Point Prevalence Testing of Residents for SARS-CoV-2 in a Subset of Connecticut Nursing Homes.

This study describes the point prevalence of polymerase chain reaction tests positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among residents of a sample of Connecticut nursing homes in the first half of May 2020.

Child Sexual Abuse identified in Emergency Departments Using ICD-9-CM, 2011 to 2014.

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is poorly identified due to its hidden nature and difficulty surrounding disclosure. Surveillance using emergency department (ED) data may identify victims and provide information on their demographic profile.

Objectives: Study aims were to calculate the prevalence of visits assigned an explicit or suggestive medical diagnosis code (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM]) for CSA and compare the demographic profile of ED visits by coding type.

An Evaluation of the National Malaria Surveillance System of Bhutan, 2006-2012 as It Approaches the Goal of Malaria Elimination.

Introduction: Bhutan is progressing toward malaria elimination. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the ability of the surveillance system from 2006 to 2012 to meet the objectives of the Bhutan Vector-borne Disease Control Program (VDCP) and to highlight priorities requiring attention as the nation transitions to elimination.

Methods: The evaluation was conducted using the Center for Disease Control guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems.

Association of influenza vaccine uptake with health, access to health care, and medical mistreatment among adults from low-income neighborhoods in New Haven, CT: a classification tree analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify population subgroups under-vaccinated for influenza through classification tree analysis to inform interventions aimed at improving future vaccine uptake.

Method: A cross-sectional community health needs assessment was conducted from 09/2012 through 11/2012 among randomly selected households in six low-income neighborhoods in New Haven, CT (N=1300 adults, aged 18-65). Known correlates of influenza vaccine uptake plus experience of medical mistreatment were used to develop a classification tree to identify under-vaccinated population subgroups

Results: Forty-five percent of respondents reported receiving the influenza vaccine.

Connecticut competency-based point of dispensing worker training needs assessment.

Objectives: In April 2006, Connecticut conducted an exercise that tested its ability to receive and dispense antibiotics from the Strategic National Stockpile. In conjunction with the exercise, a competency-based assessment was performed to determine the training needs of point of dispensing (POD) workers.

Methods: POD core competencies were developed by adapting existing preparedness materials.

Peridomestic Lyme disease prevention: results of a population-based case-control study.

Background: Peridomestic Lyme disease-prevention initiatives promote personal protection, landscape modification, and chemical control.

Purpose: A 32-month prospective age- and neighborhood-matched case-control study was conducted in Connecticut to evaluate the effects of peridomestic prevention measures on risk of Lyme disease.

Methods: The study was conducted in 24 disease-endemic Connecticut communities from 2005 to 2007.

Quantifying the burden of chronic viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis hospitalizations in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Chronic viral hepatitis can cause cirrhosis. Viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis may be causing an increasing health burden since exposure to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in the United States increased starting in the 1960s. Using hospital discharge data, we estimated the number of adult New Haven County residents hospitalized for cirrhosis and examined the proportion caused by chronic viral hepatitis.

The mortality burden of chronic liver disease may be substantially underestimated in the United States.

Purpose: The United States National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) uses death certificate data to estimate the burden of serious disease. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of the NCHS method for estimating the burden of chronic liver disease (CLD).

Method: The authors identified death certificates of New Haven County residents who died from October 1999-September 2000 that were assigned one of 115 ICD-10 codes that might indicate CLD.

Measurement of serum D-arabinitol/creatinine ratios for initial diagnosis and for predicting outcome in an unselected, population-based sample of patients with Candida fungemia.

D-Arabinitol (DA) is a useful diagnostic marker for candidiasis in patients with neutropenia and other high-risk groups, but its use in unselected patients with a broad range of underlying diseases and conditions has not been studied. We used an automated enzymatic fluorometric assay to measure serum DA/creatinine ratios (DA/cr's) in 30 healthy adults, 100 hospitalized controls without Candida fungemia, and 83 patients from a study of all Candida fungemias in Connecticut between October 1998 and September 1999. Sixty-three of 83 (76%) fungemic patients and 11 of 100 (11%) nonfungemic controls had serum DA/cr's >or=3.

Estimating the prevalence of syringe-borne and sexually transmitted diseases among injection drug users in St Petersburg, Russia.

Injection drug users (IDUs) are the vanguard of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Russia. We sought a non-invasive method to estimate a point prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and risk behaviours in IDUs attending the syringe exchange programme (SEP) in St Petersburg, Russia. One hundred and one IDUs returning syringes to the St Petersburg SEP were invited to complete a questionnaire requesting demographic, knowledge, and behavioural information, and to provide their syringes for antibody testing.

Incidence of anal cytological abnormalities in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected women.

Little is known about the natural history of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in HIV-infected women because, to date, no longitudinal studies have been reported in the scientific literature. This article estimates the incidence of anal cytological abnormalities in a cohort of HIV-infected women. It also examines potential risk factors for the development of an anal cytological abnormality.

Human papillomavirus type 16 and immune status in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive women.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 is etiologically associated with approximately half of all cervical cancers. It is important, therefore, to determine the characteristics that distinguish HPV16 from other HPV types. A preliminary result based on cross-sectional baseline data in the Women's Interagency Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Study (WIHS) suggested that the prevalence of HPV16 might have a weaker association with immune status in HIV-seropositive women than that of other HPV types.

Sexual functioning among HIV-infected women.

The influence of HIV on sexual activity and functioning presents a unique set of issues. HIV transmissibility, partner disclosure, potential vertical transmission and, for some HIV-infected women, problems associated with illicit drug use, may affect sexuality. Few studies have examined HIV-infected women's sexuality and none have studied the relationship between HIV symptoms, HIV illness stage, quality of life, meaning of illness and sexual functioning.