Objectives: Suboptimal timeliness and coverage of childhood vaccination programs undermined their effectiveness in achieving population-level immunity. This issue is particularly concerning among minority populations, where disparities in vaccination adherence persist. To address this gap, the study assessed the extent of parental adherence to age-appropriate childhood vaccination and its predictors among the minority children under five years of age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Respiratory virus transmission in healthcare settings is not well understood. To investigate the transmission dynamics of common healthcare-associated respiratory virus infections, we performed retrospective whole genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance at one pediatric and two adult teaching hospitals in Pittsburgh, PA.
Methods: From January 2, 2018, to January 4, 2020, nasal swab specimens positive for rhinovirus, influenza, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from patients hospitalized for ≥3 days were sequenced on Illumina platform.
J Med Virol
September 2024
Norovirus (NoV) genogroup II, polymerase type P31, capsid genotype 4, Sydney_2012 variant (GII.P31/GII.4_Sydney_2012) has been circulating at high levels for over a decade, raising the question of whether this strain is undergoing molecular alterations without demonstrating a substantial phylogenetic difference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfter rotavirus was discovered in 1973, it became the leading pathogen in causing acute gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing and genomic characterization of a DS-1-like G2P[4] group A rotavirus in feces of a Japanese child with acute gastroenteritis who was fully Rotarix® vaccinated. The genomic investigation determined a genomic constellation G2-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 of this rotavirus strain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany different enteric viruses can cause acute gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. While a single virus can indeed cause disease, multiple-virus infections are commonly reported. However, data regarding a comparison between single- and multiple-virus infections upon clinical manifestations of acute gastroenteritis are relatively limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Mekong River Delta (MRD) is an essential agricultural area for the worldwide rice supply. Floods and droughts triggered by El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) have been threatening sustenance in the MRD. Sustainable food supplies require understanding the response of the MRD hydrology to the changing ENSO behaviour in recent decades.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe performed whole genome sequencing on SARS-CoV-2 from 59 vaccinated individuals from southwest Pennsylvania who tested positive between February and September, 2021. A comparison of mutations among vaccine breakthrough cases to a time-matched control group identified potential adaptive responses of SARS-CoV-2 to vaccination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnterococci have been recognized as major pathogens causing nosocomial and community-acquired infections. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci is one of the major public health challenges worldwide. While many enterococcal species have been identified, is rarely detected in humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnusual DS-1-like intergenogroup reassortant rotaviruses with a bovine-like G8 genotype (DS-1-like G8P [8] rotaviruses) have emerged and rapidly spread in several countries. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of seven human rotavirus G8P [8] strains in 2017 and 2019 in Japan were determined using viral metagenomics. Its genomic constellation (VP7-VP4-VP6-VP1-VP2-VP3-NSP1-NSP2-NSP3-NSP4-NSP5 genes) was defined as G8-P [8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a common commensal microorganism found in the nasopharynx of domestic and wild animals. Humans acquire infection primarily through contact with animals or their mucous secretions. is infrequently encountered in clinical settings, and it is considered as a zoonotic pathogen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We used SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and electronic health record (EHR) data to investigate the associations between viral genomes and clinical characteristics and severe outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study of severe COVID-19 infection among patients hospitalized at a large academic referral hospital between March 2020 and May 2021. SARS-CoV-2 WGS was performed, and demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the EHR.
Bacterial keratitis is an infection of the cornea. This kind of infection can progress quickly and if left untreated, it can eventually cause complete blindness. While and are most commonly responsible for this type of infection in the United States, spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant is very infectious, and it is spreading quickly during this pandemic. In the study, we compared viral loads estimated by means of the Ct values emerging from RT-PCR swab tests in surging cases infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the fourth wave of COVID-19 with the three prior waves. The data comprised viral loads from positive cases detected within the UPMC health care system in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Virol Plus
June 2022
Accurate and rapid laboratory tests are essential for the prompt diagnosis of COVID-19, which is important to patients and infection control. The Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test is a real-time RT-PCR intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens. In this study, we assessed the analytical performance characteristics of this rapid test for SARS-CoV-2 in 60 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSyphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete , generally presents in distinct stages that sequentially progress in a predictable pattern. However, in the case of syphilis and HIV coinfection, the progression of the disease may be atypical, and syphilis may be the initial presentation of an underlying HIV infection in an undiagnosed patient. These patients can initially present with symptoms of secondary syphilis and can have a rapid and aggressive initial course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStreptobacillus moniliformis is a pleomorphic, fastidious gram-negative bacillus that colonizes rodent respiratory tracts and causes rat-bite fever in humans. Rat-bite fever is associated with septic arthritis, usually monoarticular or pauciarticular. We report a rare case of polyarticular septic arthritis caused by S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Acute gastroenteritis is the most common cause of illness and death in infants and young children worldwide. Rotaviruses (RVs) are the major viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis in young children, especially in developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Methods: The presence of rotavirus antigens in sera of four unvaccinated pediatric patients, aged between 4 and 6 years with severe diarrhea and dehydration, were detected by using three immunochromatographic (IC) kits.