Search

Context: Regional conservation efforts should incorporate fine scale landscape genetic and habitat suitability data for management decisions. This information permits conservation measures to be tailored to a specific landscape. Objectives: We investigated the landscape determinants of gene flow and habitat suitability for the state-threatened Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in northeastern New York (NNY). We applied the results from each to examine their complementary contributions to local connectivity and genetic structuring. Methods: We conducted population and individual-based genetic analyses with microsatellite data to evaluate genetic structuring and landscape genetics in NNY. We coupled these genetic analyses with species distribution modeling (SDM) to estimate the extent of suitable habitat across this important region for species persistence in the state. Results: Gene flow was strongly associated with open water and cultivated land, indicating the role open water channels play in connecting neighboring activity centers, and the propensity of females to select cultivated land to nest. Species distribution models based on Landsat-derived vegetation indices and percentage of scrub-shrub wetlands accurately identified Blanding's turtle habitat. Connectivity estimates from our NNY focal area using landscape genetic and SDM resistance surfaces showed potential movement constraints between the two genetic clusters. Conclusions: Land cover better explained genetic distance data than geographic distance for Blanding's turtles in our focal area. Accurate SDMs were developed for our focal area with a small number of occurrences (< 50). Using both gene flow and habitat-informed resistance surfaces revealed localized connectivity constraints associated with each, permitting more comprehensive landscape planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care workers (HCW) such as anesthesiologists, surgeons, and intensivists face high rates of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through direct contact with COVID-19 patients. While there are initial reports of the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among the general population, there are few reports comparing the seroprevalence of IgM/IgG COVID-19 antibodies in HCW of different exposure levels as well as different HCW professions. Methods: A convenience sample of health care workers provided blood for COVID-19 antibody testing and a review of medical history and work exposure for correlative analyses. Results: Overall, 474 HCW were enrolled in April 2020 including 102 front-line physicians (e.g., anesthesiologists, surgeons, intensivists, emergency medicine), 91 other physicians, 135 nurses, 134 other clinical staff, and 12 non-clinical HCW. The prevalence of IgM or IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was 16.9% (95% CI 13.6–20.6) (80/474). The proportion of positive antibodies in the PCR + group was significantly higher than health care workers without symptoms (84.6% [95% CI 54.6–98.1] vs. 12.3% [95% CI 8.5–17.2], p < 0.001). No significant differences in proportions of COVID-19 antibodies were observed among the different exposure groups (e.g., high vs minimal/no exposure) and among the different HCW professionals. Conclusions: Despite exposure to COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of antibodies in our HCW was similar to what has been reported for the general population of New York State (14%) and for another New York HCW cohort (13.7%). Health care workers with higher exposure rates were not more likely to have been infected with COVID-19. Therefore, these data suggest that infection of HCW may result from exposure in the community rather than at work. Trial registration: This investigator-initiated study was observational; therefore, no registration was required. Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite reported higher rates and worse outcomes due to COVID‐19 in certain racial and ethnic groups, much remains unknown. We explored the association between Hispanic ethnicity and outcomes in COVID‐19 patients in Long Island, New York. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2,039 Hispanic and non‐Hispanic Caucasian patients testing positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 between March 7 and May 23, 2020, at a large suburban academic tertiary care hospital near New York City. We explored the association of ethnicity with need for intensive care unit (ICU), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and mortality. Results: Of all patients, 1,079 (53%) were non‐Hispanic Caucasians and 960 (47%) were Hispanic. Hispanic patients presented in higher numbers than expected for our catchment area. Compared with Caucasians, Hispanics were younger (45 years vs. 59 years), had fewer comorbidities (66% with no comorbidities vs. 40%), were less likely to have commercial insurance (35% vs. 59%), or were less likely to come from a nursing home (2% vs. 10%). In univariate comparisons, Hispanics were less likely to be admitted (37% vs. 59%) or to die (3% vs. 10%). Age, shortness of breath, congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD), hypoxemia, and presentation from nursing homes were associated with admission. Male sex and hypoxemia were associated with ICU admission. Male sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypoxemia were associated with IMV. Male sex, CHF, CAD, and hypoxemia were associated with mortality. After other factors were adjusted for, Hispanics were less likely to be admitted (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% confidence interval = 0.52 to 0.92) but Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with ICU admission, IMV, or mortality. Conclusions: Hispanics presented at higher rates than average for our population but outcomes among Hispanic patients with COVID‐19 were similar to those of Caucasian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Babesiosis is a potentially life-threatening, tick-borne infection endemic in New York. The purpose of this study was to review recent trends in babesiosis management and outcomes focusing on patients, who were treated with combination of azithromycin and atovaquone. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients seen at Stony Brook University Hospital between 2008 and 2014 with peripheral blood smears positive for Babesia was performed. Clinical and epidemiological information was recorded and analyzed. Results: 62 patients had confirmed babesiosis (presence of parasitemia). Forty six patients (74%) were treated exclusively with combination of azithromycin and atovaquone; 40 (87%) of these patients were hospitalized, 11 (28%) were admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 1 (2%) died. Majority of patients presented febrile with median temperature 38.5 °C. Median peak parasitemia among all patients was 1.3%, and median parasitemia among patients admitted to ICU was 5.0%. Six patients (15%) required exchange transfusion. Majority of patients (98%) improved and were discharged from hospital or clinic. Conclusion: Symptomatic babesiosis is still rare even in endemic regions. Recommended treatment regimen is well tolerated and effective. Compared to historical controls we observed a lower overall mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goals for Health was a National Cancer Institute funded program designed to impact health behaviors of adolescents living in rural Virginia and New York. This study examined three specific objectives: (a) to examine participants' perceptions of the program components and the relationship between program components and overall program perception, (b) to examine whether subgroups of our participant population perceived the program differently, and (c) to examine whether having positive perceptions of the program predicted changes in program outcomes. Results indicated that program components were significantly related to program perceptions. Perceptions of the program did not differ by subgroup and program perceptions significantly predicted changes in tobacco attitudes and self-efficacy about eating behaviors. Given these findings, school consultants should become aware of how implementation of a program and perceptions of a program may impact program outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) sequence type (ST) 398 in the New York City area from 2004 to 2010. It describes the discovery of infections with a related ST (ST291) from clonal complex (CC) 398. MSSA infections are generally associated with livestock, but since the cases occurred in urban and suburban settings, it was not likely that the patients were exposed to livestock. A hypothesis of low-level ST398 MSSA prevalence is cited.

Background With 337 heroin-related deaths between 2009 and 2013, Suffolk County reported more such deaths than any other county in New York State. Suffolk County's population of 1.5 million is larger than that of some states. Compared with the rest of New York State, median annual household income is the third highest of New York's 62 counties and the income gap between socioeconomic classes is smaller. Methods Detailed retrospective chart review was performed on admitted patients to Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) from November 2015 to October 2018 with active IV drug abuse and infection. Demographics, drug use characteristics, microbiology, co-morbidities, and outcome were assessed. Results 198 active IV heroin users were admitted with a complicated infection during this time frame. Most patients were Caucasian (94%) and more were male (64%). The median age was 33 (range 17 to 58). Most patients (90%) had health insurance, many lived with others at home and were unemployed. Thirty-three were on methadone and 28 on suboxone. The median length of stay was 4.7 days (ranging from 1 to 140 days) and 29% of admitted patients left against medical advice. 60% of the patients had been admitted to a hospital in the prior 12 months. The majority (58%) presented with cellulitis, 12% were diagnosed with endocarditis, 10% with osteomyelitis, 6.5% with bacteremia/sepsis. Ten were also pregnant. Infectious disease was consulted in 55%, and Psychiatry and social worker in 46% of cases. HIV, HepC and HBV testing were not performed in less than 50% of patients. There was a total of 5 deaths during the hospitalization, 2 patients with endocarditis, 2 with sepsis and one overdose. 45% of patients with endocarditis and 43% of patients with osteomyelitis required surgical intervention. S. aureus was a common pathogen and identified in 61% of the cases, where a pathogen was isolated. Conclusion Our data show that even in an affluent community opioid addiction is not properly addressed during hospital admissions. As a consequence, users sign out against medical advice, have frequent hospital admissions, remain out of addiction treatment, and outcome is poor. A systematic multidisciplinary approach will be required to improve the care for this vulnerable patient population Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]