Publications by authors named "Nicole Halmer"
Background: Tuberculosis infection (TBI) and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection disproportionately affect non-US-born persons. Early identification and treatment are critical to reduce transmission, morbidity, and mortality, but little is known about screening in the United States.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a large integrated California health system in September 2022 assessing TBI and HBV screening among persons aged ≥18 years who were born in countries with high TB burden (TB disease incidence rates ≥20/100 000 population) and/or HBV burden (hepatitis B surface antigen seroprevalence >2%).
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated the prevalence of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) among Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, involving nearly 10,000 adults.
- - An estimated 1.67% of participants reported ME/CFS-like illness, with about 14.12% of those cases occurring after a COVID-19 infection, particularly among unvaccinated individuals or those who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic.
- - Despite the findings, the overall impact of COVID-19 on increasing rates of ME/CFS-like illness appeared minimal during the study period, but those identified with the illness experienced significant impairments in multiple areas of functioning