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OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of psychiatric comorbidity among children and adolescents with a serious self-harm event. METHODS: We studied children aged 5 to 18 years hospitalized with a neuropsychiatric event at 2 children's hospitals from April 2016 to March 2020. We used Bayesian profile regression to identify distinct clinical profiles of risk for self-harm events from 32 covariates: age, sex, and 30 mental health diagnostic groups. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% credible intervals (CIs) were calculated compared with a reference profile with the overall baseline risk of the cohort. RESULTS: We included 1098 children hospitalized with a neuropsychiatric event (median age 14 years [interquartile range (IQR) 11-16]). Of these, 406 (37%) were diagnosed with a self-harm event. We identified 4 distinct profiles with varying risk for a self-harm diagnosis. The low-risk profile (median 0.035 [IQR 0.029-0.041]; OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.04-0.15) was composed primarily of children aged 5 to 9 years without a previous psychiatric diagnosis. The moderate-risk profile (median 0.30 [IQR 0.27-0.33]; reference profile) included psychiatric diagnoses without depressive disorders. Older female adolescents with a combination of anxiety, depression, substance, and trauma disorders characterized the high-risk profile (median 0.69 [IQR 0.67-0.70]; OR 5.09, 95% CI 3.11-8.38). Younger males with mood and developmental disorders represented the very high-risk profile (median 0.76 [IQR 0.73-0.79]; OR 7.21, 95% CI 3.69-15.20). CONCLUSIONS: We describe 4 separate profiles of psychiatric comorbidity that can help identify children at elevated risk for a self-harm event and subsequent opportunities for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Examine age differences in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission risk from primary cases and infection risk among household contacts and symptoms among those with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: People with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nashville, Tennessee and central and western Wisconsin and their household contacts were followed daily for 14 days to ascertain symptoms and secondary transmission events. Households were enrolled between April 2020 and April 2021. Secondary infection risks (SIR) by age of the primary case and contacts were estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: The 226 primary cases were followed by 198 (49%) secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections among 404 household contacts. Age group-specific SIR among contacts ranged from 36% to 53%, with no differences by age. SIR was lower in primary cases age 12 to 17 years than from primary cases 18 to 49 years (risk ratio [RR] 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-0.91). SIR was 55% and 45%, respectively, among primary case-contact pairs in the same versus different age group (RR 1.47; 95% CI 0.98-2.22). SIR was highest among primary case-contact pairs age $65 years (76%) and 5 to 11 years (69%). Among secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections, 19% were asymptomatic; there was no difference in the frequency of asymptomatic infections by age group. CONCLUSIONS: Both children and adults can transmit and are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. SIR did not vary by age, but further research is needed to understand age-related differences in probability of transmission from primary cases by age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Anterior nasal swabs (ANS) are established specimen collection methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection detection. While saliva (SA) specimens provide an alternative, few studies have comprehensively characterized the performance of SA specimens in longitudinal studies. Methods We compared SARS-CoV-2 detections between paired self-collected ANS and SA specimens from a household transmission study. Participants recorded symptoms and paired ANS and SA specimens daily for 14 days. Specimens were tested using RT-PCR. We calculated the proportion of detections identified by each specimen type among the detections from both types combined. We computed percent agreement and Kappa statistics to assess concordance in detections. We also computed estimates stratified by presence of symptoms and examined the influence of traditional and inactivating transport media on the performance of ANS. Results We examined 2535 self-collected paired specimens from 216 participants. Among 1238 (49%) paired specimens with detections by either specimen type, ANS identified 77.1% (954; 95% CI, 74.6% to 79.3%) and SA 81.9% (1014; 95% CI, 79.7% to 84.0%), with a difference of 4.9% (95% CI, 1.4% to 8.5%). Overall agreement was 80.0%, and Kappa was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.5 to 0.6). Nevertheless, the difference in the proportion of detections identified by ANS and SA using traditional and inactivating transport media was 32.5% (95% CI, 26.8% to 38.0%) and –9.5% (95% CI, −13.7% to –5.2%), respectively. Among participants who remained asymptomatic, the difference in detections between SA and ANS was 51.2% (95% CI, 31.8% to 66.0%) and 26.1% (95% CI, 0% to 48.5%) using traditional and inactivating media, respectively. Conclusions Self-collected saliva specimens provide a noninvasive alternative to nasal swabs, especially to those collected in traditional transport media, for longitudinal field studies that aim to detect both symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against a spectrum of severe disease, including critical illness and death, remains poorly characterized. Methods We conducted a test-negative study in an intensive care unit (ICU) network at 10 US hospitals to evaluate VE for preventing influenza-associated severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) during the 2019–2020 season, which was characterized by circulation of drifted A/H1N1 and B-lineage viruses. Cases were adults hospitalized in the ICU and a targeted number outside the ICU (to capture a spectrum of severity) with laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated SARI. Test-negative controls were frequency-matched based on hospital, timing of admission, and care location (ICU vs non-ICU). Estimates were adjusted for age, comorbidities, and other confounders. Results Among 638 patients, the median (interquartile) age was 57 (44–68) years; 286 (44.8%) patients were treated in the ICU and 42 (6.6%) died during hospitalization. Forty-five percent of cases and 61% of controls were vaccinated, which resulted in an overall VE of 32% (95% CI: 2–53%), including 28% (−9% to 52%) against influenza A and 52% (13–74%) against influenza B. VE was higher in adults 18–49 years old (62%; 95% CI: 27–81%) than those aged 50–64 years (20%; −48% to 57%) and ≥65 years old (−3%; 95% CI: −97% to 46%) (P  = .0789 for interaction). VE was significantly higher against influenza-associated death (80%; 95% CI: 4–96%) than nonfatal influenza illness. Conclusions During a season with drifted viruses, vaccination reduced severe influenza-associated illness among adults by 32%. VE was high among young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding how symptoms are associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 culture positivity is important for isolation and transmission control guidelines. Methods: Individuals acutely infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in Tennessee and their household contacts were recruited into a prospective study. All participants self‐collected nasal swabs daily for 14 days and completed symptom diaries from the day of illness onset through day 14 postenrollment. Nasal specimens were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 using RT‐qPCR. Positive specimens with cycle threshold values < 40 were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for viral culture. First, we modeled the association between symptoms and the risk of culture positivity using an age‐adjusted generalized additive model (GAM) accounting for repeated measurements within participants and a symptom‐day spline. Next, we investigated how timing of symptom resolution was associated with the timing of culture resolution. Results: In a GAM restricted to follow‐up days after symptoms began, the odds of a specimen being culture positive was significantly increased on days when wheezing, loss of taste or smell, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, or any symptom were reported. For all symptoms except sore throat, it was more common for participants to have culture resolution before symptom resolution than for culture to resolve after or on the same day as symptom resolution. Conclusions: Overall, symptomatic individuals were more likely to be SARS‐CoV‐2 viral culture positive. For most symptoms, culture positivity was more likely to end before symptoms resolved. However, a proportion of individuals remained culture positive after symptom resolved, across all symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the implications of a shortened quarantine among households on the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended two options to reduce the duration of quarantine for close contacts without symptoms. The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect COVID-19 is also discussed.

Improved understanding of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), within households could aid control measures. However, few studies have systematically characterized the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in U.S. households (1). Previously reported transmission rates vary widely, and data on transmission rates from children are limited. To assess household transmission, a case-ascertained study was conducted in Nashville, Tennessee, and Marshfield, Wisconsin, commencing in April 2020. In this study, index patients were defined as the first household members with COVID-19-compatible symptoms who received a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result, and who lived with at least one other household member. After enrollment, index patients and household members were trained remotely by study staff members to complete symptom diaries and obtain self-collected specimens, nasal swabs only or nasal swabs and saliva samples, daily for 14 days. For this analysis, specimens from the first 7 days were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using CDC RT-PCR protocols.† A total of 191 enrolled household contacts of 101 index patients reported having no symptoms on the day of the associated index patient's illness onset, and among these 191 contacts, 102 had SARS-CoV-2 detected in either nasal or saliva specimens during follow-up, for a secondary infection rate of 53% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 46%-60%). Among fourteen households in which the index patient was aged <18 years, the secondary infection rate from index patients aged <12 years was 53% (95% CI = 31%-74%) and from index patients aged 12-17 years was 38% (95% CI = 23%-56%). Approximately 75% of secondary infections were identified within 5 days of the index patient's illness onset, and substantial transmission occurred whether the index patient was an adult or a child. Because household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is common and can occur rapidly after the index patient's illness onset, persons should self-isolate immediately at the onset of COVID-like symptoms, at the time of testing as a result of a high risk exposure, or at the time of a positive test result, whichever comes first. Concurrent to isolation, all members of the household should wear a mask when in shared spaces in the household.§. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 evolves and new variants emerge, the role and accuracy of antigen tests remain active questions. To describe recent test performance, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by antigen testing was compared with that by reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viral culture testing during November 2022--May 2023. Participants who were enrolled in a household transmission study completed daily symptom diaries and collected two nasal swabs (tested for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-PCR, culture, and antigen tests) each day for 10 days after enrollment. Among participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the percentages of positive antigen, RT-PCR, and culture results were calculated each day from the onset of symptoms or, in asymptomatic persons, from the date of the first positive test result. Antigen test sensitivity was calculated using RT-PCR and viral culture as references. The peak percentage of positive antigen (59.0%) and RT-PCR (83.0%) results occurred 3 days after onset, and the peak percentage of positive culture results (52%) occurred 2 days after onset. The sensitivity of antigen tests was 47% (95% CI = 44%--50%) and 80% (95% CI = 76%--85%) using RT-PCR and culture, respectively, as references. Clinicians should be aware of the lower sensitivity of antigen testing compared with RT-PCR, which might lead to false-negative results. This finding has implications for timely initiation of SARS-CoV-2 antiviral treatment, when early diagnosis is essential; clinicians should consider RT-PCR for persons for whom antiviral treatment is recommended. Persons in the community who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness and eligible for antiviral treatment should seek testing from health care providers with the goal of obtaining a more sensitive diagnostic test than antigen tests (i.e., an RT-PCR test). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adult, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) include indications for urinary antigen tests (UATs) for Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) and Legionella pneumophila (LP). These recommendations were based on expert opinions and have not been rigorously evaluated. Methods We used data from a multicenter, prospective, surveillance study of adults hospitalized with CAP to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the IDSA/ATS UAT indications for identifying patients who test positive. SP and LP UATs were completed on all included patients. Separate analyses were completed for SP and LP, using 2-by-2 contingency tables, comparing the IDSA/ATS indications (UAT recommended vs not recommended) and UAT results (positive vs negative). Additionally, logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of each individual criterion in the IDSA/ATS indications with positive UAT results. Results Among 1941 patients, UATs were positive for SP in 81 (4.2%) and for LP in 32 (1.6%). IDSA/ATS indications had 61% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] 49–71%) and 39% specificity (95% CI 37–41%) for SP, and 63% sensitivity (95% CI 44–79%) and 35% specificity (95% CI 33–37%) for LP. No clinical characteristics were strongly associated with positive SP UATs, while features associated with positive LP UATs were hyponatremia, fever, diarrhea, and recent travel. Conclusions Recommended indications for SP and LP urinary antigen testing in the IDSA/ATS CAP guidelines have poor sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with positive tests; future CAP guidelines should consider other strategies for determining which patients should undergo urinary antigen testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the lessons from the Australian pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). Topics inlcude the PCV coverage continues to expand in the world, and by many accounts PCVs represent a modernday public health success, the although the benefits of PCVs have been consistently has demonstrated, and the magnitude of the population-based impact of PCVs being difficult to quantify accurately, and impact estimates have varied among countries.

The article focuses on Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the U.S. Topic include providers and patients with IBD would benefit from knowing if sequential pneumococcal vaccination is effective in preventing pneumococcal diseases; and understanding the immunogenicity of the sequential pneumococcal vaccination strategy among patients who are using immunosuppressant medications.

Background: The clinical significance of pneumonia visualized on CT scan in the setting of a normal chest radiograph is uncertain.Methods: In a multicenter prospective surveillance study of adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), we compared the presenting clinical features, pathogens present, and outcomes of patients with pneumonia visualized on a CT scan but not on a concurrent chest radiograph (CT-only pneumonia) and those with pneumonia visualized on a chest radiograph. All patients underwent chest radiography; the decision to obtain CT imaging was determined by the treating clinicians. Chest radiographs and CT images were interpreted by study-dedicated thoracic radiologists blinded to the clinical data.Results: The study population included 2,251 adults with CAP; 2,185 patients (97%) had pneumonia visualized on chest radiography, whereas 66 patients (3%) had pneumonia visualized on CT scan but not on concurrent chest radiography. Overall, these patients with CT-only pneumonia had a clinical profile similar to those with pneumonia visualized on chest radiography, including comorbidities, vital signs, hospital length of stay, prevalence of viral (30% vs 26%) and bacterial (12% vs 14%) pathogens, ICU admission (23% vs 21%), use of mechanical ventilation (6% vs 5%), septic shock (5% vs 4%), and inhospital mortality (0 vs 2%).Conclusions: Adults hospitalized with CAP who had radiological evidence of pneumonia on CT scan but not on concurrent chest radiograph had pathogens, disease severity, and outcomes similar to patients who had signs of pneumonia on chest radiography. These findings support using the same management principles for patients with CT-only pneumonia and those with pneumonia seen on chest radiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predicting the need for intensive care among adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains challenging.Methods: Using a multicenter prospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with CAP, we evaluated the association of serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentration at hospital presentation with the need for invasive respiratory or vasopressor support (IRVS), or both, within 72 h. Logistic regression was used to model this association, with results reported as the estimated risk of IRVS for a given PCT concentration. We also assessed whether the addition of PCT changed the performance of established pneumonia severity scores, including the pneumonia severity index and the American Thoracic Society minor criteria, for prediction of IRVS.Results: Of 1,770 enrolled patients, 115 required IRVS (6.5%). Using the logistic regression model, PCT concentration had a strong association with IRVS risk. Undetectable PCT (< 0.05 ng/mL) was associated with a 4% (95% CI, 3.1%-5.1%) risk of IRVS. For concentrations < 10 ng/mL, PCT had an approximate linear association with IRVS risk: for each 1 ng/mL increase in PCT, there was a 1% to 2% absolute increase in the risk of IRVS. With a PCT concentration of 10 ng/mL, the risk of IRVS was 22.4% (95% CI, 16.3%-30.1%) and remained relatively constant for all concentrations > 10 ng/mL. When added to each pneumonia severity score, PCT contributed significant additional risk information for the prediction of IRVS.Conclusions: Serum PCT concentration was strongly associated with the risk of requiring IRVS among adults hospitalized with CAP and is potentially useful for guiding decisions about ICU admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in the childhood immunization schedule was associated with decreases in all-cause pneumonia hospitalizations among black and white children in Tennessee, USA. Although racial disparities that existed before introduction of these vaccines have been substantially reduced, rates remain higher in boys than in girls among young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Few studies have evaluated the relationship between influenza vaccination and pneumonia, a serious complication of influenza infection.Objective: To assess the association between influenza vaccination status and hospitalization for community-acquired laboratory-confirmed influenza pneumonia.Design, Setting, and Participants: The Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community (EPIC) study was a prospective observational multicenter study of hospitalizations for community-acquired pneumonia conducted from January 2010 through June 2012 at 4 US sites. In this case-control study, we used EPIC data from patients 6 months or older with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection and verified vaccination status during the influenza seasons and excluded patients with recent hospitalization, from chronic care residential facilities, and with severe immunosuppression. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios, comparing the odds of vaccination between influenza-positive (case) and influenza-negative (control) patients with pneumonia, controlling for demographics, comorbidities, season, study site, and timing of disease onset. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated as (1 - adjusted odds ratio) × 100%.Exposure: Influenza vaccination, verified through record review.Main Outcomes and Measures: Influenza pneumonia, confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction performed on nasal/oropharyngeal swabs.Results: Overall, 2767 patients hospitalized for pneumonia were eligible for the study; 162 (5.9%) had laboratory-confirmed influenza. Twenty-eight of 162 cases (17%) with influenza-associated pneumonia and 766 of 2605 controls (29%) with influenza-negative pneumonia had been vaccinated. The adjusted odds ratio of prior influenza vaccination between cases and controls was 0.43 (95% CI, 0.28-0.68; estimated vaccine effectiveness, 56.7%; 95% CI, 31.9%-72.5%).Conclusions and Relevance: Among children and adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, those with laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pneumonia, compared with those with pneumonia not associated with influenza, had lower odds of having received influenza vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an etiology study of adults hospitalized for pneumonia, in which urine specimens were examined for serotypespecific pneumococcal antigen detection, we observed that some patients received 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine before urine collection. Some urine samples became positive for specific vaccine pneumococcal serotypes shortly after vaccination, suggesting false-positive test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) household transmission studies (enrolling April 2020 to January 2022) with rapid enrollment and specimen collection for 14 days, 61% (43/70) of primary cases had culturable virus detected ≥6 days post-onset. Risk of secondary infection among household contacts tended to be greater when primary cases had culturable virus detected after onset. Regardless of duration of culturable virus, most secondary infections (70%, 28/40) had serial intervals <6 days, suggesting early transmission. These data examine viral culture as a proxy for infectiousness, reaffirm the need for rapid control measures after infection, and highlight the potential for prolonged infectiousness (≥6 days) in many individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have quantified social mixing in remote rural areas of developing countries, where the burden of infectious diseases is usually the highest. Understanding social mixing patterns in those settings is crucial to inform the implementation of strategies for disease prevention and control. We characterized contact and social mixing patterns in rural communities of the Peruvian highlands. Methods and Findings: This cross-sectional study was nested in a large prospective household-based study of respiratory infections conducted in the province of San Marcos, Cajamarca-Peru. Members of study households were interviewed using a structured questionnaire of social contacts (conversation or physical interaction) experienced during the last 24 hours. We identified 9015 reported contacts from 588 study household members. The median age of respondents was 17 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4–34 years). The median number of reported contacts was 12 (IQR 8–20) whereas the median number of physical (i.e. skin-to-skin) contacts was 8.5 (IQR 5–14). Study participants had contacts mostly with people of similar age, and with their offspring or parents. The number of reported contacts was mainly determined by the participants’ age, household size and occupation. School-aged children had more contacts than other age groups. Within-household reciprocity of contacts reporting declined with household size (range 70%-100%). Ninety percent of household contact networks were complete, and furthermore, household members' contacts with non-household members showed significant overlap (range 33%-86%), indicating a high degree of contact clustering. A two-level mixing epidemic model was simulated to compare within-household mixing based on observed contact networks and within-household random mixing. No differences in the size or duration of the simulated epidemics were revealed. Conclusion: This study of rural low-density communities in the highlands of Peru suggests contact patterns are highly assortative. Study findings support the use of within-household homogenous mixing assumptions for epidemic modeling in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated respiratory pathogens in a prospective cohort study of young children living in the Peruvian Andes. In the study we assessed viral respiratory infections among young children, and explored interactions of viruses with common respiratory bacteria, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae. Through weekly household visits, data were collected on the signs and symptoms of acute respiratory illness (ARI), nasal samples were collected to test for viruses during episodes of ARI, and nasopharyngeal samples were collected on a monthly basis to monitor bacterial colonisation. We also collected data on vaccination coverage, patterns of social mixing, geographic information, and environmental and socio-demographic variables. Understanding the interaction of respiratory viruses with bacteria and its impact on the burden and severity of ARIs in rural areas of developing countries is critical to designing strategies for preventing such infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Studies of respiratory viruses frequently use nasal swabs and viral transport medium (NS). [•] Pneumococcal colonization studies use nasopharyngeal swabs and STGG medium (NP). [•] We compared RT-PCR viral detections in paired NS and NP collected from the same child on the same date. [•] We observed very high agreement in viral detections, and similar CT values in both strategies. [•] NP samples preserved in STGG allow efficient study of both pneumococcus and respiratory viruses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a prospective cohort of young children, we evaluated whether viral infections increased the risk of pneumococcal acquisition. Acute respiratory infections due to influenza or parainfluenza viruses, but not to other viruses, facilitated the nasopharyngeal acquisition of new pneumococcal serotypes.Background. Animal models suggest that influenza infection favors nasopharyngeal acquisition of pneumococci. We assessed this relationship with influenza and other respiratory viruses in young children.Methods. A case-control study was nested within a prospective cohort study of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in Andean children <3 years of age (RESPIRA-PERU study). Weekly household visits were made to identify ARI and obtain nasal swabs for viral detection using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Monthly nasopharyngeal (NP) samples were obtained to assess pneumococcal colonization. We determined whether specific respiratory viral ARI episodes occurring within the interval between NP samples increased the risk of NP acquisition of new pneumococcal serotypes.Results. A total of 729 children contributed 2128 episodes of observation, including 681 pneumococcal acquisition episodes (new serotype, not detected in prior sample), 1029 nonacquisition episodes (no colonization or persistent colonization with the same serotype as the prior sample), and 418 indeterminate episodes. The risk of pneumococcal acquisition increased following influenza-ARI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–4.69) and parainfluenza-ARI (AOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.15–3.01), when compared with episodes without ARI. Other viral infections (respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, human rhinovirus, and adenovirus) were not associated with acquisition.Conclusions. Influenza and parainfluenza ARIs appeared to facilitate pneumococcal acquisition among young children. As acquisition increases the risk of pneumococcal diseases, these observations are pivotal in our attempts to prevent pneumococcal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Jules et al. (2012) Estimating age-specific influenza-related hospitalization rates during the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Davidson Co, TN. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(3), e63-e71. Background In April 2009, a pandemic caused by a novel influenza strain, the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, started. Few age-specific estimates of hospitalizations associated with the first year of circulation of the pandemic virus are available. Objectives To estimate age-specific hospitalization rates associated with laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in Davidson County, TN, from May 2009 to March 2010. Patients/methods Two separate strategies were applied: capture-recapture and surveillance-sampling methods. For the capture-recapture estimates, we linked data collected via two independent prospective population-based surveillance systems: The Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (Flu-VE) tested consenting county patients hospitalized with respiratory symptoms at selected hospitals using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR); the Emerging Infections Program identified county patients with positive influenza tests in all area hospitals. For the surveillance-sampling estimates, we applied the age-specific proportions of influenza-positive patients (from Flu-VE) to the number of acute respiratory illness hospitalizations obtained from the Tennessee Hospital Discharge Data system. Results With capture-recapture, we estimated 0·89 (95% CI, 0·72-1·49), 0·62 (0·42-1·11), 1·78 (0·99-3·63), and 0·76 (0·50-1·76) hospitalizations per 1000 residents aged <5, 5-17, 18-49, and ≥50 years, respectively. Surveillance-sampling estimated rates were 0·78 (0·46-1·22), 0·32 (0·14-0·69), 0·99 (0·64-1·52), and 1·43 (0·80-2·48) hospitalizations per 1000 residents aged <5, 5-17, 18-49, and ≥50 years, respectively. In all age-groups combined, we estimated approximately 1 influenza-related hospitalization per 1000 residents. Conclusions Two independent methods provided consistent results on the burden of pandemic virus in Davidson County and suggested that the overall incidence of A(H1N1)pdm09-associated hospitalization was 1 per 1000 county residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the association between the initiation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a antagonists and an increased risk of serious infections among patients with autoimmune diseases. The researchers used pharmacy and procedures data to determine the exposures to TNF-a antagonists and other medications. They also controlled the effects of potential cofounders for using a propensity score matching strategy. They observed higher absolute infection rates compared with previously published cohort studies and randomized controlled trials.

Background Although recent reports suggest that the incidence of parapneumonic empyema has increased in several regions of the USA, national trends in disease burden are unknown. National trends in the incidence of parapneumonic empyema hospitalisations and changes in empyema by associated pathogens were examined. Methods National hospitalisation data (1996-2008) were analysed and rates estimated using census estimates as denominators. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) compared 2008 with 1996 rates. Discharge diagnosis codes were used to characterise pathogens associated with empyema hospitalisations. Results Overall, national parapneumonic empyema-related hospitalisation rates increased from 3.04 per 100 000 in 1996 to 5.98 per 100 000 in 2008, a 2.0-fold increase (95% CI 1.8 to 2.1). The increases were observed among children (IRR 1.9 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.7)) and adults aged 18-39, 40-64 and ≥65 years (IRR 1.8 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.1), 2.0 (95% CI 1.6 to 3.1) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.0), respectively). Overall, pneumococcal empyema rates remained relatively stable in all age groups whereas streptococcal- (non-pneumococcal) and staphylococcal-related empyema rates increased 1.9-fold and 3.3-fold, respectively, with consistent increases across age groups. The overall in-hospital case fatality ratio for parapneumonic empyema-related hospitalisations was 8.0% (95% CI 6.4% to 9.5%) in 1996 and 7.2% (95% CI 6.3% to 8.1%) in 2008 (p=0.395). Of the empyemas where study pathogens were listed (37.6%), staphylococcal-related empyema had the largest absolute increases across age groups and was associated with longer hospital stay and higher in-hospital mortality than other empyemas. Conclusions Although parapneumonic empyema-related hospitalisations remained relatively rare, they increased substantially during the study period. A number of pathogens, especially staphylococcus, contributed to this increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: School-based influenza vaccination campaigns could mitigate the effects of influenza epidemics. A large countywide school-based vaccination campaign was launched in Knox County, Tennessee, in 2005. Assessment of campaign effects requires identification of appropriate control populations. We hypothesized that contiguous counties would share similar pre-campaign patterns of influenza activity. Methods: We compared the burden of influenza emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations between Knox County (Knox) and eight counties surrounding Knox (Knox-surrounding) during five consecutive pre-campaign influenza seasons (2000–01 through 2004–05). Laboratory-defined influenza seasons were used to measure the weekly incidence of medically attended acute respiratory illnesses (MAARI) attributable to influenza in school-aged children 5–17 years old (campaign target) as well as in other age groups. Seasonal rates of MAARI attributable to influenza for Knox and Knox-surrounding counties were compared using rate ratios. Results: During five consecutive influenza seasons, MAARI attributable to influenza showed synchronous temporal patterns in school-aged children from Knox and Knox-surrounding counties. The average seasonal rates of ED visits attributable to influenza were 12.37 (95% CI: 10.32–14.42) and 13.14 (95% CI: 11.23–15.05) per 1000, respectively. The respective average seasonal influenza hospitalization rates for Knox and Knox-surrounding were 0.38 (95% CI: 0–0.79) and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.07–0.85) per 1000 children. Rate ratio analyses indicated no significant differences in the incidence of MAARI attributable to influenza between school-aged children from Knox and Knox-surrounding counties. Estimates for other age groups showed similar patterns. Conclusion: Before the Knox school-based influenza vaccination campaign, influenza resulted in an average of about 12 ED visits and 0.4 hospitalizations per 1000 school-aged children annually in Knox County. Since similar morbidity was observed in surrounding counties, they could serve as a control population for the assessment of the campaign effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The optimal vaccination strategy to mitigate the impact of influenza epidemics is unclear. In 2005, a countywide school-based influenza vaccination campaign was launched in Knox County, Tennessee (population 385,899). Approximately 41% and 48% of eligible county children aged 5-17 years were immunized with live attenuated influenza vaccine before the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 influenza seasons, respectively. We sought to determine the population impact of this campaign. Methods: Laboratory-confirmed influenza data defined influenza seasons. We calculated the incidence of medically attended acute respiratory illness attributable to influenza in Knox and Knox-surrounding counties (concurrent controls) during consecutive seasons (5 precampaign and 2 campaign seasons) using negative binomial regression and rate difference methods. Age-stratified analyses compared the incidence of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations attributable to influenza. Results: During precampaign seasons, estimated ED visit rates attributable to influenza were 12.39 (95% CI: 10.34-14.44) per 1000 Knox children aged 5-17 years and similar in Knox-surrounding counties. During the campaign seasons, annual Knox influenza-associated ED visit rates declined relative to rates in Knox-surrounding counties: rate ratios 0.55 (95% CI: 0.27-0.83) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56-0.84) for the first and second campaign seasons, respectively. Overall, there were about 35% or 4.86 per 1000 fewer influenza-associated ED visits among Knox County children aged 5-17 years attributable to the campaign. No significant declines in Knox compared to surrounding counties were detected for influenza associated ED visits in children aged <5 years, all adults combined or selected adult age subgroups, although power for these analyses was limited. Alternate rate-difference analyses yielded consistent results. Conclusion: Vaccination of approximately 45% of Knox school-aged children with influenza vaccine was associated with a 35% annual reduction (4.86 per 1000) in ED visit rates attributable to influenza. Higher vaccination coverage and/or larger studies would be needed to determine whether similar interventions have indirect benefits in other age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The incidence of childhood pneumonia decreased following introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in the United States. Recent regional reports suggest an increase in the incidence of childhood pneumonia complicated by empyema. We assessed whether early decreases in pneumonia hospitalization rates were sustained and trends in such hospitalizations complicated by empyema in United States children aged !5 years. Methods. Nationwide Inpatient Sample and Census data were used to calculate annual all-cause and pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalization rates for pre-PCV7 (1996-1999) and post-PCV7 years (2001-2007) and to analyze national trends in total and pathogen-specific pneumonia-associated empyema. Results. Among children aged <2 years, all-cause pneumonia hospitalizations decreased 33% (95% confidence interval, 28%-37%) from 1267 cases per 100,000 children in pre-PCV7 years to 852 cases per 100,000 children in post-PCV7 years. Pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalization rates decreased 61% (95% confidence interval, 55%-67%) post-PCV7, compared with pre-PCV7 years. Pneumonia hospitalizations complicated by empyema increased 2.01-fold from 3.5 cases per 100,000 children in 1996-1998 to 7.0 cases per 100,000 children in 2005-2007. Rates of pneumococcal and streptococcal empyema remained stable, whereas rates of staphylococcal and other or unspecified empyema increased 4.08- and 1.89-fold, respectively. Among children aged 2-4 years, allcause pneumonia rates remained stable, whereas pneumococcal pneumonia decreased by 26% (95% confidence interval, 16-34). Pneumonia complicated by empyema increased 2.81-fold from 3.7 cases per 100,000 children in 1996-1998 to 10.3 cases per 100,000 children in 2005-2007. In this age group, there were 2.17-, 2.80-, 3.76-, and 3.09-fold increases in rates of pneumococcal, streptococcal, staphylococcal, and other or unspecified empyema, respectively. Conclusion. Decreases in childhood pneumonia hospitalization rates following PCV7 introduction were sustained. Although empyema complicated only a small fraction of pneumonia hospitalizations, its prevalence increased substantially. This increase was due to several pathogens and warrants continuing monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. In clinical trials of RA patients on traditional DMARDs, the addition of TNF-α antagonists increased infections compared with addition of placebo. Our objective was to compare serious infections following initiation of different RA regimens. Prior comparative studies of DMARD initiation have yielded conflicting results. Methods. We estimated hospitalization rates for infections following initiation of TNF-α antagonists, other DMARDs and oral glucocorticoids in Tennessee Medicaid-enrolled RA patients (1995-2005). Exposure time was measured using pharmacy information and infections were identified using validated definitions. Initiation of RA regimens was compared using Cox regression models with MTX as the reference. Sensitivity analyses excluded glucocorticoid users, applied a first exposure carried forward approach, restricted observations to 2002-05 and first episodes of use and explored effects of unmeasured confounders. Results. We identified 28 906 new episodes of medication use, including TNF-α antagonists (8%), MTX alone (15%) and glucocorticoids alone (57%). Compared with MTX initiation, TNF-α antagonist initiation did not significantly increase the risk of hospitalizations for pneumonia [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.61; 95% CI 0.85, 3.03] or any infection (aHR 1.31; 95% CI 0.78, 2.19). Initiation of LEF, SSZ or HCQ did not increase serious infections, compared with MTX. Both initiation and concurrent glucocorticoid use were associated with a dose-dependent increase in serious infections. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. Conclusions. Compared with initiation of MTX alone, initiation of TNF-α antagonists was not associated with a large increase in the risk of serious infections. Glucocorticoid use was associated with a dosedependent increase in the risk of these infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which assessed national trends in antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in ambulatory settings. To examine the trends, the 1995-2006 data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were used. Results revealed that the annual ARTI visit rates of children younger than 5 years old decreased by 17%, which was accompanied by a decrease in ARTI-associated antibiotic prescriptions. But the study revealed that prescription rates for broad-spectrum antibiotics increased significantly.

Abstract: A school-based campaign in Knox County, TN immunized 41% and 48% of school children with live attenuated influenza vaccine in 2005 and 2006, respectively. We computed the relative risk (RR) of a positive rapid influenza test in Knox compared to Knox-surrounding county children (controls) during five baseline and two campaign seasons. Among children aged <5 years, the RR for a positive test remained relatively constant throughout the study seasons. Among children aged 5–17 years (target population), the RR was 1 during baseline and declined by 21% (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.59–1.05) and 27% (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60–0.87) during the first and second campaign season, respectively. These findings suggest a direct beneficial effect of the immunization campaign. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Populations at highest risk for HIV infection face multiple barriers to HIV testing. To facilitate HIV testing procedures, the San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center eliminated required written patient consent for HIV testing in its medical settings in May 2006. To describe the change in HIV testing rates in different hospital settings and populations after the change in HIV testing policy in the SFDH medical center, we performed an observational study using interrupted time series analysis. Methods: Data from all patients aged 18 years and older seen from January 2003 through June 2007 at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) medical care system were included in the analysis. The monthly HIV testing rate per 1000 hadpatient-visits was calculated for the overall population and stratified by hospital setting, age, sex, race/ethnicity, homelessness status, insurance status and primary language. Results: By June 2007, the average monthly rate of HIV tests per 1000 patient-visits increased 4.38 (CI, 2.17-6.60, p,0.001) over the number predicted if the policy change had not occurred (representing a 44% increase). The monthly average number of new positive HIV tests increased from 8.9 (CI, 6.3-11.5) to 14.9 (CI, 10.6-19.2, p,0.001), representing a 67% increase. Although increases in HIV testing were seen in all populations, populations at highest risk for HIV infection, particularly men, the homeless, and the uninsured experienced the highest increases in monthly HIV testing rates after the policy change. Conclusions: The elimination of the requirement for written consent in May 2006 was associated with a significant and sustained increase in HIV testing rates and HIV case detection in the SFDPH medical center. Populations facing the higher barriers to HIV testing had the highest increases in HIV testing rates and case detection in response to the policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orthostatic hypotension has been commonly described in elderly persons and is associated with an increased risk of falls, syncope, and cerebrovascular events. Nevertheless, the precise burden of this condition in the US is currently unknown.Methods: We analyzed discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify orthostatic hypotension-related hospitalizations and associated comorbidities after excluding acute causes of this condition. National hospitalization rates were estimated using US census population estimates, and the medical conditions most frequently associated with orthostatic hypotension were assessed.Results: In 2004, there were an estimated 80,095 orthostatic hypotension-related hospitalizations, yielding an overall rate of 36 (95% confidence interval, 34 to 38) hospitalizations per 100,000 US adults. Orthostatic hypotension was the primary diagnosis in 35% of these hospitalizations. The number of orthostatic hypotension-related hospitalizations increased steadily with age, and patients aged 75 years or older had the highest annual hospitalization rate, 233 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 217 to 249). The median length of hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 2-6) and the overall in-hospital mortality was 0.9%. Caucasian males were most likely to be hospitalized with orthostatic hypotension. Syncope was the most common comorbid condition reported among orthostatic hypotension patients.Conclusions: Orthostatic hypotension is a relatively common condition among hospitalized US elderly patients. In light of the progressive aging of the US population, the contribution of orthostatic hypotension to morbidity and mortality is likely to increase, and deserves further scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research regarding the effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine in the U.S. Researchers studied data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest inpatient database available in the U.S., to evaluate the target population who received the vaccine. By 2004 all-cause pneumonia admission rates had declined by 39% for U.S. children younger than two years old. Researchers estimate that about 41,000 pneumonia cases were prevented by the vaccine. The research supports the theory that the pneumococcal vaccine is beneficial for children.

BACKGROUND. Since introduction of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the United States in 2000, rates of invasive pneumococcal disease have declined. However, the national impact of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on pneumonia and otitis media remains unknown. OBJECTIVES. We compared national rates of outpatient visits for pneumonia and otitis media in children before and after heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction. METHODS. Rates of ambulatory visits for pneumococcal and nonspecific pneumonia, otitis media, and other acute respiratory infections were compared before (1994-1999) and after (2002-2003) heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. To evaluate vaccine effects while accounting for temporal variability, ratios of pneumococcal-related disease rates in children <2 years old (vaccine target population) and in children 3 to 6 years old (not routinely vaccinated) were evaluated using a Poisson regression analysis. For children <2 years old, the differences between observed and expected rates were the estimated vaccine effects. RESULTS. After the introduction of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, otitis media visit rates declined by 20% in children aged <2 years. This decline represented 246 fewer otitis media visits per 1000 children aged <2 years annually. There were no significant decreases in outpatient visit rates for pneumonia or other acute respiratory infections for children aged <2 years. CONCLUSIONS. After heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction, national rates of otitis media visits declined significantly in children <2 years old. Persistence of this trend will produce a significant reduction of the otitis media burden and further enhance the cost-effectiveness of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although influenza causes more hospitalizations and deaths among American children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, deriving accurate population-based estimates of disease impact is challenging. Using 2 independent surveillance systems, we performed a capture-recapture analysis to estimate influenza-associated hospitalizations in children in Davidson County, Tennessee, during the 2003-2004 influenza season. The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) enrolled children hospitalized with respiratory symptoms or fever and tested them for influenza. The Tennessee Emerging Infections Program (EIP) identified inpatients with positive influenza diagnostic test results through review of laboratory and infection control logs. The hospitalization rate estimated from the capture-recapture analysis in children <5 years of age was 2.4 per 1,000 (95% confidence interval 1.8-3.8). When NVSN estimates were compared with capture-recapture estimates, NVSN found 84% of community-acquired cases, EIP found 64% of cases in which an influenza rapid test was performed, and the overall sensitivity of NVSN and EIP for influenza hospitalizations was 73% and 38%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Influenza remains an important cause of hospitalizations in the United States. Estimating the number of influenza hospitalizations is vital for public health decision making. Combining existing surveillance systems through capture-recapture methods allows for more comprehensive burden estimations. Methods Data from independent surveillance systems were combined using capture-recapture methods to estimate influenza hospitalization rates for children and adults in Middle Tennessee during consecutive influenza seasons from 2016–2017 through 2019–2020. The Emerging Infections Program (EIP) identified cases through surveillance of laboratory results for hospitalized children and adults. The Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN) and New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) recruited hospitalized patients with respiratory symptoms or fever. Population-based influenza rates and the proportion of cases detected by each surveillance system were calculated. Results Estimated overall influenza hospitalization rates ranged from 23 influenza-related hospitalizations per 10 000 persons in 2016–2017 to 40 per 10 000 persons in 2017–2018. Adults aged ≥65 years had the highest hospitalization rates across seasons and experienced a rate of 170 hospitalizations per 10 000 persons during the 2017–2018 season. EIP consistently identified a higher proportion of influenza cases for adults and children compared with HAIVEN and NVSN, respectively. Conclusions Current surveillance systems underestimate the influenza burden. Capture-recapture provides an alternative approach to use data from independent surveillance systems and complement population-based burden estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Opioids are commonly prescribed to women for acute pain following childbirth. Postpartum prescription opioid exposure is associated with adverse opioid-related morbidities but the association with all-cause mortality is not well studied. This study aimed to examine the association between postpartum opioid prescription fills and the 1-year risk of all-cause mortality among women with live births. Methods In a retrospective cohort study of live births among women enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) between 2007 and 2015, we compared women who filled two or more postpartum outpatient opioid prescriptions (up to 41 days of postdelivery discharge) to women who filled one or fewer opioid prescription. Women were followed from day 42 postdelivery discharge through 365 days of follow-up or date of death. Deaths were identified using linked death certificates (2007–2016). We used Cox's proportional hazard regression and inverse probability of treatment weights to compare time to death between exposure groups while adjusting for relevant confounders. We also examined effect modification by delivery route, race, opioid use disorder, use of benzodiazepines, and mental health condition diagnosis. Results Among 264,135 eligible births, 216,762 (82.1%) had one or fewer maternal postpartum opioid fills and 47,373 (17.9%) had two or more fills. There were 182 deaths during follow-up. The mortality rate was higher in women with two or more fills (120.5 per 100,000 person-years) than in those with one or fewer (57.7 per 100,000 person-years). The risk of maternal death remained higher in participants exposed to two or more opioid fills after accounting for relevant covariates using inverse probability of treatment weighting (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.46 [95% confidence interval: 1.01, 2.09]). Findings from stratified analyses were consistent with main findings. Conclusion Filling two or more opioid prescriptions during the postpartum period was associated with a significant increase in 1-year risk of death among new mothers. Key Points Opioid prescribing in the postpartum period is common. Prior studies show that >1 postnatal opioid fill is associated with adverse opioid-related events. > 1 opioid fill within 42 days of delivery was associated with an increase in 1-year risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Traditional surveillance systems may underestimate the burden caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Capture–recapture methods provide alternatives for estimating the number of RSV‐related hospitalizations in a population. Methods: Capture–recapture methods were used to estimate the number of RSV‐related hospitalizations in adults in Middle Tennessee from two independent hospitalization surveillance systems during consecutive respiratory seasons from 2016–2017 to 2019–2020. Data from the Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN) and the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) were used. Annual RSV hospitalization rates were calculated using the capture–recapture estimates weighted by hospitals' market share divided by the corresponding census population. Results: Using capture–recapture methods, the estimated overall adult hospitalization rates varied from 8.3 (95% CI: 5.9–15.4) RSV‐related hospitalizations per 10,000 persons during the 2016–2017 season to 28.4 (95% CI: 18.2–59.0) hospitalizations per 10,000 persons in the 2019–2020 season. The proportion of hospitalizations that HAIVEN determined ranged from 8.7% to 36.7% of the total capture–recapture estimated hospitalization, whereas EIP detected 23.5% to 52.7% of the total capture–recapture estimated hospitalizations. Conclusion: Capture–recapture estimates showed that individual traditional surveillance systems underestimated the hospitalization burden in adults. Using capture–recapture allows for a more comprehensive estimate of RSV hospitalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author offer information related to a research, which found that specific pneumococcal substances in the urine of patients of pneumococcal pneumonia. He informs that urine antigen detection (UAD) method that uses monoclonal antibodies able to detect to detect 13 serotype-specific Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharides in the urine of patients with pneumococcal disease.

To determine the number of emergency department visits attributable to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Davidson County, Tennessee, USA, we used active, populationbased surveillance and laboratory-confirmed influenza data. We estimated ≈10 visits per 1,000 residents during the pandemic period. This estimate should help emergency departments prepare for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on a study conducted by D. Weinberger andcolleagues related to influenza-associated pneumococcal pneumonia. He states that the study presents an assessment that helps to clarify the contribution of influenza virus infections to pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations during the 2009 influenza pandemic. He opines that direct quantification of the burden of influenza is challenging and its diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation but testing is not routinely conducted.

The article focuses on efforts to control pneumococcal infections in developing countries. Control of pneumococcal infections has largely focused on case identification and antimicrobial treatment. The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines has provided encouraging results. In comparison to the Hemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine couples individual capsular polysaccharides from selected disease-causing serotypes to a mutant diphtheria-toxoid protein, rendering the vaccine T cell dependent thus making it capable of stimulating antibody responses in infants and priming for a memory response on rechallenge organism.

Background: The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic has led to hundreds of millions of infections worldwide. Although differences in COVID‐19 hospitalization rates between males and females have been described, many infections in the general population have been mild, and the severity of symptoms during the course of COVID‐19 in non‐hospitalized males and females is not well understood. Methods: We conducted a case‐ascertained study to examine household transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in Nashville, Tennessee, between April 2020 and April 2021. Among enrolled ambulatory adult participants with laboratory‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infections, we assessed the presence and severity of symptoms (total, systemic, and respiratory) daily using a symptoms severity questionnaire, from illness onset and throughout the 2‐week follow‐up period. We compared the mean daily symptom severity scores (0–3: none, mild, moderate, and severe) and change in symptoms between males and females using a multivariable linear mixed effects regression model. Results: The analysis included 223 enrolled adults with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (58% females, mostly white, non‐Hispanic) from 146 households with 2917 total daily symptom reports. The overall mean severity of total symptoms reported over the illness period was 1.04 and 0.90 for females and males, respectively. Mean systemic and respiratory scores were higher for females than for males (p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, females reported more severe total and systemic symptoms during the illness period compared with males. However, no significant differences in reported respiratory symptoms were observed. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that among ambulatory adults with SARS‐CoV‐2 infections, females reported slightly higher symptom severity during their illness compared with males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus can be transmitted by asymptomatic, presymptomatic, or symptomatic infected persons. We assessed effects on work attendance while ill before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States by analyzing data collected prospectively from persons with acute respiratory illnesses enrolled in a multistate study during 2018–2022. Persons with previous hybrid work experience were significantly less likely to work onsite on the day before through the first 3 days of illness than those without that experience, an effect more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic than during prepandemic influenza seasons. Persons with influenza or COVID-19 were significantly less likely to work onsite than persons with other acute respiratory illnesses. Among persons with positive COVID-19 test results available by the second or third day of illness, few worked onsite. Hybrid and remote work policies might reduce workplace exposures and help reduce spread of respiratory viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although asymptomatic carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is common, acquisition of the bacteria is the first step in disease pathogenesis. We examined the effect of introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine on Spn carriage patterns in a cohort of Peruvian children. Methods We used data from a prospective cohort study that collected monthly nasopharyngeal samples from children under 3 years of age. Spn isolates were serotyped using Quellung reactions, and bacterial density was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Changes in Spn carriage patterns, including the rate of carriage and number and density of serotypes carried over time, were evaluated before (2009) and after widespread vaccination with PCV7 (2011). Using all pneumococcal detections from each child and year, we identified serotypes that were present both at first and last detection as “persisters” and serotypes that replaced a different earlier type and were detected last as “recolonizers.” Results Ninety-two percent (467/506) of children in 2009 and 89% (451/509) in 2011 carried Spn at least once. In 2009 and 2011, rates of carriage were 9.03 and 9.04 Spn detections per person-year, respectively. In 2009, 23F, a serotype included in PCV7, was the only type identified as a persister and 6A, 15B, and 19A were identified as recolonizer serotypes. In 2011, 6B and 7C were persister serotypes and 13 was a frequent recolonizer serotype. Conclusions Overall Spn carriage among children under 3 in Peru was similar before and after introduction of PCV7; however, serotype-specific rates and longitudinal carriage patterns have shifted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines changes in medication initiation and selection patterns for the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among Tennessee Medicaid recipients. The study found that the prevalence of medication use among GDM patients has increased over time, with metformin now being the most commonly initiated medication. The study also observed a shift in medication preferences, with metformin replacing glyburide as the most commonly used initial medication. These findings suggest possible differential prescribing preferences based on socioeconomic status or regional differences. The study highlights the need for further research on factors influencing medication selection for GDM management and the clinical impact of prescribing pattern changes on perinatal outcomes and healthcare costs. [Extracted from the article]