Infectious Disease Commons^™

Planning And Facilitating The Training Of Emergency Medical Services On The Safe Transport Of Patients With Highly Infectious Diseases, Mohammed Alhallaf

Theses & Dissertations

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are the first line of treatment and are the first exposed health care workers to infectious diseases (IDs). Consequently, the EMS setting is a relatively vulnerable environment for disease transmission and cross-contamination. Also, serious and emerging IDs, such as highly pathogenic viral hemorrhagic fevers and novel Coronaviruses, in a time of increased globalization, require comprehensive EMS training and preparedness. This project had the objective of identifying best practices for the EMS transport of patients with IDs. The methods for this project were done in two phases. In the first stage, we …

Projected Deaths Of Despair From Covid-19, Stephen Petterson, John M. Westfall, Benjamin F. Miller

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

More Americans could lose their lives to deaths of despair, deaths due to drug, alcohol, and suicide, if we do not do something immediately. Deaths of despair have been on the rise for the last decade, and in the context of COVID-19, deaths of despair should be seen as the epidemic within the pandemic. The goal of this report is to predict what deaths of despair we might see based on three assumptions during COVID-19: economic recovery, relationship between deaths of despair and unemployment, and geography. Across nine different scenarios, additional deaths of despair range from 27,644 (quick recovery, smallest …

The Society For Immunotherapy Of Cancer Perspective On Regulation Of Interleukin-6 Signaling In Covid-19-Related Systemic Inflammatory Response, Fernanda I. Arnaldez, Steven J. O'Day, Charles G. Drake, Bernard A Fox, Bingqing Fu, Walter Urba, Vincenzo Montesarchio, Jeffrey S. Weber, Haiming Wei, Jon M. Wigginton, Paolo Antonio Ascierto

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has placed an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems around the world. In patients who experience severe disease, acute respiratory distress is often accompanied by a pathological immune reaction, sometimes referred to as ‘cytokine storm’. One hallmark feature of the profound inflammatory state seen in patients with COVID-19 who succumb to pneumonia and hypoxia is marked elevation of serum cytokines, especially interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 17 (IL-17), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Initial experience from the outbreaks in Italy, China and the USA has anecdotally demonstrated improved outcomes …

Chagas Disease In The New York City Metropolitan Area, Crystal Zheng, Orlando Quintero, Elizabeth K. Revere, Michael B. Oey, Fabiola Espinoza, Yoram A. Puius, Diana Ramirez-Baron, Carlos R. Salama, Luis F. Hidalgo, Fabiana S Machado, Omar Saeed, Jooyoung Shin, Snehal R. Patel, Christina M. Coyle, Herbert B. Tanowitz

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, once considered a disease confined to Mexico, Central America, and South America, is now an emerging global public health problem. An estimated 300 000 immigrants in the United States are chronically infected with T. cruzi. However, awareness of Chagas disease among the medical community in the United States is poor.

Methods

We review our experience managing 60 patients with Chagas disease in hospitals throughout the New York City metropolitan area and describe screening, clinical manifestations, EKG findings, imaging, and treatment.

Results

The most common country of origin of our patients …

Pneumonia: An Unexpected Graveyard Visitor?, Daniel A. Casas, Jigar Chauhan, Melanie Williams, Jan Sambataro, David Sukhai, Pablo G. Dubon, Jorge Perez

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Community acquired pneumonia caused by Influenza can present with superinfection. On rare occasions, an unexpected organism is discovered.

Novel Infection Status Post Electrocution Requiring A 4th Ray Amputation, William R. Judson, John D. Murphy, Phillip H. Sussman, John N. Harker

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

• Prevotella bivia is an anaerobic, non-pigmented, Gram-negative bacillus species that is known to inhabit the human female vaginal tract and oral flora. It is most commonly associated with endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease.^{1, 2}
• Rarely, P. bivia has been found in the nail bed, chest wall, intervertebral discs, and hip and knee joints.¹ The bacteria has been linked to necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, or septic arthritis.^{3, 4}
• Only 3 other reports have described P. bivia infections in the upper extremity with one patient requiring amputation2, and one with deep soft tissue infection requiring multiple debridements and extensive tenosynovectomy. …

Can Technology Help Improve Diarrhoea Management?, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Babesiosis Seen Outside Of Its Endemic Area And Outside Of Its Incubation Period, Kiran Tirumalasetty, Jinal K. Patel, Gauthier L. Stepman, Bassem Zeidan, K V. Sundaresh, Parth R. Desai, Johnathan Frunzi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Babesiosis Microti is a parasitic alveolate that is usually transmitted by Ixodes scapularis ticks. In the United States, the endemic areas of Babesiosis include the Northeast and Upper Midwestern regions [1]. Symptoms include fever, malaise, fatigue, vomiting, and jaundice [1]. Current therapy primarily consists of a combination of azithromycin and atovaquone. Clindamycin and quinine may be administered in severe cases. For its emerging health risk worldwide, clinicians must be aware of the several presenting manifestations of babesiosis. Since 2017, the Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deemed Babesiosis is a reportable disease. This case focuses on the importance of …

Anosmia And Ageusia As The Only Indicators Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), Qian Zhang, Khine S. Shan, Shahrzad Abdollahi, Travis C. Nace

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

The patient is a 60-year-old woman with a history of vertigo and seasonal allergies who presented to the hospital with the chief complaint of headache. Radiological findings were negative for intracranial abnormalities. The headache was due to trigeminal neuralgia. She had concurrent complaints of anosmia and ageusia without fever, respiratory symptoms, or obvious risk factors. However, it was determined to test the patient for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection despite extremely low clinical suspicion. Unfortunately, she was found to be COVID-19 positive after she was discharged from the hospital while she remained asymptomatic. There is currently a lack of published …

Clinical Features, Diagnosis And Management Of Covid-19 Patients In The Outdoor Setting, Bushra Jamil

Department of Medicine

In a brief span of a few months, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought a major paradigm shift in operation of clinical services around the world. Infection may be mild, moderate or severe; many remain asymptomatic. High burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases theoretically puts Pakistani population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection. Considering the universal risk of infection, the outpatient services in Pakistan need to be redesigned. Starting with risk assessment of the facility and provision of a dedicated telephone connection, structure and workflow need to be redesigned in order to minimise risk of exposure to healthcare professionals, …

Epidemiologic Survey Of Legionella Urine Antigen Testing Within A Large Wisconsin-Based Health Care System, Caroline P. Toberna, Hannah M. William, Jessica J. F. Kram, Kayla Heslin, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Legionella pneumophila pneumonia is a life-threatening, environmentally acquired infection identifiable via Legionella urine antigen tests (LUAT). We aimed to identify cumulative incidence, demographic distribution, and undetected disease outbreaks of Legionella pneumonia via positive LUAT in a single eastern Wisconsin health system, with a focus on urban Milwaukee County.

Methods: A multilevel descriptive ecologic study was conducted utilizing electronic medical record data from a large integrated health care system of patients who underwent LUAT from 2013 to 2017. A random sample inclusive of all positive tests was reviewed to investigate geodemographic differences among patients testing positive versus negative. Statistical comparisons …

How Immune T-Cell Augmentation Can Help Prevent Covid-19: A Possible Nutritional Solution Using Ketogenic Lifestyle, Ravi K. Kamepalli Md,Fidsa,Cwsp

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Covid-19, Colleagues, Confusion, And Conversations, Nathanael R. Sanchez M.D., Katherine S. Lee , M.D., Karen Weaver M.D.

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in a community hospital reflect on their decision-making regarding treatment options for COVID-19. Whether to use hydroxychloroquine is the treatment discussed in most detail.

484— Modeling Social Distancing Methods And Their Effectiveness In Combating The Spread Of Ebola, Rachel Fair

GREAT Day Posters

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare but severe disease that is transmitted among humans through direct-contact with, and close proximity to, infected bodily fluids. From 2014-16, West Africa experienced the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, infecting over 28,000 people, and killing over 11,000. Although the symptoms of EVD are treatable, the disease can be extremely deadly, with an average of 50% EVD cases resulting in fatality. In areas where healthcare is scarce and vaccinations are not readily available, the practices of social distancing and self-quarantining have been shown to be highly effective in combating the spread of EVD. To …

Covid-19 In The United States: Insights From Healthcare Systems, Aaron Harris, Nancy Foster, David Reich, Amy Compton-Phillips

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

During this COCA Call, presenters will discuss the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in the U.S., including key successes and challenges from the hospital response perspective.

Chinese Expert Consensus On Critical Care Ultrasound Applications At Covid-19 Pandemic, Faqin Lv, Md, Jinrui Wang, Md, Xing Yu, Md, Aiping Yang, Md, Ji-Bin Liu, Md, Linxue Qian, Md, Huixiong Xu, Md, Ligang Cui, Md, Mingxing Xie, Md, Xi Liu, Md, Chengzhong Peng, Md, Yi Huang, Md, Haiyan Kou, Md, Shengzheng Wu, Md, Xi Yang, Md, Bin Tu, Md, Huaping Jia, Md, Qingyi Meng, Md, Je Liu, Md, Ruizhong Ye, Md

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

The spread of new coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) follows a different pattern than previous respiratory viruses, posing a serious public health risk worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease as COVID-19 and declared it a pandemic. COVID-19 is characterized by highly contagious nature, rapid transmission, swift clinical course, profound worldwide impact, and high mortality among critically ill patients. Chest X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), and ultrasound are commonly used imaging modalities. Among them, ultrasound, due to its portability and non-invasiveness, can be easily moved to the bedside for examination at any time. In addition, with use of 4G or 5G networks, remote …

Clinical Support: An Unconventional Request – Providence’S 100 Million Masks Initiative, Carrie Grinstead, Heather J. Martin, Laurie Schwing (Ed.)

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

In early March, Seattle, WA, was the epicenter of the US COVID-19 pandemic. Providence St. Joseph Health had seen the first reported US case of COVID-19 on January 20 [1] and quickly found itself responding to a growing crisis, with little information about how best to care for patients while protecting frontline staff.

On March 16, 2020, Providence System Library Services received an email from senior leadership with the subject line: “Urgent – An Unconventional Request.” We were asked to pause all other work to search for viable mask patterns that could be easily and quickly made at home by …

A Crisis Is A Terrible Thing To Waste: Recovering A Sense Of Agency In Coronavirus Times, Steven F. Freeman

School of Continuing and Professional Studies Coronavirus Papers

No abstract provided.

Feline-Human Zoonoses Transmission In North Africa: A Systematic Review, Breck Peterson

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Throughout human history, domestic animal species have represented a unique zoonotic disease risk for the transmission of pathogens ranging from viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal. In North Africa, cats have a particularly long record and occupy a specialized niche within many communities. This systematic review was conducted to analyze the current and historical literature documenting the breadth and variety of zoonoses in North Africa, specifically relating to the domesticated feline. Multiple electronic databases were searched on January 16, 2019 for published reports on feline zoonoses in North Africa. A total of 76 studies met the inclusion criteria for a full …

Diabetes Mellitus And Necrotizing Fasciitis – A Deadly Combination; Case Report, Alexandra Toma, Laura Mazilu, Andra Iulia Suceveanu, Florentina Gherghiceanu, Camelia Sandu, Cristina Bica, Liliana Florina Andronache, Ioana Paunica, Lavinia Alexandra Moroianu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly destructive affliction of soft tissues, with a mortality rate that may reach 73% of the cases. It is characterized by a progressive inflammation and extended necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and the fascia. Necrotizing fasciitis was first described in 1848, and later in 1920 Meleney identified 20 patients in China in which the infection was presumably triggered by hemolytic streptococcus, linking pathological bacteria to the condition. In 1952, Wilson coined the term necrotizing fasciitis although without successfully identifying the specific pathological bacteria involved. In most cases, both risk and aggravating factors are present, the main …