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Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which encompasses all STEC serogroups other than O157, causes an estimated 219,000 US infections annually (1). Typical symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, [...]

In the United States, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) (1-5). Outbreaks in LTCFs have caused high numbers of hospitalizations and deaths. Similar [...]

Researchers are now relatively certain that genetics plays a role in at least some cases of schizophrenia. What role the genes may play, however, remains unclear. The single-gene theory states that there is a single gene that, when damaged, is the primary cause of schizophrenia. Other theories propose that there are more than one gene involved. One way to evaluate competing genetic theories would be to define characteristics that seem to be unique to schizophrenics and then track these traits, or phenotypes, in their families. Patterns of inheritance could then be analyzed to determine whether traits are passed on, and if so whether they are passed on together or separately. The latter would be more supportive of a multi-gene model of schizophrenia while the former would support the single-gene model. Such a study would need to identify and investigate multiple traits. Most studies to date have tracked only a single trait at a time, making it difficult to speculate on the number of genes involved. A group of 17 schizophrenics was studied, as was a group of 61 of their first-degree relatives and a group of 18 normal subjects. All were evaluated for evidence of personality characteristics common in schizophrenics, for their ability to track moving stimuli with their eyes, and for attention dysfunction. As expected, performance of schizophrenics was abnormal in all cases. Of significance were findings that similar abnormalities were seen significantly more often in family members of schizophrenics than in control subjects, and that these traits tended to be seen together in these individuals. This provides some support for theories that propose a genetic factor in schizophrenia, and specifically supports the single-gene model. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Background Syndromic gastrointestinal multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panels (GMPPs) are used by an increasing number of clinical laboratories to identify enteric pathogens. Vibrio species are included on GMPPs, but because of the low prevalence of vibriosis, performance characteristics for these panels have been difficult to measure. Methods All Vibrio spp. cases identified by GMPPs in Minnesota during 2016–2018 (n = 100) were assessed to identify differences between culture-confirmed cases and those that were PCR-positive only. Results Overall, 47% of cases had Vibrio species recovered by culture. Two GMPPs were used in Minnesota, Verigene EPT and FilmArray GIP, and the recovery rate of Vibrio spp. was significantly different between these platforms (Verigene EPT 63%, compared with FilmArray GIP 28%). No distinct seasonality was identified among GMPP-positive, culture-negative cases, whereas culture-confirmed case incidence peaked during July and August. Among cases with no other pathogen detected by the GMPP, confirmed cases reported a lower rate of bloody diarrhea (odds ratio [OR], 0.7; P  = .004) and were less likely to have a symptom duration >14 days (OR, 0.3; P  = .04). Confirmed cases were also more likely to include reports of consuming food items typically associated with Vibrio spp. infection or to have another likely source of infection (eg, international travel or contact with an untreated body of fresh or salt water or marine life; OR, 9.6; P  = .001). Conclusions The combined findings indicate that cases identified by GMPP that did not have culture confirmation were less likely to include symptoms or exposures consistent with vibriosis. These findings emphasize the need for improvements to testing platform specificity and the importance of combining clinical and exposure information when diagnosing an infection. This study underscores the importance of maintaining the ability to culture Vibrio species to aid in accurate diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Minnesota Department of Health investigated a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a fitness center in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Twenty-three severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (5 employees and 18 members) were identified. An epidemiological investigation supported by whole genome sequencing demonstrated that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred at the fitness center despite following recommended prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a healthy 3-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Topics include the patient has been feeding goats by hand for visit to the farm; and a component of evaluation for etiologies of diarrhea, a stool enteric pathogen panel has sent.

Background Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is increasingly recognized as an enteric pathogen as clinical laboratories transition to culture-independent diagnostic tests that detect EAEC. To date, epidemiological studies have focused on children aged <5 years, and information on EAEC incidence, illness outcomes, and transmission avenues is limited. Methods Enteric disease surveillance data in Minnesota were used to describe EAEC illnesses reported to the Minnesota Department of Health from September 2016 through August 2017. We determined laboratory characteristics of EAEC using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and next-generation sequencing. Frequency of EAEC illness, demographic profile of cases, clinical characteristics of illness, and plausible food or environmental exposures leading to EAEC transmission were assessed. Results During the study period, 329 EAEC cases were reported. Among a subset of health systems able to detect EAEC over the entire study, EAEC was the second most common reportable enteric pathogen detected after Campylobacter and the most detected diarrheagenic E. coli pathotype. No other reportable enteric pathogens were detected among 75.3% of EAEC cases, and 68% of cases reported no international travel before onset. Several virulence genes were associated with clinical characteristics. Conclusions We provide evidence that EAEC is a likely causative agent of diarrheal illness in the United States. Our study contributes to criteria development for identification of pathogenic EAEC and proposes potential exposure avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]