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Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, a statewide executive order (PAUSE) severely restricted the movement of New Yorkers from 23 March to 7 June 2020. We used New York City surveillance data for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis to describe trends in diagnosis and reporting surrounding PAUSE. During PAUSE, the volume of positive HIV/sexually transmitted infection tests, and diagnoses of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis declined substantially, reaching a nadir in April before rebounding. Some shifts in characteristics of reported cases were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: New York City (NYC) was the US epicenter of the spring 2020 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We present the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and correlates of seropositivity immediately after the first wave.Methods: From a serosurvey of adult NYC residents (13 May to 21 July 2020), we calculated the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies stratified by participant demographics, symptom history, health status, and employment industry. We used multivariable regression models to assess associations between participant characteristics and seropositivity.Results: The seroprevalence among 45 367 participants was 23.6% (95% confidence interval, 23.2%-24.0%). High seroprevalence (>30%) was observed among black and Hispanic individuals, people from high poverty neighborhoods, and people in healthcare or essential worker industry sectors. COVID-19 symptom history was associated with seropositivity (adjusted relative risk, 2.76; 95% confidence interval, 2.65-2.88). Other risk factors included sex, age, race/ethnicity, residential area, employment sector, working outside the home, contact with a COVID-19 case, obesity, and increasing numbers of household members.Conclusions: Based on a large serosurvey in a single US jurisdiction, we estimate that just under one-quarter of NYC adults were infected in the first few months of the COVID-19 epidemic. Given disparities in infection risk, effective interventions for at-risk groups are needed during ongoing transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a serologic survey in public service agencies in New York City, New York, USA, during May-July 2020 to determine prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among first responders. Of 22,647 participants, 22.5% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Seroprevalence for police and firefighters was similar to overall seroprevalence; seroprevalence was highest in correctional staff (39.2%) and emergency medical technicians (38.3%) and lowest in laboratory technicians (10.1%) and medicolegal death investigators (10.8%). Adjusted analyses demonstrated association between seropositivity and exposure to SARS-CoV-2-positive household members (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.52 [95% CI 3.19-3.87]), non-Hispanic Black race or ethnicity (aOR 1.50 [95% CI 1.33-1.68]), and severe obesity (aOR 1.31 [95% CI 1.05-1.65]). Consistent glove use (aOR 1.19 [95% CI 1.06-1.33]) increased likelihood of seropositivity; use of other personal protective equipment had no association. Infection control measures, including vaccination, should be prioritized for frontline workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiologic studies have shown that syphilis is associated with risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We used population-level syphilis and HIV data to quantify HIV incidence among men following primary or secondary (P&S) syphilis diagnoses and identify the highest-risk subgroups for intensified prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medications. Methods: Male cases reported to theNewYorkCityHIV/AIDS and Sexually TransmittedDisease (STD) surveillance registries were matched using a deterministic algorithm. We measured HIV incidence following P&S syphilis diagnosed between 2000 and June 2010 and identified risk factors for HIV infection using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of 2805 men with syphilis contributing 11 714 person-years of follow-up, 423 (15.1%) acquired HIV; annual incidencewas 3.61%(95%confidence interval [CI], 3.27%, 3.97%).HIV incidencewas high among: men who have sex with men (MSM) (5.56%, 95% CI, 5.02%-6.13%); males with secondary compared with primary syphilis (4.10% vs 2.64%, P < .0001); and males diagnosed with another bacterial STD after syphilis (7.89%, 95% CI, 6.62%-9.24%). Conclusions: HIV incidence amongmen diagnosed with syphilis is high; one in 20MSMwere diagnosed withHIV within a year. Our data have implications for syphilis and HIV screening and may be useful for further targeting HIVnegative populations for pre-exposure prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on cases of neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection following Jewish ritual circumcisions in New York. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) learned that a total of 11 newborn males had laboratory-confirmed HSV infection in the weeks following out-of-hospital Jewish ritual circumcisions. Parents reported that the ritual included an ultra-Orthodox Jewish practice known as metzitzah b'peh which risks transmission of HSV and other pathogens.

In the spring of 2009, New York City (NYC) experienced the emergence and rapid spread of pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus (pH1N1), which had a high attack rate in children and caused many school closures. During the 2009 fall wave of pH1N1, a school-located vaccination campaign for elementary schoolchildren was conducted in order to reduce infection and transmission in the school setting, thereby reducing the impact of pH1N1 that was observed earlier in the year. In this paper, we describe the planning and outcomes of the NYC school-located vaccination campaign. We compared consent and vaccination data for three vaccination models (school nurse alone, school nurse plus contract nurse, team). Overall, >1,200 of almost 1,600 eligible schools participated, achieving 26.8% consent and 21.5% first-dose vaccination rates, which did not vary significantly by vaccination model. A total of 189,902 doses were administered during two vaccination rounds to 115,668 students at 998 schools included in the analysis; vaccination rates varied by borough, school type, and poverty level. The team model achieved vaccination of more children per day and required fewer vaccination days per school. NYC's campaign is the largest described school-located influenza vaccination campaign to date. Despite substantial challenges, school-located vaccination is feasible in large, urban settings, and during a public health emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic medical records can house patient information gathered over time and at multiple sites, thus they have the potential to increase continuity of care and improve service delivery in a multiclinic system. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented an electronic medical record system in its 10 sexually transmitted disease clinics during 2004 and 2005. We examine the use of real-time electronic medical record data analyses to evaluate clinical services or program activities and present 3 examples of such analyses that have led to program improvements. Analyses of electronic medical record data have produced changes in clinical practice that in turn have resulted in more effective staff use, increased disease detection, and increased clinic capacity. (Am J Public Health. 2010;1 00:586590. doi: 10.2105/AJPH. 2009. 175349) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the changes in the burden of chlamydia and gonorrhea in New York City males from 2004 to 2006. The study involved an analysis of reports of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases from sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics, adult jail, juvenile detention and private-sector providers. Results of the first year of the adult jail screening program showed that chlamydia cases among men less than or equal to 35 years old increased by 1636%. Also, there was an observed 10-fold increase in gonorrhea cases in jails in the first year of the jail screening program.

Background: Persons reporting sexual identity that is discordant with their sexual behavior may engage in riskier sexual behaviors than those with concordant identity and behavior. The former group could play an important role in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Objective: To describe discordance between self-described sexual identity and behavior among men who have sex with men and associations between identity-behavior and risk behaviors. Design: Cross-sectional, random digit-dialed telephone survey of health status and risk behaviors. Setting: New York City. Participants: Population-based sample of 4193 men. Measurements: Concurrent measures of sexual identity and sexual behaviors, including number and sex of sex partners, condom use during last sexual encounter, and recent testing for HIV infection. Sex partner information was ascertained in a separate section from sexual identity; all participants were asked about the number of male sex partners and then were asked about the number of female sex partners in the past year. Results: Of New York City men reporting a sexual identity, 12% reported sex with other men. Men who had sex with men exclusively but self-identified as heterosexual were more likely than their gay-identified counterparts to belong to minority racial or ethnic groups, be foreign-born, have lower education and income levels, and be married. These men were more likely than gay-identified men who have sex with men to report having only 1 sexual partner in the previous year. However, they were less likely to have been tested for HIV infection during that time (adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.4 to 0.9]) and less likely to have used condoms during their last sexual encounter (adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.5 [CI, 0.3 to 1.0]). Limitations: The survey did not sample groups that cannot be reached by using residential telephone services. Conclusions: Many New York City men who have sex with men do not identify as gay. Medical providers cannot rely on patients' self-reported identities to appropriately assess risk for HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases; they must inquire about behavior. Public health prevention messages should target risky sexual activities rather than a person's sexual identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]