Sharon Balter

Severity of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine 2009 H1N1 influenza illness severity and the effect of antiviral treatment on the severity of illness among pregnant women. METHODS: We abstracted medical records from hospitalized pregnant (n=62) and nonpregnant (n=74) women with laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza in New York City, May through June 2009. We compared characteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant women and of severe and moderate influenza illness among pregnant women, with severe defined as illness resulting in intensive care admission or death. RESULTS: The 2009 H1N1 hospitalization rate was significantly higher among pregnant than nonpregnant women (55.3 compared with 7.7 per 100,000 population). Eight pregnant (including two deaths) and 16 nonpregnant (including four deaths) cases were severe. Pregnant women represented 6.4% of hospitalized cases and 4.3% of deaths caused by 2009 H1N1 influenza. Only 1 in 30 (3.3%) pregnant women who received oseltamivir treatment within 2 days of symptom onset had severe illness compared with 3 of 14 (21.4%) and four of nine (44.4%) pregnant women who started treatment 3–4 days and 5 days or more after symptom onset, respectively (P=.002 for trend). Severe and moderate 2009 H1N1 influenza illness occurred in all pregnancy trimesters, but most women (54.8%) were in the third trimester. Twenty-two women delivered during their influenza hospitalization, and severe neonatal outcomes (neonatal intensive care unit admission or death) occurred among five of six (83.3%) women with severe illness compared with 2 of 16 (12.5%) women with moderate illness (P=.004). CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the potential for severe illness and adverse neonatal outcomes among pregnant 2009 H1N1 influenza-infected women and suggest the benefit of early oseltamivir treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Multiple Clusters of Hepatitis Virus Infections Associated With Anesthesia for Outpatient Endoscopy Procedures

BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted during administration of intravenous anesthesia when medication vials are used for multiple patients using incorrect technique. We investigated an outbreak of acute HBV and HCV infections among patients who received anesthesia during endoscopy procedures from the same anesthesiologist (anesthesiologist 1), in 2 different gastroenterology clinics. METHODS Chart reviews, patient interviews, clinic site visits and infection control assessments, and molecular sequencing of patient isolates were performed. Patients treated by anesthesiologist 1 on specific procedure days were offered testing for blood-borne pathogens. Endoscopy and anesthesia procedures were reviewed; HCV quasispecies analysis was performed. RESULTS Six cases of outbreak-associated HCV infection and 6 cases of outbreak-associated HBV infection were identified in clinic 1. One outbreak-associated HCV infection was identified in clinic 2. HCV quasispecies sequences from the patients were nearly identical (96.9%-100%) to those from source patients with chronic viral hepatitis. All affected patients in both clinics received propofol from anesthesiologist 1, who inappropriately used a single-patient-use vial of propofol for multiple patients. Reuse of syringes to redose patients, with resulting contamination of medication vials used for subsequent patients, likely resulted in viral transmission. CONCLUSIONS Twelve persons acquired HBV and HCV infections (6 hepatitis C, 5 hepatitis B, and 1 coinfection) in 2 separate offices as a result of receiving anesthesia from anesthesiologist 1. Gastroenterologists are urged to review carefully the injection, medication handling, and other infection control practices of all staff under their supervision, including providers of anesthesia services.

Diarrheal Illness Detected Through Syndromic Surveillance After a Massive Power Outage: New York City, August 2003

OBJECTIVES We investigated increases in diarrheal illness detected through syndromic surveillance after a power outage in New York City on August 14, 2003. METHODS The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene uses emergency department, pharmacy, and absentee data to conduct syndromic surveillance for diarrhea. We conducted a case-control investigation among patients presenting during August 16 to 18, 2003, to emergency departments that participated in syndromic surveillance. We compared risk factors for diarrheal illness ascertained through structured telephone interviews for case patients presenting with diarrheal symptoms and control patients selected from a stratified random sample of nondiarrheal patients. RESULTS Increases in diarrhea were detected in all data streams. Of 758 patients selected for the investigation, 301 (40%) received the full interview. Among patients 13 years and older, consumption of meat (odds ratio [OR]=2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2, 6.1) and seafood (OR=4.8; 95% CI=1.6, 14) between the power outage and symptom onset was associated with diarrheal illness. CONCLUSIONS Diarrhea may have resulted from consumption of meat or seafood that spoiled after the power outage. Syndromic surveillance enabled prompt detection and systematic investigation of citywide illness that would otherwise have gone undetected.

A large outbreak of hepatitis B virus infections associated with frequent injections at a physician's office.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission occurred among patients visiting a physicians office and to evaluate potential transmission mechanisms. DESIGN Serologic survey, retrospective cohort study, and observation of infection control practices. SETTING Private medical office. PATIENTS Those visiting the office between March 1 and December 26, 2001. RESULTS We identified 38 patients with acute HBV infection occurring between February 2000 and February 2002. The cohort study, limited to the 10 months before outbreak detection, included 91 patients with serologic test results and available charts representing 18 case-patients and 73 susceptible patients. Overall, 67 patients (74%) received at least one injection during the observation period. Case-patients received a median of 14 injections (range, 2-25) versus 2 injections (range, 0-17) for susceptible patients (P < .001). Acute infections occurred among 18 (27%) of 67 who received at least one injection versus none of 24 who received no injections (RR, 13.6; CI95, 2.4-undefined). Risk of infection increased 5.2-fold (CI95, 0.6-47.3) for those with 3 to 6 injections and 20.0-fold (CI95, 2.8-143.5) for those with more than 6 injections. Typically, injections consisted of doses of atropine, dexamethasone, vitamin B12, or a combination of these mixed in one syringe. HBV DNA genetic sequences of 24 patients with acute infection and 4 patients with chronic infection were identical in the 1,500-bp region examined. Medical staff were seronegative for HBV infection markers. The same surface was used for storing multidose vials, preparing injections, and dismantling used injection equipment. CONCLUSION Administration of unnecessary injections combined with failure to separate clean from contaminated areas and follow safe injection practices likely resulted in patient-to-patient HBV transmission in a private physicians office.

Antimicrobial resistance trends of Shigella serotypes in New York City, 2006-2009.

Shigellosis is the third most common enteric bacterial infection in the United States. Although infection is typically self-limiting, empiric treatment is often prescribed. Because of increasing antimicrobial resistance to Shigella, empiric treatment options are decreasing. Identifying resistance patterns can inform empiric treatment recommendations. The goals of our study were to examine risk factors associated with antimicrobial resistance of Shigella and examine issues related to empiric treatment and antimicrobial resistance of Shigella. During June 2006-February 2009, we attempted to interview all New York City patients reported to have shigellosis. Their Shigella isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility to examine the level of resistance and identify risk factors for resistance. Analysis was conducted on two groups distinguished by a large outbreak that was documented during the data collection period. Of the 477 nonoutbreak patients, 333 (70%) patients reported taking an antibiotic for shigellosis and 36 (11%) were treated with an antibiotic to which their Shigella infection was resistant. Among this group, high levels of antimicrobial resistance were detected to amoxicillin-clavulanate (66%), ampicillin (68%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (66%). Non-travel-associated ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigella (five patients) and ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigella sonnei (four patients) were reported for the first time to our knowledge. Antimicrobial resistance is significantly higher in New York City residents compared with national data. Some patients were treated with therapies that were not effective and to which the patients Shigella infection was resistant. Shigella infections should not be treated with antibiotics unless the patient presents with severe or underlying illness and is at risk for systemic illness. When treatment is indicated, local monitoring of Shigella for antimicrobial resistance will provide local clinicians with the best guidance for effective empiric treatments.

Enhanced drop-in syndromic surveillance in New York City following September 11, 2001.

After the 2001 World Trade Center disaster, the New York City Department of Health was under heightened alert for bioterrorist attacks in the city. An emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance system was implemented with the assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure early recognition of an increase or clustering of disease syndromes that might represent a disease outbreak, whether natural or intentional. The surveillance system was based on data collected 7 days a week at area EDs. Data collected were translated into syndromes, entered into an electronic database, and analyzed for aberrations in space and time within 24 hours. From September 14–27, personnel were stationed at 15 EDs on a 24-hour basis (first staffing period); from September 29–October 12, due to resource limitations, personnel were stationed at 12 EDs on an 18-hour basis (second staffing period). A standardized form was used to obtain demographic information and classify each patient visit into 12 syndrome categories. Seven of these represented early manifestations of bioterrorist agents. Data transfer and analysis for time and space clustering (alarms) by syndrome and age occurred daily. Retrospective analyses examined syndrome trends, differences in reporting between staffing periods, and the staff’s experience during the project. A total of 67,536 reports were received. The system captured 83.9% of patient visits during the first staffing period, and 60.8% during the second staffing period (P<01). Five syndromes each accounted for more than 1% of visits: trauma, asthma, gastrointestinal illness, upper/lower respiratory infection with fever, and anxiety. Citywide temporal alarms occurred eight times for three of the major bioterrorism-related syndromes. Spatial clustering alarms occurred 16 time by hospital location and 9 times by ZIP code for the same three syndromes. No outbreaks were detected. On-site staffing to facilitate data collection and entry, supported by daily analysis of ED visits, is a feasible short-term approach to syndromic surveillance during high-profile events. The resources required to operate such a system, however, cannot be sustained for the long term. This system was changed to an electronic-based ED syndromic system using triage log data that remains in operation.

Case-control study of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in older adults: Do healthcare exposures contribute to burden of new infections?

Reports of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission associated with unsafe medical practices have been increasing in the United States. However, the contribution of healthcare exposures to the burden of new infections is poorly understood outside of recognized outbreaks. We conducted a case‐control study at three health departments that perform enhanced viral hepatitis surveillance in New York and Oregon. Reported cases of symptomatic acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C occurring in persons ≥55 years of age from 2006 to 2008 were enrolled. Controls were identified using telephone directories and matched to individual cases by age group (55‐59, 60‐69, and ≥70 years) and residential postal code. Data collection covered exposures within 6 months before symptom onset (cases) or date of interview (controls). Forty‐eight (37 hepatitis B and 11 hepatitis C) case and 159 control patients were enrolled. Case patients were more likely than controls to report one or more behavioral risk exposures, including sexual or household contact with an HBV or HCV patient, >1 sex partner, illicit drug use, or incarceration (21% of cases versus 4% of controls exposed; matched odds ratio [mOR] = 7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1, 24.1). Case patients were more likely than controls to report hemodialysis (8% of cases; mOR = 13.0; 95% CI: 1.5, 115), injections in a healthcare setting (58%; mOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.3), and surgery (33%; mOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.7). In a multivariate model, behavioral risks (adjusted OR [aOR] = 5.4; 95% CI: 1.5, 19.0; 17% attributable risk), injections (aOR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.8; 37% attributable risk), and hemodialysis (aOR = 11.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 107; 8% attributable risk) were associated with case status. Conclusion: Healthcare exposures may represent an important source of new HBV and HCV infections among older adults. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)

Estimating the Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection—New York City, 2008

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a preventable cause of liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer; estimated chronic HBV infection prevalence is 0.3–0.5% in the USA. Prevalence in New York City (NYC) is likely higher because foreign-born persons, who represent 36% of NYC’s population versus 11% nationwide, bear a disproportionate burden of chronic HBV infection. However, because no comprehensive, population-based survey of chronic HBV infection has been conducted in NYC, a reliable prevalence estimate is unavailable. We used two approaches to estimate chronic HBV infection prevalence in NYC: (1) a census-based estimate, combining local and national prevalence data for specific populations, and (2) a surveillance-based estimate, using data from NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Hepatitis B Surveillance Registry and adjusting for out-migration and deaths. Results from both the census-based estimate and the surveillance-based estimate were similar, with an estimated prevalence of chronic HBV in NYC of 1.2%. This estimate is two to four times the estimated prevalence for the USA as a whole. According to the census-based estimate, >93% of all cases in NYC are among persons who are foreign-born, and approximately half of those are among persons born in China. These findings underscore the importance of local data for tailoring programmatic efforts to specific foreign-born populations in NYC. In particular, Chinese-language programs and health education materials are critical. Reliable estimates are important for policymakers in local jurisdictions to better understand their own population’s needs and can help target primary care services, prevention materials, and education.

Serving High-Risk Foods in a High-Risk Setting: Survey of Hospital Food Service Practices after an Outbreak of Listeriosis in a Hospital

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Prepared ready-to-eat salads and ready-to-eat delicatessen-style meats present a high risk for Listeria contamination. Because no foodborne illness risk management guidelines exist specifically for US hospitals, a survey of New York City (NYC) hospitals was conducted to characterize policies and practices after a listeriosis outbreak occurred in a NYC hospital. METHODS From August through October 2008, a listeriosis outbreak in a NYC hospital was investigated. From February through April 2009, NYCs 61 acute-care hospitals were asked to participate in a telephone survey regarding food safety practices and policies, specifically service of high-risk foods to patients at increased risk for listeriosis. RESULTS Five patients with medical conditions that put them at high risk for listeriosis had laboratory-confirmed Listeria monocytogenes infection. The Listeria outbreak strain was isolated from tuna salad prepared in the hospital. Fifty-four (89%) of 61 hospitals responded to the survey. Overall, 81% of respondents reported serving ready-to-eat deli meats to patients, and 100% reported serving prepared ready-to-eat salads. Pregnant women, patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and patients undergoing chemotherapy were served ready-to-eat deli meats at 77%, 59%, and 49% of hospitals, respectively, and were served prepared ready-to-eat salads at 94%, 89%, and 73% of hospitals, respectively. Only 4 (25%) of 16 respondents reported having a policy that ready-to-eat deli meats must be heated until steaming hot before serving. CONCLUSIONS Despite the potential for severe outcomes of Listeria infection among hospitalized patients, the majority of NYC hospitals had no food preparation policies to minimize risk. Hospitals should implement policies to avoid serving high-risk foods to patients at risk for listeriosis.

Half a Diagnosis: Gap in Confirming Infection among Hepatitis C Antibody-positive Patients

BACKGROUND Recent guidelines recommend testing all individuals born during 1945-1965 for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody. For antibody-positive patients, subsequent RNA testing is necessary to determine current infection status. This study aimed to assess whether clinicians order HCV RNA tests as recommended for antibody-positive patients and to identify barriers to such testing. METHODS We sampled individuals newly reported to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygienes HCV surveillance system and collected information from clinicians. For patients without RNA test results, we asked the reason an RNA test was not ordered and requested that the clinician order the test. RESULTS Of 245 antibody-positive patients, 67% were tested for HCV RNA (for 21% of these, the test was ordered only after our request); 33% had no RNA testing despite our request. Patients without RNA testing were seen in medical facilities (47%), detox facilities (30%), and jail/prison (15%). Reasons RNA testing was not done were that the patient did not return for follow-up (35%), the facility does not do RNA testing (22%), and the patient was tested in jail (15%). CONCLUSIONS In our study, one third of patients did not get complete testing for accurate diagnosis of HCV, which is essential for medical management. Additional education for clinicians about the importance of RNA testing may help. However, with improved antiviral treatments now available for HCV, it is time for reflex HCV RNA testing for positive antibody tests to become routine, just as reflex Western blot testing is standard for human immunodeficiency virus.