Publications by authors named "Folster J"

Article Synopsis
  • * The study examined 438 isolates from 100 outbreaks to establish guidelines for detecting disease clusters and analyzed them for genetic variations and antimicrobial resistance.
  • * Most outbreaks had close genetic similarities, indicating they were related, while some showed more variation, suggesting differing pathogen sources and evolving resistance patterns.
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Objectives: The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts active surveillance for typhoid fever cases caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Typhi). Here we describe the characteristics of the first two cases of mph(A)-positive azithromycin-resistant Typhi identified through US surveillance.

Methods: Isolates were submitted to public health laboratories, sequenced, and screened for antimicrobial resistance determinants and plasmids, as part of CDC PulseNet's routine genomic surveillance.

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Bacterial relatedness measured using select chromosomal loci forms the basis of public health genomic surveillance. While approximating vertical evolution through this approach has proven exceptionally valuable for understanding pathogen dynamics, it excludes a fundamental dimension of bacterial evolution-horizontal gene transfer. Incorporating the accessory genome is the logical remediation and has recently shown promise in expanding epidemiological resolution for enteric pathogens.

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Clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV), which can cause severe illness in more people than clade II MPXVs, is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but the country has experienced an increase in suspected cases during 2023-2024. In light of the 2022 global outbreak of clade II mpox, the increase in suspected clade I cases in DRC raises concerns that the virus could spread to other countries and underscores the importance of coordinated, urgent global action to support DRC's efforts to contain the virus. To date, no cases of clade I mpox have been detected outside of countries in Central Africa where the virus is endemic.

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In 2016, CDC identified a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport that is now monitored as a persisting strain (REPJJP01). Isolates have been obtained from U.S.

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In the present study, we developed a new Swedish phosphorus diatom index (PDI) to improve the poor fit of existing indices to match the needs of water managers to detect and mitigate eutrophication. We took advantage of a large amount of data (820 Swedish stream sites) collected in recent years. During our work, we found an unexpected bimodal response of the diatom assemblages to phosphorus.

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Data from monitoring programs with high spatial resolution but low temporal resolution are often overlooked when assessing temporal trends, as the data structure does not permit the use of established trend analysis methods. However, the data include uniquely detailed information about geographically differentiated temporal trends driven by large-scale influences, such as climate or airborne deposition. In this study, we used geographically weighted regression models, extended with a temporal component, to evaluate linear and nonlinear trends in environmental monitoring data.

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Reports of Salmonella enterica I serotype 4,[5],12:i:- infections resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole, and tetracycline (ASSuT) have been increasing. We analyzed data from 5 national surveillance systems to describe the epidemiology, resistance traits, and genetics of infections with this Salmonella strain in the United States. We found ASSuT-resistant Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- increased from 1.

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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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Article Synopsis
  • A January-April 2021 study analyzed surface samples from 124 households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, finding 27.8% of the samples were positive for the virus using RT-PCR testing.
  • Nightstands and pillows were the surfaces most frequently contaminated with the virus.
  • Despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces, viable virus was detected in only 0.2% of samples, indicating that the risk of transmission via surfaces in households is low.
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Despite being linked to a number of recent poultry-associated outbreaks in the United States, few reference genomes are available for Salmonella enterica serotype Hadar. Here, we address this need by reporting 18 Salmonella Hadar genomes from samples collected from patients in the United States between 2014 and 2020.

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serovar Kentucky is frequently isolated from chickens and dairy cattle, but recovery from humans is comparatively low based on the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) reports.

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Surface water browning, the result of increasing concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM), has been widespread in northern ecosystems in recent decades. Here, we assess a database of 426 undisturbed headwater lakes and streams in Europe and North America for evidence of trends in DOM between 1990 and 2016. We describe contrasting changes in DOM trends in Europe (decelerating) and North America (accelerating), which are consistent with organic matter solubility responses to declines in sulfate deposition.

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  • COVID-19 vaccination provides reduced infection and transmission rates, particularly in high-transmission environments like households during outbreaks of the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant.
  • A study in San Diego and Denver during early 2021 examined 493 individuals from households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, revealing that vaccinated individuals had significantly lower infection risks compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
  • Results showed that unvaccinated household contacts had a 49% infection rate, while vaccinated contacts had only a 23% infection rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing household transmission.
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Between 2018 and 2019, Salmonella enterica serotype Reading caused a large, multistate outbreak linked to contact with raw turkey products in the United States. Here, we provide five Salmonella Reading reference genomes collected from US patients between 2016 and 2018.

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One in six nursing home residents and staff with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests ≥90 days after initial infection had specimen cycle thresholds (Ct) <30. Individuals with specimen Ct<30 were more likely to report symptoms but were not different from individuals with high Ct value specimens by other clinical and testing data.

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  • A study was conducted to assess the accuracy of home antigen tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 during a patient's infection in comparison to RT-PCR tests and viral cultures.
  • Researchers evaluated 225 participants with confirmed infections from January to May 2021, focusing on daily test performance over a 15-day period.
  • Results showed that antigen tests had a sensitivity of 50% during the infectious period, peaking at 77% four days after illness onset, indicating they are less reliable than RT-PCR but still useful in certain timeframes.
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We aimed to describe frequency of COVID-19 exposure risk factors among patients presenting for medical care at an urban, public hospital serving mostly uninsured/Medicare/Medicaid clients and risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Consenting, adult patients seeking care at a public hospital from August to November 2020 were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation. Saliva, anterior nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR.

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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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In the United States, reports of Salmonella enterica carrying -1 remain rare in humans, but when observed, the infection is often associated with travel. Here, we report 14 -1-positive Salmonella enterica isolates from patients in the United States that reported travel to the Dominican Republic within the 12 months before illness.

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Self-collected specimens can expand access to SARS-CoV-2 testing. At a large inner-city hospital 1,082 participants self-collected saliva and anterior nasal swab (ANS) samples before healthcare workers collected nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples on the same day. To characterize patient preferences for self-collection, this investigation explored ability, comfort, and ease of ANS and saliva self-collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing along with associated patient characteristics, including medical history and symptoms of COVID-19.

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Abstract: This multiagency report developed by the Interagency Collaboration for Genomics for Food and Feed Safety provides an overview of the use of and transition to whole genome sequencing (WGS) technology for detection and characterization of pathogens transmitted commonly by food and for identification of their sources. We describe foodborne pathogen analysis, investigation, and harmonization efforts among the following federal agencies: National Institutes of Health; Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S.

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Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of supports both molecular typing and detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we evaluated the correlation between phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and in silico prediction of AMR from WGS in ( = 1321) isolated from human infections in Canada. Phenotypic AMR results from broth microdilution testing were used as the gold standard.

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