The objective of this study was to assess the differences in HPV-related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among African American and non-Hispanic white women and to determine their communication preferences for cancer-related information. Data was obtained from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) 2014 Health Interview National Trends Survey (HINTS), a cross-sectional survey of US adults 18 years of age or older. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify differences in awareness and knowledge. Data was collected in 2014 and analyzed in 2016. HPV awareness (71 vs. 77%) and knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer (64 vs. 81%) were significantly lower among blacks. Additionally, there were significant disparities in awareness of the HPV vaccine (66 vs. 79%), with only 25% of Black women indicating that they or a family member was recommended the HPV vaccine by a health care professional. There were also differences in cancer communication preferences. Blacks were more likely than Whites to trust cancer information from family (OR 2.7, confidence interval [CI] 0.725-10.048), television (OR 3.0, 95% [CI] 0.733-12.296), government health agencies (OR 5.8, [CI] 0.639-52.818), and religious organizations (OR 6.4, 95% [CI] 1.718-23.932). Study results indicate that racial/ethnic differences exist in HPV knowledge/awareness and cancer communication preferences. These results highlight the need to increase HPV prevention and education efforts using methods that are tailored to Black women. To address HPV/cervical cancer disparities, future interventions should utilize preferred communication outlets to effectively increase HPV knowledge and vaccine awareness.
Objective:Rare disease Background:During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of opportunistic infections, including fungal infections, has increased. Blastomycosis is caused by inhalation of an environmental fungus, Blastomyces dermatides, which is endemic in parts of the USA and Canada. This case report is of a 44-year-old man from the American Midwest who presented with disseminated blastomycosis infection 3 months following a diagnosis of COVID-19.
Case Report:Our patient initially presented to an outpatient clinic with mild upper-respiratory symptoms. He tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three months later, he presented to our emergency department due to some unresolved COVID-19 symptoms and the development of a widely disseminated, painful rash of 1-week duration. A positive Blastomyces urine enzyme immunoassay was the first indication of his diagnosis, which was followed by the identification of the pathogen via fungal culture from bronchoscopy samples and pathology from lung and skin biopsies. Given the evidence of dissemination, the patient was treated with an intravenous and oral antifungal regimen. He recovered well after completing treatment.
Conclusions:The immunocompetent status of patients should not exclude disseminated fungal infections as a differential diagnosis, despite the less frequent manifestations. This is especially important when there is a history of COVID-19, as this may predispose once-healthy individuals to more serious disease processes. This case supports the recent recommendations made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for increased vigilance regarding fungal infections in patients with a history of COVID-19.
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