There are few studies that have assessed factors influencing infection control practices among health care workers (HCW) in nursing homes. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of HCWs (N = 392) in 4 nursing homes to assess whether knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions influence reported hand hygiene habits. Positive perceptions and beliefs regarding effectiveness of infection control in nursing homes were associated with reported appropriate glove use and fingernail characteristics, respectively, among HCWs. Further research on hand hygiene interventions, including targeted educational in-services should be conducted in the nursing home setting.

Background Vaccination has reduced the global incidence of measles to the lowest rates in history. However, local interruption of measles virus transmission requires sustained high levels of population immunity that can be challenging to achieve and maintain. The herd immunity threshold for measles is typically stipulated at 90–95%. This figure does not easily translate into age-specific immunity levels required to interrupt transmission. Previous estimates of such levels were based on speculative contact patterns based on historical data from high-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine age-specific immunity levels that would ensure elimination of measles when taking into account empirically observed contact patterns. Methods We combined estimated immunity levels from serological data in 17 countries with studies of age-specific mixing patterns to derive contact-adjusted immunity levels. We then compared these to case data from the 10 years following the seroprevalence studies to establish a contact-adjusted immunity threshold for elimination. We lastly combined a range of hypothetical immunity profiles with contact data from a wide range of socioeconomic and demographic settings to determine whether they would be sufficient for elimination. Results We found that contact-adjusted immunity levels were able to predict whether countries would experience outbreaks in the decade following the serological studies in about 70% of countries. The corresponding threshold level of contact-adjusted immunity was found to be 93%, corresponding to an average basic reproduction number of approximately 14. Testing different scenarios of immunity with this threshold level using contact studies from around the world, we found that 95% immunity would have to be achieved by the age of five and maintained across older age groups to guarantee elimination. This reflects a greater level of immunity required in 5–9-year-olds than established previously. Conclusions The immunity levels we found necessary for measles elimination are higher than previous guidance. The importance of achieving high immunity levels in 5–9-year-olds presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While such high levels can be difficult to achieve, school entry provides an opportunity to ensure sufficient vaccination coverage. Combined with observations of contact patterns, further national and sub-national serological studies could serve to highlight key gaps in immunity that need to be filled in order to achieve national and regional measles elimination.

Vaccination has reduced the global incidence of measles to the lowest rates in history. Local interruption of measles transmission, however, requires sustained high levels of population immunity that can be challenging to achieve and maintain. The herd immunity threshold for measles is typically stipulated at 90-95%.This figure, however, does not easily translate into required immunity levels across all age groups that would be sufficient to interrupt transmission. Previous estimates of such levels were based on speculative contact patterns based on historical data from high-income countries. The aim of this study is to determine age-specific immunity levels that would ensure elimination of measles using observed contact patterns from a broad range of settings. We combined recent observations on age-specific mixing patterns with scenarios for the distribution of immunity to estimate transmission potential. We validated these models by deriving predictions based on serological studies and comparing them to observed case data. We found that 95% immunity needs to be achieved at the time of school entry to guarantee elimination. The level of immunity found in * Corresponding author

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Rubella is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects. Rubella typically manifests as a mild febrile rash illness; however, infection during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, fetal death, or a constellation of malformations known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), commonly including one or more visual, auditory, or cardiac defects (1). In 2012, the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR)* committed to accelerate rubella control, and in 2017, resolved that all countries or areas (countries) in WPR should aim for rubella elimination † as soon as possible (2,3). WPR countries are capitalizing on measles elimination activities, using a combined measles and rubella vaccine, case-based surveillance for febrile rash illness, and integrated diagnostic testing for measles and rubella. This report summarizes progress toward rubella elimination and CRS prevention in WPR during 2000-2019. Coverage with a first dose of rubellacontaining vaccine (RCV1) increased from 11% in 2000 to 96% in 2019. During 1970-2019, approximately 84 million persons were vaccinated through 62 supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) conducted in 27 countries. Reported rubella incidence increased from 35.5 to 71.3 cases per million population among reporting countries during 2000-2008, decreased to 2.1 in 2017, and then increased to 18.4 in 2019 as a result of outbreaks in China and Japan. Strong sustainable immunization programs, closing of existing immunity gaps, and maintenance of high-quality surveillance to respond rapidly to and contain outbreaks are needed in every WPR country to achieve rubella elimination in the region. * The Western Pacific Region, one of the six regions of the World Health Organization, consists of 37 countries and areas with a population of approximately 1.9 billion, including American Samoa (United States), Australia,

A better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from children and adolescents is crucial for informing public health mitigation strategies. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among household contacts of primary cases defined as children and adolescents aged 7-19 years with laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection acquired during an overnight camp outbreak. Among household contacts, we defined secondary cases using the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists definition. Among 526 household contacts of 224 primary cases, 48 secondary cases were identified, corresponding to a secondary attack rate of 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7%-12%). Our findings show that children and adolescents can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to adult contacts and other children in a household setting.

Impressive reductions in pertussis have been achieved in the U.S. during the 20th century through childhood vaccination. Over the past two decades, increasing pertussis incidence has highlighted the need for accurate and timely reporting of cases to improve prevention and control efforts. We assessed components of the pertussis case definition, comparing use of clinical characteristics and laboratory results and their effects on internal validity, including an examination of the 2014 infant case definition. All reported pertussis cases in Michigan during 2000–2010 with data on cough length ( N = 3310) were analyzed using multivariate statistics to internally validate reported cases, and calculate odds of meeting the clinical case definition, including a cough of at least 14 days. Cough duration of reported cases averaged 32 days and was longer with greater time interval between cough onset and initial presentation to a physician. Only about half of reported cases had positive laboratory results. Among cases seeking medical evaluation prior to meeting the cough duration required to fulfill the clinical case definition, the presence of positive lab results doubled the odds that the cough duration was not met compared to cases without a positive lab test. Clinical characteristics of pertussis are frequently ignored in applying the case classification. Relying solely on laboratory confirmation and disregarding clinical characteristics results in undiagnosed pertussis cases among those who are vaccinated, among adults, and among anyone who delays seeking care. This may prevent use of appropriate prevention and prophylaxis in contacts.