Evaluation of a health information exchange system for microcephaly case-finding - New York City, 2013-2015.

Background: Birth defects surveillance in the United States is conducted principally by review of routine but lagged reporting to statewide congenital malformations registries of diagnoses by hospitals or other health care providers, a process that is not designed to rapidly detect changes in prevalence. Health information exchange (HIE) systems are well suited for rapid surveillance, but information is limited about their effectiveness at detecting birth defects. We evaluated HIE data to detect microcephaly diagnosed at birth during January 1, 2013-December 31, 2015 before known introduction of Zika virus in North America.

Experiences and sexual behaviors of HIV-infected MSM who acquired HIV in the context of crystal methamphetamine use.

The prevalence of crystal methamphetamine "meth" use among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been shown to be 20 times that of the general population, and it has been linked to increased sexual risk taking in MSM and others. Although previously seen as a "West Coast" phenomenon, clinical and other reports indicate that it is problematic among MSM regardless of geographic location. To assist in future intervention development, we interviewed 20 HIV-infected MSM who believe they seroconverted in the context of using crystal meth.

HIV and STD status among MSM and attitudes about Internet partner notification for STD exposure.

Objectives: This study assessed the acceptability and perceived utility of Internet-based partner notification (PN) of sexually transmitted disease (STD) exposure for men who have sex with men (MSM) by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus.

Study Design: We recruited 1848 US MSM via a banner advertisement posted on an MSM website for meeting sexual partners between October and November 2005.

Results: Even though there was broad acceptance of a PN e-mail across HIV serostatus groups, HIV-infected men rated the importance of each component (e.

Acceptability of an internet-based partner notification system for sexually transmitted infection exposure among men who have sex with men.

US men who have sex with men (n=1848) completed an online questionnaire about their willingness to use Internet-based partner notification. Eighty-one percent reported that it would be important to them to receive a partner notification e-mail if they had been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection. Seventy percent reported that if infected, they would use a public health specialist to inform partners of possible exposure through Internet notification.