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Rates of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) have risen in women by 13% and 40%, respectively, since 2015. Women with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) are at disproportionate risk for STIs. A retrospective chart review was performed at a safety-net healthcare system in the Southeastern United States (US) from 2014 to 2017. CT/GC positivity rates did not differ between the general and SMI populations (6.6% vs. 6.5% for CT and 1.8% vs. 2.2% for GC, respectively). Emergency Medicine accounted for more positive STI test results in SMI patients than the general population (25.2% vs. 19.1% for CT, 47.8% vs. 35.5% for GC, respectively). SMI patients received large portions of STI care in emergency settings, where follow-up is poor. Point of Care (POC) testing could improve care in this setting, and mental healthcare providers must address sexual health with patients who otherwise may not receive this care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite 15,000 people enter US jails yearly with undiagnosed HIV infection, routine HIV testing is not standard. Maximizing the yield and speed of HIV testing in short-term detention facilities could promote rapid entry or re-entry of people living with HIV (PLWH) into care. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of third generation, rapid point-of-care (rPOC) vs. fourth generation, laboratory-based antigen/antibody (LBAg/Ab) testing on the HIV care cascade in a large urban jail during a planned transition. We used aggregate historical data to compare rPOC testing and LBAg/Ab testing in the D.C. Department of Corrections. We examined two time periods, January to August 2019 when rPOC testing was performed, and October 2019 to January 2020 after LBAg/Ab testing began. We calculated monthly rates of HIV tests performed, HIV test results received, HIV test results received among those tested, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and proportion of PLWH receiving discharge planning prior to release. We then conducted an interrupted time series analysis to assess the differences between testing periods. There were 14,237 entrants during the first time period and 7,569 entrants during the second. Transitioning from rPOC to LBAg/Ab testing increased the rate of test uptake by 38.5% (95% CI: 14.0, 68.3), decreased the rate of test results received among those tested by 13.1% (95% CI: -14.0, -12.1), and increased the combined rate of HIV tests performed and results received by 20.4% (95% CI: 1.5, 42.8). Although the rate of HIV testing was greater under LBAg/Ab, PLWH received results immediately through rPOC testing, which is critically important in short-stay enviroments. Increasing rPOC uptake would increase its value and combined testing may maximize the detection of HIV and receipt of results among persons passing through jails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which investigated the relationship between ecological variables and the prevalence of interspecific hybridization in redbreast and pumpkinseed sunfish by integrating ecological and genetic characteristics in freshwater lake. Topics covered include the potential for ecological characteristics to act as barriers to interspecific reproduction, and the differences in the substrate, date, water depth, temperature, and dissolved oxygen in the nests of sunfish species.

Health systems face barriers implementing routine screening for social needs. We assessed the impact of "clinician champions" on social needs screening. Screening data were assessed at 11 pediatric primary care practices in Bronx, NY, between April 2018 and August 2021. Three intervention practices had clinician champions; 8 control practices did not. The Wald chi-square tests and Poisson regressions evaluated the relationship between screening and introduction of clinician champions. The introduction of a clinician champion was a significant predictor of screening (P <.001). Within a practice, screening after the introduction of a clinician champion was higher than before the introduction (P <.001). The rate of screening for practices with a clinician champion was 2.8 times higher per month than for practices without a clinician champion. Furthermore, practices with clinician champions had higher rates of screening during the pandemic. In summary, the presence of clinician champions increased social needs screening rates in pediatric primary care practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Washington, District of Columbia lowered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission in its large jail while community incidence was still high Methods Coordinated clinical and operational interventions brought new cases to near zero. Results Aggressive infection control and underlying jail architecture can promote correctional coronavirus disease 2019 management. Conclusions More intensive monitoring could help confirm that in-house transmission is truly zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]