Publications by authors named "C Vanner"
Article Synopsis
- Outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease have been reported among university students, prompting a study to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of meningococcal bacteria in their throats.
- Two surveys were conducted at a Rhode Island university, collecting oropharyngeal samples and analyzing them through various molecular techniques to identify the presence of the bacteria.
- Findings showed that 12.7-14.6% of students carried meningococci, mostly non-groupable strains, with factors such as being male, smoking, and attending social events linked to higher carriage rates; further research is needed on serogroup B dynamics.
Respiratory viral testing in laboratories serving acute care hospitals in Rhode Island.
R I Med J (2013)
September 2017
Background: The rapid detection of respiratory viral infections is associated with several positive health outcomes. However, little is known about the availability of rapid respiratory viral testing in acute care hospital laboratories.
Methods: A survey was sent to 13 hospital laboratories assessing results' turnaround time, the number of ordered tests and positive results.
Article Synopsis
- Serogroup B meningococcal disease led to seven outbreaks at US universities from 2013-2016, prompting the use of the MenB-FHbp vaccine during an outbreak to investigate its impact on bacterial carriage among students.
- Four surveys were conducted during vaccination campaigns, revealing that while 20%-24% of participants carried meningococcal bacteria, the MenB vaccine did not significantly reduce carriage rates over time.
- Factors such as smoking and male sex were linked to increased carriage rates, highlighting the need for comprehensive vaccination coverage and additional protective measures during outbreaks.
The Role of the State Health Laboratories in Advancing Health Equity.
R I Med J (2013)
November 2016
While laboratories play an important and recognized role in many public health programs that require surveillance of disease spread or monitoring of environmental conditions, the role of public laboratories in assessing and advancing health equity is not well understood. Yet, public laboratories collect, provide or generate much of the data used to determine health equity status and monitor heath equity trends in multiple settings and disciplines. RI State Health Laboratories, a division of the RI Department of Health, operates programs that help measure and address health disparities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Model of Shared Mycobacteriology Testing Services: Lessons Learned.
Public Health Rep
February 2016
Objective: The need for public health laboratories (PHLs) to prioritize resources has led to increased interest in sharing diagnostic services. To address this concept for tuberculosis (TB) testing, the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center and the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories assessed the feasibility of shared services for the detection and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC).
Methods: We assessed multiple aspects of shared services including shipping, testing, reporting, and cost.