Risk behaviors in a rural community with a known point-source exposure to chronic wasting disease.

Background: The emergence and continuing spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids has now reached 14 U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and South Korea, producing a potential for transmission of CWD prions to humans and other animals globally.

Use of DNA fingerprinting to investigate a multiyear, multistate tuberculosis outbreak.

In 1998-1999, the Baltimore TB control program detected a cluster of 21 tuberculosis (TB) cases. Patients reported frequent travel to various East Coast cities. An investigation was conducted to determine whether transmission of the same Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was occurring in these other localities.

Identification and evolution of an IS6110 low-copy-number Mycobacterium tuberculosis cluster.

A cohort of 56 patients infected with related strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the S75 group, was identified in a New Jersey population-based study of all isolates with a low number of copies of the insertion element IS6110. Genotyping was combined with surveillance data to identify the S75 group and to elucidate its recent evolution. The S75 group had similar demographic and geographic characteristics.

Spread of strain W, a highly drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, across the United States.

Strain W, a highly drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was responsible for large nosocomial outbreaks in New York in the early 1990s. To describe the spread of strain W outside New York, we reviewed data from epidemiologic investigations, national tuberculosis surveillance, regional DNA fingerprint laboratories, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Mycobacteriology Laboratory to identify potential cases of tuberculosis due to strain W. From January 1992 through February 1997, 23 cases were diagnosed in nine states and Puerto Rico; 8 were exposed to strain W in New York before their diagnosis; 4 of the 23 transmitted disease to 10 others.

Predictors of sputum culture conversion among patients with tuberculosis in the era of tuberculosis resurgence.

Background: Sputum culture conversion among patients with tuberculosis (TB) is the most important indicator for the effectiveness of treatment and the infectivity of the disease. We sought to investigate predictors for documented sputum culture conversion among TB cases reported in the surveillance system.

Methods: This study included 780 patients with pulmonary TB who were initially sputum culture positive in New Jersey in 1994-1995.