Publications by authors named "Elisabeth Hesse"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department (ED) staffing and the potential risks posed by COVID-19 positive health care personnel during 2020, before vaccines were available.
- Conducted through Project COVERED, the research involved surveys and testing of 1,673 ED personnel over several months, focusing on symptoms, exposures, and work attendance related to COVID-19.
- Results showed that while 5.3% of personnel missed work due to COVID-19 concerns, many continued working even after testing positive, with 98.7% of infected personnel working at least one shift before their diagnosis.
Background: The high mortality of systemic anthrax is likely a consequence of the severe central nervous system inflammation that occurs in anthrax meningitis. Effective treatment of such infections requires, at a minimum, adequate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antimicrobial concentrations.
Methods: We reviewed English medical literature and regulatory documents to extract information on serum and CSF exposures for antimicrobials with in vitro activity against Bacillus anthracis.
This Report Updates Previous Cdc Guidelines And Recommendations On Preferred Prevention And Treatment Regimens Regarding Naturally Occurring Anthrax. Also Provided Are A Wide Range Of Alternative Regimens To First-line Antimicrobial Drugs For Use If Patients Have Contraindications Or Intolerances Or After A Wide-area Aerosol Release Of: Bacillus anthracis spores if resources become limited or a multidrug-resistant B. anthracis strain is used (Hendricks KA, Wright ME, Shadomy SV, et al.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: The Food and Drug Administration expanded Emergency Use Authorization for use of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT-162b2) coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine to include people ages 12 years and older on May 10, 2021. We describe adverse events observed during the first full year of the US coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination program for adolescents ages 12 to 17 years.
Methods: We conducted descriptive analyses using data from 2 complementary US vaccine safety monitoring systems: v-safe, a voluntary smartphone-based system that monitors reactions and health impacts, and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the national spontaneous reporting system.
Background: Bacillus anthracis is a high-priority threat agent because of its widespread availability, easy dissemination, and ability to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Although timely and appropriate antimicrobial therapy can reduce morbidity and mortality, the role of adjunctive therapies continues to be explored.
Methods: We searched 11 databases for articles that report use of anthrax antitoxins in treatment or prevention of systemic anthrax disease published through July 2019.
Article Synopsis
- Emergency department health care personnel face a risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and this study aimed to assess the infection risk associated with providing patient care, evaluate PPE usage, and identify modifiable risk factors.
- A study was conducted involving 1,673 ED staff across 20 centers over 20 weeks in 2020, monitoring COVID-19 infection rates and related exposure factors, revealing that 4.5% of participants contracted the virus, with nurses showing a marginally higher risk.
- Results indicated PPE adherence was high, but lapses occurred frequently; significant infection risk factors included household and community exposure rather than direct patient care activities like intubation.
During December 2018-February 2019, a multistate investigation identified 101 patients with vaccination-associated adverse events among an estimated 940 persons in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio who had received influenza; hepatitis A; pneumococcal; or tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines at the workplace during September 11-November 28, 2018. These vaccines had been administered by staff members of a third-party health care company contracted by 24 businesses. Company A provided multiple vaccine types during workplace vaccination events across 54 locations in these adjoining states.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The report examines the demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic features of 544 individuals in the U.S. who were suspected of having COVID-19 during its early stages from January 17 to February 29, 2020, highlighting how the pandemic quickly evolved.
- - The CDC consulted with public health officials to conduct testing, and out of the 544 persons under investigation (PUI), 36 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with notable differences in travel history before and after February 12, 2020.
- - The findings emphasize the importance of preparedness for future pandemics, specifically the need for rapid testing and broad surveillance strategies to track community transmission, including cases that may not show symptoms. *
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the rates of diagnosed and undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections among emergency department healthcare workers in the US before July 2020.
- A cross-sectional analysis involved testing volunteer healthcare personnel for past or current COVID-19 infections through serology and PCR testing.
- Results indicated that 4.6% of ED staff were infected with SARS-CoV-2, with nearly 38% not previously diagnosed, and many were unaware they had the virus despite showing symptoms.
Myopericarditis Associated With Smallpox Vaccination Among US Army Personnel - Fort Hood, Texas, 2018.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
June 2022
Objective: In March 2018, the US Department of Defense (DOD) added the smallpox vaccination, using ACAM2000, to its routine immunizations, increasing the number of persons receiving the vaccine. The following month, Fort Hood reported a cluster of 5 myopericarditis cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DOD launched an investigation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We investigated patients with potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfection in the United States during May-July 2020.
Methods: We conducted case finding for patients with potential SARS-CoV-2 reinfection through the Emerging Infections Network. Cases reported were screened for laboratory and clinical findings of potential reinfection followed by requests for medical records and laboratory specimens.
Nursing homes are high-risk settings for outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1,2). During the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S.
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- - The study investigates the risk of subdeltoid bursitis occurring after receiving the influenza vaccine, analyzing data from over 2.9 million vaccinated individuals during the 2016-2017 flu season.
- - Researchers found 16 cases of bursitis within the first 2 days post-vaccination compared to 51 cases during a later control period, resulting in an incidence rate ratio of 3.24, indicating a higher risk shortly after vaccination.
- - While the study concluded that there is an increased risk of bursitis following the flu shot, the overall absolute risk remains low, with an estimated 7.78 additional cases per one million vaccinations.
Article Synopsis
- California Senate Bill 277 (SB277) removed non-medical exemptions for vaccinations, leading to an increase in medical exemption requests and VAERS reports among parents.
- A study analyzing VAERS data from California between June 2011 and July 2018 found that reports from parents rose from 14% to 23% after SB277's implementation, and the average time to report adverse events increased.
- The rise in reports, particularly involving behavioral and developmental issues, suggests that parents may be increasingly using VAERS as a tool to support medical exemption applications for their children.
Background: Since 2010, petitioner claims of shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) have been increasing.
Objective: To conduct a scientific review of clinical characteristics of SIRVA petitions to the VICP.
Methods: We queried the VICP's Injury Compensation System database for medical reports of alleged SIRVA and SIRVA-like injuries.
Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV; Shingrix), an adjuvanted glycoprotein vaccine, was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for adults aged ≥50 years in October 2017 (1). The previously licensed live-attenuated zoster vaccine (ZVL; Zostavax) is recommended for adults aged ≥60 years. RZV is administered intramuscularly as a 2-dose series, with an interval of 2-6 months between doses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAbstractDengue virus infections have adversely impacted U.S. military operations since the Spanish-American War.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Health initiatives support regional stability and are a priority for US and African partners. We present data and experience from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a strategically and epidemiologically ideal location for collaborative medical engagement (CME). Our objectives included relationship building, exposure of US military medical personnel to uncommon tropical diseases, bolstering a referral hospital, and updating Congolese physicians on new treatment or preventive standards of care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest and fourth most populous country in Africa. More than two decades of ongoing conflicts have degraded its healthcare system. A broad range of tropical diseases, along with opportunities for collaborative medical engagements (CMEs), are prevalent.
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