Publications by authors named "S S Hurd"
Article Synopsis
- Forest management practices, like timber harvesting and invasive species removal, can impact wildlife habitat and influence the life cycle of disease vectors such as the black-legged tick, which transmits Lyme disease.
- The study found that higher numbers of trees and basal area per hectare led to increased canopy closure and tick nymph densities, while affecting microclimate conditions like temperature and humidity.
- The strongest predictor of nymph densities was the structure of the understory, and there was no link between tree quantity and deer activity or tick infection prevalence, aiding in more effective forest management strategies.
Background: Culture-independent diagnostic testing (CIDT) provides rapid results to clinicians and is quickly displacing traditional detection methods. Increased CIDT use and sensitivity likely result in higher case detection but might also obscure infection trends. Severe illness outcomes, such as hospitalization and death, are likely less affected by changes in testing practices and can be used as indicators of the expected case incidence trend had testing methods not changed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pathogen detection has changed with increased use of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs). CIDTs do not yield isolates, which are necessary to detect outbreaks using whole-genome sequencing. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) monitors clinical laboratory testing practices to improve interpretation of surveillance data and assess availability of isolates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatment of Shiga toxin-producing O157 (O157) diarrhea with antimicrobials might alter the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). However, full characterization of which antimicrobials might affect risk is lacking, particularly among adults. To inform clinical management, we conducted a case-control study of residents of the FoodNet surveillance areas with O157 diarrhea during a 4-year period to assess antimicrobial class-specific associations with HUS among persons with O157 diarrhea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) developed by within animals used for food products is a major global issue. Monitoring AMR in animals destined for slaughter is, therefore, critical. Abattoirs may serve as potential candidate checkpoints for monitoring resistance patterns on farms.
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