Publications by authors named "Elizabeth Beshearse"

During July 7-11, 2023, CDC received reports of two patients in different states with a tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis following spinal surgical procedures that used bone allografts containing live cells from the same deceased donor. An outbreak associated with a similar product manufactured by the same tissue establishment (i.e.

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The distributions of antibiotic prescriptions by geography, antibiotic class, and prescriber specialty are similar in the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Part D Prescriber Public Use Files and IQVIA Xponent dataset. Public health organizations and healthcare systems can use these data to track antibiotic use and guide antibiotic stewardship interventions for older adults.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Out of 11 participants, the majority showed strong antibody responses post-infection, with 90% having detectable antibodies and 67% testing positive for the virus initially.
  • * After vaccination, all participants maintained detectable antibodies, with significantly higher IgG levels compared to infection alone, suggesting vaccination enhances protection in previously infected residents.
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  • A significant outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in a hospital emergency department from December 2020 to January 2021, with 27 healthcare workers infected while on duty.
  • Multiple chances for the virus to spread were present, impacting both patients and other staff members.
  • The report suggests recommendations to enhance infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings.
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Background: Patients with ESKD on maintenance dialysis receive dialysis in common spaces with other patients and have a higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections. They may have persistently or intermittently positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests after infection. We describe the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the serologic response in a convenience sample of patients with ESKD to understand the duration of infectivity.

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Melioidosis, caused by the bacterium is an uncommon infection that is typically associated with exposure to soil and water in tropical and subtropical environments. It is rarely diagnosed in the continental United States. Patients with melioidosis in the United States commonly report travel to regions where melioidosis is endemic.

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  • - A study was conducted on nursing home residents who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 to analyze immune responses in both plasma and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) during and after their infection.
  • - 14 residents participated, with antibody levels measured at multiple time points; results showed that most participants had robust immune responses, with key antibodies detected in both plasma and GCF.
  • - The findings suggest that GCF could be a noninvasive and effective way to monitor immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, especially in individuals who may have difficulty with blood draws.
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Facility-wide testing performed at 4 outpatient hemodialysis facilities in the absence of an outbreak or escalating community incidence did not identify new SARS-CoV-2 infections and illustrated key logistical considerations essential to successful implementation of SARS-CoV-2 screening. Facilities could consider prioritizing facility-wide SARS-CoV-2 testing during suspicion of an outbreak in the facility or escalating community spread without robust infection control strategies in place. Being prepared to address operational considerations will enhance implementation of facility-wide testing in the outpatient dialysis setting.

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The state of Florida reports a high burden of non-typhoidal with approximately two times higher than the national incidence. We retrospectively analyzed the population structure and molecular epidemiology of 1,709 clinical isolates from 2017 and 2018. We found 115 different serotypes.

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Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing remains essential for early identification and clinical management of cases. We compared the diagnostic performance of 3 specimen types for characterizing SARS-CoV-2 in infected nursing home residents.

Methods: A convenience sample of 17 residents were enrolled within 15 days of first positive SARS-CoV-2 result by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and prospectively followed for 42 days.

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Background: To estimate the infectious period of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in older adults with underlying conditions, we assessed duration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity, and culture positivity among nursing home residents.

Methods: We enrolled residents within 15 days of their first positive SARS-CoV-2 test (diagnosis) at an Arkansas facility from July 7 to 15, 2020 and instead them for 42 days. Every 3 days for 21 days and then weekly, we assessed COVID-19 symptoms, collected specimens (oropharyngeal, anterior nares, and saliva), and reviewed medical charts.

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Non-typhoidal infections cause a high disease burden in the United States with an estimated 1.2 million illnesses annually. The state of Florida consistently has a relatively high incidence compared to other states in the United States.

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  • Food and waterborne illnesses remain a significant health issue in the U.S., even with improved safety measures.
  • A study involving 48 experts estimated the disease burden from various transmission routes, including foodborne and waterborne pathways.
  • The findings, which included 33 pathogens, emphasize the need to address multiple transmission routes for effective public health strategies.
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Provision of safe drinking water in the United States is a great public health achievement. However, new waterborne disease challenges have emerged (e.g.

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