scholarly journals Anaphylactic Reactions Due to Triatoma protracta (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) and Invasion into a Home in Northern California, USA

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1018
Author(s):  
Norman L. Beatty ◽  
Zoe S. White ◽  
Chanakya R. Bhosale ◽  
Kristen Wilson ◽  
Anthony P. Cannella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Allergic Reactions ◽  
Serological Testing ◽  
Clinical Investigations ◽  
Mendocino County ◽  
Chronic Chagas Disease ◽  
Discrete Typing Unit

Background: Triatoma protracta is a triatomine found naturally throughout many regions of California and has been shown to invade human dwellings and bite residents. A man living in Mendocino County, California, reported developing anaphylactic reactions due to the bite of an “unusual bug”, which he had found in his home for several years. Methods: We conducted environmental, entomological, and clinical investigations to examine the risk for kissing bug invasion, presence of Trypanosoma cruzi, and concerns for Chagas disease at this human dwelling with triatomine invasion. Results: Home assessment revealed several risk factors for triatomine invasion, which includes pack rat infestation, above-ground wooden plank floor without a concrete foundation, canine living in the home, and lack of residual insecticide use. Triatomines were all identified as Triatoma protracta. Midgut molecular analysis of the collected triatomines revealed the detection of T. cruzi discrete typing unit I among one of the kissing bugs. Blood meal PCR-based analysis showed these triatomines had bitten humans, canine and unidentified snake species. The patient was tested for chronic Chagas disease utilizing rapid diagnostic testing and laboratory serological testing, and all were negative. Conclusions: Triatoma protracta is known to invade human dwellings in the western portions of the United States. This is the first report of T. cruzi-infected triatomines invading homes in Mendocino County, California. Triatoma protracta is a known vector responsible for autochthonous Chagas disease within the United States, and their bites can also trigger serious systemic allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis.

scholarly journals Performance Characteristics of the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and Seroprevalence in Boise, Idaho

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bryan ◽  
Gregory Pepper ◽  
Mark H. Wener ◽  
Susan L. Fink ◽  
Chihiro Morishima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Serological Testing ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Index Value ◽  
Abbott Architect

ABSTRACT Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the novel respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. The rollout of diagnostic testing in the United States was slow, leading to numerous cases that were not tested for SARS-CoV-2 in February and March 2020 and necessitating the use of serological testing to determine past infections. Here, we evaluated the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG test for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by testing 3 distinct patient populations. We tested 1,020 serum specimens collected prior to SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the United States and found one false positive, indicating a specificity of 99.90%. We tested 125 patients who tested reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) positive for SARS-CoV-2 for whom 689 excess serum specimens were available and found that sensitivity reached 100% at day 17 after symptom onset and day 13 after PCR positivity. Alternative index value thresholds for positivity resulted in 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in this cohort. We tested specimens from 4,856 individuals from Boise, ID, collected over 1 week in April 2020 as part of the Crush the Curve initiative and detected 87 positives for a positivity rate of 1.79%. These data demonstrate excellent analytical performance of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG test as well as the limited circulation of the virus in the western United States. We expect that the availability of high-quality serological testing will be a key tool in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Chagas Disease in the United States: A Perspective on Diagnostic Testing Limitations and Next Steps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha S. Hochberg ◽  
Alyse Wheelock ◽  
Davidson H. Hamer ◽  
Rachel Marcus ◽  
Melissa S. Nolan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tropical Disease ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States. This perspective piece reviews diagnostic challenges and proposes next steps to address these shortfalls.

scholarly journals Performance Characteristics of the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and Seroprevalence Testing in Idaho

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bryan ◽  
Gregory Pepper ◽  
Mark H. Wener ◽  
Susan L. Fink ◽  
Chihiro Morishima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Serological Testing ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Index Value ◽  
Abbott Architect

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-19 (COVID19), the novel respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. The rollout of diagnostic testing in the United States was slow, leading to numerous cases that were not tested for SARS-CoV-2 in February and March 2020, necessitating the use of serological testing to determine past infections.MethodsWe evaluated the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG test for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by testing 3 distinct patient populations.ResultsWe tested 1,020 serum specimens collected prior to SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the United States and found one false positive, indicating a specificity of 99.90%. We tested 125 patients who tested RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 for which 689 excess serum specimens were available and found sensitivity reached 100% at day 17 after symptom onset and day 13 after PCR positivity. Alternative index value thresholds for positivity resulted in 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in this cohort. We tested 4,856 individuals from Boise, Idaho collected over one week in April 2020 as part of the Crush the Curve initiative and detected 87 positives for a positivity rate of 1.79%.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate excellent analytical performance of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG test as well as the limited circulation of the virus in the western United States. We expect the availability of high-quality serological testing will be a key tool in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Current knowledge of Chagas-related heart disease among pediatric cardiologists in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchi Malhotra ◽  
Imran Masood ◽  
Noberto Giglio ◽  
Jay D. Pruetz ◽  
Pia S. Pannaraj
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cardiac Complications ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Background Chagas disease is a pathogenic parasitic infection with approximately 8 million cases worldwide and greater than 300,000 cases in the United States (U.S.). Chagas disease can lead to chronic cardiomyopathy and cardiac complications, with variable cardiac presentations in pediatrics making it difficult to recognize. The purpose of our study is to better understand current knowledge and experience with Chagas related heart disease among pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. Methods We prospectively disseminated a 19-question survey to pediatric cardiologists via 3 pediatric cardiology listservs. The survey included questions about demographics, Chagas disease presentation and experience. Results Of 139 responses, 119 cardiologists treat pediatric patients in the U.S. and were included. Most providers (87%) had not seen a case of Chagas disease in their practice; however, 72% also had never tested for it. The majority of knowledge-based questions about Chagas disease cardiac presentations were answered incorrectly, and 85% of providers expressed discomfort with recognizing cardiac presentations in children. Most respondents selected that they would not include Chagas disease on their differential diagnosis for presentations such as conduction anomalies, myocarditis and/or apical aneurysms, but would be more likely to include it if found in a Latin American immigrant. Of respondents, 87% agreed that they would be likely to attend a Chagas disease-related lecture. Conclusions Pediatric cardiologists in the U.S. have seen very few cases of Chagas disease, albeit most have not sent testing or included it in their differential diagnosis. Most individuals agreed that education on Chagas disease would be worth-while.

Penicillin allergy and purified penicillin (purapen G)

1968 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 9-11
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Skin Eruption ◽  
Anaphylactic Shock ◽  
The United States ◽  
Penicillin Allergy ◽  
Allergic Reactions ◽  
Angioneurotic Oedema ◽  
After Hours

PENICILLIN ALLERGY - Intramuscular benzylpenicillin in conventional doses is remarkable for its lack of toxicity, although massive intravenous or intramuscular doses can cause serious toxic encephalopathies. Allergic reactions occur in 3 – 8% of patients.1 2 The most serious reaction is acute anaphylactic shock, which is estimated to cause 100–300 deaths yearly in the United States.3 Urticarial and, less frequently, maculo-papular, diffuse erythematous and other forms of skin eruption may occur within minutes or only after hours or days. Angioneurotic oedema, asthma, joint pains and swelling, and lacrimation may also be features of penicillin allergy.

Prognostic impact of Chagas disease in the United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Milei ◽  
Roberto Andrés Guerri-Guttenberg ◽  
Daniel Rodolfo Grana ◽  
Rubén Storino
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prognostic Impact

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 Colistin Heteroresistance Is Largely Undetected among Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales in the United States

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor I. Band ◽  
Sarah W. Satola ◽  
Richard D. Smith ◽  
David A. Hufnagel ◽  
Chris Bower ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Clinical Diagnostic

ABSTRACT Heteroresistance is a form of antibiotic resistance where a bacterial strain is comprised of a minor resistant subpopulation and a majority susceptible subpopulation. We showed previously that colistin heteroresistance can mediate the failure of colistin therapy in an in vivo infection model, even for isolates designated susceptible by clinical diagnostics. We sought to characterize the extent of colistin heteroresistance among the highly drug-resistant carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). We screened 408 isolates for colistin heteroresistance. These isolates were collected between 2012 and 2015 in eight U.S. states as part of active surveillance for CRE. Colistin heteroresistance was detected in 10.1% (41/408) of isolates, and it was more common than conventional homogenous resistance (7.1%, 29/408). Most (93.2%, 38/41) of these heteroresistant isolates were classified as colistin susceptible by standard clinical diagnostic testing. The frequency of colistin heteroresistance was greatest in 2015, the last year of the study. This was especially true among Enterobacter isolates, of which specific species had the highest rates of heteroresistance. Among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, which were the majority of isolates tested, there was a closely related cluster of colistin-heteroresistant ST-258 isolates found mostly in Georgia. However, cladistic analysis revealed that, overall, there was significant diversity in the genetic backgrounds of heteroresistant K. pneumoniae isolates. These findings suggest that due to being largely undetected in the clinic, colistin heteroresistance among CRE is underappreciated in the United States. IMPORTANCE Heteroresistance is an underappreciated phenomenon that may be the cause of some unexplained antibiotic treatment failures. Misclassification of heteroresistant isolates as susceptible may lead to inappropriate therapy. Heteroresistance to colistin was more common than conventional resistance and was overwhelmingly misclassified as susceptibility by clinical diagnostic testing. Higher proportions of colistin heteroresistance observed in certain Enterobacter species and clustering among heteroresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains may inform colistin treatment recommendations. Overall, the rate of colistin nonsusceptibility was more than double the level detected by clinical diagnostics, suggesting that the prevalence of colistin nonsusceptibility among CRE may be higher than currently appreciated in the United States.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and specificity of a rapid diagnostic test for chronic Chagas disease at a referral center in Brazil - can it be included as a standard serological diagnostic test in the clinical practice of a referral center?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. e1236
Author(s):  
Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno ◽  
Ingebourg Georg ◽  
Luiz H. C. Sangenis ◽  
Mauro F. F. Mediano
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Referral Center ◽  
Chronic Chagas Disease

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease. In the chronic phase of CD, the diagnosis is essentially serologic. Conventional reactions are currently in use. More recently, the use of rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) is indicated when conventional techniques are not available. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of RDTs for chronic CD diagnosis. Methodology: Individuals under suspicion of CD were evaluated using ELISA, Chemiluminescence (ChLIA) and RDT tests. Results: The RDT showed 95.1% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that RDT used in the diagnosis of CD at a referral center in Brazil were not able to detect all CD cases when compared to Elisa and ChLIA.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document