Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccine Immunogenicity in American Indian/Alaska Native Infants.

Objectives: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) infants historically experienced a disproportionate burden of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, especially early in life. PedvaxHIB vaccine is preferentially recommended for AI/AN infants because it elicits protective antibody levels postdose 1. Vaxelis, a hexavalent vaccine that contains the same Hib conjugate as PedvaxHIB but at lower concentration, is recommended for US children, but postdose 1 Hib immunogenicity data are needed to inform whether a preferential recommendation should be made for AI/AN infants.

Evaluating a Cluster and the Overall Trend of Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Serotype b in Alaska 2005-2019.

Background: In 2019, 5 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) occurred in the Anchorage region of Alaska over a period of 16 days. No cases had occurred in Alaska in the preceding 26 months.

Methods: Alaska Hib isolates from 2005 through 2019 were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Presence of Antibodies Against Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a in Alaska Before and After the Emergence of Invasive Infections.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae bacteria can cause asymptomatic carriage and invasive disease. Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) is an emerging cause of invasive disease in Alaska, with greatest burden occurring among rural Alaska Native (AN) children. The first case of invasive Hia (iHia) in Alaska was reported in 2002; however, it is unclear how long the pathogen has been in Alaska.

Presence of genes and characterization of s, i and m regions in isolated from Alaskans and their association with clinical pathologies.

Gastric cancer is a health disparity in the Alaska Native people. The incidence of infection, a risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma, is also high. Gastric cancer is partially associated with the virulence of the infecting strain.

H. pylori-associated pathologic findings among Alaska native patients.

Helicobacter pylori infection is common among Alaska native (AN) people, however scant gastric histopathologic data is available for this population. This study aimed to characterise gastric histopathology and H. pylori infection among AN people.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among Alaskans: Factors associated with infection and comparison of urea breath test and anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common human infections in the world, and studies in Alaska Native people, as well as other Indigenous peoples, have shown a high prevalence of this gastric infection. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection by urea breath test (UBT) and anti- H.

Evaluation of Two Matrices for Long-Term, Ambient Storage of Bacterial DNA.

Background: Culture-independent molecular analyses allow researchers to identify diverse microorganisms. This approach requires microbiological DNA repositories. The standard for DNA storage is liquid nitrogen or ultralow freezers.

Population structure of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates among Alaskan children in the conjugate vaccine era, 2001 to 2013.

Here we describe the relationships between serotypes, genotypes, and antimicrobial susceptibility among isolates causing invasive pneumococcal disease in Alaskan children during the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) era. From 2001 to 2013 we received 271 isolates representing 33 serotypes. The most common serotypes were 19A (29.

Helicobacter pylori infection and markers of gastric cancer risk in Alaska Native persons: a retrospective case-control study.

Background: Alaska Native persons experience gastric cancer incidence and mortality rates that are three to four times higher than in the general United States population.

Objective: To evaluate pepsinogen I, pepsinogen I/II ratio, anti-Helicobacter pylori and cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antibody levels, and blood group for their associations with gastric cancer development in Alaska Native people.

Methods: The present analysis was a retrospective case-control study that matched gastric cancers reported to the Alaska Native Tumor Registry from 1969 to 2008 to three controls on known demographic risk factors for H pylori infection, using sera from the Alaska Area Specimen Bank.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on iron stores and iron deficiency in urban Alaska Native adults.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been correlated with low serum ferritin and iron deficiency. As a secondary analysis of a study of H.

Comparison of nasopharyngeal flocked swabs and nasopharyngeal wash collection methods for respiratory virus detection in hospitalized children using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

This paper describes the molecular detection of respiratory viruses from nasopharyngeal flocked swabs (flocked swabs) and nasopharyngeal washes (washes) in a clinical setting. Washes and flocked swabs collected from children<3 years old hospitalized with a lower respiratory tract infection were tested for parainfluenza virus 1-3, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A and B and metapneumovirus (Group 1) and adenovirus, rhinovirus and coronavirus (Group 2) using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR). A consensuses standard was used to determine sensitivity and compare cycle thresholds (C(T)) of washes and flocked swabs for each virus and group of viruses.

Risk factors for hospitalization with lower respiratory tract infections in children in rural Alaska.

Objective: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a major cause of morbidity for children worldwide and particularly for children from developing and indigenous populations. In this study, we evaluated risk factors for hospitalization with LRTI in a region in southwest Alaska.

Methods: The study was conducted from October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2007, in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region of Alaska.

Diagnostic accuracy of tests for Helicobacter pylori in an Alaska Native population.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of two non-invasive tests in a population of Alaska Native persons. High rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, H.

Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from nasopharyngeal samples: use of an algorithm combining microbiologic, serologic, and sequential multiplex PCR techniques.

We evaluated nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) in nine Alaskan communities and used an algorithm combining microbiologic, serologic, and sequential multiplex PCR (MP-PCR) techniques to serotype the isolates. After microbiological identification as pneumococci, isolates (n = 1,135) were serotyped using latex agglutination and Quellung tests (LA/Q) as well as a series of six sequential MP-PCR assays. Results from the two methods agreed for 94% (1,064/1,135) of samples.

Characterization of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA genotypes among Alaskans and their correlation with clinical disease.

Helicobacter pylori infection is common in Alaska. The development of severe H. pylori disease is partially determined by the virulence of the infecting strain.

Repeat revaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine among adults aged 55-74 years living in Alaska: no evidence of hyporesponsiveness.

Background: Older adults are at highest risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and are recommended to receive vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). Antibody concentrations decline following vaccination. We evaluated the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of revaccination and repeat revaccination.

Performance of a rapid antigen test (Binax NOW® RSV) for diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus compared with real-time polymerase chain reaction in a pediatric population.

Background: Infants from Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) have a high respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization rate (104/1000/yr). Appropriate patient management requires rapid and accurate RSV diagnosis. Antigen-based methods are often used in clinical settings, but these tests can lack sensitivity.

Viral respiratory infections in hospitalized and community control children in Alaska.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Alaska Native children from the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) Delta is associated with a hospitalization rate five times higher than that reported for the general US child population. The role of other viral respiratory pathogens has not been studied in this population. YK Delta children <3 years of age hospitalized with respiratory infections and same aged community control children were prospectively enrolled between October 2005 and September 2007.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines in alaska native adults 55-70 years of age.

Background: Vaccination with conjugate vaccines stimulates T cell-dependent immunity, whereas vaccination with polysaccharide vaccines does not. Thus, vaccination with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) followed by the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) may offer better protection against invasive pneumococcal disease for older adults than does vaccination with PPV23 alone, which is what is currently recommended.

Methods: Alaska Native adults 55-70 years of age with no previous pneumococcal vaccination were randomized to receive (1) PPV23, (2) PCV7 followed 2 months later by PPV23, or (3) PCV7 followed 6 months later by PPV23.

Dynamics of Helicobacter pylori-specific immunoglobulin G for 2 years after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in an American Indian and Alaska Native population.

Helicobacter pylori antibodies were measured over 24 months in American Indian and Alaska Native persons who cleared their infections. Two months after treatment, 82% of H. pylori-negative persons remained seropositive.