scholarly journals Evaluation of Candida auris acquisition in U.S. international travelers using a culture-based screening protocol

Author(s):  
Sarah E Turbett ◽  
Margaret Becker ◽  
Barbara Belford ◽  
Meagan Kelly ◽  
Lisa Desrosiers ◽  
...  

Highlight Section We establish the feasibility of evaluating U.S. international travelers for Candida auris acquisition using a culture-based screening protocol. Corynebacterium auris was not identified in any of the travelers in this small cohort; further study is needed to determine the overall risk and risk factors for travel-associated acquisition.

1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Chard ◽  
Steve Harding ◽  
Sue Carroll ◽  
Chris N. Hudson ◽  
David S. L. Lloyd ◽  
...  

CoDAS ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Alice Figueirêdo de Almeida ◽  
Luana Ramos Fernandes ◽  
Elma Heitmann Mares Azevedo ◽  
Renata Serrano de Andrade Pinheiro ◽  
Leonardo Wanderley Lopes

Purpose: To examine the voice and personality characteristics of patients diagnosed with organic dysphonia secondary to vocal fold immobility. Methods: The study comprised patients of both genders, attending the Clinic School of Speech Therapy of the Federal University of Paraíba, with otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of vocal fold immobility and speech therapy diagnosis of dysphonia. The self-assessment of voice was measured through a Vocal Screening Protocol and Voice Symptoms Scale (VoiSS), the voice was collected for auditory-perceptive evaluation, and the Factorial Personality Battery (FPB) was used. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to determine the frequency, mean, and standard deviation of the studied variables. Results: Eight patients participated in the study, of both genders, with average age of 40.4±16.9 years. The more frequent risk factors were the personal ones (4.7±2.1). In the VoiSS, the patients presented a higher average in the limitation score (34.1±15.7). From the auditory-perceptive evaluation, moderate intensity of vocal deviation was obtained, with predominant vocal roughness (57.7±25.2). In the FPB, the patients had an average higher than the cutoff scores in neuroticism (3.8±1.4) and accomplishment (5.2±1.0). Conclusion: The predominant vocal parameter was roughness. The patients referred to a few risk factors that compromise the vocal behavior and presented the neuroticism and realization factors as a highlight in their personality. Thus, individuals with vocal fold immobility show personality characteristics that may be a reflection of their voice disorder, not a factor that determines their dysphonia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S14-S14
Author(s):  
Faye Rozwadowski ◽  
Jarred McAteer ◽  
Nancy A Chow ◽  
Kimberly Skrobarcek ◽  
Kaitlin Forsberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Candida auris can be transmitted in healthcare settings, and patients can become asymptomatically colonized, increasing risk for invasive infection and transmission. We investigated an ongoing C. auris outbreak at a 30-bed long-term acute care hospital to identify colonization for C. auris prevalence and risk factors. Methods During February–June 2017, we conducted point prevalence surveys every 2 weeks among admitted patients. We abstracted clinical information from medical records and collected axillary and groin swabs. Swabs were tested for C. auris. Data were analyzed to identify risk factors for colonization with C. auris by evaluating differences between colonized and noncolonized patients. Results All 101 hospitalized patients were surveyed, and 33 (33%) were colonized with C. auris. Prevalence of colonization ranged from 8% to 38%; incidence ranged from 5% to 20% (figure). Among colonized patients with available data, 19/27 (70%) had a tracheostomy, 20/31 (65%) had gastrostomy tubes, 24/33 (73%) ventilator use, and 12/27 (44%) had hemodialysis. Also, 31/33 (94%) had antibiotics and 13/33 (34%) antifungals during hospitalization. BMI for colonized patients (mean = 30.3, standard deviation (SD) = 10) was higher than for noncolonized patients (mean = 26.5, SD = 7.9); t = −2.1; P = 0.04). Odds of colonization were higher among Black patients (33%) vs. White patients (16%) (odds ratio [OR] 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–9.8), and those colonized with other multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) (72%) vs. noncolonized (44%) (OR 3.2; CI 1.3–8.0). Odds of death were higher among colonized patients (OR 4.6; CI 1.6—13.6). Conclusion Patients in long-term acute care facilities and having high prevalences of MDROs might be at risk for C. auris. Such patients with these risk factors could be targeted for enhanced surveillance to facilitate early detection of C. auris. Infection control measures to reduce MDROs’ spread, including hand hygiene, contact precautions, and judicious use of antimicrobials, could prevent further C. auris transmission. Acknowledgements The authors thank Janet Glowicz and Kathleen Ross. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 315-320
Author(s):  
Gabriel Pinheiro Modolo ◽  
Juli Thomaz De Souza ◽  
Fernanda Cristina Winckler ◽  
Natalia Cristina Ferreira ◽  
Marcos Cristiano Lange ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is an important group of cryptogenic strokes that are in evidence due recent ongoing trials. We reviewed medical records at discharge from the stroke unit of all patients who met ESUS criteria and attended our institution between February 2016 and July 2017. Among 550 stroke patients, 51 had ESUS. We found that hypertension (60%), diabetes mellitus (34%), and smoking (36%) were the most prevalent risk factors. The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were 7 at admission and 4 at discharge, while median scores on the modified Rankin scale were 0 and 2 at admission and discharge, respectively. Our sample had similar ages, risk factors prevalence and NIHSS scores at admission and discharge when compared with European and North American cohorts. Although a small cohort, our study suggests that the ESUS population is similar in countries with different health financing.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalila Mohsin ◽  
Sanjeewani Weerakoon ◽  
Sarah Ahmed ◽  
Ynze Puts ◽  
Zainab Al Balushi ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Candida auris has been reported as emerging yeast pathogen that can cause invasive bloodstream infections in healthcare settings. It is associated with high mortality rates and resistance to multiple classes of antifungal drugs and is difficult to identify with standard laboratory methods. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological records for 23 C. auris fungemia cases at the Royal Hospital, a tertiary care facility in Oman, between 2016 and 2018. Demographic data, risk factors associated with mortality, microbiology investigation and treatment regimens are described. Yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF. (3) Results: We identified 23 patients with C. auris fungemia. All positive samples from patients were confirmed as C. auris using MALDI-TOF, and ITS-rDNA sequencing. Microsatellite genotyping showed that the Omani isolates belong to the South Asian clade I. The majority of patients had multiple underlying illnesses and other risk factors that have been associated with fungemia. All isolates were non-susceptible to fluconazole. Isolates from all patients were sensitive to echinocandins and these were used as first line therapy. (4) Conclusions: Candida auris affects adults and children with a variety of risk factors including central venous catheters and overuse of antibiotics. Infections occur in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Mortality was high in this series, and the organism can be transmitted in healthcare settings. Programs for raising awareness in Oman hospitals are warranted. Caspofungin remains 1st line therapy as MICs are still low despite its wide use.


Complexity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Zehui Bu ◽  
Shengbin Ma

In order to make up for the shortage of public-private partnership (PPP) model, more and more sewage treatment PPP projects have adopted the asset-backed securitization (ABS) model. To ensure success of sewage treatment PPPABS projects, risk evaluation, which has remained scarcity and unscientific, is becoming an urgent problem to be solved. Firstly, this paper identifies critical risk factors by literature analysis and expert interview. The final risk system is established from the perspectives of macrorisks, basic asset risks, transaction structure risks, operational risks, and other risks, which include 17 second risk factors. Then, the overall risk evaluation method is proposed based on combination weight method and Dempster–Shafer (D-S) evidence theory. Next, Beijing capital Co. Ltd. sewage treatment PPPABS project as a case is employed to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, awareness of existing risks, suggestions from law risk, quality risk, underwriting and issue risk, and credit enhancement are provided for sewage treatment PPPABS projects. All above studies are expected to provide helpful references for evaluating overall risk of sewage treatment PPPABS projects.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne J. M. Strand ◽  
Jennifer E. Storey

This study compared the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the relationship between risk factors for IPV and overall risk judgments of future IPV in urban, rural, and remote areas. IPV risk assessments conducted by the Swedish police between 2010 and 2014 in urban ( n = 564), rural ( n = 456), and remote ( n = 196) areas were examined. Rurality was associated with the severity of IPV reported, as well as the presence of risk factors and their relationship to overall risk judgments. Cases in remote areas included more severe IPV as well as more risk factors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaista Wasiuzzaman ◽  
Fook Lye Kevin Yong ◽  
Sheela Devi D. Sundarasen ◽  
Noor Shahaliza Othman

Purpose When a firm goes public for the first time, its prospectus serves as an important reference for investors. It is required by regulation that the risk factors which have significant influence on the business be disclosed in the prospectus. The purpose of this study is to analyze how disclosure of these risk factors influences the initial returns of initial public offerings (IPOs). Design/methodology/approach To do this, a sample of 96 Malaysian new equity offerings (IPOs) from year 2009 to year 2013 is used. Ordinary least squares regression technique is used to regress initial returns against risk disclosures. Aside from overall risk disclosure, individual dimensions of risk (internal risk, external risk and investment risk) are also considered. Findings Results of the regression analyses reveal a direct relationship between the IPO initial returns and the disclosure of risk. Overall risk disclosure is found to be highly significant in influencing initial returns. However, further investigation into the individual group of risks shows that only investment risk is highly significant in influencing IPO initial returns. Originality/value The results found in this study are interesting as, unlike prior studies, it is shown that disclosures of internal and external risks are not significant in influencing investors’ actions possibly because of their generalizability, whereas disclosures related to investment risks are significant. Equity of firms which disclose more of its risk factors can be expected to generate higher initial returns.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1005-1019
Author(s):  
Jalal Rezaeenour ◽  
Mohammad Mousavi-Saleh ◽  
Abdol Rahman Kolahkaj

Abstract To compensate for the lack of funds for investment in private sector and infrastructure projects, governments may propose public–private partnerships (PPPs) to be able to use share capital and establish the necessary infrastructure of the country. The current study was undertaken to identify and determine the risk factors in PPPs for water supply projects in Iran. After identifying the risk factors using failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), the risk priority number of each was assessed. This identified the most critical risk factors, which were then categorized into experimental, legal, financial, and technological subcategories. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) technique and FMEA method were then blended and the FSE technique was modified for measuring the overall risk level. The computational results show that the levels of risk were ranked as follows (highest to lowest): financial, experimental, technological and legal. The level of risk in the financial subcategory was 6.11, in the experimental was 6.05 and in the technological and legal was 5.94 and 5.83, respectively. The overall risk level in PPPs for Iranian water supply projects considering linguistic variables as the criteria was 5.98, which is high. This level of risk confirms the applicability and suitability of the model.


2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey A. Gramling ◽  
Ed O’Donnell ◽  
Scott D. Vandervelde

SUMMARY: Prior research has shown that when auditors are aware of overall risk information from procedures performed earlier in the audit, halo effects in subsequent judgments result (e.g., O’Donnell and Schultz 2005). The purpose of this study is to examine whether such effects occur in the context of evaluating the effectiveness of a client’s internal control over financial reporting. We experimentally examine whether information about overall risks (i.e., existence of a material weakness unrelated to a compensating control being evaluated and level of overall inherent risk) influences audit partners’ judgments related to a compensating control that has been implemented within a specific client process. The judgments we examine include the (1) level of precision needed in a compensating control for it to be assessed as effectively designed, and (2) extent of evidence needed for auditor testing of the operating effectiveness of the control. Our results are based on responses from 90 audit partners. We find that the existence of a material weakness unrelated to a compensating control being evaluated results in partners preferring a more precise compensating control and requiring more auditor testing. Further, while prior research has demonstrated that knowledge of overall inherent risk factors results in halo effects, our results indicate that this knowledge does not influence partners’ judgments about a compensating control.


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