scholarly journals Optimization of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing in a rural healthcare facility in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 2155
Author(s):  
Tanvi S. Bharathan ◽  
Austan J. Trale ◽  
Tashi Bharathan ◽  
Nichol L. Dienes ◽  
Jackie Sansig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Transport Medium ◽  
Viral Transport Medium

Background: The diagnostic testing for SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) presented a profound challenge to the entire world, dominating the concern of most governments and public health systems, particularly rural community hospitals in the United States. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in partnership with Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) began on site, same-day COVID-19 testing in efforts to not only combat the challenges that health providers faced in rural Indiana community but also help to strengthen global diagnostic capacity.Methods: Clinical samples were collected as dry swabs from the nasopharyngeal (NP) regions and processed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The crude RNA was directly tested using real-time (RT) reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) with PrimeDirect probe RT-qPCR Mix (Takara Bio USA) and optimized with probe-primer sets [Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT)].Results: Validation experiments with dry swabs from NP clinical samples showed no difference in the testing accuracy to those collected in viral transport medium or universal transport medium. Extraction of COVID-19 RNA in PBS reduced processing time of a batch of 50 NP clinical samples from 6 hours to an hour. This allowed for rapid diagnostic testing of nearly 200 clinical samples per day. Optimization of analytical variables helped to detect virus loads up to 2.0 copies/μl during routine diagnostic testing.Conclusions: During an infectious outbreak, the ideal response by public health authorities is rapid testing. The collaboration between IUP and IRMC attests to the importance of teamwork between local initiatives to detect and prevent further spread within a rural community.

scholarly journals Early introductions and community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Alpert ◽  
Erica Lasek-Nesselquist ◽  
Anderson F. Brito ◽  
Andrew L. Valesano ◽  
Jessica Rothman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
The Uk

SummaryThe emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, has become a national public health concern in the United States because of its increased transmissibility. Over 500 COVID-19 cases associated with this variant have been detected since December 2020, but its local establishment and pathways of spread are relatively unknown. Using travel, genomic, and diagnostic testing data, we highlight the primary ports of entry for B.1.1.7 in the US and locations of possible underreporting of B.1.1.7 cases. New York, which receives the most international travel from the UK, is likely one of the key hubs for introductions and domestic spread. Finally, we provide evidence for increased community transmission in several states. Thus, genomic surveillance for B.1.1.7 and other variants urgently needs to be enhanced to better inform the public health response.

scholarly journals Introduction, Transmission Dynamics, and Fate of Early SARS-CoV-2 Lineages in Santa Clara County, California

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsa Villarino ◽  
Xianding Deng ◽  
Carol A Kemper ◽  
Michelle A Jorden ◽  
Brandon Bonin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Santa Clara County

Abstract We combined viral genome sequencing with contact tracing to investigate introduction and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Santa Clara County, California from January 27 to March 21, 2020. Of 558 persons with COVID-19, 101 genomes from 143 available clinical samples comprised 17 different lineages including SCC1 (n=41), WA1 (n=9, including the first 2 reported deaths in the United States, diagnosed post-mortem), D614G (n=4), ancestral Wuhan Hu-1 (n=21), and 13 others (n=26). Public health intervention may have curtailed the persistence of lineages that appeared transiently during February–March. By August, only D614G lineages introduced after March 21 were circulating in SCC.

scholarly journals Revising conventional wisdom about histoplasmosis in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Benedict ◽  
Mitsuru Toda ◽  
Brendan R Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Public ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
River Valleys

Abstract Studies performed during the 1940s–60s continue to serve as the foundation of the epidemiology of histoplasmosis given that many knowledge gaps persist regarding its geographic distribution, prevalence, and burden in the United States. We explore three long-standing, frequently cited, and somewhat incomplete epidemiologic beliefs about histoplasmosis: 1) histoplasmosis is the most common endemic mycosis in the United States, 2) histoplasmosis is endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, and 3) histoplasmosis is associated with bird or bat droppings. We also summarize recent insights about the clinical spectrum of histoplasmosis and changes in underlying conditions associated with the severe forms. Continuing to identify prevention opportunities will require better epidemiologic data, better diagnostic testing, and greater awareness about this neglected disease among healthcare providers, public health professionals, and the general public.

Can increases in Twitter posts predict increases in cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in the United States? Evidence that social media can inform epidemic surveillance. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoyan Sun ◽  
Henna Budhwani
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education Attainment ◽  
Public Health Systems ◽  
Per Capita

BACKGROUND Though public health systems are responding rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic, outcomes from publicly available, crowd-sourced big data may assist in helping to identify hot spots, prioritize equipment allocation and staffing, while also informing health policy related to “shelter in place” and social distancing recommendations. OBJECTIVE To assess if the rising state-level prevalence of COVID-19 related posts on Twitter (tweets) is predictive of state-level cumulative COVID-19 incidence after controlling for socio-economic characteristics. METHODS We identified extracted COVID-19 related tweets from January 21st to March 7th (2020) across all 50 states (N = 7,427,057). Tweets were combined with state-level characteristics and confirmed COVID-19 cases to determine the association between public commentary and cumulative incidence. RESULTS The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases varied significantly across states. Ratio of tweet increase (p=0.03), number of physicians per 1,000 population (p=0.01), education attainment (p=0.006), income per capita (p = 0.002), and percentage of adult population (p=0.003) were positively associated with cumulative incidence. Ratio of tweet increase was significantly associated with the logarithmic of cumulative incidence (p=0.06) with a coefficient of 0.26. CONCLUSIONS An increase in the prevalence of state-level tweets was predictive of an increase in COVID-19 diagnoses, providing evidence that Twitter can be a valuable surveillance tool for public health.

Review of form 483s and warning letters to pharmaceutical manufacturers issued by USFDA

2021 ◽  
pp. 174113432110235
Author(s):  
Chandan Saini ◽  
Ashish Miglani ◽  
Pankaj Musyuni ◽  
Geeta Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Regulatory Authority ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers ◽  
The World ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
A Company ◽  
Responsible Person

Regular inspections are carried out to ensure system conformity by the Food and Drugs Regulatory Authority (FDA) of the United States one of the most stringent regulatory authorities in the world. The inspectors send Form 483 to the management after the inspection, detailing the inappropriate conditions. Because the FDA guidelines are difficult to comply with, a company can contravene the regulations. If any significant infringements can affect the protection, quality, effectiveness, or public health of the drug is identified, the FDA issues advice to the company. Warning Letters (WL) shall be an official notification of non-compliance with federal law within a period to be issued by manufacturer, clinician, distributor, or responsible person in the company. The delivery of a letter has a considerable impact on the company's reputation and position in the market. Inadequate WL reactions could lead to a refusal, import denial, memorandum or even conviction and order. A brief study was conducted in this document of Form 483 and WL for four years (2017–2020) on an understanding the regulatory provisions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document