences parental attitudes toward HPV vaccination. This narrative literature review examined the relationship between social media misinformation and HPV vaccine hesitancy and identified evidence-based strategies healthcare providers can use to improve vaccine confidence.

A literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified 31 articles published between 2016 and 2025, of which 19 met inclusion criteria. The literature demonstrates …

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 …

The Power Of Proximity: Driving Hand Hygiene Compliance Through Sanitizer Placement, Jennifer E. Jones, Eric Van Middendorp, Leanne Wendt

Posters

Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare settings and is particularly critical in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where patients are highly vulnerable due to immature immune systems and frequent exposure to invasive procedures. Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates. Evidence consistently identifies proper hand hygiene as the single most effective intervention to reduce HAIs in NICUs. Despite its simplicity, compliance among healthcare workers is often suboptimal, influenced by factors such as workload and accessibility of hand hygiene resources.

Quality In Action: A Systematic Approach To Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention, Jennifer E. Jones, Maggie Simons, Sherri Hoard, Gabriel Laney, Adam Nicholson, Victoria Springvloed, Tracy James, Erica Tuffs

Posters

Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a major source of morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in hospitalized patients. Reducing CLABSI rates requires more than isolated interventions; it demands a coordinated, multi-disciplinary strategy that addresses clinical practice, workflow and organizational culture.

Proactive Strategies For Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Cauti) Reduction: Leveraging Audit Tools And Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Mica Blauw

Posters

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a known cause of harm to patients. Policies enforcing infection prevention measures may help minimize the risk of harm to patients, but written policies do not always translate to bedside practice. We implemented a proactive daily audit to increase awareness of, and compliance with, CAUTI prevention tactics.

Code Wet: Navigating Water Leak Mitigation And Remediation Behind The Red Line, Mica Blauw

Posters

Water leaks in the hospital setting are concerning because of the possibility of mold growthon porous materials such asdrywallthatmaylead toinfections. Water leaksbehind the line of demarcation in the surgical services suiterequire extra care during the remediation processdue to the high-risk nature of surgical patients. We navigated water leakmitigation and remediation in a surgical suite while keeping surgical operations funning safely.

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 …

Interim Estimates Of 2025-26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - United States, September 2025-February 2026., Patrick Maloney, Emily L. Reeves, Kristina Wielgosz, Ashley M. Price, Karthik Natarajan, Malini B. Desilva, Kristin Dascomb, Nicola P. Klein, Sara Y. Tartof, Stephanie A. Irving, Shaun J. Grannis, Toan C. Ong, Zachary A. Weber, Jennifer E. Schuster, Danielle M. Zerr, Marian G. Michaels, Julie A. Boom, Natasha B. Halasa, Mary A. Staat, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Stacey L. House, Elie A. Saade, Krissy Moehling Geffel, Manjusha Gaglani, Karen J. Wernli, Vel Murugan, Emily T. Martin, Natalie A B Bontrager, Marie K. Kirby, Amanda B. Payne, Fatimah S. Dawood, Ayzsa Tannis, Heidi L. Moline, Sifang Kathy Zhao, Katherine Adams, Jennifer Decuir, Samantha M. Olson, Jessie R. Chung, Nathaniel Lewis, Brendan Flannery, Carrie Reed, Shikha Garg, Sascha Ellington, Cdc Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Collaborators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

In the United States, annual influenza vaccination has been recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months, including during the 2025-26 season. Interim influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates were calculated for patients with acute respiratory illness-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations from three U.S. respiratory virus VE networks during the 2025-26 influenza season, using a test-negative case-control design. Among children and adolescents aged < 18 years, VE was 38%-41% against influenza outpatient visits and 41% against influenza-associated hospitalization. Among adults aged ≥18 years, VE was 22%-34% against influenza outpatient visits and 30% against influenza-associated hospitalization. Among children and adolescents, VE against influenza A ranged from 37% (against outpatient visits) to 42% (against hospitalization) across settings; among adults, VE against influenza A ranged from 30% (against hospitalization) to 34% (against outpatient visits) across settings. Among children and adolescents, VE against influenza A(H3N2)-associated outpatient visits was 35% and against influenza A(H3N2)-associated hospitalization was 38%. VE against influenza B outpatient visits ranged from 45%-71% among children and adolescents and was 63% among adults. Other estimates of VE were not statistically significant or were not reportable. Although interim influenza VE is lower during the 2025-26 influenza season than it was during recent influenza seasons, these findings demonstrate that influenza vaccination still provides protection against influenza. CDC recommends influenza vaccination; U.S. influenza vaccines remain available for persons aged ≥6 months.

Characteristics Of Young Children Hospitalized With Acute Respiratory Failure From Infection With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Sars-Cov-2, Or Both, November 2023-March 2024., Regina M. Simeone, Margaret M. Newhams, Laura D. Zambrano, Jemima M. Calixte, Katherine Lindsey, Amber Orzel-Lockwood, Amanda B. Payne, Natasha B. Halasa, Satoshi Kamidani, Aline B. Maddux, Kathleen Chiotos, Hillary Crandall, Jennifer E. Schuster, Danielle M. Zerr, Lora M. Martin, Melissa A. Cameron, Katherine Irby, Shira J. Gertz, Steven L. Shein, Ryan A. Nofziger, Samina S. Bhumbra, Janet R. Hume, Michele Kong, Mia Maamari, Bria M. Coates, Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill, Mary Allen Staat, Thomas J. Connors, Matt S. Zinter, Jigar C. Chauhan, Tamara T. Bradford, Kari Wellnitz, Angela P. Campbell, Adrienne G. Randolph, Overcoming Covid-19 Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 can cause acute respiratory failure in children. We compared characteristics and outcomes of children aged < 2 years with respiratory failure from infection with RSV, SARS-CoV-2, or both viruses.

METHODS: We used data from a US pediatric respiratory virus hospitalization surveillance network including children with ICU admission for acute respiratory failure (receiving high-flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation) with RSV and/or SARS-CoV-2 during November 2023-March 2024. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and hospitalization outcomes were stratified by a positive test for RSV, SARS-CoV-2, or both viruses, and compared using chi-squared or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Multivariable analyses assessed independent associations between outcomes and infection.

RESULTS: Overall, 1406 children were included: 1253 (89.1%) …

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 …

The Utilization Of Uv-C Devices To Improve Cleaning And Disinfection In The Operating Room For Reduction Of Infection Rates: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Kathrina Joyce L. Manalo

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Mycoplasma Genitalium Positivity And Co-Infection With Chlamydia Trachomatis And/Or Neisseria Gonorrhoeae At Various Care Sites Across The United States, Rebecca Lillis, Rodney Arcenas, Christy M. Boraas, Steven E. Chavoustie, Lashonda Crane, Nicole D'Empaire, Aaron C. Ermel, Glenn Harnett, Federico Hinestrosa, Stacey House, Joseph Miller, Anthony Mills, Ronald Poblete, Stephen Young, Barbara Van Der Pol

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) positivity and co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), based on results from a trial assessing clinical performance of the Cobas® Liat CT/NG/MG point-of-care test. METHODS: A prospective, US, multicenter, noninterventional study assessed MG positivity in prospective urine samples (male) and clinician-collected vaginal swabs (female) from symptomatic/asymptomatic patients aged ≥14 years attending various clinical settings. Participants were designated positive or negative for MG, CT, and NG based on combined results from three US Food and Drug Administration-approved assays and one laboratory-developed test. MG co-infection with CT and/or NG was assessed. RESULTS: Among …

Exploring Biopsychosocial Influences On Hookup Culture And Disrupting Compulsory Behaviors In Emerging Adults: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Of A Contemporary Public Health Concern, Catherine Benjamin

Honors Theses and Capstones

Multidisciplinary analysis, including biology, psychology, and sociology, to better understand the compulsory Hookup Culture that exists as a contemporary public health concern among the age group defined as emerging adults. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) diagnoses are steadily rising in the United States and disproportionately affecting college students. Early socialization and current educational resources that contribute to shame and stigma are discussed to explain how lifestyle and social conditions can act as risk factors for individual health outcomes.

Acceptability Of Corticosteroid Use In The Treatment Of Infant Bronchiolitis: Utilizing The Theoretical Framework Of Acceptability To Design Research Instruments, Caroline R. Smetanka

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants under six months, yet treatment remains largely supportive due to clinical guidelines that discourage pharmacologic intervention. Recent research suggests that bronchiolitis is not a uniform condition, and a subgroup of infants (those classified within “Profile A”) may benefit from targeted corticosteroid therapy. However, these treatments remain outside current clinical guidelines, and their successful adoption depends on stakeholder acceptability. This Capstone project developed and refined four data collection instruments- two questionnaires and two interview guides- designed to assess how healthcare providers and caregivers perceive the acceptability of corticosteroid treatment for Profile A …

Identifying Barriers For Community Pharmacies As Vaccines For Children (Vfc) Providers In Rural Alabama: Opportunities For Solutions, Myra Bajwa

Honors Theses

Significant Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination disparities exist between rural and urban areas in the US. A primary contributor is low access to preventive care in rural areas. Among the most promising strategies to overcome this is increasing access through offering HPV vaccination in non-traditional, convenient health settings such as pharmacies. In rural areas, community pharmacies are trusted, convenient pillars of the community. In Alabama, community pharmacies are eligible for enrollment in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, a federally-funded program that provides free vaccines to children and adolescents under 18 years old who are uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, or Alaska …

Prevalence Of Potentially Inappropriate Medications In People Living With Hiv: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mustapha Muhammed Abubakar, Abdulmuminu Isah, Ruth Jeminiwa, Ibraheem Abioye, Ismaeel Yunusa, Mohammed Abba-Aji, Osagie Kenneth Cole, Jamila Sani, Mukhtar Ijaiya, Chukwuemeka Nwachuya, Yusuf Ibrahim, Mustapha Usman, Duke Daniels, Oluwaseun Samuel Ilugbuhi, Blessing Onyinye Ukoha-Kalu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are associated with adverse health outcomes. The use of PIM among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) could be more problematic due to peculiarities such as antiretroviral toxicity and drug-disease interactions. However, PIM among PLHIV continues to receive little attention. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review and estimate the prevalence of PIM among PLHIV.

METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2024. Studies included were peer-reviewed articles that determined PIM prevalence using validated explicit or implicit tools and provided statistical information …

Sensitivity And Specificity Of The Cobas Liat Ct/Ng/Mg Nucleic Acid Test In A Clinical Laboratory Setting And Point-Of-Care Location, B Van Der Pol, R Arcenas, C Boraas, S Chavoustie, L L. Crane, N D'Empaire, A C. Ermel, G Harnett, F Hinestrosa, S House, Rebecca A. Lillis, J Miller, A Mills, R Poblete, S A. Young

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Sexually transmitted infections, e.g., Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), present with similar signs/symptoms and are often treated empirically due to delays in receiving diagnostic test results. This study evaluated the clinical performance of the Cobas Liat CT/NG/MG nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) in detecting these pathogens in a point-of-care (POC) setting. This non-interventional, multicenter study recruited symptomatic/asymptomatic participants from 13 geographically diverse POC sites across the USA. Prospective clinician- and self-collected specimens (urine/vaginal swabs) were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Cobas Liat CT/NG/MG test relative to the composite reference standard (CRS), …

Changes In Antiviral Prescribing For Children With Influenza In Us Emergency Departments., Tess Stopczynski, Olla Hamdan, Justin Z. Amarin, James W. Antoon, Laura S. Stewart, Haya Hayek, James Chappell, Andrew J. Spieker, Eileen J. Klein, Janet A. Englund, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, John V. Williams, Marian G. Michaels, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Jennifer E. Schuster, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Ayzsa Tannis, Heidi L. Moline, Samantha M. Olson, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Despite national recommendations, antiviral prescribing in emergency departments (EDs) for children at higher risk of severe influenza, such as those younger than 5 years and those with specific underlying conditions, remains low.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there were changes in antiviral prescribing for children at higher risk of severe influenza in academic pediatric EDs before the COVID-19 pandemic (2016-2020) vs the late pandemic period (2021-2023).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included influenza-positive children younger than 18 years presenting to the ED at 1 of 7 US pediatric academic hospitals participating in the Centers for Disease Control …

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 …

“Not Today”: Overcoming Prep Hesitancy, Stigma, And Adherence Barriers With Lenacapavir, Margaret Conrad, Meredith Clement

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Puzzling Case Of Visual Disturbances Leads To A Fatal Neurodegenerative Diagnosis, Courtney J. Austin, Aaron Carrillo, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Victoria Parada

Research Colloquium

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease in which early diagnosis is complicated by the presence of early non-specific and atypical presentations. Sporadic CJD (sCJD), the most common type of CJD, is caused by the spread of a disease-forming prion known as PrPSc. PrPSc multiplies and binds to the normal form of prion, or PrP, converting it to an abnormal, structurally altered disease form that spreads throughout the brain. sCJD can initially present with six different phenotypes: cognitive, affective, classic, visual (Heidenhain variant), atactic (Oppenheimer-Brownell variant), and indeterminate. The classic presentation of CJD includes rapidly progressive dementia with …

Antiviral Use Among Children Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Illness: A Prospective, Multicenter Surveillance Study., James W. Antoon, Justin Z. Amarin, Olla Hamdan, Tess Stopczynski, Laura S. Stewart, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Eileen J. Klein, Janet A. Englund, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Jennifer E. Schuster, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Flor M. Muñoz, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, James D. Chappell, Benjamin R. Clopper, Heidi L. Moline, Angela P. Campbell, Andrew J. Spieker, Samantha M. Olson, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Guidelines state that all hospitalized children with suspected or confirmed influenza receive prompt treatment with influenza-specific antivirals. We sought to determine the frequency of, and factors associated with, antiviral receipt among hospitalized children.

METHODS: We conducted active surveillance of children presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms from 1 December 2016 to 31 March 2020 at 7 pediatric medical centers in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network. The cohort consisted of children hospitalized with influenza A or B confirmed by clinical or research testing. The primary outcome was frequency of antiviral receipt during hospitalization. We used logistic regression to obtain adjusted …

Clinical Testing For Covid-19, Influenza, And Rsv In Hospitalized Youths, 2016-2024., Ariana P. Toepfer, Rachel E. Rutkowski, Leila C. Sahni, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Marian G. Michaels, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Mary Allen Staat, Natasha Halasa, Janet A. Englund, Julie A. Boom, Peter G. Szilagyi, Jennifer E. Schuster, Elizabeth P P. Schlaudecker, Laura S. Stewart, Eileen J. Klein, Samantha M. Olson, Sascha Ellington, Meredith L. Mcmorrow, Heidi L. Moline, Fatimah S. Dawood, New Vaccine Surveillance Network Collaborators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Studies of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease clinical epidemiology, disease burden, and vaccine effectiveness often rely on clinical testing to identify cases, particularly with increasing use of electronic health record data. However, few data are available describing clinical testing practices to inform interpretation of these studies.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize clinical testing frequency for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV among children and adolescents hospitalized with acute respiratory illness during the 2016 to 2024 respiratory illness seasons by age, intensive care unit admission, and time period (2016-2020 and each season in 2020-2024); estimate the case fraction missed by clinical …

Genome-Wide Approaches To Bacterial Strain Typing: A History And Review Of Recent Methodological Advances, William C Shropshire, Blake M Hanson, Samuel A Shelburne

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has transformed bacterial strain typing, an essential tool for outbreak detection, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and tracking clonal emergence across clinical, research, and public health settings. Herein, we will review recent advances in WGS-based bacterial strain typing methods for purposes of comparison and classification with a focus on improvements in variant identification, strain classification, and transmission assessment.

Recent findings: Advances in sequencing technologies as well as variant calling methodologies and parameter optimization have enhanced the precision and accuracy of single nucleotide variant identification. Hierarchical clustering of gene-by-gene strain typing, combined with novel data management …

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 …

Patient Information Needs During Ambulatory Medication Changes: A Qualitative Study, Elaine Giletta, Vanessa B. Hurley, Yushi Yang, Jessica L. Schwartz, Rabia Jalalzai, Nicole L. Mollenkopf, Raquel Mayne, Samantha I. Pitts

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We performed interviews with patients and caregivers to explore whole-person, whole-regimen information needs at times of routine outpatient medication changes. We categorized information needs in this relatively unstudied context and identified which needs were commonly recognized as insufficiently met.

Methods: We explored the content of the semi-structured interviews, which involved nine patients and two caregivers of pediatric patients, all of whom experienced a recent medication change in the outpatient setting of a large urban academic healthcare system. We used inductive thematic analysis to organize information needs into categories to identify key information gaps.

Results: We identified five categories of …

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 …

Placental Transfer Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies In Mother-Neonate Pairs: A Prospective Nested Cohort Study, Alex Mugo, Angela Koech, Liberty Cantrell, Moses Mukhanya, Isaac Mwaniki, Joseph Mutunga, Merryn Voysey, Rachel Craik, Marleen Temmerman, Geoffrey Omuse

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Newborns depend on the transfer of IgG across the placenta to acquire protection against pathogens. We assessed the placental transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, primarily derived from infection, from seropositive pregnant women enrolled in a pregnancy cohort in Kilifi, Kenya.

Methods :The study was nested within a prospective observational multi-country cohort study. All available paired maternal delivery and cord blood samples were selected. Maternal sera were tested for SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) IgM/IgG total antibodies using the Wantai assay. For positive samples, maternal and corresponding cord blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the spike (anti-spike) and …

Pneumococcal Colonization Dynamics Among Young Children With And Without Respiratory Symptoms During The First Year Of The Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic., Liset Olarte, Brian R. Lee, Dithi Banerjee, Douglas Swanson, Christopher J. Harrison, Rangaraj Selvarangan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were implemented across the United States in 2020. These public health measures might influence pneumococcal colonization in younger children and their subsequent risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. Our objective was to evaluate pneumococcal colonization rates in children ≤ 5 years of age with and without respiratory symptoms during the first 12 months of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (April 2020 - March 2021).

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study evaluating pneumococcal colonization rates, density and serotype distribution across three study periods (April-July [Period 1], August-November [Period 2] and December-March [Period 3]) after …