Publications by authors named "Bradley A Connor"

Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for effective triage tools in healthcare to identify patients vulnerable to severe infections.
  • Researchers studied COVID-19 patients at multiple sites, analyzing plasma markers to link their levels to mortality and severity of illness within set timeframes.
  • Their findings showed higher suPAR levels correlated with increased mortality risk and severity, supporting the use of specific biomarkers like suPAR and sTREM-1 for better patient triage and hospital resource management.
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  • Dengue poses a significant health risk to international travelers, with 5,958 cases reported from 2007 to 2022 at GeoSentinel sites, where 81.6% were confirmed cases.
  • The study revealed that the median age of affected travelers was 33 years, with the majority traveling for tourism and acquiring the virus primarily in South East Asia.
  • Complicated cases of dengue were rare, with only 1.6% of travelers experiencing complications; however, there is a crucial need for awareness and preventive measures among travelers heading to endemic areas.
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Background: Prolonged diarrhoea is common amongst returning travellers and is often caused by intestinal protozoa. However, the epidemiology of travel-associated illness caused by protozoal pathogens is not well described.

Methods: We analysed records of returning international travellers with illness caused by Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp.

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Background: Chikungunya is an important travel-related disease because of its rapid geographical expansion and potential for prolonged morbidity. Improved understanding of the epidemiology of travel-related chikungunya infections may influence prevention strategies including education and vaccination.

Methods: We analysed data from travellers with confirmed or probable chikungunya reported to GeoSentinel sites from 2005 to 2020.

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Problem/condition: During 2012-2021, the volume of international travel reached record highs and lows. This period also was marked by the emergence or large outbreaks of multiple infectious diseases (e.g.

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Article Synopsis
  • Professional soccer players are at risk for SARS-CoV-2, and Major League Soccer (MLS) has implemented strict testing protocols based on vaccination status to monitor and prevent outbreaks.
  • In a study involving one MLS team in fall 2021, a player who traveled to Africa tested positive, leading to 10 additional infections among teammates and staff, with genome sequencing revealing Delta variants and potential transmission links.
  • Whole genome sequencing (WGS) proved effective in tracking virus spread and identifying infection sources within the team, highlighting its value in managing COVID-19 in sports environments.
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Background: International travellers frequently acquire infectious diseases whilst travelling, yet relatively little is known about the impact and economic burden of these illnesses on travellers. We conducted a prospective exploratory costing study on adult returning travellers with falciparum malaria, dengue, chikungunya or Zika virus.

Methods: Patients were recruited in eight Travel and Tropical Medicine clinics between June 2016 and March 2020 upon travellers' first contact with the health system in their country of residence.

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International travel has resumed while the risk of SARS-CoV-2 persists, leading to consideration of medications that can treat or prevent Covid-19 when travellers become ill abroad. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, molnupiravir and tixagevimab-cilgavimab are available under Emergency Use Authorization or conditional approval. We discuss the potential application of these medications to protect travellers.

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This comparative effectiveness research study assesses the accuracy of single vs repeated antigen testing for diagnosis of COVID-19 among asymptomatic individuals in a workplace setting.

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Article Synopsis
  • Non-immune international travellers are at significant risk of hepatitis A, particularly those who are unvaccinated and travel to high-risk areas, but vaccination compliance is low.
  • A study of 254 travellers infected with hepatitis A revealed a median age of 28 years, with a majority being male and unvaccinated; common travel reasons included tourism and visiting friends.
  • Hepatitis A infections frequently occurred in South-Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with some cases from low-endemicity regions, highlighting the need for better pre-departure vaccination education for travellers.
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Travel medicine has virtually stopped in light of the coronavirus pandemic. It is worth contemplating how travel medicine will be affected by the ongoing pandemic when international travel starts to become more possible. How will we advise patients, and utilize the coming vaccines that may be available? Travel medicine practices are well-suited to play a major role in advising travelers in the pandemic era.

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Purpose Of Review: With its impact on quality of life and increasing awareness, postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is now gaining attention as one of the major health problems commonly encountered in gastrointestinal practice. Literature investigating the various pathogenic mechanisms involved is rapidly emerging. The objective of the current review is to provide an update on recent evidence published in the past 2 years describing advances in our understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of PI-IBS.

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Enteric fever, caused by serovar Typhi ( Typhi) and serovar Paratyphi ( Paratyphi), is a common travel-related illness. Limited data are available on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of these serovars among travelers. Records of travelers with a culture-confirmed diagnosis seen during or after travel from January 2007 to December 2018 were obtained from GeoSentinel.

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Introduction: International travellers contribute to the rapid spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its sentinel identification globally. We describe ZIKV infections among international travellers seen at GeoSentinel sites with a focus on ZIKV acquired in the Americas and the Caribbean, describe countries of exposure and traveller characteristics, and assess ZIKV diagnostic testing by site.

Methods: Records with an international travel-related diagnosis of confirmed or probable ZIKV from January 2012 through December 2019 reported to GeoSentinel with a recorded illness onset date were included to show reported cases over time.

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Background: Dignitary medicine is an emerging field of training that involves the specialized care of diplomats, heads of state, and other high-ranking officials. In an effort to provide guidance on training in this nascent field, we convened a panel of experts in dignitary medicine and using the Delphi methodology, created a consensus curriculum for training in dignitary medicine.

Methods: A three-round Delphi consensus process was performed with 42 experts in the field of dignitary medicine.

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Exposure to cholera is a risk for individuals and groups travelling to endemic areas, and the bacteria can be imported to cholera-free countries by returning travellers. This systematic review of the literature describes the circumstances in which cholera infection can occur in travellers and considers the possible value of the cholera vaccine for prevention in travellers. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for case reports of cholera or diarrhoea among travellers, with date limits of 1 January 1990-30 April 2018.

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Background: Travelers to international mass gatherings may be exposed to conditions which increase their risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Most existing data come from single clinical sites seeing returning travelers, or relate to single events.

Methods: Investigators evaluated ill travelers returning from a mass gathering, and presenting to a GeoSentinel site between August 2015 and April 2019, and collected data on the nature of the event and the relation between final diagnoses and the mass gathering.

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Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) may be emerging among international travellers and migrants. Limited data exist on mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) in travellers. We describe the epidemiology of travel-associated CL and MCL among international travellers and immigrants over a 20-year period through descriptive analysis of GeoSentinel data.

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