COVID-19 Transmission Due to Delta Variant in New York City Public Schools From October to December 2021.

This cohort study assesses COVID-19 prevention measures against the Delta variant by measuring the secondary attack rate for cases in students, teachers, and staff of New York City public schools from October to December 2021 and analyzing the likely direction of transmission for secondary cases.

A population-based assessment of the health of homeless families in New York City, 2001-2003.

Objectives: We compared estimated population-based health outcomes for New York City (NYC) homeless families with NYC residents overall and in low-income neighborhoods.

Methods: We matched a NYC family shelter user registry to mortality, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and blood lead test registries maintained by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2001-2003).

Results: Overall adult age-adjusted death rates were similar among the 3 populations.

Congenital tuberculosis and management of exposure in three neonatal intensive care units.

Congenital tuberculosis (TB) is uncommon, and diagnosis may be delayed. We report a case of congenital TB and the management of exposure in three different neonatal intensive care units. This case demonstrates the need for a high index of suspicion, active communication among maternal and neonatal medical providers, and timely provider reporting of maternal disease, and emphasizes the relatively greater risk of transmission to health care workers versus infants in this setting.

Factors associated with positive tuberculin skin test results among HIV-infected persons in Orel Oblast, Russia.

Background: The treatment of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (PLWHAs) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) reduces tuberculosis (TB) morbidity. Despite a high TB burden and an expanding human immunodeficiency virus epidemic, Russia had limited data on the utility of the tuberculin skin test (TST) for LTBI diagnosis in PLWHAs.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of positive TSTs in PLWHAs in Orel Oblast.

Prevalence of tuberculin skin test positivity in clinical population in New York City.

The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the various populations of New York City (NYC), a city with a high density of non-US-born persons, is unknown. We examined the prevalence of TST positivity in patients who received a tuberculin skin test (TST) between 1/2002 and 8/2004 at any of 10 NYC health department chest centers. A positive TST was defined as an induration reaction to tuberculin of ≥10 mm.

Prevalence of tuberculosis infection in the United States population: the national health and nutrition examination survey, 1999-2000.

Rationale: The goal for tuberculosis (TB) elimination in the United States is a TB disease incidence of less than 1 per million U.S. population by 2010, which requires that the latent TB infection (LTBI) prevalence be less than 1% and decreasing.

Strain-specific differences in two large Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype clusters in isolates collected from homeless patients in New York City from 2001 to 2004.

We studied two large Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype clusters associated with recent outbreaks in homeless persons to determine factors associated with these tuberculosis (TB) strains. Isolates from all culture-positive TB cases diagnosed from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004 were genotyped. Patients whose isolates had identical restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns and spoligotypes were considered clustered.

Serum concentrations of antimycobacterial drugs in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Botswana.

Background: We conducted a pharmacokinetic study of antimycobacterial drugs involving a cohort of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Gaborone, Botswana, to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for low drug concentrations in serum.

Methods: Adults participated if they had a history of cough > or =2 weeks, had abnormal chest radiograph findings, consented to testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), had sputum cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and were receiving antituberculous therapy for >7 days. Observed maximum serum concentrations were compared with published normal ranges.

Capacity building for international tuberculosis control through operations research training.

Setting: In resource-poor countries, few tuberculosis (TB) program staff at the national, provincial, and even district levels have the basic analytical and epidemiological skills necessary for collecting and analyzing quality data pertaining to national TB control program (NTP) improvements. This includes setting program priorities, operations planning, and implementing and evaluating program activities.

Objectives: To present a model course for building capacity in basic epidemiology and operations research (OR).

A preventable outbreak of tuberculosis investigated through an intricate social network.

In 1998, a city in Indiana reported 4-fold increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis (TB). An investigation to assess the increase in cases and to identify possible epidemiologic links among persons with TB identified 41 cases of active TB. Epidemiologic links and/or matching DNA fingerprints were identified for 31 patients (76%).

Spread of strain W, a highly drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, across the United States.

Strain W, a highly drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was responsible for large nosocomial outbreaks in New York in the early 1990s. To describe the spread of strain W outside New York, we reviewed data from epidemiologic investigations, national tuberculosis surveillance, regional DNA fingerprint laboratories, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mycobacteriology Laboratory to identify potential cases of tuberculosis due to strain W. From January 1992 through February 1997, 23 cases were diagnosed in nine states and Puerto Rico; 8 were exposed to strain W in New York before their diagnosis; 4 of the 23 transmitted disease to 10 others.

An outbreak involving extensive transmission of a virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background And Methods: From 1994 to 1996, there was a large outbreak of tuberculosis in a small, rural community with a population at low risk for tuberculosis. Twenty-one patients with tuberculosis (15 with positive cultures) were identified; the DNA fingerprints of the 13 isolates available for testing were identical. To determine the extent of transmission, we investigated both the close and casual contacts of the patients.

Transmission of a highly drug-resistant strain (strain W1) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Community outbreak and nosocomial transmission via a contaminated bronchoscope.

Context: Nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) has been reported primarily in New York State and has generally been presumed to occur via respiratory aerosols.

Objective: To assess nosocomial transmission of MDR TB. In 1995, 8 patients with MDR TB were identified in South Carolina; all were resistant to 7 drugs and had matching DNA fingerprints (strain W1).

Impact of the bloodborne pathogens standard on vaccination of healthcare workers with hepatitis B vaccine.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations on the vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs), to assess interpretation of these regulations, and to evaluate changes in hospital vaccination policies.

Design: Between June 1, 1992, and August 15, 1992, a telephone survey was conducted among 150 hospitals selected randomly from participants in the American Hospital Association 1991 annual survey.

Results: Of the 150 hospitals, 96 (64%) provided information on hepatitis B vaccination coverage of their employees.