Joel Ackelsberg

Isolated Case of Bioterrorism- related Inhalational Anthrax, New York City, 2001

On October 31, 2001, in New York City, a 61-year-old female hospital employee who had acquired inhalational anthrax died after a 6-day illness. To determine sources of exposure and identify additional persons at risk, the New York City Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive investigation, which included interviewing contacts, examining personal effects, summarizing patient’s use of mass transit, conducting active case finding and surveillance near her residence and at her workplace, and collecting samples from co-workers and the environment. We cultured all specimens for Bacillus anthracis. We found no additional cases of cutaneous or inhalational anthrax. The route of exposure remains unknown. All environmental samples were negative for B. anthracis. This first case of inhalational anthrax during the 2001 outbreak with no apparent direct link to contaminated mail emphasizes the need for close coordination between public health and law enforcement agencies during bioterrorism-related investigations.

Effect of Timing of Amantadine Chemoprophylaxis on Severity of Outbreaks of Influenza A in Adult Long-Term Care Facilities

BACKGROUND Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are vulnerable to outbreaks of influenza. There are limited data on the impact of antiviral chemoprophylaxis on the duration of outbreaks of influenza. We investigated the association of timely initiation of amantadine chemoprophylaxis on the duration and severity of outbreaks of influenza A in LTCFs in New York, New York. METHODS Outbreaks of influenza A occurring from October through May each year during the period 2001-2004 in LTCFs in New York were defined as a single laboratory-confirmed case or a cluster of > or = 2 cases of influenza-like illness on a unit of an LTCF. For those facilities that provided amantadine chemoprophylaxis, we examined the association between the time to initiation of chemoprophylaxis after outbreak onset and duration of outbreak, incidence rate, and case-fatality proportion using simple t tests, multivariate analyses of covariance, and linear regression modeling. RESULTS Adjusting for influenza season year, facility bed capacity, and the proportion of residents who were vaccinated against influenza, LTCFs that initiated chemoprophylaxis 15 days after outbreak onset (25 facilities) had significantly longer duration of outbreaks (18.3 vs. 6.7 days; P < .001), higher incidence rates (10.5 cases per 100 residents vs. 6.2 cases per 100 residents; P < .023), and higher case-fatality rates (3.3 deaths per 100 residents with influenza A vs. 0.45 deaths per 100 residents with influenza A; P < .005) than did LTCFs that initiated chemoprophylaxis 5 days after outbreak onset (27 facilities). CONCLUSIONS LTCFs that initiated chemoprophylaxis >5 days after initiation of outbreaks of influenza A had significantly longer outbreaks, significantly higher incidence rates, and significantly higher case-fatality rates. These data support prompt initiation of amantadine chemoprophylaxis after identification of influenza A in LTCFs.

Clinical and Pathological Evaluation of Mycobacterium marinum Group Skin Infections Associated With Fish Markets in New York City

BACKGROUND From December 2013 through May 2014, physicians, dermatopathologists, and public health authorities collaborated to characterize an outbreak of Mycobacterium marinum and other nontuberculous mycobacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) associated with handling fish in New York Citys Chinatown. Clinicopathologic and laboratory investigations were performed on a series of patients. METHODS Medical records were reviewed for 29 patients. Culture results were available for 27 patients and 24 biopsy specimens were evaluated by histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and mycobacterial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. RESULTS All patients received antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic regimen was clarithromycin and ethambutol. Of the 29 patients in this case series, 16 (55%) received surgical treatment involving incision and drainage, mass excision, and synovectomy. Of these, 7 (44%) had deep tissue involvement. All patients showed improvement. For those with culture results, 11 of 27 (41%) were positive for M. marinum; the remainder showed no growth. Poorly formed granulomas (96%), neutrophils (75%), and necrosis (79%) were found in 24 biopsies. Of 15 cases that were culture-negative and analyzed by other methods, 9 were PCR positive for M. marinum group species, 8 were IHC positive, and 3 were positive by AFB stains. CONCLUSIONS A multidisciplinary approach was used to identify cases in an outbreak of M. marinum infections. The use of histopathology, culture, and IHC plus PCR from full thickness skin biopsy can lead to improved diagnosis of M. marinum SSTIs compared to relying solely on mycobacterial culture, the current gold standard.

Adenovirus Type 7 Genomic-Type Variant, New York City, 1999

An outbreak of respiratory illness occurred in a long-term care facility in New York City. Investigation of the outbreak identified confirmed or suspected adenoviral infection in 84% of the residents from October 19 to December 18, 1999. Further identification by type-specific neutralization and restriction analysis identified a new genomic variant of adenovirus type 7.

Invasive group A streptococcal infection in high school football players, New York City, 2003.

After being notified that 2 high school football teammates were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected invasive group A streptococcal infections, we conducted an investigation of possible spread among other team members. This investigation highlights a need for guidelines on management of streptococcal and other infectious disease outbreaks in team sport settings.

Outbreak of Influenza A(H7N2) Among Cats in an Animal Shelter With Cat-to-Human Transmission—New York City, 2016

We describe the first case of cat-to-human transmission of influenza A(H7N2), an avian-lineage influenza A virus, that occurred during an outbreak among cats in New York City animal shelters. We describe the public health response and investigation.

Healthcare-Associated Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum in New York City.

A patient with no risk factors for malaria was hospitalized in New York City with Plasmodium falciparum infection. After investigating all potential sources of infection, we concluded the patient had been exposed to malaria while hospitalized less than 3 weeks earlier. Molecular genotyping implicated patient-to-patient transmission in a hospital setting. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;37(1):113-115.

A cluster of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections at a rheumatology practice, New York City, 2011.

A cluster of 5 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections occurred after administration of methylprednisolone acetate injections in a rheumatology practice. A site visit was conducted to inspect examination rooms, observe techniques, and review charts. The investigation revealed a pervasive lack of aseptic technique that led to multiple opportunities for medication contamination.

Management of an Outbreak of Exophiala dermatitidis Bloodstream Infections at an Outpatient Oncology Clinic

We report the presentation and management of 17 cases of Exophiala dermatitidis and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa bloodstream infections caused by a compounded parenteral medication at an oncology clinic. Twelve patients were asymptomatic. All central venous catheters were removed and antifungal therapy, primarily voriconazole, was administered to patients. Three patients died.