Residents Of Catchment Areas Research Articles

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in US Dialysis Populations, 2016-2021

Background: Infections lead to high mortality among patients on chronic dialysis; knowledge of multi-drug resistant infections is limited. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP) conducts laboratory- and population-based surveillance for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in 10 U.S. sites and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in 9 U.S. sites. We investigated clinical characteristics, healthcare exposures, and outcomes of CRE and CRAB cases in persons on chronic dialysis from 2016-2021. Methods: Among EIP catchment-area residents on chronic dialysis, we defined a CRE case as the first isolation of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Klebsiella aerogenes (formerly Enterobacter aerogenes), Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Klebsiella variicola resistant to any carbapenem, from a normally sterile site or urine in a 30-day period. A CRAB case was defined as the first isolation of Acinetobacter baumannii complex resistant to any carbapenem (excluding ertapenem), from a normally sterile site or urine (or lower respiratory tract or wound since 2021) in a 30-day period. Medical records were reviewed. A case was considered colonized if the case culture had no associated infection type or colonization was documented in the medical record. Descriptive analyses, including analyses stratified by pathogen, were conducted. Results: Among 426 cases, 314 were CRE, and 112 were CRAB; most cases were male (235, 55.2%), Black (229, 53.8%), and 51-80 years old (320, 75.1%) (Table). An infection was associated with 363 (85.2%) case cultures; bloodstream infections (148; 40.8%), urinary tract infections (134; 36.9%), and pneumonia (17; 4.7%) were the most frequent. Overall, most cases had documented healthcare exposures (excluding outpatient dialysis) in the year before incident specimen collection, including: 366 (85.9%) hospitalizations, 235 (55.2%) surgeries, 209 (49.1%) long-term care facility stays, 54 (12.7%) long-term acute care facility stays. Additionally, 125 (29.3%) had an intensive care unit admission within the 7 days before incident specimen collection. Compared to CRE cases, a higher proportion of CRAB cases (a) had a long-term care facility stay (82/112 [73.2%] versus 127/314 [40.5%], P<.0001) or hospitalization (103/112 [92%] versus 263/314 [83.8%], P = .03) within the preceding year and (b) died within 30 days of incident specimen collection (40/112 [35.7%] versus 64/314 [20.4%], P = .001). Discussion: Among CRE and CRAB cases in persons on chronic dialysis, healthcare exposures were common, and mortality was high. Additional efforts to better describe the burden of these organisms and associated risk factors in the dialysis population are needed for tailoring infection prevention strategies to this vulnerable.

Community-engaged basic science in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center: antioxidants and chemotherapeutic efficacy.

While community engagement has been a longstanding aspect of cancer-relevant research in social and behavioral sciences, it is far less common in basic/translational/clinical research. With the National Cancer Institute's incorporation of Community Outreach and Engagement into the Cancer Center Support Grant guidelines, successful models are desirable. We report on a pilot study supported by the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC), that used a community-engaged, data-driven process to inform a pre-clinical study of the impact of antioxidants on the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapeutics. We conducted a survey of UMGCCC catchment area residents (n = 120) to identify commonly used antioxidants. We then evaluated the effect of individually combining commonly used antioxidants from the survey (vitamin C, green tea, and melatonin) with platinum agents in models of non-small cell lung cancer (A549), colon adenocarcinoma (SW620) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (FaDu). In vitro, the anti-neoplastic activity of each chemotherapy was not potentiated by any of the antioxidants. Instead, when combined at fixed ratios, most antioxidant-chemotherapy combinations were antagonistic. In vivo, addition of antioxidants did not improve chemotherapeutic efficacy and in a FaDu-tumor bearing model, cisplatin-mediated tumor growth inhibition was significantly impeded by the addition of epigallocatechin gallate, the main antioxidant in green tea. These initial findings do not support addition of antioxidant supplementation to improve platinum-based chemotherapeutic efficacy. This study's approach can serve as a model of how to bring together the two seemingly discordant areas of basic research and community engagement.

Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in US children, 2016–2020

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program conducts active laboratory- and population-based surveillance for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E). To better understand the U.S. epidemiology of these organisms among children, we determined the incidence of pediatric CRE and ESBL-E cases and described their clinical characteristics. Methods: Surveillance was conducted among children <18 years of age for CRE from 2016–2020 in 10 sites, and for ESBL-E from 2019–2020 in 6 sites. Among catchment-area residents, an incident CRE case was defined as the first isolation of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Klebsiella aerogenes, K. oxytoca, or K. pneumoniae in a 30-day period resistant to ≥1 carbapenem from a normally sterile site or urine. An incident ESBL-E case was defined as the first isolation of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, or K. oxytoca in a 30-day period resistant to any third-generation cephalosporin and non-resistant to all carbapenems from a normally sterile site or urine. Case records were reviewed. Results: Among 159 CRE cases, 131 (82.9%) were isolated from urine and 19 (12.0%) from blood; median age was 5 years (IQR 1–10) and 94 (59.1%) were female. Combined CRE incidence rate per 100,000 population by year ranged from 0.47 to 0.87. Among 207 ESBL-E cases, 160 (94.7%) were isolated from urine and 6 (3.6%) from blood; median age was 6 years (IQR 2–15) and 165 (79.7%) were female. Annual ESBL incidence rate per 100,000 population was 26.5 in 2019 and 19.63 in 2020. Incidence rates of CRE and ESBL-E were >2-fold higher in infants (children <1 year) than other age groups. Among those with data available, CRE cases were more likely than ESBL-E cases to have underlying conditions (99/158 [62.7%] versus 59/169 [34.9%], P<0.0001), prior healthcare exposures (74/158 [46.8%] versus 38/169 [22.5%], P<0.0001), and be hospitalized for any reason around time of their culture collection (75/158 [47.5%] versus 38/169 [22.5%], P<0.0001); median duration of admission was 18 days [IQR 3–103] for CRE versus 10 days [IQR 4–43] for ESBL-E. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent infection for CRE (89/158 [56.3%]) and ESBL-E (125/169 [74.0%]) cases. Conclusion: CRE infections occurred less frequently than ESBL-infections in U.S. children but were more often associated with healthcare risk factors and hospitalization. Infants had highest incidence of CRE and ESBL-E. Continued surveillance, infection prevention and control efforts, and antibiotic stewardship outside and within pediatric care are neededDisclosure: None

86. Antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections among persons with or without a prior positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in 10 U.S. sites, 2020

Abstract Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP) conducts active laboratory- and population-based surveillance for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in 10 U.S. sites. To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of these antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria (AR-GNB), we assessed characteristics of AR-GNB patients with and without a prior SARS-CoV-2 positive (SC2+) viral test. Methods In 2020 among EIP catchment-area residents, an incident CRAB or CRE case was defined as the first isolation of A. baumannii complex, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae complex, Klebsiella aerogenes, K. oxytoca, K. pneumonia, or K. variicola in a 30-day period resistant to ≥1 carbapenem (excluding ertapenem for CRAB) from a normally sterile site or urine. An incident ESBL-E case was defined as the first isolation of E. coli, K. pneumonia, or K. oxytoca in a 30-day period resistant to any third-generation cephalosporin and non-resistant to all carbapenems from a normally sterile site or urine. Patient charts were reviewed. Results Of 3904 AR-GNB cases with data available, 163 (4%) had a prior SC2+ test (85 ESBL-E, 70 CRE, and 8 CRAB). Median time from the most recent SC2+ test to AR-GNB culture date was 20 days (IQR 1–48 days). AR-GNB cases with a SC2+ test versus those without were more likely to be Black, non-Hispanic than another race/ethnicity (31% vs 15%; P< 0.0001), aged ≥65 years (62% vs 52%; P=0.0139), and to have prior healthcare exposures (63% vs 49%; P=0.0003) and indwelling devices (51% vs 28%; P< 0.0001). They were also more likely to have bacteremia (24% vs 11%; P< 0.0001), pneumonia (6% vs 1%; P< 0.0001) and be hospitalized around the time of their AR-GNB culture (67% vs 36%; P< 0.0001); median time from SC2+ test to hospital admission was 0.5 day (IQR 0–29.5 days). Conclusion AR-GNB infections preceded by a SC2+ test were rare but more severe and associated with more healthcare risk factors. This underscores the need for continued infection prevention and control practices and monitoring of these infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosures Ghinwa Dumyati, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support.

Impact of Bus Priority Attributes on Catchment Area Residents in Dublin, Ireland

In many jurisdictions, political and infrastructural restrictions have limited the feasibility of road pricing as a response to urban congestion. Accordingly, the allocation of dedicated road space to high frequency buses has emerged as a second-best option. Analyses of the evidence emerging from this option emphasize the engineering and technical issues and do not systematically interrogate the customers, those in the bus catchment area that use or could potentially use the service. This paper attempts to correct for this asymmetry in focus by analyzing characteristics and preferences of users and non-users through a survey of 1,000 households for a particular quality bus catchment area in Dublin, Ireland. Preliminary findings are encouraging, both for the use of this policy instrument as one which can yield considerable consumer satisfaction, and in terms of modal share analysis, especially because the corridor under scrutiny represents a much higher socio-economic profile than Dublin or Ireland as a whole.

Do social determinants of health impact access to neurosurgical care in the United States? A workforce perspective.

This study attempts to use neurosurgical workforce distribution to uncover the social determinants of health that are associated with disparate access to neurosurgical care. Data were compiled from public sources and aggregated at the county level. Socioeconomic data were provided by the Brookings Institute. Racial and ethnicity data were gathered from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research. Physician density was retrieved from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Resources Files. Catchment areas were constructed based on the 628 counties with neurosurgical coverage, with counties lacking neurosurgical coverage being integrated with the nearest covered county based on distances from the National Bureau of Economic Research's County Distance Database. Catchment areas form a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive breakdown of the entire US population and licensed neurosurgeons. Socioeconomic factors, race, and ethnicity were chosen as independent variables for analysis. Characteristics for each catchment area were calculated as the population-weighted average across all contained counties. Linear regression analysis modeled two outcomes of interest: neurosurgeon density per capita and average distance to neurosurgical care. Coefficient estimates (CEs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and scaled by 1 SD to allow for comparison between variables. Catchment areas with higher poverty (CE = 0.64, 95% CI 0.34-0.93) and higher prime age employment (CE = 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.76) were significantly associated with greater neurosurgeon density. Among categories of race and ethnicity, catchment areas with higher proportions of Black residents (CE = 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.35) were associated with greater neurosurgeon density. Meanwhile, catchment areas with higher proportions of Hispanic residents displayed lower neurosurgeon density (CE = -0.17, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.03). Residents of catchment areas with higher housing vacancy rates (CE = 2.37, 95% CI 1.31-3.43), higher proportions of Native American residents (CE = 4.97, 95% CI 3.99-5.95), and higher proportions of Hispanic residents (CE = 2.31, 95% CI 1.26-3.37) must travel farther, on average, to receive neurosurgical care, whereas people living in areas with a lower income (CE = -2.28, 95% CI -4.48 to -0.09) or higher proportion of Black residents (CE = -3.81, 95% CI -4.93 to -2.68) travel a shorter distance. Multiple factors demonstrate a significant correlation with neurosurgical workforce distribution in the US, most notably with Hispanic and Native American populations being associated with greater distances to care. Additionally, higher proportions of Hispanic residents correlated with fewer neurosurgeons per capita. These findings highlight the interwoven associations among socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, and access to neurosurgical care nationwide.

780. How Much Does Prior Hospitalization Contribute to Readmission with Community-onset Clostridioides difficile Infection?

BackgroundInterventions to reduce community-onset (CO) Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) are not usually hospital-based due to the perception that they are often acquired outside the hospital. We determined the proportion of admitted CO CDI that might be associated with previous hospitalization.MethodsThe CDC’s Emerging Infections Program conducts population-based CDI surveillance in 10 US sites. We defined an incident case as a C. difficile-positive stool collected in 2017 from a person aged ≥ 1 year admitted to a hospital with no positive tests in the prior 8 weeks. Cases were defined as CO if stool was collected within 3 days of hospitalization. CO cases were classified into four categories: long-term care facility (LTCF)-onset if patient was admitted from an LTCF; long-term acute care hospital (LTACH)-onset if patient was admitted from an LTACH; CO-healthcare-facility associated (CO-HCFA) if patient was admitted from a private residence but had a prior healthcare-facility admission in the past 12 weeks; or community-associated (CA) if there was no admission to a healthcare facility in the prior 12 weeks. We excluded hospitals with < 10 cases among admitted catchment-area residents.ResultsOf 4724 cases in 86 hospitals, 2984 (63.2%) were CO (median per hospital: 65.8%; interquartile range [IQR]: 58.3%-70.7%). Among the CO cases, 1424 (47.7%) were CA (median per hospital: 48.1%; IQR: 40.3%-57.7%), 1201 (40.3%) were CO-HCFA (median per hospital: 41.0%; IQR: 32.9%-47.8%), 350 (11.7%) were LTCF-onset (median per hospital: 10.0%; IQR: 0.6%-14.4%), and 9 (0.3%) were LTACH-onset. Of 1201 CO-HCFA cases, 1174 (97.8%) had a prior hospitalization; among these, 978 (83.3%) (median per hospital: 83.3%; IQR: 69.2%-90.6%), which consists of 32.8% of all hospitalized CO cases, had been discharged from the same hospital (Figure), and 84.4% of the 978 cases (median per hospital: 88.2%: IQR: 76.5%-100.0%) had received antibiotics sometime in the prior 12 weeks.Figure. Frequency of Cases Discharged in the 12 Weeks Prior to Readmission with Clostridioides difficile Infection (N=1138*) ConclusionA third of hospitalized CO CDI had been recently discharged from the same hospital, and most had received antibiotics during or soon after the last admission. Hospital-based and post-discharge antibiotic stewardship interventions could help reduce subsequent CDI hospitalizations.DisclosuresGhinwa Dumyati, MD, Roche Diagnostics (Consultant)

1712. Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes of Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations in Children in the post-2009 Pandemic Era

BackgroundSignificant changes in influenza vaccination coverage and antiviral treatment guidance occurred following the 2009 influenza pandemic in children. However, data are limited describing recent epidemiology, clinical characteristics, antiviral use, vaccine coverage, and outcomes of influenza-related hospitalizations in children.MethodsChildren < 18 years hospitalized with influenza during seasons 2010–2011 through 2018–2019 were included through the US Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET). Age-stratified hospitalization rates were calculated using the number of catchment-area residents with laboratory-confirmed influenza within 14 days prior to or ≤3 days after hospital admission during October 1-April 30 of each influenza season. Data on underlying medical history, influenza vaccination, antiviral use, and outcomes were abstracted from medical records using standard case report forms by trained surveillance officers.ResultsOver 9 seasons, 13,235 children were identified. Stepwise decreases in unadjusted hospitalization rates with age occurred, with the highest rates in infants < 6 months (ranging 56–184 per 100,000 persons) (Fig.1). Among these children, 56% were male, 34% were non-Hispanic White, 55% had a preexisting medical condition, and 8% were immunocompromised (Table 1). Use of antiviral treatment substantially increased from 56% to 85%, and influenza vaccination rates among hospitalized children increased from 34% to 43% over time. Regarding severe outcomes, 2,676 (20%) were admitted to ICU, 2,262 (17%) had pneumonia, 690 (5%) required mechanical ventilation, and 72 (0.5%) died. In univariable analysis, compared to hospitalized infants < 6 months, children >13 years had higher odds of ICU admission (odds ratio (OR), 2.0; 95% CI, 1.7–2.4), mechanical ventilation (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2–2.3), and pneumonia (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1–3.3) (Table 2).Figure 1 Table 1 Table 2 ConclusionAlthough influenza-related hospitalization rates decreased with increasing age, severe outcomes were more common among hospitalized older children. Room for improvement exists in influenza vaccination coverage and antiviral use. While 20% of children were admitted to ICU, death was uncommon.DisclosuresSue Kim, MPH, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) (Grant/Research Support) Melissa Sutton, MD, MPH, CDC funding (Emerging Infections Program) (Grant/Research Support) Evan J. Anderson, MD, Sanofi Pasteur (Scientific Research Study Investigator)

River Governance and Human Security Topics in Ethiopia: An Examination of the Catchment Area Residents’ Anxiety

This paper discussed the human security issue induced from poor river governance in Ethiopia by selecting Borkena River as a show case. To address the problem at hand qualitative Case study research design is employed and primary data were collected through in-depth interview and field observation. Though rivers in Ethiopia in general and Borkena River in particular are sources of livelihood of many people in Ethiopia. Rivers in the country are exposed to different kinds of stressors like environmental pollution, riverside settlement, envision of foreign water weeds, and environmental degradation. This research identified that flood, conflict, pollution and depletion, are the major human securithy threats that affect the local people’s normal life. Based on the finding, research implied that there is an urge to clean and treat the river water to make ready for use. Simultaneously the government agency need to control pervasive pollutants and should give compensation for those who lost their livelihood due to pollution. Environmental Protection works are imperative to maximize the rivers utilization and sustainability of the resident’s life.

The effect of BRT implementation and streetscape redesign on physical activity: A case study of Mexico City

The reconfiguration of urban transportation system has emerged at the forefront of population-wide interventions to tackle physical inactivity. However, the effectiveness of these interventions remains understudied, especially in developing countries. Using self-reported physical activity data from pre- and post-intervention periods, this study examines the impact of bus rapid transit (BRT) and Complete Street implementation on walking and cycling levels of catchment area residents in Mexico City. Propensity score matching is applied to control for sociodemographics when evaluating intervention effects on walking for transport, walking for recreation, and cycling for transport. On average, individuals living in post-intervention conditions tend to achieve 29min more of walking for transport per week. However, the intervention effect on cycling for transport is insignificant. Using clustering techniques, intervention effects are evaluated across different sociodemographic groups. Women with low education experience the greatest increases in walking for transport. Sociodemographic clusters characterized by higher education experience improvements in recreational walking. Overall, BRT implementation and streetscape improvements enhance physical activity, specifically walking; and the impact of these interventions vary across different sociodemographic subgroups.

Influenza-associated outpatient visits among children less than 5 years of age in eastern China, 2011-2014.

BackgroundThe disease burden of influenza in China has not been well described, especially among young children. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of outpatient visits associated with influenza in young children in Suzhou, a city of more than 11 million residents in Jiangsu Province in eastern China.MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) was defined as the presence of fever (axillary temperature ≥38 °C) and cough or sore throat. We collected throat swabs for children less than 5 years of age with ILI who visited Suzhou University Affiliated Children’s Hospital (SCH) outpatient clinic or emergency room between April 2011 and March 2014. Suzhou CDC, a national influenza surveillance network laboratory, tested for influenza viruses by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay (rRT-PCR). Influenza-associated ILI was defined as ILI with laboratory-confirmed influenza by rRT-PCR. To calculate the incidence of influenza-associated outpatient visits, we conducted community-based healthcare utilization surveys to determine the proportion of hospital catchment area residents who sought care at SCH.ResultsThe estimated incidence of influenza-associated ILI outpatient visits among children aged <5 years in the catchment area of Suzhou was, per 100 population, 17.4 (95 % CI 11.0–25.3) during April 2011-March 2012, 14.6 (95 % CI 5.2–26.2) during April 2012-March 2013 and 21.4 (95 % CI: 10.9–33.5) during April 2013-March 2014. The age-specific outpatient visit rates of influenza-associated ILI were 4.9, 21.1 and 21.2 per 100 children aged 0- <6 months, 6- <24 months and 24- <60 months, respectively.ConclusionInfluenza virus infection causes a substantial burden of outpatient visits among young children in Suzhou, China. Targeted influenza prevention and control strategies for young children in Suzhou are needed to reduce influenza-associated outpatient visits in this age group.

Population-based trends in high-grade cervical lesions in the early human papillomavirus vaccine era in the United States.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, 3, and adenocarcinoma in situ (CIN2+) lesions can be monitored as early indicators of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine impact. Changes to screening utilization will affect observed reductions in CIN2+ rates and complicate the interpretation of vaccine impact. From 2008 to 2012, 9119 cases of CIN2+ among 18- to 39-year-old residents of catchment areas in California, Connecticut, New York, and Oregon were reported to the HPV-IMPACT Project, a sentinel system for monitoring the population impact of HPV vaccine. Age-stratified CIN2+ incidence rates were calculated for each catchment. Annual cervical screening was estimated for California, New York, and Oregon catchments with administrative and survey data. The Cochran-Armitage test was used to examine trends. From 2008 to 2012, the incidence of CIN2+ significantly decreased among 18- to 20-year-olds (California, from 94 to 5 per 100,000 women; Connecticut, from 450 to 57 per 100,000 women; New York, from 299 to 43 per 100,000 women; and Oregon, from 202 to 37 per 100,000 women; Ptrend < .0001) and among 21- to 29-year-olds in Connecticut (from 762 to 589 per 100,000 women) and New York (from 770 to 465 per 100,000 women; Ptrend < .001); rates did not differ among 30- to 39-year-olds. During the same period, screening rates also declined, with the largest decreases among 18- to 20-year-olds (from 67% in Oregon to 88% in California) and with smaller declines among 21- to 29-year-olds (13%-27%) and 30- to 39-year-olds (3%-21%). The declines in CIN2+ detection in young women were likely due to reduced screening but could also reflect the impact of vaccination. These data illustrate challenges in interpreting CIN2+ ecologic trends in the new era of cervical cancer prevention and emphasize the importance of information such as HPV types detected in lesions to assess the impact of HPV vaccine on cervical precancers.

Geographic disparities in the utilisation of computed tomography scanning services in southern New Zealand

Most secondary care health services in New Zealand, including computed tomography (CT) scanners, are concentrated in urban centres. Little is known about the access rural patients have to these services. The aim of this research was to determine whether there was geographic variation in the utilisation of CT across the southern part of the South Island and if present to measure the magnitude.Quantitative analysis of public hospital data for CTs over two twelve month periods (2007/08 and 2010) showed that residents of urban base hospital catchment areas were 1.6 times more likely to access CT services than residents of the catchment areas of remote rural hospitals. Similar disparities were present when the analysis was limited to the ≥70 yrs age group. The disparities were present regardless of the referral source or the type of scan but were greatest for emergency department referrals, head scans and CT pulmonary angiograms.Further research is needed to determine the causes of these differences and whether they result in differences in health outcomes.

An analysis of ethical issues in using wastewater analysis to monitor illicit drug use

To discuss ethical issues that may arise in using WWA to monitor illicit drug use in the general population and in entertainment precincts, prisons, schools and work-places. Review current applications of WWA and identify ethical and social issues that may be raised with current and projected future uses of this method. Wastewater analysis (WWA) of drug residues is a promising method of monitoring illicit drug use that may overcome some limitations of other monitoring methods. When used for monitoring purposes in large populations, WWA does not raise major ethical concerns because individuals are not identified and the prospects of harming residents of catchment areas are remote. When WWA is used in smaller catchment areas (entertainment venues, prisons, schools or work-places) their results could, possibly, indirectly affect the occupants adversely. Researchers will need to take care in reporting their results to reduce media misreporting. Fears about possible use of WWA for mass individual surveillance by drug law enforcement officials are unlikely to be realized, but will need to be addressed because they may affect public support adversely for this type of research. Using wastewater analysis to monitor illicit drug use in large populations does not raise major ethical concerns, but researchers need to minimize possible adverse consequences in studying smaller populations, such as workers, prisoners and students.

Incidence of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection during three influenza seasons in Bangladesh, 2008–2010

To determine how much influenza contributes to severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), a leading cause of death in children, among people of all ages in Bangladesh. Physicians obtained nasal and throat swabs to test for influenza virus from patients who were hospitalized within 7 days of the onset of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) or who consulted as outpatients for influenza-like illness (ILI). A community health care utilization survey was conducted to determine the proportion of hospital catchment area residents who sought care at study hospitals and calculate the incidence of influenza using this denominator. The estimated incidence of SARI associated with influenza in children < 5 years old was 6.7 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0-18.3); 4.4 (95% CI: 0-13.4) and 6.5 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 0-8.3/1000) during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 influenza seasons, respectively. The incidence of SARI in people aged ≥ 5 years was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.4-2.0) and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.5-2.2) per 10,000 person-years during 2009 and 2010, respectively. The incidence of medically attended, laboratory-confirmed seasonal influenza in outpatients with ILI was 10 (95% CI: 8-14), 6.6 (95% CI: 5-9) and 17 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 13-22) during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 influenza seasons, respectively. Influenza-like illness is a frequent cause of consultation in the outpatient setting in Bangladesh. Children aged less than 5 years are hospitalized for influenza in greater proportions than children in other age groups.

Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network: design, methods and recruitment experience

The Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network (SCRN) has conducted a multisite, population-based, case-control study, with prospective enrollment of stillbirths and livebirths at the time of delivery. This paper describes the general design, methods and recruitment experience. The SCRN attempted to enroll all stillbirths and a representative sample of livebirths occurring to residents of pre-defined geographical catchment areas delivering at 59 hospitals associated with five clinical sites. Livebirths <32 weeks gestation and women of African descent were oversampled. The recruitment hospitals were chosen to ensure access to at least 90% of all stillbirths and livebirths to residents of the catchment areas. Participants underwent a standardised protocol including maternal interview, medical record abstraction, placental pathology, biospecimen testing and, in stillbirths, post-mortem examination. Recruitment began in March 2006 and was completed in September 2008 with 663 women with a stillbirth and 1932 women with a livebirth enrolled, representing 69% and 63%, respectively, of the women identified. Additional surveillance for stillbirths continued until June 2009 and a follow-up of the case-control study participants was completed in December 2009. Among consenting women, there were high consent rates for the various study components. For the women with stillbirths, 95% agreed to a maternal interview, chart abstraction and a placental pathological examination; 91% of the women with a livebirth agreed to all of these components. Additionally, 84% of the women with stillbirths agreed to a fetal post-mortem examination. This comprehensive study is poised to systematically study a wide range of potential causes of, and risk factors for, stillbirths and to better understand the scope and incidence of the problem.

Geographic Proximity and Racial Disparities in Cancer Clinical Trial Participation

This study assessed the effects of race and place of residence on clinical trial participation by patients seen at a designated NCI comprehensive cancer center. Clinical trial accrual to cancer case ratios were evaluated using a database of residents at the continental United States seen at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins from 2005 to 2007. Place of residence was categorized into 3 nonoverlapping geographic areas: Baltimore City, non-Baltimore City catchment area, and non-catchment area. Controlling for age, sex, county poverty level, and cancer site, significant race and place of residence differences were seen in therapeutic or nontherapeutic clinical trials participation. White non-Baltimore City catchment area residents, the designated reference group, achieved the highest participation rate. Although the test of interaction (control group compared with all others) was not significant, some race-geographic area group differences were detected. In therapeutic trials, most race-place of residence group levels were statistically lower and different from reference; in nontherapeutic trials, race-specific Baltimore City groups participated at levels similar to reference. Baltimore City residents had lower participation rates only in therapeutic trials, irrespective of race. County poverty level was not significant but was retained as a confounder. Place of residence and race were found to be significant predictors of participation in therapeutic and nontherapeutic clinical trials, although patterns differed somewhat between therapeutic and nontherapeutic trials. Clinical trial accruals are not uniform across age, sex, race, place of residence, cancer site, or trial type, underscoring that cancer centers must better understand their source patients to enhance clinical trial participation.

How the psychiatrists of a mental health department managed their patients before an attempted suicide

The aim of this survey was to describe patients in care at a large mental health department in northern Italy who attempted suicide, and the clinical management adopted by their psychiatrists before the event. Data collection was based on a questionnaire administered to the reference psychiatrists. Over a period of 12 months, 166 catchment area residents attempted suicide. Sixty-six (40%) had contacted the mental health department in the previous two years and completed data were obtained on 63. Twenty-nine (46%) suffered from mood, 26 (41%) from personality and 11 (18%) from schizophrenic disorders. Thirty-four attempts occurred within one year of psychiatric ward discharge, mostly in the first quarter. The reference psychiatrists reported that, at the last evaluation, 38 of 63 patients (60%) presented no change in clinical conditions, and 41 of 63 (68%) were considered at no immediate risk of suicide. Most of the attempted suicides in question (45, 72%) were judged to be unpreventable. In the two logistic regression analyses carried out, no independent variables were able to statistically significantly explain the variance in judged suicidal risk or the preventability of the index attempted suicide. According to the psychiatrists' descriptions of their last contact with the patients, most attempted suicides have not been preceded by a change in clinical conditions. Moreover, psychiatrists, irrespective of their age and gender, and of patient diagnosis, frequently judged the attempts to have been unpreventable.

The checkerboard area health system: delivering comprehensive care in a remote region of New Mexico.

A comprehensive health center is defined as the synergistic coupling of a medical and administrative structure designed to provide inpatient, outpatient, and public health services. While health centers have been widely established in other countries, only limited implementation has occurred in rural areas of the United States. The successful implementation of the health center concept in a sparsely populated area of northwestern New Mexico, which is predominately inhabited by Navajo Indians and Spanish Americans, is descriptively analyzed. The physical environment and the socioeconomic characteristics of the catchment area residents are related to dominant conditions in underdeveloped countries. The evolution of the delivery system with its network of satellite clinics staffed by mid-level primary care providers is documented. The funding and provision of a wide range of preventive and curative health services supported by communication, transportation, outreach, education, public health, and administration components are described. Several problems thought to impede the application of the health center concept to other regions in the United States are identified and discussed relative to this New Mexican experience. Innovative and persevering systems designers who are strongly committed to delivering a balance between preventive and curative services are considered to be absolutely necessary for successful implementation of the health center concept in the United States.