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Nontyphoidal salmonellae are among the most ubiquitous pathogens associated with foodborne illness worldwide (1). Salmonellosis detection is of public health value because of the ease with which the pathogen is [...]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health problem in the United States and throughout the world. At least 80% of acute infections become chronic (1); an estimated [...]

A study was conducted to describe the history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and to identify populations at greatest risk of experiencing MRSA colonization and infection. It is concluded that standard infection control precautions should be enforced strictly in all ambulatory care settings.

The study presents the incidence of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disease in the U.S. The results show that invasive MSRA infections affect certain populations disproportionately and are no longer restricted to medical settings only.

Although HIV information is widely available in this country, little is known about how commonly used HIV prevention activities reach persons at highest risk for HIV. In this paper, we describe the extent to which HIV prevention strategies reach a sample of high-risk persons and whether such exposure correlates with having been tested for HIV. Data are from the 2000 HIV Testing Survey, an anonymous interview study of men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users (IDU), and high-risk heterosexuals (HRH), recruited from appropriate venues in seven states and New York City. We report the proportion of persons exposed to three types of interventions: information (media messages, brochures), counseling or skills-building (group counseling, role play, calling an AIDS hotline), and prevention supplies (provision of condoms, bleach kits), stratified by HIV testing status (ever, never). Exposure to information interventions was high among 2491 respondents (85%-96%) and did not differ by testing status. Use of counseling or skills-building interventions varied by testing status for IDU (8% untested versus 41% tested, p < 0.01) and HRH (14% versus 20%, p = 0.03) but not MSM (15% versus 23%, p = 0.08). Among tested IDU, those receiving bleach kits were more likely to report consistent bleach use when injecting with nonsterile needles (25% versus 9%, p = 0.003). Exposure to HIV prevention information is high but exposure to counseling or skills-building interventions is less common and more prevalent among those previously tested. Prevention initiatives should focus on counseling and testing, skills-building, and prevention supplies.

A study of 3,289 patients diagnosed with AIDS after the CDC changed the case definition in 1993 found that 10% had an unreported opportunistic infection. The case definition of AIDS was changed to include severe immunosuppression in the absence of an opportunistic infection.

To determine frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections caused by strains typically associated with community-acquired infections (USA300) among persons with healthcare-related risk factors (HRFs), we evaluated surveillance data. Of patients [...]

Many children receive more vaccine doses than they need. In a survey of the medical records of 22,806 children, 21% received more vaccine doses than they needed. The annual cost of this excess vaccination was estimated to be $26.5 million. Children who had more than one doctor were most likely to be over-vaccinated. Those whose parents used both public and private health services were also more likely to be over-vaccinated.