A5023816934- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Renal cell carcinoma treatment
- Renal and Vascular Pathologies
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Urinary Bladder and Prostate Research
- COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
- Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Infection Control in Healthcare
- Renal and related cancers
- Respiratory viral infections research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Central Venous Catheters and Hemodialysis
- Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Medical Device Sterilization and Disinfection
- Nosocomial Infections in ICU
- Peripheral Artery Disease Management
- Ecology, Conservation, and Geographical Studies
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
Wake Forest University
2012-2025
Advocate Health Care
2025
New York Proton Center
2022
Communities In Schools of Orange County
2022
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
2022
University of Richmond
2022
Oregon Medical Research Center
2022
Lindsay Unified School District
2022
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
2014-2021
Museum of Heilongjiang Province
2021
Significance Lack of human data on influenza virus aerosol shedding fuels debate over the importance airborne transmission. We provide overwhelming evidence that humans generate infectious aerosols and quantitative to improve mathematical models transmission public health interventions. show sneezing is rare not important for—and coughing required for—influenza aerosolization. Our findings, upper lower airway infection are independent fine-particle exhaled reflect in lung, opened a pathway...
Defining dispersal of influenza virus via aerosol is essential for the development prevention measures.During 2010-2011 season, subjects with influenza-like illness were enrolled in an emergency department and throughout a tertiary care hospital, nasopharyngeal swab specimens obtained, symptom severity, treatment, medical history recorded. Quantitative impaction air samples taken not ≤0.305 m (1 foot), 0.914 (3 feet), 1.829 (6 feet) from patient's head during routine care. Influenza was...
Abstract Background During a period of rapid growth in our understanding the microbiology built environment recent years, majority research has focused on bacteria and fungi. Viruses, while probably as numerous, have received less attention. In response, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation supported workshop entitled “Viruses Built Environment (VIBE),” at which experts environmental engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, infection prevention, fluid dynamics, occupational health, metagenomics,...
Background. The efficacy of barrier precautions to prevent influenza transmission is unknown. Methods. Twenty-eight participants were exposed monodispersed live attenuated vaccine (LAIV) particles (4.9 μm) in 6 groups: group 1, no precautions; 2, ocular exposure only; 3, surgical mask without eye protection; 4, with 5, fit-tested N95 respirator and 6, protection. Influenza was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) culture nasal washes. Exact 95% confidence...
Engineering controls play an important role in reducing the spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1 Established technologies such as air filtration, and novel approaches ultraviolet (UV)-C light or plasma ionization, have potential to support fight against disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.2 We tested efficacy purification system (APS) combining UV-C high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filtration a controlled environment using SARS-CoV-2 test organism. The APS...
Abstract Background On Jan 31, 2023, ABNA replaced universal mupirocin nasal decolonization in pts admitted to the burn service. The purpose of this study was evaluate impact with vs on infection rates and antimicrobial utilization pt population.Table 1.Baseline Characteristics Methods This a single-center, retrospective, cohort analysis adults ≥ 18 yrs age an academic medical center service from Feb 2022 - Sept (mupirocin cohort) 2023 (ABNA who received 1 dose or ABNA. Pts were excluded if...
Abstract Background At this institution on June 30, 2022, universal nasal decolonization with mupirocin ointment was replaced by MRSA PCR assay screening at ICU admission to capture colonization and direct decolonization. The aim of study evaluate the impact duration vanc for suspected PNA in adults admitted TICU.Table 1.Baseline Treatment Characteristics Methods This single-center, retrospective cohort compared pts from Jan - Jun 2022 (pre cohort) 2023 (post cohort). Pts ≥ 18 years age TICU...
Abstract Background Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization often precedes invasive infection; decolonization may prevent morbidity and mortality. MRSA surveillance protocols vary widely; at Brenner Children's Hospital (BCH), infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) undergo repeat testing after decolonization, allowing assessment of colonization/recolonization events their relationship to infection. Methods PCR combined nasal/umbilical swabs from BCH NICU...
Abstract Objective: To assess the association between social vulnerability index (SVI) and surgical site infections (SSIs) using National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. Design: Retrospective cohort study August 1, 2022, 31, 2023. Setting: In total, 20 acute care hospitals in Southeast United States. Patients: Totally, 23,768 total hip arthroplasty, knee abdominal hysterectomy, colon, spinal fusion surgeries 22,239 patients were included. Procedures with infection present at time...
Abstract Objective: To determine whether healthy adult nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus can disperse S. into the air after rhinovirus infection. Design: We investigated “cloud” phenomenon among experimentally infected with a rhinovirus. Eleven volunteers were studied for 16 days in an airtight chamber wearing street clothes, sterile garb, or garb plus surgical mask; inoculation occurred on day 2. Daily quantitative air, nasal, and skin cultures ; cold symptom assessment; performed....
Measles virus (MeV) is known to be highly contagious, with an infectious period lasting from 4 days before after rash onset. An unvaccinated, young, female patient measles confirmed by direct epidemiologic link was hospitalized on day 5 Environmental samples were collected over the 4-day of hospitalization in a single room. MeV RNA detectable air specimens, surface and respirators 5-8 This first report environmental surveillance for MeV, results suggest that MeV-infected fomites may present...
Safety, security, hygiene, and privacy in migrant farmworker housing have not previously been documented, yet these attributes are important for quality of life dignity. This analysis describes the safety, delineates camp characteristics that associated with attributes, using data collected 183 eastern North Carolina camps 2010. Migrant is deficient. For example, 73.8 percent had structural damage 52.7 indoor temperatures were safe. Farmworkers 83.5 reported they did feel or their...
Uncertainty about the importance of influenza transmission by airborne droplet nuclei generates controversy for infection control. Human challenge-transmission studies have been supported as most promising approach to fill this knowledge gap. Healthy, seronegative volunteer 'Donors' (n = 52) were randomly selected intranasal challenge with A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2). 'Recipients' randomized Intervention (IR, n 40) or Control (CR, 35) groups exposed Donors four days. IRs wore face shields and...
Abstract N95 respirator masks are recommended for protection against respiratory viruses. Despite passing fit-testing 10% of users encountered breakthroughs with exposure to influenza virus compared full provided by a powered air purifying respirator. The current recommendation respirators should be evaluated endemic and emerging scenarios.
The current SARS-COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the dangers that airborne virus (AV) pandemics pose to health of all workers (particularly in meat processing industry), economic food industry, and security. impact pandemic had on industry points need for a proactive rather than reactive approach towards preventing future AV outbreaks. Such should be based empirical assessments safety practices development more robust tailored culture needs industry. Moreover, is necessary order better...
Abstract Background Little is known about the HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk behaviors of Hispanic/Latino farmworkers. This study was designed to describe factors for STD infection, explore personal characteristics associated with condom use, evaluate feasibility collecting self‐report biomarker data from Methods Self‐report were collected a sample male farmworkers living in 29 camps North Carolina during 2008 growing season. Results Over half 100 workers, mean age 37.1...
We sought to (1) describe observed cooking and eating facilities in migrant farmworker camps, (2) compare conditions with existing housing regulations, (3) examine associations of violations camp characteristics.We collected data 182 camps eastern North Carolina during the 2010 agricultural season. compared our observations 15 kitchen-related regulations specified by federal state standards.We 8 at least 10% camps: improper refrigerator temperature (65.5%), cockroach infestation (45.9%),...
Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus via air may play an important role in healthcare settings. This study investigates the impact barrier precautions on spread airborne S. by volunteers with experimentally induced rhinovirus infection (ie, common cold).Prospective nonrandomized study.Wake Forest University School Medicine (Winston-Salem, NC).Participants. A convenience sample 10 individuals nasal carriage selected from 593 students screened for carriage.Airborne dispersal was studied...
The purpose of this study was to assess water quality in migrant farmworker camps North Carolina and determine associations with housing characteristics.We collected data from 181 eastern during the 2010 agricultural season. Water samples were tested using Total Coliform Rule (TCR) characteristics assessed Department Labor standards.A total 61 (34%) failed TCR. coliform bacteria found all camps, Escherichia coli also being detected 2. not associated or access registered public supplies....
This SHEA white paper identifies knowledge gaps and challenges in healthcare epidemiology research related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a focus on core principles of epidemiology. These gaps, revealed during the worst phases COVID-19 pandemic, are described 10 sections: epidemiology, outbreak investigation, surveillance, isolation precaution practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental contamination disinfection, drug supply shortages, antimicrobial...
Using a validated air sampling method we found Acinetobacter baumannii in the surrounding only 1 of 12 patients known to be colonized or infected with A. . Patients’ closed-circuit ventilator status, frequent exchanges patient rooms, and short time may have contributed this low burden. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;36(7):830–832
Abstract Objective: To investigate whether rhinovirus infection leads to increased airborne dispersal of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Design: Prospective nonrandomized intervention trial. Setting: Wake Forest University School Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Participants: Twelve nasal Staphylococcus aureus- CoNS carriers among 685 students screened for S. aureus carriage. Interventions: Participants were studied in a chamber under three conditions (street clothes,...