Abstract
In a household study, loss of taste and/or smell was the fourth most reported symptom (26/42 62%) among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case patients and had the highest positive ...predictive value (83% 95% confidence interval CI, 55%–95%) among household contacts. Olfactory and taste dysfunctions should be considered for COVID-19 case identification and testing prioritization.
Abstract
Background
Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has principally been performed through the use of real-time reverse-transcription polymerase ...chain reaction testing. Results of such tests can be reported as cycle threshold (Ct) values, which may provide semi-quantitative or indirect measurements of viral load. Previous reports have examined temporal trends in Ct values over the course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods
Using testing data collected during a prospective household transmission investigation of outpatient and mild coronavirus disease 2019 cases, we examined the relationships between Ct values of the viral RNA N1 target and demographic, clinical, and epidemiological characteristics collected through participant interviews and daily symptom diaries.
Results
We found that Ct values are lowest (corresponding to a higher viral RNA concentration) soon after symptom onset and are significantly correlated with the time elapsed since onset (P < .001); within 7 days after symptom onset, the median Ct value was 26.5, compared with a median Ct value of 35.0 occurring 21 days after onset. Ct values were significantly lower among participants under 18 years of age (P = .01) and those reporting upper respiratory symptoms at the time of sample collection (P = .001), and were higher among participants reporting no symptoms (P = .05).
Conclusions
These results emphasize the importance of early testing for SARS-CoV-2 among individuals with symptoms of respiratory illness, and allow cases to be identified and isolated when their viral shedding may be highest.
Unsafe injection practices and injection drug use have been linked to multiple HIV outbreaks in Pakistan since 2003; however, few studies have systematically analyzed the causes of these outbreaks. ...We conducted a systematic review of published English-language literature indexed in bibliographic databases and search engines and a focused gray literature review to collate and analyze all reported HIV outbreaks in Pakistan during 2000–2019. Of 774 unique publications reviewed, we identified 25 eligible publications describing 7 outbreaks. More than half occurred during 2016–2019. The primary sources of transmission were iatrogenic transmission, affecting children, persons with chronic medical conditions, and the general population (4 outbreaks); injection drug use (2 outbreaks); and a combination of both (1 outbreak). In the absence of robust HIV testing and surveillance in Pakistan, timely and detailed outbreak reporting is important to understand the epidemiology of HIV in the country.
Limited data exist on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in children. We described infection rates and symptom profiles among pediatric household contacts of individuals with coronavirus ...disease 2019.
We enrolled individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 and their household contacts, assessed daily symptoms prospectively for 14 days, and obtained specimens for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and serology testing. Among pediatric contacts (<18 years), we described transmission, assessed the risk factors for infection, and calculated symptom positive and negative predictive values. We compared secondary infection rates and symptoms between pediatric and adult contacts using generalized estimating equations.
Among 58 households, 188 contacts were enrolled (120 adults; 68 children). Secondary infection rates for adults (30%) and children (28%) were similar. Among households with potential for transmission from children, child-to-adult transmission may have occurred in 2 of 10 (20%), and child-to-child transmission may have occurred in 1 of 6 (17%). Pediatric case patients most commonly reported headache (79%), sore throat (68%), and rhinorrhea (68%); symptoms had low positive predictive values, except measured fever (100%; 95% confidence interval CI: 44% to 100%). Compared with symptomatic adults, children were less likely to report cough (odds ratio OR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.57), loss of taste (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.74), and loss of smell (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.96) and more likely to report sore throat (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.04 to 11.18).
Children and adults had similar secondary infection rates, but children generally had less frequent and severe symptoms. In two states early in the pandemic, we observed possible transmission from children in approximately one-fifth of households with potential to observe such transmission patterns.
Abstract
Background
Improved understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spectrum of disease is essential for clinical and public health interventions. There are ...limited data on mild or asymptomatic infections, but recognition of these individuals is key as they contribute to viral transmission. We describe the symptom profiles from individuals with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods
From 22 March to 22 April 2020 in Wisconsin and Utah, we enrolled and prospectively observed 198 household contacts exposed to SARS-CoV-2. We collected and tested nasopharyngeal specimens by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) 2 or more times during a 14-day period. Contacts completed daily symptom diaries. We characterized symptom profiles on the date of first positive rRT-PCR test and described progression of symptoms over time.
Results
We identified 47 contacts, median age 24 (3–75) years, with detectable SARS-CoV-2 by rRT-PCR. The most commonly reported symptoms on the day of first positive rRT-PCR test were upper respiratory (n = 32 68%) and neurologic (n = 30 64%); fever was not commonly reported (n = 9 19%). Eight (17%) individuals were asymptomatic at the date of first positive rRT-PCR collection; 2 (4%) had preceding symptoms that resolved and 6 (13%) subsequently developed symptoms. Children less frequently reported lower respiratory symptoms (21%, 60%, and 69% for <18, 18–49, and ≥50 years of age, respectively; P = .03).
Conclusions
Household contacts with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported mild symptoms. When assessed at a single timepoint, several contacts appeared to have asymptomatic infection; however, over time all developed symptoms. These findings are important to inform infection control, contact tracing, and community mitigation strategies.
Diabetes disproportionately affects low-income individuals, many of whom are covered by Medicaid. Comorbidities and complications of diabetes can lead to chronic pain; however, little is known about ...opioid use patterns among Medicaid enrollees with diabetes. This study examined opioid dispensing among Medicaid enrollees by diabetes status.
Medicaid claims data from 2014 were used to examine opioid dispensing by diabetes status among 622,992 adult enrollees aged 19-64 years. A logistic model adjusting for demographics and comorbidities was used to examine the association between diabetes and opioid dispensing among enrollees. Analyses were completed in 2019.
Overall, 61.6% of enrollees with diabetes filled at least one opioid prescription compared to 31.8% of enrollees without diabetes. A higher proportion of enrollees with diabetes had long-term opioid prescriptions (>90 days' supply) (with diabetes: 51.0% vs. without: 32.1%,
< .001). Characteristics of individual prescriptions, including daily morphine milligram equivalents (45.9 vs. 49.4), formulation (percent short-acting: 91.5% vs. 90.7%), and type of opioids (i.e. percent hydrocodone: 46.7 vs. 45.3), were similar for those with and without diabetes. After adjustment, enrollees with diabetes were 1.43 times more likely to receive an opioid prescription compared to those without (95% CI, 1.40-1.46).
Medicaid enrollees with diabetes were prescribed opioids more frequently and were more likely to have longer opioid supply than enrollees without diabetes. For practitioners who care for patients with diabetes, aligning pain management approaches with evidence-based resources, like the
, can encourage safer opioid prescribing practices.
From April to June 2019, a total of 909 new HIV infections were identified in Larkana, Pakistan; 86% was children younger than 15 years. To identify the possible transmission links in this outbreak, ...a case-control study was conducted in June 2019.
For cases, we selected a systematic random sample of 100 HIV-positive children from the screening list. We chose 2 age-matched and sex-matched controls from the neighborhood of each HIV-positive case. All selected children were tested using the World Health Organization-approved rapid diagnosis test algorithm. We interviewed the parents of each selected child about previous exposures to parenteral treatment and compared exposures of case and control children using conditional logistic regression.
The ages of the selected children ranged from 1 month to 10 years. More than 90% of both HIV+ and HIV- children had received outpatient health care from MBBS-qualified private physicians. Eighty-three percent of HIV+ children versus 46% of HIV- children had received health care from one private physician adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 29, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 10 to 79. Intravenous infusions during the last outpatient visit were reported by 29% of case versus 7% of controls (aOR 57, 95% CI: 2.9 to >1000), whereas no case children and 17% of control children had received only intramuscular injections (aOR 0, 95% CI: 0 to 41). Among cases, 94% had been given infusions through a drip set compared with 85% of control children (aOR = 7.7, 95% CI: 2.3 to 26). Infusions had been administered with reused IV drip sets in 70% of cases compared with 8% of controls (aOR = 197, 95% CI: 16 to 2400).
Private physicians reusing intravenous drip sets to treat outpatients seen in private practice were responsible for this HIV epidemic. Mapping and regulation of private practitioners were suggested.
A pediatric HIV outbreak in Pakistan Hermez, Joumana; Ismail, Maha; Morgan, Oliver ...
Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit,
2024-Jan-21, Volume:
30, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Following reports of an outbreak of HIV infection among children in Larkana District, Pakistan, an international team investigated the extent and cause of the outbreak between April and June 2019.
To ...investigate the incidence of HIV among children in Larkana District, Pakistan and describe the distribution of cases by time, place and person.
Self-referred persons were tested for HIV using the national testing protocol. Local epidemiology of HIV was reviewed to generate hypotheses. An infection prevention and control (IPC) team conducted site visits and reviewed IPC practices.
Between 25 April and 27 June 2019, a total of 30 191 persons were tested for HIV in Larkana District, and 876 of them tested positive. Of those who tested positive, 719 (82%) were children aged <15 years. Traditional skin piercing procedures and transmission from high-risk populations to children were ruled out during the investigation. Informative interviews with parents or guardians of a convenience sample of 211 children aged <15 years showed that 99% of children had an injection or infusion for medical treatment within the past 12 months. Our investigation identified lack of HIV prevalence data for the general population including tuberculosis patients and those who attended antenatal care services.
Investigations indicate that unsafe healthcare practices in formal and informal healthcare settings as the most likely cause of the 2019 outbreak of HIV infection in Larkana, Pakistan. Measures should be taken to improve IPC practices at the facility level, especially in pediatric and antenatal care clinics.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) causes significant morbidity and mortality each year. There is a paucity of information regarding the mechanisms necessary for ARDS resolution. Foxp3(+) ...regulatory T cells (Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells) have been shown to be an important determinant of resolution in an experimental model of lung injury. We demonstrate that intratracheal delivery of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) elicits alveolar epithelial damage from which the epithelium undergoes proliferation and repair. Epithelial proliferation coincided with an increase in Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells in the lung during the course of resolution. To dissect the role that Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells exert on epithelial proliferation, we depleted Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells, which led to decreased alveolar epithelial proliferation and delayed lung injury recovery. Furthermore, antibody-mediated blockade of CD103, an integrin, which binds to epithelial expressed E-cadherin decreased Foxp3(+) T(reg) numbers and decreased rates of epithelial proliferation after injury. In a non-inflammatory model of regenerative alveologenesis, left lung pneumonectomy, we found that Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells enhanced epithelial proliferation. Moreover, Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells co-cultured with primary type II alveolar cells (AT2) directly increased AT2 cell proliferation in a CD103-dependent manner. These studies provide evidence of a new and integral role for Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells in repair of the lung epithelium.
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