Discrepancies between Objectively Assessed and Self-Reported Daily Social Media Time in the Age of Platform Swinging

Building on Junco’s (2013) study examining the accuracy of self-reported computer-specific time on Facebook, the current study investigates the accuracy of self-reported time on multiple social media (SM) platforms across multiple electronic devices and evaluates whether reporting accuracy is systematically associated with participant sex, individual SM platform in question, or total number of SM platforms used. Participants were 320 college students who downloaded software on their computers, tablets, and smartphones to track their active use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat over a 2-week surveillance period and then self-reported their daily average minutes on each platform immediately after. Larger proportions of students over- estimated than under-estimated their use, with the largest overestimations found on Snapchat and Instagram. Relative to males, females logged significantly more SM time and were less accurate in reporting. Overall, the likelihood of substantial inaccuracies in reporting total SM time and time on most individual platforms increased with each additional SM platform participants reported using. Findings from this study cast further doubt on the validity of self-report SM measures in the present SM landscape and underscore the need for either data analytic strategies to adjust for systematic reporting biases or a shift towards objective time-tracking methods.

Epidemic prevention strategies for COVID-19 key populations

Backgroud: Since 2021, all outbreaks of COVID-19 within mainland China have been associated with imported cases from abroad. The outbreak in Putian, Fujian province, occurred without obvious loopholes in the implementation of epidemic prevention, indicating loopholes in the current epidemic prevention strategies in mainland China. The loopholes should be identified and the epidemic prevention strategies should be improved as soon as possible.Methods: Is there a need to further extend the medical observation period and community health surveillance period for key populations? Is there a need to increase the number of nucleic acid screenings? Is there a need to change the methods of extraction of nucleic acid screening samples? Is there a need to expand the scope of the population for routine epidemic prevention surveillance? The analysis of these questions would contribute to the improvement of the COVID-19 epidemic prevention strategies.Results: There are larger outbreaks following the current intensive isolation medical observation period and community health surveillance period, the phenomenon shows that the loopholes in the assessment of cross-infection risk and health surveillance in China's current COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, especially during health surveillance after the entry of undetected infected individuals into the community when they emerge during isolation medical observation, and during health surveillance in the community for those who regain positive status after case cure.Conclusions: The key points to improve epidemic prevention strategies includ that a scientific and rational assessment around the mean incubation period, cross-infection risk, and surveillance efficiency of COVID-19, and updating routine epidemic prevention surveillance measures for key populations, recently cured patients of COVID-19, and immersion populations. Keywords: COVID-19, epidemic prevention strategy, incubation period, cross-infection

ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery System: A Preliminary Analysis of Clinical Applications within a Retrospective Case Series

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery system (ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc., San Carlos, CA, USA) is a novel high-dose targeted stereotactic radiosurgery platform for outpatient use that includes self-shielding, X-ray image guidance, and the capacity to aim the radiation beam gyroscopically at an intracranial lesion using 5 independent degrees of freedom. The ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery system accomplishes these actions while meeting widely accepted standards for dose gradient and accuracy. This retrospective study examined data of patients treated with gyroscopic radiosurgery (GRS) to document clinical outcomes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Medical records of all outpatients treated with GRS over a 20-month period from January 2019 to August 2020 were searched to extract relevant details, including follow-up data until August 2021 (32-month study interval). Patients with &#x3c;6 months of radiographical follow-up data were excluded unless death occurred. Data collection included pretreatment clinical history, pathological diagnosis, radiographical features, treatment parameters, and long-term clinical and radiographical follow-up. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Sixty-eight patients received outpatient treatment with GRS during the 20-month treatment interval, with 59 patients remaining after exclusion for the minimum follow-up threshold, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) fractionation of 1.85 (1.63). Eighty-two lesions were treated across a very heterogeneous patient population, including meningiomas (42.4%), metastases (39.0%), gliomas (6.8%), schwannomas (1.7%), and pituitary tumor (1.7%). Mean (SD) radiographical follow-up data (14.7 [6.60] months) were available for 56 patients. During that interval, 13 treated lesions in 13 patients (15.9%) demonstrated progression, 9 of which were stable during the initial posttreatment imaging surveillance period. Mean lesion volume was stable from pretreatment (2.54 cm³ [4.37 cm³]) to most recent follow-up (2.80 cm³ [8.20 cm³]) (<i>t</i> [79] = −0.310; <i>p</i> = 0.76). Minor adverse clinical events were noted in 3 (5.1%) of the 59 patients during the posttreatment phase that may have been related to the treatment. Ten (16.9%) patients died within the 32-month study interval. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> This preliminary assessment of the first series of patients treated with the Zap-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery system documents its overall feasibility in clinical applications. Although the duration of follow-up was brief, GRS appeared to be both safe and effective. Additional analysis, with an ongoing prospective registry, is underway.

Trends and predictive factors for treatment failure following artemisinin-based combination therapy among children with uncomplicated malaria in Ghana: 2005–2018

Background Since the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in Ghana in 2005 there has been a surveillance system by the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and the University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (UG-NMIMR) to monitor the therapeutic efficacy of ACTs for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the country. We report trends and determinants of failure following treatment of Ghanaian children with artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) combinations. Methods Per protocol analyses as well as cumulative incidence of day 28 treatment failure from Kaplan Meier survival analyses were used to describe trends of failure over the surveillance period of 2005–2018. Univariable and multivariable cox regression analyses were used to assess the determinants of treatment failure over the period. Results Day 28 PCR-corrected failure, following treatment with ASAQ, significantly increased from 0.0% in 2005 to 2.0% (95% CI: 1.1–3.6) in 2015 (p = 0.013) but significantly decreased to 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1–1.6) in 2018 (p = 0.039). Failure, following treatment with AL, decreased from 4.5% (95% CI: 2.0–9.4) in 2010 to 2.7% (95% CI: 1.4–5.1) in 2018, though not statistically significant (p = 0.426). Risk of treatment failure, from multivariable cox regression analyses, was significantly lower among children receiving ASAQ compared with those receiving AL (HR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11–0.53; p < 0.001); lower among children with no parasitaemia on day 3 compared with those with parasitaemia on day 3 (HR = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01–0.13; p < 0.001); and higher among children who received ASAQ and had axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 °C on day 1 compared with those with axillary temperature < 37.5 °C (HR = 3.96; 95% CI: 1.61–9.75; p = 0.003). Conclusions Treatment failures for both ASAQ and AL have remained less than 5% (below WHO’s threshold of 10%) in Ghana since 2005. Predictors of treatment failure that need to be considered in the management of uncomplicated malaria in the country should include type of ACT, day 3 parasitaemia, and day 1 axillary temperature of patients being treated.

Prevalence of Pneumococcal Carriage among Jordanian Infants in the First 6 Months of Age, 2008–2016

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic human-adapted pathogen driven by nasopharyngeal carriage. Aims: To find the pneumococcal carriage rate, resistance, serotypes, and coverage of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) among infants in the first six months of age in the period from March 2008 to April 2016. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NP) were taken from healthy infants from the northern part of Jordan. Swabs were processed for cultivation, identification, resistance testing and serotyping according to standard methods. Results: During the surveillance period, 484 infants of this age group were tested, with a total carriage rate of 56.2%. 96.2% of infants one to two months of age got one PCV7 injection and were 58% carriers at the time of the first injection. At age three to four months, 84.9% had received two injections, with a carriage rate of 54.9% at the time of the second injection. At ages five to six months, 12.5% had received one to three injections, with a carriage rate of 43.8%. Predominant serotypes in all age groups were 19F (12.5%), 6A (11.4%), 11A (8.4%), 19A (7.0%), 6B (6.6%), 23F (5.9%), 15B (5.1%), 15A and 23A (4.0% each). Coverage of PCV7, PCV13 and the future PCV20 among all cases were 30.5%, 50.7% and 70.6%, respectively. The highest coverage rate of 78.6% was noticed in the age group at five to six months with the future PCV20. Antibiotic resistance was the highest in the first age group. Conclusions: Pneumococcal carriage starts from the first month of the infant’s life. The highest coverage was noticed for PCV20, which implies the necessity for inoculation with future vaccines.

1408. Population-based Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Surveillance in Four Emerging Infections Program Sites, October 2019–March 2020

Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cause pulmonary (PNTM) and extrapulmonary (ENTM) disease. NTM infections are difficult to diagnose and treat; environmental exposures occur in both healthcare and community settings. Few population-based studies describe NTM disease epidemiology. Current data indicate PNTM disease and ENTM skin and soft tissue infections are increasing. We describe findings from a multi-site pilot of population-based NTM surveillance. Methods CDC’s Emerging Infections Program conducted active, laboratory- and population-based surveillance for NTM cases occurring in 4 sites (Colorado [5 counties], Minnesota [2 counties], New York [2 counties], and Oregon [3 counties PNTM; statewide ENTM]) during October 1, 2019–March 31, 2020. PNTM cases were defined according to current published microbiologic criteria, based on isolation of NTM in respiratory cultures or tissue. ENTM cases required NTM isolation from a non-pulmonary specimen, excluding stool or rectal swabs. Demographic, clinical, exposure, and laboratory data were collected via medical record review. We calculated overall incidence per 100,000 population using census data and performed descriptive analyses of medical record data. Results Overall, 299 NTM cases were reported (231 [77%] PNTM); M. avium was the most commonly isolated species (Table). NTM incidence was 3.8 per 100,000 (PNTM 3.1/100,000; ENTM 0.7/100,000). Most patients with available data had ≥1 sign or symptom in the 14 days before culture (63 [97%] ENTM, 203 [92%] PNTM). During the surveillance period, 187 (63%) had their first infection-defining culture collected in an outpatient setting (33 [49%] ENTM, 154 [67%] PNTM). Of PNTM cases, 145 (64%) were female, and 154 (67%) had underlying pulmonary disease. Among ENTM cases, 29 (43%) were female, 9 (13%) had diabetes, 8 (12%) had HIV and 27 (40%) had infection at the site of a medical device or healthcare procedure. Common ENTM infection types were lymphadenitis (16 [24%]) and skin abscess (12 [18%]). Table. Characteristics of persons with NTM infection identified in population-based surveillance, October 1, 2019–March 31, 2020. Conclusion Characterizing disease burden and affected populations with population-based NTM surveillance will provide data to inform potential interventions and monitor prevention strategy impact. Disclosures Christopher A. Czaja, MD, DrPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Grant/Research Support) Ruth Lynfield, MD, Nothing to disclose Ghinwa Dumyati, MD, Pfizer (Grant/Research Support)Roche Diagnostics (Advisor or Review Panel member) Emily Henkle, PhD, MPH, AN2 (Consultant, Advisor or Review Panel member)Zambon (Advisor or Review Panel member) Kevin L. Winthrop, MD, MPH, Insmed (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)Paratek (Consultant)RedHill (Consultant)Spero (Consultant) Kevin L. Winthrop, MD, MPH, Insmed (Consultant, Research Grant or Support)Paratek (Consultant)RedHill Biopharma (Consultant)Spero (Consultant)

Complete molar pregnancies with a coexisting fetus: Pregnancy outcomes and review of literature

To review obstetric outcomes of complete hydatidiform molar pregnancies with a coexisting fetus (CHMCF), a rare clinical entity, we performed a retrospective case series of pathology-confirmed HMCF. The cases were collected via a private Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician group on social media. Each contributing institution from across the United States obtained informed consent and institutional data transfer agreements as required, then transmitted the data using a HIPAA-compliant modality. Data collected included maternal, fetal/genetic, placental and delivery characteristics. Nine institutions contributed 14 cases. We found that the median gestational age at diagnosis was 12 weeks 2 days (9w0d - 19w4d), and over half were diagnosed in the first trimester. Sixty-four percent of CHMCF cases were a product of assisted reproductive technology. Placental mass size universally enlarged over the surveillance period. When invasive testing was performed, insufficient sample or no growth was noted in 40% of the sampled cases. Antenatal complications occurred in all delivered patients. Four patients developed gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. This is the largest reported series of obstetric outcomes for CHMCF, and highlights the need to counsel patients about the severe maternal and fetal complications in continuing pregnancies, including progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplastic disease.

The Utility of Chest Imaging for Surveillance of Atypical Lipomatous Tumors

Synopsis. For ALTs, the utility of chest surveillance has not been well defined. This study suggests that chest imaging does not have a significant role in the surveillance of ALTs. Advanced local imaging and more intensive chest surveillance may be considered in cases of local recurrence. Background. Unlike other soft tissue sarcomas, atypical lipomatous tumors (ALTs) are thought to have a low propensity for metastasis. Despite this, a standard of care for pulmonary metastasis (PM) surveillance has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of chest imaging for PM surveillance following ALT excision. Methods. This was a multi-institution, retrospective review of all patients with primary ALTs of the extremities or superficial torso who underwent excision between 2006 and 2018. Minimum follow-up was two years. Long-term survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results. 190 patients with ALT were included. Average age was 61.7 years and average follow-up was 58.6 months (24 to 180 months). MDM2 testing was positive in 88 patients (46.3%), and 102 (53.7%) did not receive MDM2 testing. 188 patients (98.9%) had marginal excision, and 127 (66.8%) had marginal or positive margins. Patients received an average of 0.9 CT scans and 1.3 chest radiographs over the surveillance period. 10-year metastasis-free survival was 100%, with no documented deaths from disease. Conclusions. This study suggests that chest imaging does not have a significant role in PM surveillance following ALT excision, but advanced local imaging and chest surveillance may be considered in cases of local recurrence or concern for dedifferentiation.

Detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater influent in relation to reported COVID-19 incidence in Finland

Wastewater-based surveillance is a cost-effective concept for monitoring COVID-19 pandemics at a population level. Here, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was monitored from a total of 693 wastewater (WW) influent samples from 28 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP, N = 21–42 samples per WWTP) in Finland from August 2020 to May 2021, covering WW of ca. 3.3 million inhabitants (∼ 60% of the Finnish population). The relative quantity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments in the 24h-composite samples was determined by using the ultrafiltration method followed by nucleic acid extraction and RT-qPCR assay targeted with N2-assay. SARS-CoV-2 RNA signals at each WWTP were compared over time to the numbers of new and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the sewer network area.Over the 10-month surveillance period, the detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in WW was 79% (including 6% uncertain results), while only 24% of all samples exhibited gene copy (GC) numbers above the quantification limit. The range of the SARS-CoV-2 detection rate in WW varied from 33% (including 10% uncertain results) in Pietarsaari to 100% in Espoo. Only six out of 693 WW samples were positive with SARS-COV-2 RNA when the reported COVID-19 case number from the preceding 14 days was zero. Overall, the 14-day COVID-19 incidence was 7, 18 and 36 cases within the sewer network area when the probability to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples was 50%, 75% and 95%, respectively. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 GC required significantly more COVID-19 cases: the quantification rate was 50%, 75% and 95% when the 14-day incidence was 110, 152 and 223 COVID-19 cases, respectively, per 100 000 persons. Multiple linear regression confirmed the relationship between the COVID-19 incidence and the SARS-CoV-2 GC quantified in WW at 15 out of 28 WWTPs (overall R2 = 0.36, p < 0.001). At four of the 13 WWTPs where a significant relationship was not found, the GC of SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained below the quantification limit during the whole study period. In the five other WWTPs, the sewer coverage was less than 80% of the total population in the area and thus the COVID-19 cases may have been inhabitants from the areas not covered.Based on the results obtained, WW-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 could be used as an indicator for local and national COVID-19 incidence trends. Importantly, the determination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragments from WW is a powerful and non-invasive public health surveillance measure, independent of possible changes in the clinical testing strategies or in the willingness of individuals to be tested for COVID-19.

Needlestick injuries among healthcare personnel in Qatar: A retrospective study

Background: A needlestick injury (NSI) is a serious occupational hazard among healthcare personnel (HCP), as it can cause transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to determine the frequency and distribution of reported NSIs, associated factors, use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and percentage of seroconversion among HCP in a major tertiary care hospital in Qatar. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed NSIs among HCP reported in Hamad Medical Corporation facilities in Doha between May 01, 2017, and May 01, 2018. A surveillance follow-up period of 6 months commenced after the 1-year study period. Results: A total of 130 NSIs were reported during the study period, with an overall incidence of eight injuries per 1000 HCP. The mean age was 34.6 ± 7.9 years. Among the reported cases, the proportion of female HCP (n = 72, 55.4%) was greater than that of male HCP (n = 58, 44.6%). Of 130 NSIs, 79 (60.8%) occurred in nurses, followed by 35 (26.9%) cases in doctors and 16 (12.3%) in other HCP. The total healthcare population comprised 49.6% of nurses and 18% of doctors. NSIs occurred in 10.1 per 1000 nurses and in 12.4 per 1000 doctors. Exposures mainly occurred in the operating theater, 35 (31.5%); inpatient wards, 24 (21.6%); and emergency department, 20 (18%). Common modes of injury were after use or before disposal of the device in 44 (44.4%) cases and during surgical interventions in 35 (35.4%) cases. Hollow-bore needles (64/98, 65.3%) were the most common devices involved. Source serology was documented in 71 (54.6%) cases of which 52 (73.2%) were normal, 9 (12.7%) were abnormal, and 10 (14.1%) were incomplete. Among the exposed HCP, 124 (95.4%) had adequate immunity to HBV. PEP for HBV was indicated in 6 (4.6%) and received by 4 (3.1%) HCP. NSI cases were followed up for 6 months post-exposure, and during this surveillance period, no seroconversion to HBV, HCV, or HIV was detected. Conclusion: NSIs are common among HCP. In this study, most of the exposed HCP had adequate immunity to HBV. There was no hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV transmission among the study cohort. Adherence to proper needle/sharps disposal techniques and safe practices during procedures will help prevent NSIs.