Search

New guidance recommends annual influenza vaccination for all children 5-18 years of age in the United States. During 2007-2008, Hawaii offered inactivated and live attenuated influenza vaccine at school-located clinics for grades kindergarten through 8. Most (90%) public and private schools participated, and 622 clinics were conducted at 340 schools. Of 132,775 children 5-13 years of age, 60,760 (46%) were vaccinated. The proportion vaccinated peaked at 54% for those 6 years of age and declined for older cohorts. More than 90% of schoolchildren transited the clinic in <10 minutes. A total of 16,920 staff-hours were expended; estimated cost per dose administered was $27 and included vaccine purchase and administration, health staffing resources, printing costs, data management, and promotion. This program demonstrates the feasibility of conducting mass school-located influenza vaccination programs in public and private schools statewide, as might be indicated to respond to pandemic influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: For surveillance purposes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CDC/CSTE) have defined two case classifications for leptospirosis: "confirmed" and "probable." The objective of this study was to provide data to refine the current surveillance case classifications.Methods: All reported leptospirosis infections from exposures within the State of Hawaii, 1974 to 1998 meeting CDC/CSTE "confirmed" and "probable" case classifications were compared on a number of clinical and epidemiologic parameters.Results: Confirmed cases (n = 276) had more severe clinical manifestations than probable cases (n = 180); however, probable cases with higher peak microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titers (> or =1:800) were clinically and epidemiologically comparable to confirmed cases. In addition, 77 cases demonstrating fourfold or greater MAT titer increases in paired serum collected less than two weeks apart (currently excluded from the "confirmed" case classification) were also comparable to confirmed cases.Conclusions: Our findings support amending the current CDC/CSTE surveillance confirmed case classification to include demonstration of a fourfold or greater MAT titer increase in paired serum, irrespective of the interval between specimen collection. Consideration should also be given to including single MAT titer > or =1:800 as a criterion for "confirmation." These changes would both simplify and expedite the surveillance confirmation of leptospirosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We integrated multicenter, real-time (RTi) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) screening into a statewide laboratory algorithm for influenza surveillance and response. Methods. Each of three sites developed its own testing strategy and was challenged with one randomized and blinded panel of 50 specimens previously tested for respiratory viruses. Following testing, each participating laboratory reported its results to the Hawaii State Department of Health, State Laboratories Division for evaluation and possible discrepant analysis. Results. Two of three laboratories reported a 100% sensitivity and specificity, resulting in a 100% positive predictive value and a 100% negative predictive value (NPV) for influenza type A. The third laboratory showed a 71% sensitivity for influenza type A (83% NPV) with 100% specificity. All three laboratories were 100% sensitive and specific for the detection of influenza type B. Discrepant analysis indicated that the lack of sensitivity experienced by the third laboratory may have been due to the analyte-specific reagent probe used by that laboratory. Use of a newer version of the product with a secondary panel of 20 specimens resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Conclusions. All three laboratories successfully verified their ability to conduct clinical testing for influenza using diverse nucleic acid extraction and RTi RT-PCR platforms. Successful completion of the verification by all collaborating laboratories paved the way for the integration of those facilities into a statewide laboratory algorithm for influenza surveillance and response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited studies have shown high rates of gonorrheal and chlamydial infections among incarcerated adolescents, however, this population has not been routinely targeted for sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening. This study was done to ascertain the feasibility of screening females for STDs at a juvenile detention facility in Honolulu, Hawaii, and to determine the prevalence of chlamydial and gonorrheal infections in this population. Between January 2000 and December 2001, pelvic examination-based STD screening was offered to all female detainees, on selected dates. Specimens from multiple anatomical sites were cultured for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Endocervical swabs were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis using a DNA probe (GenProber). One-hundred one of 204 (50%) eligible females were screened. Fourteen of 101 (13.9%) females were screen positive for chlamydial infection, while six of 101 (5.9%) were culture positive for infection with N. gonorrhoeae. Three females were co-infected with both organisms. The high STD rates justify the institution of a routine screening program for this high risk and previously underserved group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed a statewide school-based Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination program for preadolescents in Hawaii over three consecutive school years. Factors assessed included number of schools and students participating and number of students receiving three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. METHODS: Records of the program, which targeted 4th and/or 5th graders in public and private schools, were reviewed for the period from 1996 to 1999. RESULTS: The proportion of participating schools increased from 76% of all schools in the state in School Year 1 to 94% in School Year 3. The proportion of children with completed consent forms who received three doses of HepB vaccine at school exceeded 80% throughout the project. In School Year 1, 10,003 (70%) of 14,333 children enrolled at participating schools received three vaccine doses in school; however, this proportion declined over subsequent school years to 51% (7,722/15,013) in School Year 2 and 24% (7,344/30,429) in School Year 3. A survey of 477 parents not consenting to school vaccination indicated that 84% of their children completed the vaccine series at a private provider office. CONCLUSION: Statewide school-based HepB vaccination campaigns for at-risk populations can result in a majority of children in targeted age groups receiving three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, though declining participation may be observed as uptake in the private sector increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Obtaining childhood immunization coverage data for small geographic areas is difficult and resource-intensive, especially in the absence of comprehensive immunization registries. To identify factors that are associated with delayed immunization, we collected school-entry immunization records statewide and used geocoding to link to publicly available census tract sociodemographic data. METHODS: Immunization records were reviewed for children who were enrolled in all public and private school kindergarten programs in Hawaii in the 2002-2003 school year; immunization status at the time of the second birthday was determined. The main outcome variable was up-to-date status for the 4:3:1:3:3 vaccination series (4 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, 3 doses of polio, 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella, 3 doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b, and 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccines). Children's home addresses were geocoded to census tracts; coverage rates by tract were mapped, and sociodemographic data from Census 2000 files were used to identify factors that were associated with delays in immunization. RESULTS: Records were obtained for 15,275 of 15,594 children registered in Hawaii kindergartens. Overall, 78% had completed their 4:3:1:3:3 series by their second birthday. Risk factors for delayed immunization included delayed immunization at 3 months of age, living in Maui County, living in a neighborhood where a low proportion of adults had postsecondary education, and living in a neighborhood where a high proportion of households spoke a language other than English at home. The majority (80%) of underimmunized children would have required only 1 additional visit to bring them up-to-date. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective review of kindergarten-entry immunization data revealed geographic areas with lower immunization coverage, and geocoding to census tracts identified associated sociodemographic risk factors. This is a practical method for state or city health departments to identify pockets of need and to direct resources appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]