Publications by authors named "Cherie L Drenzek"
Objectives: Syndromic surveillance can be used to enhance notifiable disease case-based surveillance. We analyzed features of varicella reported in Georgia to evaluate case detection through syndromic surveillance and to compare varicella reported through syndromic surveillance with varicella reported from all other sources.
Methods: Syndromic surveillance was incorporated into case-based varicella surveillance by the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) in May 2016.
Zika virus diagnostic testing and laboratory research increased considerably when Zika virus began spreading through the Americas in 2015, increasing the risk for potential Zika virus exposure of laboratory workers and biomedical researchers. We report 4 cases of laboratory-associated Zika virus disease in the United States during 2016-2019. Of these, 2 were associated with needlestick injuries; for the other 2 cases, the route of transmission was undetermined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Tools using local HIV data to help jurisdictions estimate future demand for medical and support services are needed. We present an interactive prevalence projection model using data obtainable from jurisdictional HIV surveillance and publically available data.
Methods: Using viral load data from Georgia's enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System, state level death rates for people living with HIV and the general population, and published estimates for HIV transmission rates, we developed a model for projecting future HIV prevalence.
Article Synopsis
- An outbreak of pneumonia at a Georgia university led to 83 reported cases among students, prompting an investigation into the cause.
- The TaqMan array card (TAC) was used to identify Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the main culprit, demonstrating high accuracy in diagnosing the infectious agent.
- Genetic testing revealed that the M. pneumoniae strains were susceptible to macrolide antibiotics, and characterized them into two genotypes and multiple genetic profiles, highlighting the importance of ongoing genetic analysis for public health efforts during outbreaks.
Objective: To identify risk factors for polymicrobial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in pediatric bone marrow transplant (BMT) outpatients attending a newly constructed clinic affiliated with a children's hospital.
Methods: All 30 outpatients treated at a new BMT clinic during September 10-21, 2007, were enrolled in a cohort study. The investigation included interviews, medical records review, observations, and bacterial culture and molecular typing of patient and environmental isolates.