Winter storm-related injuries in Oklahoma, January 2007.

Introduction: A January 2007 ice storm occurred in Oklahoma, causing power outages and hazardous travel conditions. The objective of this investigation was to describe the nature of winter storm-related injuries among Oklahoma residents, to determine populations at risk, and to inform prevention-planning personnel.

Methods: Winter storm-related injuries were a temporarily reportable condition; all acute-care hospitals and the state medical examiner logged storm-related injuries and deaths during January 12-30, 2007.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome After an Escherichia coli O111 Outbreak.

Background: In August 2008, the largest known US serotype 1 Escherichia coli O111 outbreak occurred in Oklahoma, causing 341 illnesses, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is not well described in non-O157 E coli outbreaks but occurs in 2% to 15% of O157 infections, predominantly among children. We examined outbreak-related hospitalizations to characterize E coli O111 illness, the HUS attack rate, and factors associated with subsequent HUS diagnosis among hospitalized patients.

Increase in unintentional medication overdose deaths: Oklahoma, 1994-2006.

Background: During 1999-2006, rates of unintentional drug-related deaths increased 120% in the U.S.

Purpose: This report describes demographics and trends of unintentional medication overdose deaths among Oklahoma residents to target prevention strategies.

Increasing aspirin use among persons at risk for cardiovascular events in Oklahoma.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heartdisease (CHD)and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the United States and in Oklahoma; Oklahoma ranks 48th worst in CVD deaths.This paper will present Oklahoma-specific data and review current recommendations regarding aspirin use for the prevention of CVD events.

Methods: Average annual age-adjusted death rates were calculated.

Outcome of a hepatitis C outbreak among patients in a pain management clinic.

Background And Aims: The aims of this study are to evaluate the natural history and response to therapy of patients following a hepatitis C outbreak in a pain management clinic.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients who acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) at a pain management clinic. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 77% of patients with hepatitis C included in the outbreak to obtain data regarding laboratory results, treatment, and outcomes.

Unintentional motor vehicle-train collisions--Oklahoma, 1995-2003.

Background: Rates of persons injured in motor vehicle (MV)-train collisions in the state of Oklahoma (1.13/100,000 population) are more than 2 times the United States rate (0.51/100,000 population).

Injury perceptions of bombing survivors--interviews from the Oklahoma City bombing.

Introduction: Bombings, including the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, remain an important public health threat. However, there has been little investigation into the impressions of injury risk or protective factors of bombing survivors.

Objective: This study analyzes Oklahoma City bombing survivors' impressions of factors that influenced their risk of injury, and validates a hazard timeline outlining phases of injury risk in a building bombing.

State-based surveillance to determine trends in meningococcal disease.

Objectives: Meningococcal disease (MD), is a leading cause of meningitis in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology of MD in Oklahoma, including trends, high-risk populations, and outcomes.

Preventing fatalities in building bombings: what can we learn from the Oklahoma City bombing?

Background: Bombings are an increasing threat to the public's health. Descriptive studies of blast injuries have been published, but these injuries have not been studied using analytical epidemiological methods. This study assesses factors associated with fatality risk among individuals exposed to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Aspirin use in the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and Oklahoma, and Oklahoma ranks 50th in CVD deaths. This paper will describe CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Oklahoma and review current recommendations regarding aspirin use for the prevention of CHD events.

Methods: The CDC Compressed Mortality File for 1999-2004 was accessed.

The epidemiology of severe traumatic brain injury among persons 65 years of age and older in Oklahoma, 1992-2003.

Primary Objective: To describe the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among persons 65 years of age and older in Oklahoma from 1992-2003.

Research Design: Descriptive epidemiology of data collected through active statewide surveillance on TBI inpatient hospitalizations and fatalities.

Methods And Procedures: Data collected from hospital medical records and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Rapid needs assessment of Hurricane Katrina evacuees-Oklahoma, September 2005.

Introduction: On 04 September 2005, 1,589 Hurricane Katrina evacuees from the New Orleans area arrived in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Health conducted a rapid needs assessment of the evacuees housed at a National Guard training facility to determine the medical and social needs of the population in order to allocate resources appropriately.

Methods: A standardized questionnaire that focused on individual and household evacuee characteristics was developed.

A large, travel-associated outbreak of legionellosis among hotel guests: utility of the urine antigen assay in confirming Pontiac fever.

Background: During March 2004, a large outbreak of legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever occurred among hotel guests in Oklahoma. An investigation was conducted to identify the source and evaluate the utility of the Legionella urine antigen assay and serologic testing for the identification of Pontiac fever.

Methods: A retrospective cohort investigation of hotel guests and employees and an environmental evaluation were performed.

Evaluation of death certificate-based surveillance for traumatic brain injury--Oklahoma 2002.

Objectives: Death certificate data are used to estimate state and national incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related deaths. This study evaluated the accuracy of this estimate in Oklahoma and examined the case characteristics of those persons who experienced a TBI-related death but whose death certificate did not reflect a TBI.

Methods: Data from Oklahoma's vital statistics multiple-cause-of-death database and from the Oklahoma Injury Surveillance System database were analyzed for TBI deaths that occurred during 2002.

Comparing reactions to two severe tornadoes in one Oklahoma community.

The authors compared the effect of the 3 May 1999 F5 and 8 May 2003 F3 tornadoes on the community of Moore, Oklahoma, by canvassing damaged areas after both tornadoes and surveying residents. Significantly more 1999 than 2003 residents reported property damage and injuries. Television and tornado sirens were the most common warnings each year, however, more 1999 residents received and responded to television warnings.

Get off the bus: sound strategy for injury prevention during a tornado?

Introduction: On 08 May 2003, a tornado categorized as an F-3 on the Fujita Tornado Scale (the "F Scale") struck an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma commuter bus carrying 24 passengers. The driver evacuated several passengers before the tornado struck. The tornado rolled the bus, and pelted it with debris.

All-terrain vehicle-related central nervous system injuries in Oklahoma.

Objective: Determine the statewide, population-based incidence and epidemiology of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related severe central nervous system (CNS) injuries in Oklahoma.

Methods: Hospitalized and fatal traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are reportable conditions in Oklahoma. Professionally trained staff reviewed all medical examiner and hospital medical records.

Risk of tornado-related death and injury in Oklahoma, May 3, 1999.

On May 3, 1999, powerful tornadoes, including a category F5 tornado, swept through Oklahoma. The authors examined all tornado-related deaths, hospital admissions, and emergency department visits to identify important risk factors. Data on deaths and injuries directly related to the tornadoes and information obtained from a survey of residents in the damage path of the F5 tornado were used in a case-control analysis.

Fatal necrotizing colitis following a foodborne outbreak of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A infection.

Background: Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A is the third leading cause of foodborne disease in the United States, resulting annually in an estimated 250,000 cases of a typically mild, self-limiting gastrointestinal illness.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the cause of a small cluster of cases of gastrointestinal illness, which included cases of severe necrotizing colitis. Participants in the study consisted of residents and staff of a residential care facility for the mentally ill in Oklahoma (n = 20).

Fatal and non-fatal injuries among U.S. Air Force personnel resulting from the terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers.

Background: Culminating with the events of September 11, 2001, U.S. civilian and military populations are vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

A large nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C and hepatitis B among patients receiving pain remediation treatments.

Background And Objective: In August 2002, the Oklahoma State Department of Health received a report of six patients with unexplained hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated in the same pain remediation clinic. We investigated the outbreak's extent and etiology.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of clinic patients, including a serologic survey, interviews of infected patients, and reviews of medical records and staff infection control practices.