Publications by authors named "Noah G Schwartz"

In the United States, there is currently no system to track donated human tissue products to individual recipients. This posed a challenge during an investigation of a nationwide tuberculosis outbreak that occurred when bone allograft contaminated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lot A) was implanted into 113 patients in 18 US states, including 2 patients at 1 health care facility in Colorado. A third patient at the same facility developed spinal tuberculosis with an isolate genetically identical to the Lot A outbreak strain.

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A systematic approach to contact investigations has long been a cornerstone of interrupting the transmission of tuberculosis in community settings. This paper describes the implementation of a systematic 10-step contact investigation within an acute care setting during a multistate outbreak of healthcare-associated tuberculosis. A systematic approach to contact investigations might have applicability to the prevention of other communicable infections within healthcare settings.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mitigation behaviors are crucial in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and this study examined behaviors linked to secondary transmission within households of confirmed cases.
  • In California and Colorado, researchers conducted interviews from January to April 2021, gathering data on self-reported behaviors, individual demographics, and household characteristics related to infection transmission.
  • Results indicated that 43.3% of household contacts became infected; key risk factors included sleeping in the same bedroom and eating food prepared by the infected individual, with household size and relationship type influencing these behaviors.
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Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health problem, especially among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). The Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis issued recommendations in 1992 for TB prevention and control among PEH. Our goal was to provide current guidelines and information in one place to inform medical and public health providers and TB programs on TB incidence, diagnosis, and treatment among PEH.

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A nationwide tuberculosis outbreak linked to a viable bone allograft product contaminated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in June 2021. Our subsequent investigation identified 73 healthcare personnel with new latent tuberculosis infection following exposure to the contaminated product, product recipients, surgical instruments, or medical waste.

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  • A January-April 2021 study analyzed surface samples from 124 households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, finding 27.8% of the samples were positive for the virus using RT-PCR testing.
  • Nightstands and pillows were the surfaces most frequently contaminated with the virus.
  • Despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces, viable virus was detected in only 0.2% of samples, indicating that the risk of transmission via surfaces in households is low.
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Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission through solid organ transplantation has been well described, but transmission through transplanted tissues is rare. We investigated a tuberculosis outbreak in the USA linked to a bone graft product containing live cells derived from a single deceased donor.

Methods: In this outbreak report, we describe the management and severity of the outbreak and identify opportunities to improve tissue transplant safety in the USA.

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  • COVID-19 vaccination provides reduced infection and transmission rates, particularly in high-transmission environments like households during outbreaks of the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant.
  • A study in San Diego and Denver during early 2021 examined 493 individuals from households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, revealing that vaccinated individuals had significantly lower infection risks compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
  • Results showed that unvaccinated household contacts had a 49% infection rate, while vaccinated contacts had only a 23% infection rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing household transmission.
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  • A study was conducted to assess the accuracy of home antigen tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 during a patient's infection in comparison to RT-PCR tests and viral cultures.
  • Researchers evaluated 225 participants with confirmed infections from January to May 2021, focusing on daily test performance over a 15-day period.
  • Results showed that antigen tests had a sensitivity of 50% during the infectious period, peaking at 77% four days after illness onset, indicating they are less reliable than RT-PCR but still useful in certain timeframes.
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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a hyperinflammatory illness related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The characteristics of patients with this syndrome and the frequency with which it occurs among patients hospitalised after SARS-CoV-2 infection are unclear. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for MIS-A, we created ICD-10-CM code and laboratory criteria to identify potential MIS-A patients in the Premier Healthcare Database Special COVID-19 Release, a database containing patient-level information on hospital discharges across the United States.

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  • Effective early detection of COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is crucial for managing outbreaks, as shown by a study of 118 residents at one facility with a high infection rate (86% positive cases).
  • Most infected residents exhibited significant symptoms, such as abnormal vital signs and changes in oxygen status, with over 90% showing common symptoms like fever and lethargy; some cases presented without fever or cough.
  • The study highlights the importance of closely monitoring symptoms and vital signs to quickly identify and respond to COVID-19 infections, suggesting that SNFs adopt systematic approaches to track these indicators.
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Objectives: In late June 2020, a large outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred at a sleep-away youth camp in Georgia, affecting primarily persons ≤21 years. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among campers and staff (attendees) to determine the extent of the outbreak and assess factors contributing to transmission.

Methods: Attendees were interviewed to ascertain demographic characteristics, known exposures to COVID-19 and community exposures, and mitigation measures before, during, and after attending camp.

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Background: Despite the importance of transfusion in treating sickle cell disease acute chest syndrome, the target hemoglobin and optimal modality for transfusion remain unknown.

Objectives: To compare hospital length of stay (LOS) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute chest syndrome transfused to hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL versus patients transfused to hemoglobin < 8 g/dL; and to compare hospital LOS in acute chest syndrome patients treated with and without exchange transfusion.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all acute chest syndrome patients treated in the medical ICU at 2 tertiary care hospitals between January 2011 and August 2016 ( = 82).

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There is increasing evidence that children and adolescents can efficiently transmit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1-3). During July-August 2020, four state health departments and CDC investigated a COVID-19 outbreak that occurred during a 3-week family gathering of five households in which an adolescent aged 13 years was the index and suspected primary patient; 11 subsequent cases occurred.

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During the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reports of a new multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been increasing in Europe and the United States (1-3). Clinical features in children have varied but predominantly include shock, cardiac dysfunction, abdominal pain, and elevated inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, D-dimer, and interleukin-6 (1). Since June 2020, several case reports have described a similar syndrome in adults; this review describes in detail nine patients reported to CDC, seven from published case reports, and summarizes the findings in 11 patients described in three case series in peer-reviewed journals (4-6).

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Limited data are available about transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), among youths. During June 17-20, an overnight camp in Georgia (camp A) held orientation for 138 trainees and 120 staff members; staff members remained for the first camp session, scheduled during June 21-27, and were joined by 363 campers and three senior staff members on June 21. Camp A adhered to the measures in Georgia's Executive Order* that allowed overnight camps to operate beginning on May 31, including requiring all trainees, staff members, and campers to provide documentation of a negative viral SARS-CoV-2 test ≤12 days before arriving.

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This study assessed the spectrum of initial symptoms at the onset of polymerase chain reaction–confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among health care personnel in King County, Washington.

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Article Synopsis
  • Long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable to severe Covid-19 outbreaks due to the age and health conditions of residents, combined with the movement of health care staff between facilities.* -
  • After detecting a case on February 28, 2020, health authorities in Washington launched extensive measures including contact tracing and quarantines, resulting in 167 confirmed cases linked to one facility by March 18, with high hospitalization and fatality rates among residents.* -
  • The findings highlight the necessity for long-term care facilities to proactively manage staff and visitor health, monitor patients, and enforce stringent infection control practices to mitigate Covid-19 risks.*
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On February 28, 2020, a case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was identified in a woman resident of a long-term care skilled nursing facility (facility A) in King County, Washington.* Epidemiologic investigation of facility A identified 129 cases of COVID-19 associated with facility A, including 81 of the residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors; 23 persons died. Limitations in effective infection control and prevention and staff members working in multiple facilities contributed to intra- and interfacility spread.

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Since 1989, the United States has pursued a goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) through a strategy of rapidly identifying and treating cases and evaluating exposed contacts to limit secondary cases resulting from recent TB transmission (1). This strategy has been highly effective in reducing U.S.

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Associations between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiometabolic outcomes have not been examined in highlanders.We performed nocturnal polygraphy in Peruvian highlanders (3825 m). Multivariable linear regression models examined associations between SDB metrics and haemoglobin, glucose tolerance (haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)), fasting glucose, homeostatic model-based assessments of insulin resistance and β-cell function (HOMA-IR and HOMA-β, respectively), blood pressure, and lipids, while adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and wake oxygenation.

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