Infectious Disease Commons^™

Resistance To Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Infection Conferred By A Compound Ccr5Δ32 And Ccr5 C20s Heterozygote, Bashar Alkhatib, Mary Jabari, Shymaa Bilasy, Husni Abdul-Rahman, Kamal Sandhu, Stephen Lai, Ghalib Alkhatib

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We analyzed findings in a same-gender couple discordant in their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status. The HIV+ partner was homozygous for CCR5 while his receptive HIV- partner was a CCR5Δ32 heterozygote with a C20S missense mutation in his CCR5 allele. The cells from the HIV- partner showed significant resistance to R5 fusion/infection and had no chemotactic response to CCL4 (macrophage inflammatory protein 1β). We demonstrated abundant CCR5-specific RNA in the HIV- partner's cells but no detectable CCR5 protein. CCR5 promoter region cloned from each partner's DNA indicated no significant impact on RNA transcription. The compound effect of CCR5Δ32 and C20S …

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.

Outpatient Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing And Treatment Patterns In The United States: A Real-World Database Study, Rebecca Lillis, Louis Kuritzky, Zune Huynh, Rodney Arcenas, Avneet Hansra, Roma Shah, Baiyu Yang, Stephanie N. Taylor

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are the most common notifiable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. Because symptoms of these infections often overlap with other urogenital infections, misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment can occur unless appropriate STI diagnostic testing is performed in clinical settings. The objective of this study was to describe STI diagnostic testing and antimicrobial treatment patterns and trends among adolescent and adult men and women with lower genitourinary tract symptoms (LGUTS). Methods: We analyzed insurance claims data from the IBM® MarketScan® Research Databases. Patients included were between 14 and 64 years old with …

Community Centred Co-Design Methodology For Designing And Implementing Socio-Behavioural Interventions To Counter Covid-19 Related Misinformation Among Marginalized Population Living In The Squatter Settlements Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Methodology Paper, Rubina Qasim, Waqas Ahmed Farooqui, Atiya Rahman, Rukhsana Haroon, Madiha Saleem, Muhammad Rafique, Fiza Noor, Afifa Ghani, Muhammad Yaqoob, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai

Community Health Sciences

Background: Misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination is damaging COVID-19 vaccine trust and acceptance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Identification of misinformation and designing locally acceptable solutions are needed to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. This study aimed to utilize community-led co-design methodology to evaluate misinformation regarding COVID-19 and develop contextual interventions to address misinformation in a marginalized peri urban slum communities of Landhi town Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: This study was conducted between January and December 2021, in marginalized peri-urban slum dwellers of Muslimabad Colony, Landhi Town Karachi, Pakistan. We used a community-centred co-design methodology embedded within mixed study design …

Yes-Associated Protein-1 Overexpression In Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia; A Potential Diagnostic Marker And Therapeutic Target, Peter Julius, Stepfanie N. Siyumbwa, Fred Maate, Phyllis Moonga, Guobin Kang, Trevor Kaile, John T. T., Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Yes-associated protein-1 (YAP-1) is a Hippo system transcription factor, which serves as an oncogene in squamous cell carcinoma, and several solid tumors when the Hippo pathway is dysregulated. Yet, the activity of YAP-1 in ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) has not been determined. Here, we investigate the relationship between YAP-1 overexpression and OSSN. Using a cross-sectional study design, we recruited 227 OSSN patients from the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess YAP-1 protein overexpression in tumor tissue relative to surrounding benign squamous epithelium. OSSN patient samples (preinvasive, n = 62, 27% and invasive, n = …

Effectiveness Of An Electronic Health Record Embedded Evidence-Based Testing Algorithm For Clostridioides Difficile Infection., Sarah Marie Bishop

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) commonly impacts hospitalized patients with almost half a million cases reported in the United States annually. C. difficile colonization is more common than infection. Identifying true infection versus colonization is critical to avoiding inappropriate treatment, unnecessary exposure to antibiotics, and increased cost of care. Implementation of evidenced-based CDI testing criteria can help reduce inappropriate CDI testing and avoid the misidentification of colonized patients as true CDI.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based electronic health record (EHR) integrated CDI testing algorithm in reducing inappropriate CDI testing among adult …

Factors Affecting Treatment Adherence Among Leprosy Patients: Perceptions Of Healthcare Providers, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Arianna Maever Loreche, Rae Erica D. Samontina, Sarah Jane A. Abdon, David Norman L. Fuentes, Ofelia P. Saniel

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Treatment adherence is a vital aspect in the management of chronic diseases like leprosy; however, most studies on treatment adherence focus on patients. This study aims to examine the perceptions of healthcare providers on factors that can promote or prevent patients from adhering to treatment.

Methods

We conducted three focus group discussions (FGDs) with healthcare providers who have at least one year experience in managing leprosy in three large leprosy case-holding hospitals in Metro Manila, Philippines. We audio-recorded, transcribed, translated the FGD proceedings, and analyzed the transcripts thematically to identify patient-intrinsic and patient-extrinsic enablers and barriers to treatment adherence …

Nac1 Confines Virus‐Specific Memory Formation Of Cd4+ T Cells Through The Rock1‐Mediated Pathway, Liqing Wang, Hao-Yun Peng, Jugal Kishore Das, Anil Kumar, Yijie Ren, Darby J. Ballard, Xiaofang Xiong, Wen Yang, Xingcong Ren, Paul De Figueiredo, Jin-Ming Yang, Jianxun Song

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nucleus accumbens‐associated protein 1 (NAC1), a transcriptional cofactor, has been found to play important roles in regulating regulatory T cells, CD8 + T cells, and antitumor immunity, but little is known about its effects on T‐cell memory. In this study, we found that NAC1 expression restricts memory formation of CD4 + T cells during viral infection. Analysis of CD4 + T cells from wild‐type (WT) and NAC1‐ deficient (−/−) mice showed that NAC1 is essential for T‐cell metabolism, including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, and supports CD4 + T‐cell survival in vitro. We further demonstrated that a deficiency of NAC1 downregulates …

Microalbuminuria In Perinatally Hiv-Infected Children And Adolescents In The United States, Roukaya Al Hammoud, Anupama Kalaskar, Gilhen Rodriguez, Gabriela Del Bianco, Cynthia Bell, James R Murphy, Gloria P Heresi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The kidney is a common target for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), making renal disease a common noninfectious complication of HIV. Microalbuminuria is an important marker that can detect early renal damage. Timely detection of microalbuminuria is important to initiate renal management and stop the progression of renal dysfunction in people with HIV. Limited data are available about renal abnormalities in people with perinatal HIV infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in a cohort of perinatally HIV-infected children and young adults receiving combination antiretroviral therapy and investigate correlations between microalbuminuria and clinical and …

Steroids For The Treatment Of Viral Encephalitis: A Systematic Literature Review And Meta-Analysis, Emira Hodzic, Rodrigo Hasbun, Alejandro Granillo, Anna R Tröscher, Helga Wagner, Tim J Von Oertzen, Judith N Wagner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Specific antiviral treatment is only available for a small subset of viral encephalitis (VE). Adjunctive steroids are used, but there is scant evidence evaluating its utility. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcome of steroid use in VE.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review and reported it according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. Two observational studies from unpublished or partially published data were added. For the meta-analysis, we employed the metaphor package of the statistical software R-4.3.1.

Results: We screened 378 studies and included 50. 155 patients were …

Pelvic Actinomycosis: A Case Report, Jacklyn Locklear, Rachel Gilbert, Neelima Sukhavasi, Elizabeth Sutton

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Introduction: Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection caused by the gram positive anaerobic bacteria that most commonly infects the cervicofacial region of the body. Rarely, it can infect the pelvis and typically presents in a nonspecific manner.

Case Report: We present a case of a 43 year old female G6P6006 with Paragard® intrauterine device (IUD) who presented with purulent umbilical discharge and pelvic pain. Initial imaging was concerned for gastrointestinal or ovarian malignancy. Patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with pelvic washings and hysteroscopy D&C. Operative pathology returned with results for actinomyces (IUD likely source).

Conclusion: While it is established IUDs can be …

Adenocarcinoma Of The Transverse Colon Presenting As Anterior Abdominal Wall Abscess, Jenn Klein, Nima Avin, Sunil Gandhi

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Locally invasive colon carcinoma comprises a small fraction of the incidence of colon carcinoma. Complications, such as perforation and obstruction, can occur in less than 0.5% of cases and often present differently based on location.

Case Presentation

We present a case of an 85-year-old woman who presented with an acute abdominal wall abscess which was caused by perforation of transverse colon carcinoma.

Conclusion

En-bloc resection increases 5-year survival, and adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of recurrence in patients with stage II resectable colon carcinoma.

On The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Amrit Kahlon, Ravina Ramnani, Kartik Rajpal, Yusra Irshad, Sudeep Chapagain, Arushee Bhatnagar, Steven B Lippmann

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

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 …

Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome And Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review And Comparison Of Pathogenesis, Natalie Bai, Christie Richardson

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States and has been causing significant morbidity since its discovery in 1977. It is well-documented that about 10% of patients properly treated with antibiotics never fully recover, but instead go on to develop a chronic illness dubbed, posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) characterized by severe fatigue, cognitive slowing, chronic pain, and sleep difficulties. This review includes 18 studies that detail the symptoms of patients with PTLDS and uses qualitative analysis to compare them to myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a strikingly similar syndrome. In the majority of the PTLDS …

Viral Dna Accumulation Regulates Replication Efficiency Of Chlorovirus Osy-Ne5 In Two Closely Related Chlorella Variabilis Strains, Ahmed Esmael, Irina V. Agarkova, David D. Dunigan, You Zhou, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Many chloroviruses replicate in Chlorella variabilis algal strains that are ex-endosymbionts isolated from the protozoan Paramecium bursaria, including the NC64A and Syngen 2-3 strains. We noticed that indigenous water samples produced a higher number of plaque-forming viruses on C. variabilis Syngen 2-3 lawns than on C. variabilis NC64A lawns. These observed differences led to the discovery of viruses that replicate exclusively in Syngen 2-3 cells, named Only Syngen (OSy) viruses. Here, we demonstrate that OSy viruses initiate infection in the restricted host NC64A by synthesizing some early virus gene products and that approximately 20% of the cells produce a …

Tenofovir Induced Hypokalaemia - A Case Report, Ankisha Gupta, Kiran P. K, Rajendra Prasad S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Tenofovir, an important medication for HIV/AIDS, carries the risk of hypokalemia in patients receiving treatment. Factors such as dietary deficits, vomiting, or diarrhea further increase this risk. Tenofovir acts as a mitochondrial toxin by inhibiting the DNA polymerase gamma enzyme, crucial for mitochondrial DNA replication. Consequently, ATP generation is depleted through the aerobic pathway, leading to dysfunction in the proximal tubule. This dysfunction manifests as renal acidosis type 2, which involves reduced bicarbonate excretion by the proximal tubule, resulting in renal bicarbonate wasting and decreased serum bicarbonate levels. Consequently, the lumen of the distal nephron becomes negatively charged, leading to …

Candida Auris Screening In The Acute Care Setting: An Infection Control Partnership Between Hospitals And Skilled Nursing Facilities, Brittany S. Thorp Mph, Peggy Brown Mph, Cic, R. Scott Stienecker Md

Infection Control

Presented at 2023 APIC Annual Conference

Background: Candida auris (C. auris) is a drug-resistant fungus that can spread easily between hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. To mitigate risk of C. auris spread, a nine-hospital healthcare system developed a C. auris screening tool in January 2020. Infection Preventionists (IPs) use the screening tool to determine which patients qualify for C. auris screening, looking specifically at the facility type where the patient came from. The IP then initiates the isolation and testing protocol with the bedside nurse and provider.

Methods: Over the course of three years, the hospital epidemiologist collected data …

A Seven-Year Review Of Hospital- Onset Clostridioides Difficile Infection Reduction And The Case For A Multidisciplinary Taskforce Approach, Peggy Brown Mph, Cic, Michelle Charles Msn, Rn-Bc, Brittany S. Thorp Mph, Kristin Sims Mph Cic Cpps Fapic, R. Scott Stienecker Md

Infection Control

Presented at the 2023 APIC Annual Conference

Background: Hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection is a life-threatening disease that can prolong and complicate a patient's hospitalization. To reduce HO-CDIs and ensure positive health outcomes with reduced cost, utilization of a multi-disciplinary taskforce (MDT) is key to identify gaps, develop action plans, and implement and review interventions in the most efficient and effective manner.

Methods: Over the course of seven years, two rounds of interventions were executed consecutively across a nine-hospital healthcare system to reduce HO-CDI events. The first round (Round 1) driven solely by the Infection Prevention (IP) department spanned four years …

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Screening Of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Staff In An Outbreak Setting, R. Scott Stienecker Md, Fidsa, Fshea, Cic, Brittany S. Thorp Mph

Infection Control

Presented at 2023 APIC Annual Conference

In December 2020, our infection prevention (IP) department noted an increase in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates over baseline in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our hospital sees a steady influx of parents colonized with MRSA and our weekly screening process regularly discovers neonates that subsequently become colonized with MRSA. A doubling of the number of cases per month led to deeper investigation. Epidemiologic data were collected on the neonates and matched to their mother’s screening cultures (when obtained). Sensitivity patterns were matched, and staff noted that a single sensitivity pattern predominated

Impact Of Covid-19 On Latinx And Black Communities, Carolina Zuluaga

Dissertations

This critical literature review project explored the impact of COVID-19 on Latinx and Black communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of September 28, 2022, around 16% of COVID-19 cases in the United States were among Latinx people, and 14% of cases were among Black people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Since COVID-19 began, clinicians have become more conscious of the effects of health disparities within racial and ethnic minorities, which has warranted increased advocacy by educating health and mental health providers and creating and providing resources to these communities and clinicians. The review …

Tapped Twice: A Case Of A Rapidly Re-Accumulating Hepatic Hydrothorax In A Patient With Spontaneous Bacterial Empyema, Amir Khalil, Suma Alzouhayli, Silvia Novakova, Saad Shams, Ahmad Baiyasi, Maria Khalil, Mohammed Uddin, Aryan Shiari, Kareem Bazzy

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is a complication of decompensated liver cirrhosis that only occurs in about 5–6% of cirrhosis patients, defined as a pleural fluid in the setting of known liver disease, with the absence of any other cardiopulmonary etiology. Infected HH is a rare complication, designated as spontaneous bacterial empyema (SBEM), found in only 13–16% of patients with HH. This case follows a patient with SBEM who developed a recurrent pleural effusion minutes after thoracentesis. Our patient is a 56-year-old female with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis with pleuritic pain found to have right-sided pleural effusion with decompensation. She had …

Influenza C And D Viruses Demonstrated A Differential Respiratory Tissue Tropism In A Comparative Pathogenesis Study In Guinea Pigs, Chithra C. Sreenivasan, Runxia Liu, Rongyuan Gao, Yicheng Guo, Ben M. Hause, Milton Thomas, Ahsan Naveed, Travis Clement, Dana Rausch, Jane Christopher-Hennings, Eric Nelson, Julian Druce, Miaoyun Zhao, Radhey S. Kaushik, Qingsheng Li, Zizhang Sheng, Dan Dan, Feng Li

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Influenza C virus (ICV) is increasingly associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children and its disease severity is worse than the influenza B virus, but similar to influenza A virus associated CAP. Despite the ubiquitous infection landscape of ICV in humans, little is known about its replication and pathobiology in animals. The goal of this study was to understand the replication kinetics, tissue tropism, and pathogenesis of human ICV (huICV) in comparison to the swine influenza D virus (swIDV) in guinea pigs. Intranasal inoculation of both viruses did not cause clinical signs, however, the infected animals shed virus in nasal …

Adenoviral-Vectored Epigraph Vaccine Elicits Robust, Durable, And Protective Immunity Against H3 Influenza A Virus In Swine, Erika M. Petro-Turnquist, Matthew J. Pekarek, Nicholas Jeanjaquet, Cedric Wooledge, David J. Steffen, Hiep Vu, Eric A. Weaver

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Current methods of vaccination against swine Influenza A Virus (IAV-S) in pigs are infrequently updated, induce strain-specific responses, and have a limited duration of protection. Here, we characterize the onset and duration of adaptive immune responses after vaccination with an adenoviral-vectored Epigraph vaccine. In this longitudinal study we observed robust and durable antibody responses that remained above protective titers six months after vaccination. We further identified stable levels of antigen-specific T cell responses that remained detectable in the absence of antigen stimulation. Antibody isotyping revealed robust class switching from IgM to IgG induced by Epigraph vaccination, while the commercial comparator …

Stewardship Opportunities For Cervical Lymphadenitis And Deep Neck Space Abscesses, Aaron Shaw, Brian R. Lee, Lauren Kazmaier, Emily Baker, Tina Dao, Sandra Arnold, Angela Myers

Research Days

Background: Cervical lymphadenitis (LAD) and deep neck space abscesses (DNSA) are common pediatric infections caused by similar bacteria. We sought to determine differences in presentation, diagnosis, and treatment between LAD and DNSA to identify antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship opportunities.

Methods: Charts were obtained using ICD9/10 codes for retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscessed (DNSA), and LAD between 1/1/10-12/31/20 from two pediatric centers. 1981 charts were identified. Charts were excluded if the diagnosis was not a bacterial infection (e.g. Kawasaki disease), if the LAD was not in the neck, or if caused by less common bacteria (e.g. tuberculosis). Data on presenting signs, symptoms, …

Prevalence And Impact Of Gastrointestinal Manifestations In Covid-19 Patients: A Systematic Review, Bassam Hossain, Shoreh Qazi, Sumair Ahmad, Atif Saleem, Amanke Oranu, Fahad Malik

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Background and Objective: The aim of this study is to systematically analyze and summarize the implications of COVID-19 on the digestive system by quantitatively evaluating the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, anorexia. reported in COVID-19 cases. We simultaneously investigated other variables to determine the association of such symptoms in COVID-19 patients which can potentially influence the disease prognosis and outcome. This systematic review presents an updated literature on the issue as it requires more scientific discussion in order to better inform the medical community and authorities so that appropriate measures can be taken …

Home Oxygen And Monitoring For Covid-19 Patients: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach, Mahta Salehi, Shehrose Chaudry, Rebecca B. Newman, Josette Hartnett, Suzanne J. Rose, Forugh Homayounrooz

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Introduction: During the initial COVID-19 pandemic peak, Stamford Hospital implemented a home oxygen program (HOP) to create a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary outpatient initiative without sacrificing a safe discharge. Primary care physicians monitored program participants, whose only indication for remaining admitted was an oxygen requirement. We retrospectively examined participant co-morbidities and outcomes, including death and readmission rates to evaluate HOP safety.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of program participants discharged between April 2020-Janurary 2021 was performed. Variables included demographics, oxygen requirement, days enrolled in the HOP, and major comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), obesity, chronic kidney disease, malignancies …

Knowledge And Misconceptions Among Lebanese Community On Immunizations, Hala Ahmadieh, Tala Safa, Ihab Nahle, Yahya Obeid, Dalal Hariri, Etaf Rawass, Tala Kanaan, Ahmad Sabalbal

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Two centuries ago, immunization practices have become the greatest land mark in medical history as they significantly contributed to a decline in several major infectious diseases worldwide thus decreasing both the mortality and morbidity. Moreover, they have been able to eradicate small pox and eliminate poliomyelitis in most regions of the world. However, in recent years the general opinion towards vaccination began shifting due to the emergence of certain opposing views to it, questioning the vaccine's safety and efficacy. This study aims to shed light on the vaccination status in Lebanon by assessing the knowledge, attitude, awareness, and misconceptions among …

Elucidating The Impact Of Sos-Response Timing In On Escherichia Coli Survival Following Treatment With Fluoroquinolone Topoisomerase Inhibitors, Stephanie Schofield

Honors Scholar Theses

Antibiotic treatment failure is a public health crisis, with a 2019 report stating that roughly 35,000 deaths occur in the United States yearly due to bacterial infections that are unresponsive to antibiotics (1). One complication in the treatment of bacterial infection is antibiotic persistence which further compromises our battle to effectively treat infection. Bacterial persisters can exist in clonal bacterial cultures and can tolerate antibiotic treatment by undergoing reversible phenotypic changes. They can survive drug concentrations that their genetically identical kin cannot. Some persisters remain in a slow growing state and are difficult to target with current antibiotics. A specific …