Psychological features of abstinent heroin users before and after rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe psychological features of abstinent heroin users undergoing rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Study subjects (n = 197) were recruited prospectively at the time of their admission to rehabilitation between March 2010 and May 2011 at 7 inpatient opiate addiction rehabilitation centers in Saint-Petersburg and neighboring regions, Russia. The centers provided varying rehabilitation programs; 6 of them were religious centers.

Lessons learned while implementing mandatory health care-associated infection reporting in New York State.

New York State Public Health Law §2819, requiring the mandatory public reporting of health care-associated infections, was enacted in July 2005. This article describes key provisions in the legislation, New York State health care-associated infection program development, the rationale for selection of the National Healthcare Safety Network for reporting, and lessons learned.

"Blueprint version 2.0": updating public health surveillance for the 21st century.

Rapid changes to the United States public health system challenge the current strategic approach to surveillance. During 2011, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists convened national experts to reassess public health surveillance in the United States and update surveillance strategies that were published in a 1996 report and endorsed by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Although surveillance goals, historical influences, and most methods have not changed, surveillance is being transformed by 3 influences: public health information and preparedness as national security issues; new information technologies; and health care reform.

Characteristics of HIV-infected women and factors associated with HCV seropositivity in the Republic of Georgia.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the extent of the HIV epidemic among women in the Republic of Georgia and to identify factors associated with HCV co-infection in this population.

Findings: All women aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed with HIV between 1989 and 2006 were identified through the National HIV/AIDS surveillance database. Medical records were reviewed for demographic characteristics, risk factors and HCV serostatus.

Reduction in hospitalizations for diarrhea and rotavirus infections in New York state following introduction of rotavirus vaccine.

Objectives: To monitor trends and costs of diarrhea and rotavirus-associated hospitalizations in New York before and after rotavirus vaccine implementation in 2006. To examine rotavirus test results from sentinel hospital-associated laboratories.

Methods: Hospital discharge data and laboratory rotavirus testing data were analyzed for children 1 month up to 18 years of age for 10 sentinel and all statewide hospitals from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2008.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome risk and Escherichia coli O157:H7.

We reviewed medical records of 238 hospitalized patients with Escherichia coli O157:H7 diarrhea to identify risk factors for progression to diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Data indicated that young age, long duration of diarrhea, elevated leukocyte count, and proteinuria were associated with HUS.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome incidence in New York.

A comparison of New York's traditional communicable disease surveillance system for diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome with hospital discharge data showed a sensitivity of 65%. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was found in 63% of samples cultured from hemolytic uremic syndrome patients, and samples were more likely to be positive when collected early in illness.

Disease burden and risk factors for hospitalizations associated with rotavirus infection among children in New York State, 1989 through 2000.

Objectives: To examine trends in hospitalizations for pediatric diarrhea, ascertain the disease burden and risk factors for hospitalizations associated with rotavirus and assess the accuracy of coding for rotavirus hospitalizations in New York State.

Methods: For 1989 through 2000, data were obtained for all diarrhea-associated hospitalizations in New York State among children 1 month through 4 years of age. Characteristics of patients hospitalized with rotavirus were compared with those for hospitalizations with diarrhea from other causes.

Detection, isolation, and molecular subtyping of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter jejuni associated with a large waterborne outbreak.

The largest reported outbreak of waterborne Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the United States occurred in upstate New York following a county fair in August 1999. Culture methods were used to isolate E. coli O157:H7 from specimens from 128 of 775 patients with suspected infections.

Public health impact of reemergence of rabies, New York.

This report summarizes the spread of a raccoon rabies epizootic into New York in the 1990s, the species of animals affected, and human postexposure treatments (PET). A total of 57,008 specimens were submitted to the state laboratory from 1993 to 1998; 8,858 (16%) animals were confirmed rabid, with raccoons the most common species (75%). After exposure to 11,769 animals, 18,238 (45%) persons received PET, mostly because of contact with saliva or nervous tissue.

Issues associated with and recommendations for using PCR to detect outbreaks of pertussis.

Two outbreaks of respiratory tract illness associated with prolonged cough occurring in 1998 and 1999 in New York State were investigated. A PCR test for Bordetella pertussis was primarily used by a private laboratory to confirm 680 pertussis cases. Several clinical specimens had positive culture results for B.