Publications by authors named "Lauren Orkis"

Objective: To assess the frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among a population-based cohort of perinatally exposed children and identify factors associated with testing.

Methods: Using a population-based surveillance cohort of perinatally exposed children born from 2018 to 2020 from 4 US jurisdictions (Georgia; Massachusetts; Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; and Los Angeles County, California), we describe the frequency, timing, and type of HCV testing among children and identify characteristics associated with having an HCV test result by the age of 2 to 3 years. Data were obtained from electronic laboratory reporting, vital records, and medical records.

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Article Synopsis
  • There is limited research on how hepatitis C (HCV) affects pregnancy outcomes, leading to conflicting information about its risks.
  • A study using the SET-NET data showed that 89% of the 1418 infants studied were born to individuals who reported substance use during pregnancy, highlighting a concerning link.
  • Key findings revealed that 20% of infants were born preterm, 13% were small-for-gestational age, and a significant 34% of term infants needed intensive care, suggesting a need to review current HCV screening recommendations in pregnant individuals.
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We describe hepatitis C testing of 47 (2%) of 2,266 children diagnosed with perinatal hepatitis C who were exposed during 2018-2020 in 7 jurisdictions in the United States. Expected frequency of perinatal transmission is 5.8%, indicating only one third of the cases in this cohort were reported to public health authorities.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections has increased significantly in reproductive-aged adults over the past decade, posing risks for both maternal health and perinatal transmission.
  • - Despite the availability of effective curative treatments for HCV, these are not recommended during pregnancy, raising concerns about missed opportunities for timely intervention.
  • - A study across four U.S. jurisdictions found that among 1,161 pregnancies from 2018-2021 involving individuals with HCV, a notable percentage had their first HCV detection before pregnancy, suggesting gaps in treatment that could have benefited maternal health and reduced transmission risks.
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Introduction: Public health responses often lack the infrastructure to capture the impact of public health emergencies on pregnant women and infants, with limited mechanisms for linking pregnant women with their infants nationally to monitor long-term effects. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in close collaboration with state, local, and territorial health departments, began a 5-year initiative to establish population-based mother-baby linked longitudinal surveillance, the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET).

Objectives: The objective of this report is to describe an expanded surveillance approach that leverages and modernizes existing surveillance systems to address the impact of emerging health threats during pregnancy on pregnant women and their infants.

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Pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at increased risk for severe illness and might be at risk for preterm birth (1-3). The full impact of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in pregnancy is unknown. Public health jurisdictions report information, including pregnancy status, on confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

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Background: Most Legionnaires' disease in the US and abroad is community-acquired and believed to be sporadic, or non-outbreak associated. Most patients are exposed to numerous water sources, thus making it difficult to focus environmental investigations. Identifying known sources of sporadic community-acquired Legionnaires' disease will inform future sporadic Legionnaires' disease investigations as well as highlight directions for research.

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