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COVID-19 has created shortages of personal protective equipment. In resource-constrained situations, limited cycles of disinfection and extended use of gloves is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conserve supplies. However, these guidelines are based on limited evidence. In this study, serial cycles of hand hygiene were performed on gloved hands using an ethanol-based hand rub (six and 10 cycles), 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution (10 cycles), or soap and water (10 cycles) on latex and nitrile medical exam gloves from the United States and India. A modified water-leak test evaluated glove integrity after repeated applications of these disinfecting agents. When aggregated, dilute bleach demonstrated the lowest difference between treatment and control arms: -2.5 percentage points (95% CI: -5.3 to 0.3) for nitrile, 0.6 percentage points (95% CI: -2.6 to 3.8) for non-powdered latex. For U.S.-purchased gloves tested with six and 10 applications of ethanol-based hand rub, the mean difference in failure risk between treatment and control gloves was within the prespecified non-inferiority margin of five percentage points or less, though some findings were inconclusive since outside the margin. The aggregated difference in failure risk between treatment and control was 3.5 percentage points (0.6 to 6.4) for soap and water, and 2.3 percentage points (-0.5 to 5.0) and 5.0 percentage points (1.8 to 8.2) for 10 and 6 applications of ethanol-based hand rub, respectively. Most leaks occurred in the interdigital webs (35%) and on the fingers (34%). This indicates that some combinations of glove types and disinfection methods may allow for extended use. Ten applications of dilute bleach solution had the least impact on glove integrity. However, the majority of glove and exposure combinations were inconclusive. Additional testing of specific glove and disinfectant combinations may inform future strategies to guide extended use during glove shortages. Additional considerations, not evaluated here, include duration of use, disinfectant chemical permeation, and the effects of hand temperature, movement, and manipulation of instruments on glove integrity.

Nipah virus – Bangladesh (NiVB) is a bat-borne zoonosis transmitted between people through the respiratory route, posing a pandemic risk. The risk posed by related henipaviruses, including Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus – Malaysia (NiVM) is less clear. We conducted a broad search of the literature encompassing both human infections and animal models to synthesize evidence about potential for person-to-person spread of these henipaviruses. More than 600 human infections have been reported in the literature, but information about biological processes related to transmission is limited; information on viral shedding was only available for 40 case-patients. There is substantial evidence demonstrating person-to-person transmission of NiVB, though there is also evidence that NiVMhas been transmitted from person to person. Less direct evidence is available about the risk for person-to-person transmission of HeV, but animals infected with HeV shed more virus in the respiratory tract than those infected with NiVMsuggesting potential for transmission. As the family of known henipaviruses continues to grow, shared protocols for conducting and reporting from human investigations and animal experiments are urgently needed to advance our understanding of transmission risk.

Background Unlike prior outbreaks of monkeypox, the 2022 outbreak is unique because lesions have been predominantly noted in the anogenital area, especially among persons identifying as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men. The role of various body sites in monkeypox transmission is currently unclear. We assessed monkeypox PCR positivity from various body sites. Methods We collected demographic, clinical, and laboratory data from patients with confirmed monkeypox at Stanford during June–July 2022. We obtained samples from skin lesions, oropharynx, saliva, conjunctiva, urine, semen, and rectum. Monkeypox DNA analysis was performed on site using a quantitative PCR modified from published CDC assays. Results During June–July 2022, 10 patients were confirmed to have monkeypox. All were men; median age was 40 (range 24–46). Four patients identified as Hispanic, three as Caucasian, two as African American, and one as Asian. Additionally, three had HIV infection and the remaining seven were on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. At the time of diagnosis, eight patients (80%) described a prodrome of fever and malaise. Seven (70%) had genital lesions; the remaining three (30%) presented with only extra-genital lesions. Complications included two patients with proctitis (20%), one with phimosis (10%) and one with tonsillar involvement and impending airway compromise (10%). A total of seven (70%) received tecovirimat, and one was hospitalized. Median time from symptom onset to sample collection was seven days (range 3–14). All patients had at least one skin lesion sample positive for monkeypox virus DNA (Table 1). Six rectal samples (100%), Eight oropharyngeal samples (89%) and two (66%) urine samples were also positive. Conclusion We found monkeypox PCR positivity from different body sites. Public health messaging should consider targeting behaviors that involve body sites beyond skin, with particular consideration to mucosal surfaces. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat that contributes to substantial neonatal mortality. Bangladesh has reported some of the highest rates of AMR among bacteria causing neonatal sepsis. To better understand routes of AMR transmission to newborns, we aimed to characterize the frequency of and risk factors for AMR colonization of mothers and newborns during hospitalization for delivery. We enrolled 177 pregnant women presenting for delivery to a tertiary care hospital in Faridpur, Bangladesh, during February-October 2020. We collected vaginal and rectal swabs from mothers on presentation and after delivery as well as rectal swabs from newborns. We also collected swabs from the hospital environment proximal to the patients. Swabs were plated on chromogenic agars selective for extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase producing organisms (ESBL) and carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO). We performed univariable and multivariable analyses to determine factors associated with ESBL/CRO colonization. Prior to delivery, 17% of mothers had vaginal colonization and 71% had rectal colonization with ESBLs; 4% had vaginal colonization and 13% had rectal colonization with CROs. Seventy-nine percent of women underwent cesarean deliveries (C-section). Ninety-eight percent of women received prophylactic antibiotics during hospitalization. Following delivery, nearly 90% of mothers and newborns were colonized with ESBLs and over 70% with CROs. Of the 290 environmental samples, 77% were positive for ESBLs, and 69% were positive for CROs. Maternal and newborn colonization at discharge were both associated with C-section (RR for maternal 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-1.8 and newborn 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.7). Facility-based deliveries increase exposure to AMR organisms, likely driven by intense use of antibiotics and frequent C-sections. Greater attention should be given to the use of perinatal antibiotics, indications for C-sections, and infection prevention practices to reduce the high prevalence of colonization with antibiotic resistant bacteria.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in naturally ventilated hospital settings by measuring parameters of ventilation and comparing these findings with results of bioaerosol sampling.Study designCross-sectional study.Study setting and study sampleThe study sample included nine hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ventilation characteristics and air samples were collected from 86 healthcare spaces during October 2020 to February 2021.Primary outcomeRisk of cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infection by type of healthcare area.Secondary outcomesVentilation rates by healthcare space; risk of airborne detection of SARS-CoV-2 across healthcare spaces; impact of room characteristics on absolute ventilation; SARS-CoV-2 detection by naturally ventilated versus mechanically ventilated spaces.ResultsThe majority (78.7%) of naturally ventilated patient care rooms had ventilation rates that fell short of the recommended ventilation rate of 60 L/s/p. Using a modified Wells-Riley equation and local COVID-19 case numbers, we found that over a 40-hour exposure period, outpatient departments posed the highest median risk for infection (7.7%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was most frequently detected in air samples from non-COVID wards (50.0%) followed by outpatient departments (42.9%). Naturally ventilated spaces (22.6%) had higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 detection compared with mechanically ventilated spaces (8.3%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.128). In multivariable linear regression with calculated elasticity, open door area and cross-ventilation were found to have a significant impact on ventilation.ConclusionOur findings provide evidence that naturally ventilated healthcare settings may pose a high risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, particularly among non-COVID-designated spaces, but improving parameters of ventilation can mitigate this risk.

In March 2015, a patient in Colombia with HIV/AIDS was hospitalized for disseminated ulcers after milking cows that had vesicular lesions on their udders. Vaccinia virus was detected, and the case met criteria for progressive vaccinia acquired by zoonotic transmission. Adherence to an optimized antiretroviral regimen resulted in recovery. © 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.

Persuading people to mask Even in places where it is obligatory, people tend to optimistically overstate their compliance for mask wearing. How then can we persuade more of the population at large to act for the greater good? Abaluck et al . undertook a large, cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh involving hundreds of thousands of people (although mostly men) over a 2-month period. Colored masks of various construction were handed out free of charge, accompanied by a range of mask-wearing promotional activities inspired by marketing research. Using a grassroots network of volunteers to help conduct the study and gather data, the authors discovered that mask wearing averaged 13.3% in villages where no interventions took place but increased to 42.3% in villages where in-person interventions were introduced. Villages where in-person reinforcement of mask wearing occurred also showed a reduction in reporting COVID-like illness, particularly in high-risk individuals. —CA

Many healthcare professionals have been forced, under acute shortages, to extend medical exam gloves beyond their intended single use. Despite limited available literature, the CDC proposed a set of guidelines for repeated exam gloves use, indicating a maximum number of treatments for three widely available disinfectants. This study examines how these treatments affect the mechanical properties of latex and nitrile gloves. Furthermore, an acceptability threshold is proposed for changes in tensile property, specifically elastic modulus, as an indication of degradation. This proposed criterion was also applied to similar studies available in the literature to determine applicability and aid in recommendation development. Three different latex glove brands and three nitrile brands were exposed to repeated treatments of an alcohol-based hand rub, diluted bleach, or soap and water. Tensile tests of samples cut from untreated and treated gloves were performed to assess the change in elastic modulus induced by each treatment. The findings suggest that latex gloves performed well within the CDC recommended guidelines of six repeated treatments for an ethanol-based hand rub and 10 repeated treatments of either dilute bleach or soap and water. Nitrile exam gloves, on the other hand, showed significant changes in elastic modulus, with more inconclusive results among brands. This was especially true for treatment with dilute bleach and soap and water. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of disinfection products on the mechanical integrity of nitrile exam gloves. The results support the use of five repeated treatments of ethanol-based hand rub for nitrile exam gloves, a lower threshold than currently recommended by the CDC. This research also supports that the CDC recommendation of 10 repeated treatment with soap and water is appropriate for latex exam gloves, but not for nitrile exam gloves. Occupational safety and health professionals involved in the selection of disposable exam gloves for infection control should consider the compatibility of the glove polymer type with available disinfectants, especially if extended use with repeated disinfection becomes necessary.

BackgroundIn healthcare settings in low- and middle-income countries, which frequently rely upon natural ventilation, the risk of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in naturally-ventilated hospital settings by measuring parameters of ventilation and comparing these findings with results of bioaerosol sampling.MethodsWe measured outdoor and room CO2 to estimate absolute ventilation (liters per second [L/s]) from 9 hospitals in Bangladesh during October 2020 - February 2021. We estimated infectious risk across different spaces using a modified Wells-Riley equation. We collected air samples from these same spaces at 12.5 L/min over 30 minutes and performed RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 N-gene. We used multivariable linear regression and calculated elasticity to identify characteristics associated with ventilation.ResultsBased on ventilation of 86 patient care areas and COVID-19 case numbers, we found that over a 40-hour exposure period, outpatient departments posed the highest median risk for infection (5.4%), followed by COVID intensive care units (1.8%). We detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 18.6% (16/86) of air samples. Ceiling height and total open area of doors and windows were found to have the greatest impact on ventilation.ConclusionOur findings provide evidence that naturally-ventilated healthcare settings may pose a high risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, particularly among non-COVID designated spaces, but improving parameters of ventilation can mitigate this risk.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has created global shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as medical exam gloves, forcing healthcare workers to either forgo or reuse PPE to keep themselves and patients safe from infection. In severely resource-constrained situations, limited cycles of disinfection and extended use of gloves is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conserve supplies. However, these guidelines are based on limited evidence.MethodsSerial cycles of hand hygiene were performed on gloved hands using alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) (six and ten cycles), 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution (ten cycles), or soap and water (ten cycles) on three types of latex and three types of nitrile medical exam gloves, purchased in the United States and India. A modified FDA-approved water-leak test was performed to evaluate glove integrity after repeated applications of these disinfecting agents. 80 gloves per disinfectant-glove type combination were tested. Within each glove type the proportion of gloves that failed the water-leak test for each disinfectant was compared to that of the control using a non-inferiority design with a non-inferiority margin of five percentage points. Results were also aggregated by glove material, and combined for overall results.FindingsWhen aggregated by glove material, the dilute bleach exposure demonstrated the lowest difference in proportion failed between treatment and control arms: −2.5 percentage points (95% CI: −5.3 to 0.3) for nitrile, 0.6 percentage points (95% CI: −2.6 to 3.8) for non-powdered latex. For US-purchased gloves tested with six and ten applications of ABHR, the mean difference in failure risk between treatment and control gloves was within the prespecified non-inferiority margin of five percentage points or less, though some findings were inconclusive because confidence intervals extended beyond the non-inferiority margin. The aggregated difference in failure risk between treatment and control gloves was 3.5 percentage points (0.6 to 6.4) for soap and water, and 2.3 percentage points (−0.5 to 5.0) and 5.0 percentage points (1.8 to 8.2) for 10 and 6 applications of ABHR, respectively. The majority of leaks occurred in the interdigital webs (35%) and on the fingers (34%).ConclusionCurrent guidelines do not recommend extended use of a single-use PPE under normal supply conditions. However, our findings indicate that some combinations of glove types and disinfection methods may allow for extended use under crisis conditions. We found that ten applications of dilute bleach solution have the least impact on glove integrity, compared to repeated applications of ABHR and soap and water. However, the majority of glove and exposure combinations were inconclusive with respect to non-inferiority with a 5 percentage point non-inferiority margin. Testing specific glove and disinfectant combinations may be worthwhile for settings facing glove shortages during which extended use is necessary. The modified water-leak testing method used here is a low-resource method that could easily be reproduced in different contexts.

A randomized-trial of community-level mask promotion in rural Bangladesh during COVID-19 shows that the intervention tripled mask usage and is a cost-effective means of promoting public health.

Hand hygiene is central to hospital infection control. During the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease epidemic in Liberia, gaps in hand hygiene infrastructure and health worker training contributed to hospital-based Ebola transmission. Hand hygiene interventions were undertaken post-Ebola, but many improvements were not sustainable. This study characterizes barriers to, and facilitators of, hand hygiene in rural Liberian hospitals and evaluates readiness for sustainable, locally derived interventions to improve hand hygiene. Research enumerators collected data at all hospitals in Bong and Lofa counties, Liberia, in the period March–May 2020. Enumerators performed standardized spot checks of hand hygiene infrastructure and supplies, structured observations of hand hygiene behavior, and semi-structured key informant interviews for thematic analysis. During spot checks, hospital staff reported that handwashing container water was always available in 89% (n = 42) of hospital wards, piped running water in 23% (n = 11), and soap in 62% (n = 29). Enumerators observed 5% of wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers (n = 8) and 95% of pocket-size dispensers (n = 53) to be working. In interviews, hospital staff described willingness to purchase personal hand sanitizer dispensers when hospital-provided supplies were unavailable. Low-cost, sustainable interventions should address supply and infrastructure-related obstacles to hospital hand hygiene improvement.

An outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disorder characterized by acute, symmetric limb weakness with decreased or absent deep-tendon reflexes, was reported in Barranquilla, Colombia, after the introduction of Zika virus in 2015. We reviewed clinical data for GBS cases in Barranquilla and performed a case-control investigation to assess the association of suspect and probable Zika virus disease with GBS.We used the Brighton Collaboration Criteria to confirm reported GBS patients in Barranquilla during October 2015-April 2016. In April 2016, two neighborhood and age range-matched controls were selected for each confirmed GBS case-patient. We obtained demographics and antecedent symptoms in the 2-month period before GBS onset for case-patients and the same period for controls. Sera were collected for Zika virus antibody testing. Suspected Zika virus disease was defined as a history of rash and ≥2 other Zika-related symptoms (fever, arthralgia, myalgia, or conjunctivitis). Probable Zika virus disease was defined as suspected Zika virus disease with laboratory evidence of a recent Zika virus or flavivirus infection. Conditional logistic regression adjusted for sex and race/ethnicity was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).We confirmed 47 GBS cases. Incidence increased with age (10-fold higher in those ≥60years versus those20years). We interviewed 40 case-patients and 79 controls. There was no significant difference in laboratory evidence of recent Zika virus or flavivirus infection between case-patients and controls (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 0.9-5.1). GBS was associated with having suspected (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.1-8.6) or probable Zika virus disease (OR: 4.6, CI: 1.1-19.0).Older individuals and those with suspected and probable Zika virus disease had higher odds of developing GBS.We confirmed a Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) outbreak in Barranquilla, Colombia, during October 2015-April 2016. A case-control investigation using neighborhood controls showed an association of suspected and probable Zika virus disease with GBS.

Dairy farmers had high rates of orthopoxvirus seropositivity and substantial illness associated with vaccinia-like lesions., In 2014, vaccinia virus (VACV) infections were identified among farmworkers in Caquetá Department, Colombia; additional cases were identified in Cundinamarca Department in 2015. VACV, an orthopoxvirus (OPXV) used in the smallpox vaccine, has caused sporadic bovine and human outbreaks in countries such as Brazil and India. In response to the emergence of this disease in Colombia, we surveyed and collected blood from 134 farmworkers and household members from 56 farms in Cundinamarca Department. We tested serum samples for OPXV antibodies and correlated risk factors with seropositivity by using multivariate analyses. Fifty-two percent of farmworkers had OPXV antibodies; this percentage decreased to 31% when we excluded persons who would have been eligible for smallpox vaccination. The major risk factors for seropositivity were municipality, age, smallpox vaccination scar, duration of time working on a farm, and animals having vaccinia-like lesions. This investigation provides evidence for possible emergence of VACV as a zoonosis in South America.

BackgroundThis prospective cohort investigation analyzed the long-term functional and neurologic outcomes of patients with Zika virus-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in Barranquilla, Colombia.MethodsThirty-four Zika virus-associated GBS cases were assessed a median of 17 months following acute GBS illness. We assessed demographics, results of Overall Disability Sum Scores (ODSS), Hughes Disability Score (HDS), Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaires; and compared outcomes indices with a normative sample of neighborhood-selected control subjects in Barranquilla without GBS.ResultsMedian age at time of acute neurologic onset was 49 years (range, 10-80); 17 (50%) were male. No deaths occurred. At long-term follow-up, 25 (73%) patients had a HDS 0-1, indicating complete / near complete recovery. Among the group, HDS (mean 1.4, range 0-4), ODSS (mean 1.9, range 0-9) and ZDS score (mean 34.4, range 20-56) indicated mild / moderate ongoing disability. Adjusting for age and sex, Zika virus-associated GBS cases were similar to a population comparison group (n = 368) in Barranquilla without GBS in terms of prevalence of physical or mental health complaints, though GBS patients were more likely to have an ODSS of ≥ 1 (OR 8.8, 95% CI 3.2-24.5) and to suffer from moderate / moderate-severe depression (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.23-11.17) than the comparison group.ConclusionsLong-term outcomes of Zika virus-associated GBS are consistent with those associated with other antecedent antigenic stimuli in terms of mortality and ongoing long-term morbidity, as published in the literature. Persons with Zika virus-associated GBS more frequently reported disability and depression after approximately one year compared with those without GBS.

In September 2015, a Wyoming woman was admitted to a local hospital with a 5-day history of progressive weakness, ataxia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. Because of respiratory failure, she was transferred to a referral hospital in Utah, where she developed progressive encephalitis. On day 8 of hospitalization, the patient's family told clinicians they recalled that, 1 month before admission, the woman had found a bat on her neck upon waking, but had not sought medical care. The patient's husband subsequently had contacted county invasive species authorities about the incident, but he was not advised to seek health care for evaluation of his wife's risk for rabies. On October 2, CDC confirmed the patient was infected with a rabies virus variant that was enzootic to the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). The patient died on October 3. Public understanding of rabies risk from bat contact needs to be improved; cooperation among public health and other agencies can aid in referring persons with possible bat exposure for assessment of rabies risk.

On December 1, 2015, the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) was notified by a local hospital of a suspected human rabies case. The previous evening, a Puerto Rican man aged 54 years arrived at the emergency department with fever, difficulty swallowing, hand paresthesia, cough, and chest tightness. The next morning the patient left against medical advice but returned to the emergency department in the afternoon with worsening symptoms. The patient's wife reported that he had been bitten by a mongoose during the first week of October, but had not sought care for the bite. While being transferred to the intensive care unit, the patient went into cardiac arrest and died. On December 3, rabies was confirmed from specimens collected during autopsy. PRDH conducted an initial rapid risk assessment, and five family members were started on rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. An ongoing study of childhood mortality in Bangladesh revealed a common cause of death among neonates is sepsis from Gram-negative multi-drug-resistant organisms. Methods To ascertain factors leading to neonatal exposure, we enrolled 100 women presenting for delivery to Faridpur Hospital during February-March 2020. We collected vaginal and rectal swabs from mothers on presentation and at least 24 hours after delivery as well as rectal swabs from newborns. Swabs were plated on chromogenic agars selective for extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-(ESBL) producing organisms and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). Results Eight-five percent of women underwent C-section. Prior to delivery, ESBL organisms were isolated from 15% of vaginal and 63% of rectal swabs. CRE was detected in 2% of vaginal and 8% of rectal swabs. Following delivery, colonization exceeded 90% (ESBL) and 70% (CRE) in both swab sets. Similarly, among newborns, 85% were colonized with ESBL and 67% with CRE. Maternal AMR colonization on admission did not correlate with income, education, parity, prenatal care, or prior antibiotic use, but was associated with hospitalization during pregnancy (rectal CRE OR 11.9, p< 0.01). Maternal colonization at discharge was positively associated with membrane stripping (vaginal ESBL OR 9.0, p< 0.01; rectal CRE OR 5.0, p=0.03), C-section (OR 4.0-15.4, p< 0.05), and administration of third-generation cephalosporins (OR 5.0-10.1, p< 0.05). Newborn colonization correlated with maternal colonization on discharge (p< 0.005) but not on admission. Among newborns delivered by C-section, there was an 8-9-fold increased risk of ESBL and CRE colonization (p< 0.01). Conclusion These results demonstrate that AMR is driven by nosocomial factors in the perinatal setting, and invasive procedures and perinatal antibiotic use increase risk of AMR colonization. These findings emphasize the urgent need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control practices to preserve the benefits of hospital-based deliveries. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

With the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide, uncovering the molecular epidemiology is critical for understanding what is driving this crisis. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated-quinolone-resistance (PMQR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- (ESBL) producing gram-negative organisms among primigravid women with bacteriuria. We collected urine specimens from primigravid women attending their first antenatal visit at Gandhi Hospital during October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016. We determined antimicrobial susceptibility and ESBL and quinolone resistance using VITEK-2. We performed polymerase chain reaction amplification on resistant isolates for detection of ESBL-encoding genes (TEM, SHV, CTX-M) and PMQR genes (qnrA, qnrB, qnrD, qnrS, aac (6')-Ib-cr). Of 1,841 urine samples, 133 demonstrated significant bacterial growth with gram-negative bacilli accounting for 85% of isolates, including Escherichia coli (n = 79), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 29), Sphingomonas (n = 3), Enterobacter (n = 1), and Citrobacter (n = 1). We found 65% of E. coli isolates and 41% of K. pneumoniae isolates were ESBL positive. Of ESBL-positive isolates, the most common genes conferring resistance were TEM-1 (66.7%) followed by CTX-M-15 (33.3%). Fifty-seven percent of ESBL-positive E. coli also demonstrated resistance to quinolones with the most common PMQR genes being qnr-S (62.5%) and aac (6')-Ib-cr (37.5%). We did not find any resistance to quinolones among ESBL-positive K. pneumoniae isolates. Across different classes of antibiotics we found a strong clustering of multi-drug resistance in E. coli with over 45% of ESBL-positive isolates demonstrating resistance to at least three classes of antibiotics. This study emphasizes the high prevalence of plasmid-mediated ESBL and quinolone resistance in community-acquired urinary tract infections of primigravid women. The overall abundance of multi-drug-resistant isolates in this population is alarming and may present therapeutic challenges.

In mid-2015, Salvador, Brazil, reported an outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), coinciding with the introduction and spread of Zika virus (ZIKV). We found that GBS incidence during April–July 2015 among those ≥12 years of age was 5.6 cases/100,000 population/year and increased markedly with increasing age to 14.7 among those ≥60 years of age. We conducted interviews with 41 case-patients and 85 neighborhood controls and found no differences in demographics or exposures prior to GBS-symptom onset. A higher proportion of case-patients (83%) compared to controls (21%) reported an antecedent illness (OR 18.1, CI 6.9–47.5), most commonly characterized by rash, headache, fever, and myalgias, within a median of 8 days prior to GBS onset. Our investigation confirmed an outbreak of GBS, particularly in older adults, that was strongly associated with Zika-like illness and geo-temporally associated with ZIKV transmission, suggesting that ZIKV may result in severe neurologic complications., Author summary Shortly following the introduction of Zika virus (ZIKV), a type of flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, into Brazil in early 2015, the Brazil Ministry of Health began receiving increased reports of a paralyzing condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The areas with the greatest number of GBS cases appeared to correlate geographically and temporally with the areas reporting the highest rate of ZIKV infections. This association had been previously observed during a ZIKV outbreak in French Polynesia, however, this had not been systematically examined in a case-control investigation for the ZIKV outbreak in South America. In this investigation, the authors found that the occurrence of GBS in the affected population was nearly four times higher than would be expected, and the risk for GBS was particularly elevated among older adults. GBS was associated with ZIKV-like symptoms and with a combination of ZIKV-like symptoms plus laboratory evidence of a recent flavivirus infection. Taken together, these findings provide strong support for and greater understanding of the link between ZIKV and GBS.

Background Zika virus has been associated with increases in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) incidence. A GBS incidence estimation and clinical description was performed to assess baseline GBS epidemiology before the introduction of Zika virus in Puerto Rico. Methods Hospitalization administrative data from an island-wide insurance claims database and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates provided a crude GBS incidence for 2013. This estimate was adjusted using the proportion of GBS cases meeting Brighton criteria for confirmed GBS from nine reference hospitals. Characteristics of confirmed GBS cases in the same nine hospitals during 2012–2015 are described. Results A total of 136 GBS hospitalization claims were filed in 2013 (crude GBS incidence was 3.8 per 100,000 population). The adjusted GBS incidence was 1.7 per 100,000 population. Of 67 confirmed GBS cases during 2012–2015, 66% had an antecedent illness. Median time from antecedent illness to GBS onset was 7 days. Most cases (67%) occurred during July–September. Conclusions Puerto Rico's GBS incidence for 2013 was estimated using a combination of administrative data and medical records review; this method could be employed in other regions to monitor GBS incidence before and after the introduction of GBS infectious triggers.

Blood salvage techniques are increasingly being used during surgical procedures to reduce the need for exogenous blood products. The blood recovered from the surgical field through aspiration or absorption by surgical sponges is reinfused into a patient. A 65-year old patient who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using blood salvage techniques developed a fever on post-op day 3 and was noted to have an elevated β-d-glucan level, a marker of systemic fungal infections. Ultimately, no fungal infection was identified, β-d-glucan levels slowly decreased and the patient demonstrated clinical improvement. To determine whether blood salvage procedures led to his elevated β-d-glucan levels, the surgical sponges were tested for elutable levels of β-d-glucan. The β-d-glucan content of the eluents was measured using the Fungitell® IVD kit (Associates of Cape Cod, Inc.; East Falmouth, MA). The β-d-glucan levels were found to be in concentrations 10,000-times greater than the limit of detection for human serum. While various studies have demonstrated both the immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory effects of β-d-glucan, the physiologic impact of such high levels of β-d-glucan post-operatively remains unknown. Additionally, the persistence of detectable β-d-glucan up to several weeks after surgical procedures presents a challenge for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. Further studies are needed to assess the beta-glucanemia-related safety of surgical materials and their potential biological effects.

Background Copper has antimicrobial properties and has been studied for its activity against viruses, including HIV. Copper complexed within a phthalocyanine ring, forming copper (II) phthalocyanine sulfate (CuPcS), may have a role in microbicide development when used intravaginally. Methods CuPcS toxicity was tested against cervical epithelial cells, TZM-BL cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and cervical explant tissues using cell viability assays. In vivo toxicity was assessed following intravaginal administration of CuPcS in female BALB/C mice and measured using a standardized histology grading system on reproductive tract tissues. Efficacy studies for preventing infection with HIV in the presence of various non-toxic concentrations of CuPcS were carried out in TZM-BL, PBMC, and cervical explant cultures using HIV-1BAL and various pseudovirus subtypes. Non-linear regression was applied to the data to determine the EC50/90 and CC50/90. Results CuPcS demonstrated inhibition of HIV infection in PBMCs at concentrations that were non-toxic in cervical epithelial cells and PBMCs with EC50 values of approximately 50 μg/mL. Reproductive tract tissue analysis revealed no toxicity at 100 mg/mL. Human cervical explant tissues challenged with HIV in the presence of CuPcS also revealed a dose–response effect at preventing HIV infection at non-toxic concentrations with an EC50 value of 65 μg/mL. Conclusion These results suggest that CuPcS may be useful as a topical microbicide in concentrations that can be achieved in the female genital tract. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12985-015-0358-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.