Research Publications (Food Safety)

Chronic hepatitis B, a major cause of liver disease and cancer, affects >250 million people worldwide. Currently there is no cure, only suppressive therapies. Efforts to develop finite curative hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapies are underway, consisting of combinations of multiple novel agents with or without nucleos(t)ide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors.

Background Organ transplantation from donors with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to recipients with HIV (HIV D+/R+) presents risks of donor-derived infections. Understanding clinical, immunologic, and virologic characteristics of HIV-positive donors is critical for safety.

Background Pradefovir is a liver-targeted prodrug of adefovir, a nucleoside/nucleotide analogue with antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase. This phase 2 study compared the efficacy and safety of oral pradefovir (30, 45, 60, or 75 mg) versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF; 300 mg) and aimed to identify the most appropriate dose of pradefovir for the forthcoming phase 3 study.

Background The National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) captures data on foodborne, waterborne, and enteric illness outbreaks in the United States. This study describes enteric illness outbreaks reported during 11 years of surveillance. Methods We extracted finalized reports from NORS for outbreaks occurring during 2009–2019.

Background Fatty liver disease (FLD) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occur commonly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FLD resolution is associated with improvement in lipoproteins in HIV-uninfected patients. We evaluated changes in FLD in an HBV/HIV-coinfected cohort. Methods One hundred eight HBV/HIV-coinfected adults with baseline liver biopsies were followed every 24 weeks (median, 166 weeks) and 60 had follow-up biopsies.

Background In the United States, norovirus is the leading cause of healthcare-associated gastroenteritis outbreaks. To inform prevention efforts, we describe the epidemiology of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collect epidemiologic and laboratory data on norovirus outbreaks from US health departments through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) and CaliciNet.

In the originally published version of this manuscript [Cannon LJ, Lopman BA, Payne DC, et al. Birth Cohort Studies Assessing Norovirus Infection and Immunity in Young Children: A Review.

Background Approximately 50 000 influenza-associated deaths occur annually in the United States, overwhelmingly among individuals aged ≥65 years. Although vaccination is the primary prevention tool, investigations have shown low vaccine effectiveness (VE) in recent years, particularly among the elderly. We analyzed the relative VE (RVE) of all influenza vaccines among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years to prevent influenza hospital encounters during the 2019–2020 season.

Background RIV4 and cell-culture based inactivated influenza vaccine (ccIIV4) have not been compared to egg-based IIV4 in healthcare personnel, a population with frequent influenza vaccination that may blunt vaccine immune responses over time. We conducted a randomized trial among healthcare personnel (HCP) aged 18–64 years to compare humoral immune responses to ccIIV4 and RIV4 to IIV4.

Background Norovirus is the etiology for about 60% of foodborne outbreaks identified in Minnesota. Contamination of food during preparation by food handlers is by far the most common cause of these outbreaks. Norovirus outbreaks due to commercially distributed foods are rarely reported in the United States, and only 2 have been previously identified in Minnesota, both due to oysters.

Background Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) burden, etiology, and severity in adults is not well characterized. We implemented a multisite AGE surveillance platform in 4 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (Atlanta, Georgia; Bronx, New York; Houston, Texas; and Los Angeles, California), collectively serving >320 000 patients annually.

Background As children with isolated vomiting are rarely able to provide a specimen suitable for routine pathogen testing, we have limited knowledge about their infecting pathogens. Methods Between December 2014 and August 2018, children <18 years old with presumed acute gastroenteritis who presented to 2 emergency departments (EDs) in Alberta, Canada, were recruited.

Background Norovirus is a leading cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis (AGE), with most outbreaks occurring during winter. The majority of outbreaks are caused by GII.4 noroviruses; however, data to support whether this is true for sporadic medically attended AGE are limited. Therefore, we sought to compare the clinical characteristics and seasonality of GII.4 vs non-GII.4 viruses.

Background Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) causes a substantial burden in the United States, but its etiology frequently remains undetermined. Active surveillance within an integrated healthcare delivery system was used to estimate the prevalence and incidence of medically attended norovirus, rotavirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus. Methods Active surveillance was conducted among all enrolled members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest during July 2014–June 2016.

Background Diarrheal pathogens have been associated with linear growth deficits. The effect of diarrheal pathogens on growth is likely due to inflammation, which also adversely affects neurodevelopment. We hypothesized that diarrheagenic pathogens would be negatively associated with both growth and neurodevelopment.

Background Up-to-date estimates of the burden of norovirus, a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in the United States, are needed to assess the potential value of norovirus vaccines in development. We aimed to estimate the rates, annual counts, and healthcare charges of norovirus-associated ambulatory clinic encounters, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States.

Background Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is an ultrasound-based point-of-care method to quantify liver fat; however, the optimal threshold for CAP to detect pathologic liver fat among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) is unknown.

Following increases in reported cases of hepatitis A, we assessed the impact of hepatitis A vaccine in Alaska Native persons. During 1996–2018, only 6 cases of hepatitis A were identified, all in unvaccinated adults. Populations can be protected against hepatitis A by achieving sufficient vaccination coverage over time.

Background Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common reason for children to receive medical care. However, the viral etiology of AGE illness is not well described in the post–rotavirus vaccine era, particularly in the outpatient (OP) setting.

Norovirus is the most common etiology of diarrheal illness globally, causing both sporadic and epidemic infection. It is responsible for more than 200 000 deaths annually, primarily in children under 5 years of age in developing countries, and economic costs are estimated to be more than $64 billion annually [1, 2].

Background Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, yet there is limited information on homotypic or heterotypic protection following natural infection to guide vaccine development. Methods A total of 6020 stools collected from 299 Peruvian children between 2010 and 2014 were tested by norovirus real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction followed by sequence-based genotyping.

Background Despite national immunization efforts, including universal childhood hepatitis A (HepA) vaccination recommendations in 2006, hepatitis A virus (HAV)–associated outbreaks have increased in the United States. Unvaccinated or previously uninfected persons are susceptible to HAV infection, yet the susceptibility in the US population is not well known.

Background In the United States, surveillance of norovirus gastroenteritis is largely restricted to outbreaks, limiting our knowledge of the contribution of sporadic illness to the overall impact on reported outbreaks. Understanding norovirus transmission dynamics is vital for improving preventive measures, including norovirus vaccine development.

To the Editor—Chaillon et al [1] reported interesting results on the effect of cannabis use on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) among 48 men who have sex with men (MSM) with primary or recent HIV infection, followed up over 2 years after ART initiation.

Norovirus enteritis can cause intractable diarrhea in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, for which there are no established treatments. We reviewed medical records of 9 SOT recipients at our center who received orally administered human immunoglobulin for norovirus enteritis, and it appeared to be an effective treatment modality.