In January 2017, two local health departments notified the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of three cases of coccidioidomycosis among workers constructing a solar power installation (solar farm) in southeastern Monterey County. Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever, is an infection caused by inhalation of the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides, which is endemic in the southwestern United States, including California. After a 1–3 week incubation period, coccidioidomycosis most often causes influenza-like symptoms or pneumonia, but rarely can lead to severe disseminated disease or death (1). Persons living, working, or traveling in areas where Coccidioides is endemic can inhale fungal spores; workers who are performing soil-disturbing activities are particularly at risk. CDPH previously investigated one outbreak among solar farm construction workers that started in 2011 and made recommendations for reducing risk for infection, including worker education, dust suppression, and use of personal protective equipment (2,3). For the current outbreak, the CDPH, in collaboration with Monterey County and San Luis Obispo County public health departments, conducted an investigation that identified nine laboratory-confirmed cases of coccidioidomycosis among 2,410 solar farm employees and calculated a worksite-specific incidence rate that was substantially higher than background county rates, suggesting that illness was work-related. The investigation assessed risk factors for potential occupational exposures to identify methods to prevent further workplace illness.
Background In California, state prison inmates are employed to fight wildfires, which involves performing soil‐disrupting work. Wildfires have become more common, including areas where Coccidioides, the soil‐dwelling fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis, proliferates. However, work practices that place wildland firefighters at risk for coccidioidomycosis have not been investigated. Methods On August 17, 2017, the California Department of Public Health was notified of a cluster of coccidioidomycosis cases among Wildfire A inmate wildland firefighters. We collected data through medical record abstraction from suspected case‐patients and mailed a survey assessing potential job task risk factors to Wildfire A inmate firefighters. We described respondent characteristics and conducted a retrospective case–control investigation to assess coccidioidomycosis risk factors. Results Among 198 inmate firefighters who worked on Wildfire A, 112 (57%) completed the survey. Of 10 case‐patients (four clinical and six laboratory‐confirmed), two were hospitalized. In the case–control analysis of 71 inmate firefighters, frequently cutting fire lines with a McLeod tool (odds ratio [OR]: 5.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–37.2) and being in a dust cloud or storm (OR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.1–17.4) were associated with illness. Two of 112 inmate firefighters reported receiving coccidioidomycosis training; none reported wearing respiratory protection on this wildfire. Conclusions Wildland firefighters who use hand tools and work in dusty conditions where Coccidioides proliferates are at risk for coccidioidomycosis. Agencies that employ them should provide training about coccidioidomycosis and risk reduction, limit dust exposure, and implement respiratory protection programs that specify where respirator use is feasible and appropriate.
BACKGROUND: Hospitalization is a costly event that affects more than half of all TB patients in the United States. State-level hospitalization data are crucial in estimating the cost of TB disease and the financial impact of preventing TB.METHODS: We used California administrative hospital discharge data from 2009 to 2017 to characterize TB hospitalizations in comparison with non-neonatal, non-maternal hospitalizations. TB hospitalization was defined as a hospitalization with a TB ICD-9/10 code as the primary diagnosis. We estimated hospitalization costs in 2017 dollars from reported charges using cost-to-charge ratios.RESULTS: In comparison to persons hospitalized for other conditions, persons hospitalized for TB in 2017 were more likely to be male, of working age, and Asian/Pacific Islander. The median cost for TB hospitalizations was US$22,807 vs. US$11,568 for other hospitalizations. The median length of stay for TB hospitalizations was 12 days compared to 3 days for other hospitalizations. Medicaid was expected to pay for 50% of TB hospitalizations costing US$21,438,208.CONCLUSIONS: Societal cost estimates of TB hospitalization should be updated to reflect long hospital stays and the disproportionate burden on working age persons. This analysis enhances our understanding of the high cost of TB care and underscores the costs averted if TB cases are prevented.
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