Etiologies of outpatient medically attended acute respiratory infections among young Ecuadorian children prior to the start of the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Background: Implementation of respiratory virus prevention measures requires detailed understanding of regional epidemiology; however, data from many tropical countries are sparse. We describe etiologies of ambulatory pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in Ecuador immediately preceding the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods: Children < 5 years presenting to a designated study site with an ARTI were eligible.

Multi-component cancer prevention awareness program to improve adolescent HPV vaccine uptake.

Objective: We introduced a multi-component cancer prevention awareness program to primary care practices across New York State to evaluate its impact on adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates.

Methods: Eight pediatric and three family medicine practices were recruited to participate in this program. On-site training sessions were provided for all practice providers and staff to discuss the importance of HPV vaccine and cancer prevention and teach strategies for delivering a strong vaccine recommendation.

Medically Attended Outpatient Coronavirus Infections in Ecuadorean Children During the 20 Months Preceding Countrywide Lockdown Related to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic of 2020.

Background: Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause respiratory tract infections during childhood manifesting as common colds, bronchiolitis, croup and pneumonia. In temperate geographies, HCoV activity peaks between December and March. The epidemiology and manifestations of HCoV infections have not been previously reported from Ecuador.

A quality improvement education initiative to increase adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine completion rates.

HPV vaccine uptake is low, nationwide. Quality improvement (QI) principles have the potential to change practice; however, not all providers are confident with QI skills. We developed an educational program designed to enhance QI skills and improve HPV vaccination rates.

Associations between population based voting trends during the 2016 US presidential election and adolescent vaccination rates.

Background: Politics play a role in the dissemination of public health information, including immunization-related issues. We aim to describe relationships between HPV vaccination rates and state voting patterns during the 2016 US presidential election.

Methods: We classified each of the 50 states as either "Red" or "Blue," based on whether a higher proportion of the state's casted votes were for the Republican or Democratic nominee during the 2016 US presidential election.

Cancer Prevention Education for Providers, Staff, Parents, and Teens Improves Adolescent Human Papillomavirus Immunization Rates.

Objective: To develop a program to educate providers, office staff, patients, and parents on life-long cancer prevention strategies, including the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to improve adolescent HPV vaccination rates.

Study Design: A 2-phase program was implemented at 6 pediatric practices across upstate New York. Phase 1 included provider and staff education regarding practice-specific vaccination challenges and discussion of the contents of a study-specific cancer-prevention booklet, which included HPV vaccine information.

Preventing Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite intense research efforts, safe and effective vaccines have remained elusive. Risk factors for the development of severe disease are well known, and those infants at highest risk are identified to receive RSV prophylaxis in the form of anti-RSV monoclonal antibody.

Immunization attitudes and practices among family medicine providers.

Objective: To describe immunization attitudes and practices among family medicine providers across New York State.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study, family medicine providers across New York State completed a questionnaire to assess vaccine beliefs and barriers and immunization practices.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistical methods were used to define provider characteristics, knowledge and vaccine practices.

Nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage rates among HIV-infected adults following widespread pediatric use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine-13.

Background: Nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage rates among HIV-infected adults has not been described since conjugate pneumococcal vaccine-13 (PCV13) was added to the universal infant and childhood vaccination schedule in 2010.

Methods: HIV-infected adults presenting for routine health care visits to the Designated AIDS Center in Syracuse, NY between December 2013 and June 2015 were eligible for enrollment. Demographic, medical, and social history were recorded after obtaining informed consent.

Pediatric provider vaccine hesitancy: An under-recognized obstacle to immunizing children.

Objective: To describe vaccine attitudes among pediatric healthcare providers attending immunization conferences.

Study Design: Attendees of 5 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-sponsored vaccine conferences held between June and November 2013 anonymously completed a questionnaire assessing vaccine attitudes and practices prior to the opening of educational sessions. Pearson's chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze associations between vaccine attitudes, vaccine practices and provider characteristics.

Chronic meningococcemia presenting as a recurrent painful rash without fever in a teenage girl.

Chronic meningococcemia is a rare diagnosis seen in patients with recurrent fever and rash. We describe a case of chronic meningococcemia in a teenage girl who presented with a recurrent painful rash, without fever, over a period of 8 weeks.

Vaccine attitudes and practices among obstetric providers in New York State following the recommendation for pertussis vaccination during pregnancy.

Unlabelled: To determine factors associated with obstetric provider recommendation of pertussis vaccine (Tdap) to their pregnant patients following the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that Tdap be given in the third trimester of each pregnancy. Obstetric providers across New York State anonymously completed a standard set of questions to assess vaccine recommendation knowledge and practice.

Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistical methods were used to define provider characteristics, knowledge and vaccine practices.

Pertussis vaccine for adults: Knowledge, attitudes, and vaccine receipt among adults with children in the household.

Background: Pertussis is a highly contagious vaccine preventable disease resulting in significant infant morbidity and mortality. Despite the recommendations for pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in adults, coverage rates in this age group remain suboptimal. We sought to determine factors associated with Tdap receipt among adults with children in the household who live in central New York.

Influenza vaccine hesitancy in a low-income community in central New York State.

Objective: Influenza vaccine (IV) coverage rates remain suboptimal among US adults. Socioeconomic disparities exist in IV coverage. We describe influenza vaccine attitudes among a low-income community in central New York.

Local production of CCL3, CCL11, and IFN-γ correlates with disease severity in murine parainfluenza virus infection.

Background: Using a murine model of parainfluenza virus infection (mPIV1 or Sendai virus; SeV), we compared the inflammatory responses to lethal and sub-lethal infections in inbred DBA/2 mice.

Methods: Mice were intranasally inoculated with either 1.6×10(3) or 1.

Community-centered education improves vaccination rates in children from low-income households.

Objective: We partnered with the Salvation Army to educate resource-poor families regarding childhood immunizations in an effort to improve vaccine coverage rates.

Methods: Eligibility for enrollment included children of families presenting at registration for our Salvation Army holiday gift program, available to families with an annual income <150% of federal poverty guidelines. Parents completed a questionnaire, were provided each child's vaccination status as documented in the New York State Immunization Information System, and interacted with the study team to address immunization-related concerns.

Novel inflammatory markers, clinical risk factors and virus type associated with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Background: Virus-induced inflammation contributes to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pathogenesis. We sought to determine the specific mediators that are associated with more severe illness in young children.

Methods: Children ≤ 5 years of age seen in our emergency department for respiratory symptoms from September 1998 to May 2008 were eligible for enrollment.

IL-21 promotes the pathologic immune response to pneumovirus infection.

IL-21 is a cytokine with pleiotropic actions, promoting terminal differentiation of B cells, increased Ig production, and the development of Th17 and T follicular helper cells. IL-21 is also implicated in the development of autoimmune disease and has antitumor activity. In this study, we investigated the role of IL-21 in host defense to pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), which initiates an infection in mice resembling that of respiratory syncytial virus disease in humans.

Viral etiology of acute febrile respiratory illnesses in hospitalized children younger than 24 months.

Background: Respiratory infections are a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations. This study investigated whether virus-virus or virus-Bordetella co-infections are more frequent or more severe than previously recognized.

Methods: This is a 3-year prospective study of children younger than 24 months hospitalized with a febrile respiratory illness.

Inflammatory responses to acute pneumovirus infection in neonatal mice.

Background: The innate immune responses of neonates differ dramatically from those of adults. Here we examine the acute inflammatory responses of neonatal and weanling mice infected with pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), a rodent pathogen (family Paramyxoviridae, genus Pneumovirus) that replicates the sequelae of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Results: We demonstrate that virus replication proceeds indistinguishably in all age groups (inoculated at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age), although inflammatory responses vary in extent and character.

Local production of inflammatory mediators during childhood parainfluenza virus infection.

Objective: To describe the clinical manifestations of parainfluenza virus (PIV) infection and to characterize biochemical markers of PIV disease severity.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 165 children who had a nasal wash culture positive for PIV at our institution between 1998 and 2008. Nasal wash samples were assayed for 26 inflammatory mediators using Luminex bead proteomics.

Clinical features, adenovirus types, and local production of inflammatory mediators in adenovirus infections.

Background: Adenovirus infection manifests in many ways, with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms predominating.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on children evaluated at our center who had a nasal wash culture positive for adenovirus. Archived nasal washes were retrieved.

Interferon-gamma coordinates CCL3-mediated neutrophil recruitment in vivo.

Background: We have shown previously that acute infection with the respiratory pathogen, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), results in local production of the proinflammatory chemokine, CCL3, and that neutrophil recruitment in response to PVM infection is reduced dramatically in CCL3 -/- mice.

Results: In this work, we demonstrate that CCL3-mediated neutrophil recruitment is coordinated by interferon-gamma (IFNgamma). Neutrophil recruitment in response to PVM infection was diminished five-fold in IFNgamma receptor gene-deleted mice, although neutrophils from IFNgammaR -/- mice expressed transcripts for the CCL3 receptor, CCR1 and responded functionally to CCL3 ex vivo.

Diminished inflammatory responses to natural pneumovirus infection among older mice.

Immune responses to virus infection undergo significant change as part of the aging process. Here we examine the inflammatory responses of older, but otherwise immunologically naive mice to infection with pneumonia virus of mice (PVM). Although we see no changes in the extent or kinetics of virus replication, we observe diminished local production of inflammatory mediators, including MIP-1alpha, JE/MCP-1, IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma-induced MIG and IP-10, and interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-17.

Efficient replication of pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) in a mouse macrophage cell line.

Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM; family Paramyxoviridae, subfamily Pneumovirinae) is a natural respiratory pathogen of rodent species and an important new model for the study of severe viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia. However, despite high virus titers typically detected in infected mouse lung tissue in vivo, cell lines used routinely for virus propagation in vitro are not highly susceptible to PVM infection. We have evaluated several rodent and primate cell lines for susceptibility to PVM infection, and detected highest virus titers from infection of the mouse monocyte-macrophage RAW 264.