Smoking tobacco contributes to 11.5% of deaths worldwide and, in some countries, more hospitalizations than alcohol and drugs combined. Globally in 2015, 25% of men and 5% of women smoked. In the United States, a higher proportion of people in prison smoke than do community-dwelling individuals. To determine smoking prevalence in prisons worldwide, we systematically reviewed the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines; we also examined whether prisons banned smoking or treated smokers. We searched databases for articles published between 2012 and 2016 and located 85 relevant articles with data representing 73.5% of all incarcerated persons from 50 countries. In 35 of 36 nations (97%) with published prevalence data, smoking for the incarcerated exceeded community rates 1.04- to 62.6-fold. Taking a conservative estimate of a 2-fold increase, we estimated that, globally, 14.5 million male and 26,000 female smokers pass through prisons annually. Prison authorities’ responses include permitting, prohibiting, or treating tobacco use. Bans may temporarily improve health and reduce in-prison health care costs but have negligible effect after prison release. Evidence-based interventions for smoking cessation effective outside prisons are effective inside; effects persist after release. Because smoking prevalence is heightened in prisons, offering evidence-based interventions to nearly 15 million smokers passing through yearly would improve global health.
BackgroundLinkage to and retention in care for US persons living with HIV (PLWH) after release from jail usually declines. We know of no rigorously evaluated behavioral interventions that can improve this. We hypothesized that a strengths-based case management intervention that we developed for PLWH leaving jail would increase linkage/retention in care (indicated by receipt of laboratory draws) and a suppressed HIV viral load (VL) in the year following release.Methods and findingsWe conducted a quasi-experimental feasibility study of our intervention for PLWH jailed in Atlanta. We recruited 113 PLWH in jail starting in 2014. “SUCCESS” (Sustained, Unbroken Connection to Care, Entry Services, and Suppression) began in jail and continued post-release. Subjects who started the intervention but subsequently began long-term incarcerations were excluded from further analysis. Persons who were retained in the intervention group were compared to contemporaneously incarcerated PLWH who did not receive the intervention. Identities were submitted to an enhanced HIV/AIDS reporting system (eHARS) at the state health department to capture all laboratories drawn. Both community engagement and care upon jail return were assessed equally. For 44 intervention participants released to Atlanta, 50% of care occurred on subsequent jail stays, as documented with EventFlow software. Forty-five receiving usual services only were recruited for comparison. By examining records of jail reentries, half of participants and 60% of controls recidivated (range: 1–8 returns). All but 6 participants in the intervention and 9 subjects in the comparison arm had ≥1 laboratory recorded in eHARS post-release. Among the intervention group, 52% were retained in care (i.e., had two laboratory studies, > = 3 months apart), versus 40% among the comparison group (OR = 1.60, 95% CI (0.71, 3.81)). Both arms showed improved viral load suppression.ConclusionsThere was a trend towards increased retention for PLWH released from jail after SUCCESS, compared to usual services. Measuring linkage at all venues, including jail-based clinics, fully captured engagement for this frequently recidivating population.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02185742
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are clinically and economically burdensome. Gram positive causative uropathogens are rare, and Staphylococcus simulans has infrequently been isolated as a causative agent for UTIs. Here, we present two cases of S. simulans causing complicated urinary tract infections.
BackgroundData are limited about the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related hospitalizations in older adults and those with COPD or CHF.MethodsWe conducted prospective surveillance at two hospitals from October 2018 to March 2019 for adults ≥50 years of age admitted with acute respiratory infections (ARI) and adults of any age with COPD or CHF-related admissions. Adults were eligible if they were residents of an 8 county region in Atlanta, Georgia. Asymptomatic adults ≥50 years of age were enrolled as controls. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were tested for RSV and influenza (Flu) using BioFire® FilmArray® Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) and acute/convalescent serology was obtained for RSV antibodies detection by enzyme immunoassay against RSV lysate. Standard of care results were included for enrollees. We compare the number of RSV+, Flu+ and RSV−/Flu− cases along with demographic features and outcomes.ResultsWe screened 12,453 patients to identify 1,515 eligible adults of which 617 (41%) were enrolled. The most common reasons for failing to enroll were refusal (676, 75%) and inability to obtain informed consent (221, 25%). Of the 617, 36 (6%) were RSV+ and 41 (7%) were Flu+. RSV was detected in 1/126 (0.8%) and Flu in 0/126 healthy controls. RSV+ occurred earlier in surveillance and peaked at a higher frequency (figure). Clinical characteristics and outcomes are in the table. In a convenience sample, a four-fold rise in RSV antibody titer was detected among 8/15 RSV+, 0/42 RSV−/Flu−, and 0/42 healthy controls.ConclusionThe burden and outcomes for RSV are similar to Flu in adults admitted to the hospital with ARI, CHF, or COPD. A vaccine for RSV would be beneficial. DisclosuresNadine Rouphael, MD, Merck: I conduct as Emory PI the PNEUMO MERCK study at Emory, Research Grant; Pfizer: I conduct as co-PI the RSV PFIZER study at Emory, Research Grant; Sanofi-Pasteur: I conducted as Emory PI the CDIFFENSE trial at Emory, Research Grant.
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