Gram-positive Rod Surveillance for Early Anthrax Detection

Connecticut established telephone-based gram-positive rod (GPR) reporting primarily to detect inhalational anthrax cases more quickly. From March to December 2003, annualized incidence of blood isolates was 21.3/100,000 persons; reports included 293 Corynebacterium spp., 193 Bacillus spp., 73 Clostridium spp., 26 Lactobacillus spp., and 49 other genera. Around-the-clock GPR reporting has described GPR epidemiology and enhanced rapid communication with clinical laboratories

MRSA outbreak was controlled with daily hexachlorophene showers and hygiene education.

MRSA outbreak was controlled with daily hexachlorophene showers and hygiene education

Pneumonic Plague Cluster, Uganda, 2004

In a case cluster, pneumonic plague transmission was compatible with respiratory droplet rather than aerosol transmission

Using Ontario's "Telehealth" health telephone helpline as an early-warning system: a study protocol

BACKGROUND: The science of syndromic surveillance is still very much in its infancy. While a number of syndromic surveillance systems are being evaluated in the US, very few have had success thus far in predicting an infectious disease event. Furthermore, to date, the majority of syndromic surveillance systems have been based primarily in emergency department settings, with varying levels of enhancement from other data sources. While research has been done on the value of telephone helplines on health care use and patient satisfaction, very few projects have looked at using a telephone helpline as a source of data for syndromic surveillance, and none have been attempted in Canada. The notable exception to this statement has been in the UK where research using the national NHS Direct system as a syndromic surveillance tool has been conducted. METHODS/DESIGN: The purpose of our proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Ontario's telephone nursing helpline system as a real-time syndromic surveillance system, and how its implementation, if successful, would have an impact on outbreak event detection in Ontario. Using data collected retrospectively, all "reasons for call" and assigned algorithms will be linked to a syndrome category. Using different analytic methods, normal thresholds for the different syndromes will be ascertained. This will allow for the evaluation of the system's sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value. The next step will include the prospective monitoring of syndromic activity, both temporally and spatially. DISCUSSION: As this is a study protocol, there are currently no results to report. However, this study has been granted ethical approval, and is now being implemented. It is our hope that this syndromic surveillance system will display high sensitivity and specificity in detecting true outbreaks within Ontario, before they are detected by conventional surveillance systems. Future results will be published in peer-reviewed journals so as to contribute to the growing body of evidence on syndromic surveillance, while also providing an non US-centric perspective

Host Immune Transcriptional Profiles Reflect the Variability in Clinical Disease Manifestations in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Staphylococcus aureus infections are associated with diverse clinical manifestations leading to significant morbidity and mortality. To define the role of the host response in the clinical manifestations of the disease, we characterized whole blood transcriptional profiles of children hospitalized with community-acquired S. aureus infection and phenotyped the bacterial strains isolated. The overall transcriptional response to S. aureus infection was characterized by over-expression of innate immunity and hematopoiesis related genes and under-expression of genes related to adaptive immunity. We assessed individual profiles using modular fingerprints combined with the molecular distance to health (MDTH), a numerical score of transcriptional perturbation as compared to healthy controls. We observed significant heterogeneity in the host signatures and MDTH, as they were influenced by the type of clinical presentation, the extent of bacterial dissemination, and time of blood sampling in the course of the infection, but not by the bacterial isolate. System analysis approaches provide a new understanding of disease pathogenesis and the relation/interaction between host response and clinical disease manifestations

Assessing Movement, Site Preferences, and Environmental and Social Impacts of Canada Geese across an Urban Landscape

Resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) populations have increased, causing many human-goose conflicts. These include decreased water quality, aggressive behavior towards humans and pets, the risk of disease from fecal contamination, and the potential for bird strikes to aircraft. To better understand these human-goose conflicts and potential risk to airport safety, we will examine Canada geese movements, habitat use, human attitudes toward geese, and disease transmission on the Piedmont-Triad International airport and surrounding areas of Greensboro, North Carolina. We will use a variety of tools, such as color-marking with auxiliary neck bands, satellite telemetry with global positioning system harnesses, blood/fecal sampling for disease, and surveys to evaluate the effect of Canada geese across an urban environment. After a year of observation, we will remove geese from areas where removal is most likely to reduce goose-aircraft collisions. Following the removals, we will monitor goose movements around the airport and the rates of re-colonization of removal sites. Using the information obtained from the study, we will develop management recommendations for reducing human-goose conflicts (e.g., removals to reduce risk of goose-aircraft collisions, disease transmission potential)

Rates of Medically-Attended RSV among US Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Adult respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines are in late stages of development. A comprehensive synthesis of adult RSV burden is needed to inform public health decision-making. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies describing the incidence of medically-attended RSV (MA-RSV) among US adults. We also identified studies reporting nasopharyngeal (NP) or nasal swab RT-PCR results with paired serology (four-fold-rise) or sputum (RT-PCR) to calculate RSV detection ratios quantifying improved diagnostic yield after adding a second specimen type (ie, serology or sputum). Results: We identified 14 studies with 15 unique MA-RSV incidence estimates, all based on NP or nasal swab RT-PCR testing alone. Pooled annual RSV-associated incidence per 100,000 adults ≥ 65 years of age was 178 (95%CI: 152‒204; n = 8 estimates) hospitalizations (4 prospective studies: 189; 4 model-based studies: 157), 133 (95%CI: 0‒319, n = 2) emergency department (ED) admissions, and 1519 (95%CI: 1109‒1929, n = 3) outpatient visits. Based on 6 studies, RSV detection was ∼1.5 times higher when adding paired serology or sputum. After adjustment for this increased yield, annual RSV-associated rates per 100,000 adults ≥ 65 years were 267 hospitalizations (UI: 228‒306) (prospective: 282; model-based: 236), 200 ED admissions (UI: 0‒478), and 2278 outpatient visits (UI: 1663‒2893). Persons \u3c 65 years with chronic medical conditions were 1.2−28 times more likely to be hospitalized for RSV depending on risk condition. Conclusions: The true burden of RSV has been underestimated and is significant among older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions. A highly effective adult RSV vaccine would have substantial public-health impact

2208. Rates of Medically-Attended RSV among US Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Adult respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines are in late stages of development. A comprehensive synthesis of adult RSV burden is needed to inform public health decision-making. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies describing the incidence of medically-attended RSV (MA-RSV) among US adults. We also identified studies reporting nasopharyngeal (NP) or nasal swab RT-PCR results with paired serology (four-fold-rise) or sputum (RT-PCR) to calculate RSV detection ratios quantifying improved diagnostic yield after adding a second specimen type (ie, serology or sputum). RESULTS: We identified 14 studies with 15 unique MA-RSV incidence estimates, all based on NP or nasal swab RT-PCR testing alone. Pooled annual RSV-associated incidence per 100,000 adults ≥65 years of age was 178 (95%CI: 152‒204; n=8 estimates) hospitalizations (4 prospective studies: 189; 4 model-based studies: 157), 133 (95%CI: 0‒319, n=2) emergency department (ED) admissions, and 1519 (95%CI: 1109‒1929, n=3) outpatient visits. Based on 6 studies, RSV detection was ∼1.5 times higher when adding paired serology or sputum. After adjustment for this increased yield, annual RSV-associated rates per 100,000 adults ≥65 years were 267 hospitalizations (UI: 228‒306) (prospective: 282; model-based: 236), 200 ED admissions (UI: 0‒478), and 2278 outpatient visits (UI: 1663‒2893). Persons < 65 years with chronic medical conditions were 1.2−28 times more likely to be hospitalized for RSV depending on risk condition. CONCLUSION: The true burden of RSV has been underestimated and is significant among older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions. A highly effective adult RSV vaccine would have substantial public-health impact. DISCLOSURES: John M. McLaughlin, PhD, Pfizer: Employee|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds Farid L. Khan, MPH, Pfizer: Employee|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds Elizabeth Begier, M.D., M.P.H., Pfizer: Employee|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds David Swerdlow, MD, Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds Luis Jodar, PhD, Pfizer: Employee|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds Ann R. Falsey, MD, BioFire Diagnostics: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Merck, Sharp and Dohme: Grant/Research Support|Novavax: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support