Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Infectious Disease Telehealth Practices in North America.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has driven a significant increase in the use of telehealth (TH) but little is published about changes in TH usage by pediatric infectious disease (PID) providers. We assessed their pre- and intra-pandemic TH usage and experience.

Methods: The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Telehealth Work Group surveyed PID specialists in the United States and Canada from 6 December 2020 until 26 February 2021.

Fulminant Septic Shock with in a Young Infant: No Bite, Scratch, or Lick!

This is a case of septic shock encountered in a 7-week-old infant without any bites, scratch marks, or history of licks by pet animals (dog and cats in household). The infant required 3 days of vasopressor support and 4 days of mechanical ventilation to achieve normal hemodynamics. This is an unidentified route of transmission and our literature search for this topic discovered reported cases of life-threatening presentation with infections in the absence of a bite or any form of invasive contact with animals.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Beliefs and Testing and Treatment Health Behaviors Amongst Non-US-Born South Asians in New Jersey: A Cross-Sectional Community Survey.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) remains a problem in the United States as reactivation leads to active TB disease particularly in persons with risk factors. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and health behaviors related to testing and treatment of LTBI among non-US-born South Asians (SA) in New Jersey (NJ). A cross-sectional, community-based survey was the primary tool for gathering data.

Lactobacillus proteins are associated with the bactericidal activity against E. coli of female genital tract secretions.

Background: Female genital tract secretions are bactericidal for Escherichia (E.) coli ex vivo. However, the intersubject variability and molecules that contribute to this activity have not been defined.

Altered biomarkers of mucosal immunity and reduced vaginal Lactobacillus concentrations in sexually active female adolescents.

Background: Genital secretions collected from adult women exhibit in vitro activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), but prior studies have not investigated this endogenous antimicrobial activity or its mediators in adolescent females.

Methodology/principal Findings: Anti-HSV and anti-E.

Performance of swabs, lavage, and diluents to quantify biomarkers of female genital tract soluble mucosal mediators.

Background: Measurement of immune mediators and antimicrobial activity in female genital tract secretions may provide biomarkers predictive of risk for HIV-1 acquisition and surrogate markers of microbicide safety. However, optimal methods for sample collection do not exist. This study compared collection methods.

A randomized trial to assess anti-HIV activity in female genital tract secretions and soluble mucosal immunity following application of 1% tenofovir gel.

Background: Preclinical and early phase clinical microbicide studies have not consistently predicted the outcome of efficacy trials. To address this gap, candidate biomarkers of microbicide pharmacodynamics and safety were evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tenofovir gel, the first microbicide to demonstrate significant protection against HIV acquisition.

Methods: 30 women were randomized to apply a single daily dose of tenofovir or placebo gel for 14 consecutive days.

Chryseobacterium indologenes bacteremia in an infant.

Chryseobacterium species are a rare cause of human disease and are usually associated with indwelling devices or altered immune status. This is the first case to our knowledge, of Chryseobacterium indologenes bacteremia in a previously healthy infant. Chryseobacteria are pathogens resistant to the usual empiric treatments for neonatal or infantile septicemia.