Publications by authors named "Caleb Wiedeman"

Objectives: Mpox surveillance was integral during the 2022 outbreak response. We evaluated implementation of mpox surveillance in Tennessee during an outbreak response and made recommendations for surveillance during emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

Methods: To understand surveillance implementation, system processes, and areas for improvement, we conducted 8 semistructured focus groups and 7 interviews with 36 health care, laboratory, and health department representatives during September 9-20, 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants may affect how well vaccines work and how long immunity lasts, prompting a study on the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine among different age groups in the U.S.
  • From January 16 to May 28, 2022, researchers analyzed COVID-19 infection rates relative to vaccination status across multiple jurisdictions, tracking declines in vaccine effectiveness over time.
  • Results showed lower vaccine protection in younger age groups, particularly those aged 5-11, and a general decline in effectiveness for all ages as time since vaccination increased, indicating a need to monitor waning immunity during the Omicron surge.
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On September 1, 2022, CDC recommended an updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine booster to help restore waning protection conferred by previous vaccination and broaden protection against emerging variants for persons aged ≥12 years (subsequently extended to persons aged ≥6 months).* To assess the impact of original (monovalent) COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters, case and mortality rate ratios (RRs) were estimated comparing unvaccinated and vaccinated persons aged ≥12 years by overall receipt of and by time since booster vaccination (monovalent or bivalent) during Delta variant and Omicron sublineage (BA.1, BA.

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Article Synopsis
  • - During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC implemented an aggregate case and death surveillance (ACS) system to effectively track cumulative COVID-19 data, supplementing traditional reporting methods.
  • - As public health jurisdictions updated their historical data, the CDC developed a manual process for updating the ACS dataset to improve the accuracy of reported case and death numbers.
  • - By March 2022, the CDC began integrating data from three jurisdictions via application programming interfaces (APIs), which streamline data transfer and may enhance emergency response efficiency moving forward.
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Previous reports of COVID-19 case, hospitalization, and death rates by vaccination status indicate that vaccine protection against infection, as well as serious COVID-19 illness for some groups, declined with the emergence of the B.1.617.

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Background: With the emergence of the delta variant, the United States experienced a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in 2021. We estimated the risk of breakthrough infection and death by month of vaccination as a proxy for waning immunity during a period of delta variant predominance.

Methods: Covid-19 case and death data from 15 U.

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Objectives: Between 2003 and 2013, the rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)-a postnatal drug withdrawal syndrome-in Tennessee increased approximately 10-fold. NAS surveillance is relatively new, and underestimation associated with surveillance has not been described. We compared data from the Tennessee NAS public health surveillance system (TNSS) with a second source of NAS data, hospital discharge data system (HDDS), and estimated the true number of infants with NAS using capture-recapture methods.

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This paper describes a continuing initiative of the International Society for Disease Surveillance designed to bring together public health practitioners and analytics solution developers from both academia and industry. Funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a series of consultancies have been conducted on a range of topics of pressing concern to public health (e.g.

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Background: Sales of organic foods are increasing due to public demand, while genetically modified (GM) and irradiated foods are often viewed with suspicion.

Aim: The aim of this research was to examine consumer attitudes toward organic, GM and irradiated foods to direct educational efforts regarding their consumption Methods: A telephone survey of 1838 residents in Tennessee, USA was conducted regarding organic, GM, and irradiated foods.

Results: Approximately half of respondents (50.

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Among 13 suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) cases identified through an enhanced surveillance program in Tennessee, antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii were detected in 10 (77%) patients using a standard indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were observed for 6 of 13 patients (46%) without a corresponding development of IgG, and for 3 of 10 patients (30%) at least 1 year post-onset. However, recent infection with a spotted fever group rickettsiae could not be confirmed for any patient, based on a lack of rising antibody titers in properly timed acute and convalescent serologic specimens, and negative findings by polymerase chain reaction testing.

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Importance: From January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2010, drug overdose deaths in Tennessee increased from 422 to 1059 per year. More of these deaths involved prescription opioids than heroin and cocaine combined.

Objective: To assess the contribution of certain opioid-prescribing patterns to the risk of overdose death.

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An outbreak investigation identified 15 pertussis cases among 5 infants and 10 healthcare professionals at 1 hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The cost of the outbreak to this hospital was $97 745. Heightened awareness of pertussis in NICUs is key to preventing healthcare-associated spread and minimizing outbreak-control-related costs.

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Tennessee has a high incidence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), the most severe tick-borne rickettsial illness in the United States. Some regions in Tennessee have reported increased illness severity and death. Healthcare providers in all regions of Tennessee were surveyed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding RMSF.

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Context: Early data on pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) suggest pregnant women are at increased risk of hospitalization and death.

Objective: To describe the severity of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) illness and the association with early antiviral treatment among pregnant women in the United States.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Surveillance of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in pregnant women reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with symptom onset from April through December 2009.

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