Publications by authors named "Julia Haston"

We report a case of Acanthamoeba infection in an HCT recipient with steroid-refractory GVHD. We highlight the multiple challenges that free-living ameba infections present to the clinician, the clinical laboratory, transplant infectious disease for review, hospital epidemiology if nosocomial transmission is considered, and public health officials, as exposure source identification can be a significant challenge. Transplant physicians should include Acanthamoeba infections in their differential diagnosis of a patient with skin, sinus, lung, and/or brain involvement.

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We describe 10 patients with nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infection who reported performing nasal rinsing before becoming ill. All were immunocompromised, 7 had chronic sinusitis, and many used tap water for nasal rinsing. Immunocompromised persons should be educated about safe nasal rinsing to prevent free-living ameba infections.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The text offers an overview of current antimicrobials endorsed by the CDC for treating this infection, along with updated survival statistics and medication data from the CDC Free-Living Ameba Database.
  • * It highlights emerging treatments, particularly nitroxoline, and suggests future research directions in managing this deadly condition.
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  • Shigellosis is an acute diarrheal disease with various transmission routes, including contaminated food and water, but healthcare providers (HCP) lack awareness about some of these routes and the importance of antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST).
  • A web-based survey to HCP in the U.S. revealed that while many recognized food and water as transmission sources, fewer acknowledged person-to-person contact or sexual activity, particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • The findings highlight knowledge gaps among HCP regarding shigellosis transmission and antibiotic usage, suggesting that enhanced education could help prevent the spread of shigellosis and drug-resistant strains among at-risk populations.
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Purpose Of Review: Free-living amebae (FLA) including Naegleria fowleri , Balamuthia mandrillaris , and Acanthamoeba species can cause rare, yet severe infections that are nearly always fatal. This review describes recent developments in epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of amebic meningoencephalitis.

Recent Findings: Despite similarities among the three pathogenic FLA, there are notable variations in disease presentations, routes of transmission, populations at risk, and outcomes for each.

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Cronobacter sakazakii, a species of gram-negative bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is known to cause severe and often fatal meningitis and sepsis in young infants. C. sakazakii is ubiquitous in the environment, and most reported infant cases have been attributed to contaminated powdered infant formula (powdered formula) or breast milk that was expressed using contaminated breast pump equipment (1-3).

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Tap water is not sterile, and its use in home medical devices can result in infections from waterborne pathogens. However, many participants in a recent survey in the United States said tap water could safely be used for home medical devices. These results can inform communication materials to reduce the high consequence of infections.

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Background: is a free-living ameba that can cause severe disease affecting the central nervous system, skin, sinuses, and other organs, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. These rare but severe infections are often fatal, yet incompletely described.

Methods: Cases included were either reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Free-Living Ameba program or published in scientific literature.

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Although mpox is rare among children in the United States, pediatric cases are being reported during the 2022 multinational mpox outbreak. Vaccines and antiviral medications developed for other orthopoxviruses have recently become widely used to prevent and treat mpox in both children and adults in the United States. Although scientific literature regarding mpox in children and adolescents is scant, prior case reports can provide valuable information about the clinical features and potential complications of untreated clade II mpox in these age groups.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed pediatric hospitalizations for COVID-19 during the Delta variant surge from July to August 2021 at six U.S. children's hospitals with 947 total patients, 80.1% of whom had COVID-19.
  • Among these, 37.8% suffered from severe illness, influenced by factors like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) coinfection and obesity, which significantly increased severity risk in specific age groups.
  • The results highlight the importance of recognizing these risk factors to enhance pediatric care and inform strategies for COVID-19 vaccination and prevention efforts.
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  • Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a serious condition linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection that was examined in a study involving four hospitals in Atlanta from April 2020 to January 2021.
  • The study identified 11 cases of MIS-A, none diagnosed during initial treatment, compared to 5,755 COVID-19 hospitalizations, revealing a significant age difference with most MIS-A patients being under 50 years and predominantly non-Hispanic Black.
  • The findings indicate that MIS-A often leads to severe complications requiring intensive care, highlighting the need for better awareness and recognition of this condition in healthcare settings.*
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Background: Recent population-based data are limited regarding influenza-associated hospitalizations in US children.

Methods: We identified children <18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza during 2010-2019 seasons, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network. Adjusted hospitalization and in-hospital mortality rates were calculated, and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to evaluate risk factors for pneumonia, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and death.

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Washing hands often, especially during times when one is likely to acquire and spread pathogens,* is one important measure to help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as other pathogens spread by respiratory or fecal-oral transmission (1,2). Studies have reported moderate to high levels of self-reported handwashing among adults worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic (3-5); however, little is known about how handwashing behavior among U.S.

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An estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2017, causing approximately 435,000 deaths (1). Malaria is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium transmitted to humans through the bite of an infective Anopheles mosquito. Five Plasmodium species that regularly cause illness in humans are P.

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Background: Encephalitis is an inflammatory condition of the brain associated with long-term neurologic sequelae and even death in children. Although viruses are often implicated, an etiology is not identified in the majority of cases. Metagenomics-based next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a high-throughput sequencing technique that can enhance the detection of novel or low-frequency pathogens.

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While combination antiretroviral therapy allows HIV-infected patients to have life expectancies similar to that of the general population, it may also contribute to the development of co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Such complications could compromise long-term quality of life, especially in HIV-infected youth whose lifetime cumulative exposure to antiretrovirals is likely to be many decades. Recent studies continue to demonstrate abnormalities associated with antiretroviral therapy, although clinical manifestations are rare in this younger population, especially with modern antiretrovirals.

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There are currently 12 species and over 100 serotypes that have been identified in the enterovirus genus, including the coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and polioviruses. Since their discovery 65 years ago, much has been discovered and continues to be researched regarding the pathogenicity and scope of disease of nonpolio enteroviruses. Like many infections, enteroviruses have been found to affect neonates much differently, and often more severely, than older children and adults.

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