scholarly journals Athletes Drive Distinctive Trends of COVID-19 Infection in a College Campus Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7689
Author(s):  
Austin T. Hertel ◽  
Madison M. Heeter ◽  
Olivia M. Wirfel ◽  
Mara J. Bestram ◽  
Steven A. Mauro
Keyword(s):  
Risk Group ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
College Campus ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Campus Environment ◽  
Incidence Risk ◽  
Academic Year

The COVID-19 pandemic forced most institutions of higher education to offer instruction and activities offsite, impacting millions of people. As universities consider resuming normal operations on campus, evidence-based guidance is needed to enhance safety protocols to reduce the spread of infectious disease in their campus environments. During the 2020/2021 academic year, Gannon University in Erie, PA, USA, was able to maintain most of its operations on campus. Part of Gannon’s disease mitigation strategy involved the development of a novel in-house, real-time RT-PCR-based surveillance program, which tested 23,227 samples to monitor the presence of COVID-19 on campus. Temporal trends of COVID-19 infection at Gannon were distinct from statewide data. A significant portion of this variance involved student athletes and associated staff, which identified as a higher incidence risk group compared with non-athletes. Rapid identification of athlete driven outbreaks allowed for swift action to limit the spread of COVID-19 among teammates and to the rest of the campus community. This allowed for successful completion of instruction and a modified season for all sports at Gannon. Our findings provide insights that could prove useful to the thousands of institutions seeking to resume a more traditional presence on campus.

scholarly journals A comparative evaluation of two chromogenic media for surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales with non-carbapenemase-producing or carbapenemase-producing strains other than blaKPC: blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-176
Author(s):  
Chang-Hun Park
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Contact Precaution ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are an emerging problem associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. CREs are divided into two categories (carbapenemase-producing [CP] CRE and non-CP CRE). The most prevalent carbapenemase produced by Enterobacterales is Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in Korea. Rapid identification of CREs is clinically important in infection control precaution. We compared the performance of two chromogenic media (chromID CARBA agar and CHROMagar KPC agar) for non-CP CREs or CP CREs with blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2 in a Korean hospital. Methods The study was carried out during a 3-month period from April to June 2017 during the surveillance program for CRE colonization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed at the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results A total of 45 rectal swabs from 42 hospitalized patients were examined. Sensitivity of both chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 100% for CP CREs; and 50% and 100% for non-CP CREs, respectively. Specificity of chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 89.2% and 70.3% for CP CRE, respectively; and 76.9% and 66.7% for non-CP CRE, respectively. Conclusions The CHROMagar KPC is useful to monitor non-CP and CP CREs. The chromID CARBA is efficient for rapid detection of CP CREs requiring high contact precaution.

scholarly journals Making the Case and Laying the Groundwork for Integrating Age-Friendly Practices Into a University Strategic Plan

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 552-552
Author(s):  
Melissa Cannon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Strategic Plan ◽  
College Campus ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Faculty Senate ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
Intensive Group ◽  
The University

Abstract A crucial first step in preparing to become an Age-Friendly University (AFU) is seeking endorsement from the campus community and leadership. This presentation describes the mapping of the AFU principles to the strategic plan and initiatives of Western Oregon University, leading to endorsement by its faculty senate, and highlights a study of the older community members’ use of the university, laying the groundwork for advancing age-friendliness on campus. Data were collected through surveys (N=46), interviews (N=9), and photovoice method (N=7) with older adults, and data were analyzed using SPSS, team coding, and intensive group discussion to develop categories and themes. Themes emerged related to how the college campus is used by older adults, the need to promote lifelong learning to the community, and the need to address accessibility issues in order to be more age-friendly, providing helpful insight to other institutions of higher education seeking to join the AFU network.

Improving the Quality of Survey Data on College Campus Woman Abuse: The Contribution of a Supplementary Open-Ended Question

2020 ◽  
pp. 107780122097549
Author(s):  
Walter S. DeKeseredy ◽  
Danielle M. Stoneberg ◽  
James Nolan ◽  
Gabrielle L. Lory
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
College Campus ◽  
Woman Abuse ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Methodological Challenge ◽  
Using Data

Obtaining accurate survey data on the prevalence of woman abuse in institutions of higher education continues to be a major methodological challenge. Underreporting is difficult to overcome; yet, there may be effective ways of minimizing this problem. One is adding a supplementary open-ended question to a primarily quantitative questionnaire. Using data derived from the Campus Quality of Life Survey (CQLS), this article examines whether asking respondents to complete such a question increases the prevalence rates of four types of woman abuse and provides information on behaviors that are not included in widely used and validated measures of these harms.

scholarly journals Revenue efficiency in higher education institutions under imperfect competition

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraint Johnes ◽  
John Ruggiero
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Imperfect Competition ◽  
Monopolistic Competition ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Revenue Efficiency ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Modelling Process ◽  
Selection Of

A number of studies have considered the evaluation of efficiency in higher education institutions. In this paper, we focus on the issue of revenue efficiency, in particular ascertaining the extent to which, given output prices, producers choose the revenue maximising vector of outputs. We then relax the price taking assumption to consider the case in which the market for some outputs is characterised by monopolistic competition. We evaluate efficiencies for English institutions of higher education for the academic year 2012–13 and find considerable variation across institutions in revenue efficiency. The relaxation of the price-taking assumption leads to relatively small changes, in either direction, to the estimated revenue efficiency scores. A number of issues surrounding the modelling process are raised and discussed, including the determination of the demand function for each type of output and the selection of inputs and outputs to be used in the model.

Rapid identification of H5 avian influenza virus in chicken throat swab specimens using microfluidic real-time RT-PCR

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Zhu ◽  
Cancan Zhu ◽  
Guoqing Deng ◽  
Long Zhang ◽  
Shumi Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Throat Swab ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Rt Pcr

scholarly journals Development of a Diagnostic Marker for Phlebotomus papatasi to Initiate a Potential Vector Surveillance Program in North America

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin Merchant ◽  
Tian Yu ◽  
Jizhe Shi ◽  
Xuguo Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Identification ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Sand Fly ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Sand Flies ◽  
Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽  
Diagnostic Assay ◽  
Vector Surveillance ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Imminent Threat

Phlebotomus papatasi, an Old World sand fly species, is primarily responsible for the transmission of leishmaniasis, a highly infectious and potentially lethal disease. International travel, especially military rotations, between domestic locations and P. papatasi-prevalent regions in the Middle East poses an imminent threat to the public health of US citizens. Because of its small size and cryptic morphology, identification of P. papatasi is challenging and labor-intensive. Here, we developed a ribosomal DNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay that is capable of detecting P. papatasi genomic DNA from mixed samples containing multiple sand flies native to the Americas. Serial dilution of P. papatasi samples demonstrated that this diagnostic assay could detect one P. papatasi from up to 255 non-target sand flies. Due to its simplicity, sensitivity and specificity, this rapid identification tool is suited for a long-term surveillance program to screen for the presence of P. papatasi in the continental United States and to reveal geographical regions potentially vulnerable to sand fly-borne diseases.

Stress and Violence in the Workplace and on Campus

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Hunt ◽  
Aaron W. Hughey ◽  
Monica G. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
College Campus ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Student Stress ◽  
The Past ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Violence In The Workplace ◽  
The Relationship

Levels of stress and violence at work have been increasing globally for the past few decades. Whether the setting is business and industry or a college campus, this disturbing trend affects a growing number of people, including those who do not work directly in these environments. In this paper the authors describe the relationship between stress and violence and offer recommendations as to how managers and administrators can reduce employee and student stress levels and help to prevent hostile behaviour from occurring in private companies, public agencies and institutions of higher education. Proactive strategies for preventing violent incidents are included together with suggestions on how to deal effectively with such incidents when they do arise.

P3609Temporal trends of the management and outcomes of patients after myocardial infarction according to the risk for recurrent cardiovascular events

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Grinberg ◽  
T Bental ◽  
Y Hammer ◽  
A R Assali ◽  
H Vaknin-Assa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Intermediate Risk ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Risk Patients

Abstract Background Following Myocardial Infarction (MI), patients are at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular events, particularly during the immediate period. Yet some patients are at higher risk than others, owing to their clinical characteristics and comorbidities, these high-risk patients are less often treated with guideline-recommended therapies. Aim To examine temporal trends in treatment and outcomes of patients with MI according to the TIMI risk score for secondary prevention (TRS2°P), a recently validated risk stratification tool. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients with an acute MI, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and were discharged alive between 2004–2016. Temporal trends were examined in the early (2004–2010) and late (2011–2016) time-periods. Patients were stratified by the TRS2°P to a low (≤1), intermediate (2) or high-risk group (≥3). Clinical outcomes included 30-day MACE (death, MI, target vessel revascularization, coronary artery bypass grafting, unstable angina or stroke) and 1-year mortality. Results Among 4921 patients, 31% were low-risk, 27% intermediate-risk and 42% high-risk. Compared to low and intermediate-risk patients, high-risk patients were older, more commonly female, and had more comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. They presented more often with non ST elevation MI and 3-vessel disease. High-risk patients were less likely to receive drug eluting stents and potent anti-platelet drugs, among other guideline-recommended therapies. Evidently, they experienced higher 30-day MACE (8.1% vs. 3.9% and 2.1% in intermediate and low-risk, respectively, P<0.001) and 1-year mortality (10.4% vs. 3.9% and 1.1% in intermediate and low-risk, respectively, P<0.001). During time, comparing the early to the late-period, the use of potent antiplatelets and statins increased among the entire cohort (P<0.001). However, only the high-risk group demonstrated a significantly lower 30-day MACE (P=0.001). During time, there were no differences in 1-year mortality rate among all risk categories. Temporal trends in 30-day MACE by TRS2°P Conclusion Despite a better application of guideline-recommended therapies, high-risk patients after MI are still relatively undertreated. Nevertheless, they demonstrated the most notable improvement in outcomes over time.

scholarly journals Routine Laboratory Blood Tests Predict SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Machine Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 1396-1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
He S Yang ◽  
Yu Hou ◽  
Ljiljana V Vasovic ◽  
Peter A D Steel ◽  
Amy Chadburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Gradient Boosting ◽  
Routine Laboratory ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Diagnostic Strategies ◽  
Laboratory Test Results

Abstract Background Accurate diagnostic strategies to identify SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals rapidly for management of patient care and protection of health care personnel are urgently needed. The predominant diagnostic test is viral RNA detection by RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swabs specimens, however the results are not promptly obtainable in all patient care locations. Routine laboratory testing, in contrast, is readily available with a turn-around time (TAT) usually within 1-2 hours. Method We developed a machine learning model incorporating patient demographic features (age, sex, race) with 27 routine laboratory tests to predict an individual’s SARS-CoV-2 infection status. Laboratory testing results obtained within 2 days before the release of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result were used to train a gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model from 3,356 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tested patients (1,402 positive and 1,954 negative) evaluated at a metropolitan hospital. Results The model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.854 (95% CI: 0.829-0.878). Application of this model to an independent patient dataset from a separate hospital resulted in a comparable AUC (0.838), validating the generalization of its use. Moreover, our model predicted initial SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity in 66% individuals whose RT-PCR result changed from negative to positive within 2 days. Conclusion This model employing routine laboratory test results offers opportunities for early and rapid identification of high-risk SARS-CoV-2 infected patients before their RT-PCR results are available. It may play an important role in assisting the identification of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in areas where RT-PCR testing is not accessible due to financial or supply constraints.

scholarly journals Temporal and Geographic Variation in Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Resistance Patterns of Enterococci: Results From the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, 1997–2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S54-S62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Pfaller ◽  
Martin Cormican ◽  
Robert K Flamm ◽  
Rodrigo E Mendes ◽  
Ronald N Jones
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Enterococcus Species ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Antimicrobial Surveillance ◽  
Tract Infections

Abstract Background The SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program was established in 1997 and presently encompasses more than 750 000 bacterial isolates from over 400 medical centers worldwide. Among these pathogens, enterococci represents a prominent cause of bloodstream (BSIs), intra-abdominal (IAIs), skin and skin structure, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). In the present study, we reviewed geographic and temporal trends in Enterococcus species and resistant phenotypes identified throughout the SENTRY Program. Methods From 1997 to 2016, a total of 49 491 clinically significant enterococci isolates (15 species) were submitted from 298 medical centers representing the Asia-Pacific (APAC), European, Latin American (LATAM), and North American (NA) regions. Bacteria were identified by standard algorithms and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry. Susceptibility (S) testing was performed by reference broth microdilution methods and interpreted using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute/US Food and Drug Administration and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing criteria. Results The most common Enterococcus species in all 4 regions were Enterococcus faecalis (64.7%) and E. faecium (EFM; 29.0%). Enterococci accounted for 10.7% of BSIs in NA and was most prominent as a cause of IAIs (24.0%) in APAC and of UTIs (19.8%) in LATAM. A steady decrease in the susceptibility to ampicillin and vancomycin was observed in all regions over the 20-year interval. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) accounted for more than 8% of enterococcal isolates in all regions and was most common in NA (21.6%). Among the 7615 VRE isolates detected, 89.1% were the VanA phenotype (91.0% EFM) and 10.9% were VanB. Several newer antimicrobial agents demonstrated promising activity against VRE, including daptomycin (99.6–100.0% S), linezolid (98.0%–99.6% S), oritavancin (92.2%–98.3% S), tedizolid (99.5%–100.0% S), and tigecycline (99.4%–100.0% S). Conclusions Enterococci remained a prominent gram-positive pathogen in the SENTRY Program from 1997 through 2016. The overall frequency of VRE was 15.4% and increased over time in all monitored regions. Newly released agents with novel mechanisms of action show promising activity against VRE.

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