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A case of locally acquired (autochthonous) mosquito-transmitted Plasmodium vivax malaria was diagnosed in Arkansas in September 2023. This represents the 10th autochthonous case identified nationally in 2023, after 20 years without recorded local mosquitoborne malaria transmission in the United States. The public health response included case investigation, active case surveillance, mosquito surveillance and control, assessment of medical countermeasures, and clinical and public outreach. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of malaria can improve clinical outcomes and, in addition to vector control, minimize risk for local transmission. Clinicians should consider malaria among patients who have traveled to countries where malaria is endemic, or with unexplained fever regardless of travel history. Although the risk for autochthonous malaria in the United States remains very low, its reemergence highlights the importance of vectorborne disease preparedness and response. Examples of such efforts include improving awareness among clinicians, access to diagnostics and antimalarial medications, and capacity for mosquito surveillance and control. Collaboration and communication among CDC, health departments, local jurisdictions, clinicians, hospitals, laboratories, and the public can support rapid malaria diagnosis, prevention, and control. Before traveling internationally to areas where malaria is endemic, travelers should consult with their health care provider regarding recommended malaria prevention measures, including chemoprophylaxis and precautions to avoid mosquito bites, to reduce both personal and community risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research conducted at Arkansas Children's Hospital, which aimed to examine the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection mitigation strategies on pediatric cases of Group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis. The study found that implementing infection control measures during the pandemic resulted in a reduction in the incidence of GAS pharyngitis, particularly among younger age groups.

The article discusses a study of the impact of the implementation of physical interventions to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission on the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-positive culture rate in the Arkansas Children's Health System. The study involved cultures collected from April 2018 to March 2021. There was a decline in the culture rate after the implementation of the measures. Also cited are the limitations of the study.

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a growing field within precision medicine. Testing can help predict adverse events and sub-therapeutic response risks of certain medications. To date, the US FDA lists over 280 drugs which provide biomarker-based dosing guidance for adults and children. At Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH), a clinical PGx laboratory-based test was developed and implemented to provide guidance on 66 pediatric medications for genotype-guided dosing. This PGx test consists of 174 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) targeting 23 clinically actionable PGx genes or gene variants. Individual genotypes are processed to provide per-gene discrete results in star-allele and phenotype format. These results are then integrated into EPIC- EHR. Genomic indicators built into EPIC-EHR provide the source for clinical decision support (CDS) for clinicians, providing genotype-guided dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the association of the respiratory tract infections of the pseudomonas aeruginosa with the contaminated ultrasound gel that are used for transesophageal echocardiography. Increase in the respiratory cultures in a surgical intensive care unit was noted by the Beaumont Health System's Department of Epidemiology at Royal Oak, Michigan. The focus of the Food and Drug Administration, Oakland County Health Department and Michigan Department of Community Health is on respiratory-care practices, respiratory therapy equipment management, reviewing the postoperative nursing and also anesthesia practice.

The article discusses an investigation conducted by the Department of Epidemiology at Beaumont Health System (BHS) in Royal Oak, Michigan which found positive respiratory cultures in a surgical intensive-care unit (ICU) attributed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa between December 2011 and January 2012. Positive cultures were linked to the use of ultrasound transmission gel from a single manufacturer during transesophageal echocardiography.