Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Mary G Reynolds

Publications and source records attributed to Mary G Reynolds.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidemiology of cat-scratch disease hospitalizations among children in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by infection with Bartonella henselae, affects both children and adults but is principally a pediatric disease. Typical CSD is generally benign and self-limited and is characterized by regional lymphadenopathy with fever. Infections can, however, be accompanied by focal or diffuse inflammatory responses (atypical CSD) involving neurologic, organ (liver/spleen), lymphatic or skeletal systems. METHODS: Pediatric hospitalizations with CSD listed as a diagnosis were examined using the Kids' Inpatient Database for the year 2000. National estimates of CSD-associated hospitalizations, hospitalization rates and various hospitalization statistics were examined for patients younger than 18 years of age. RESULTS: During 2000, an estimated 437 (SE 43) pediatric hospitalizations associated with CSD occurred among children younger than 18 years of age in the United States. The national CSD-associated hospitalization rate was 0.60/100,000 children younger than 18 years of age (95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.72) and 0.86/100,000 children younger than 5 years of age (95% CI 0.64-1.07). Accompanying diagnoses included neurologic complications (12%), organ (liver/spleen) involvement (7%) and "other" (5%). Atypical CSD accounted for approximately 24% of the CSD-associated hospitalizations. The median charge for a CSD-associated hospitalization was 6140 dollars with total annual hospital charges of approximately 3.5 million dollars among children in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: The CSD-associated hospitalization rate among children during 2000 appeared similar to those estimated for the 1980s in the United States, despite significant increases in cat ownership in the intervening time. Early serologic and molecular testing for CSD in children is suggested to minimize unnecessary interventions and promote optimally effective care when supportive measures are required.

Adolescent↗

A tale of two clades: monkeypox viruses.

Human monkeypox was first recognized outside Africa in 2003 during an outbreak in the USA that was traced to imported monkeypox virus (MPXV)-infected West African rodents. Unlike the smallpox-like disease described in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; a Congo Basin country), disease in the USA appeared milder. Here, analyses compared clinical, laboratory and epidemiological features of confirmed human monkeypox case-patients, using data from outbreaks in the USA and the Congo Basin, and the results suggested that human disease pathogenicity was associated with the viral strain. Genomic sequencing of USA, Western and Central African MPXV isolates confirmed the existence of two MPXV clades. A comparison of open reading frames between MPXV clades permitted prediction of viral proteins that could cause the observed differences in human pathogenicity between these two clades. Understanding the molecular pathogenesis and clinical and epidemiological properties of MPXV can improve monkeypox prevention and control.

Animals↗

Extended interhuman transmission of monkeypox in a hospital community in the Republic of the Congo, 2003.

This report describes the first reported outbreak of human monkeypox in the Republic of Congo. Eleven confirmed and probable monkeypox cases were observed during this outbreak, all were less than 18 years old, and most resided on the grounds of the Government Hospital in Impfondo. Molecular, virologic, and serologic, and diagnostic assays were used to detect evidence of monkeypox (or orthopox) virus infection in individuals with striking dermatologic and other clinical manifestations. The majority of cases in this outbreak experienced significant, symptomatic illnesses; there was one death, possibly involving secondary complications, and one instance of profound sequelae. Up to six sequential transmissions of monkeypox virus from person to person are hypothesized to have occurred, making this the longest uninterrupted chain of human monkeypox fully documented to date. The pattern of sustained human-to-human transmission observed during this outbreak may influence our current perception of the capacity for this zoonotic virus to adapt to humans.

Adolescent↗

Human monkeypox.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

Lack of SARS transmission among public hospital workers, Vietnam.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Vietnam was amplified by nosocomial spread within hospital A, but no transmission was reported in hospital B, the second of two designated SARS hospitals. Our study documents lack of SARS-associated coronavirus transmission to hospital B workers, despite variable infection control measures and the use of personal protective equipment.

Disease Outbreaks↗

Clinical description of a completed outbreak of SARS in Vietnam, February-May 2003.

We investigated the clinical manifestations and course of all probable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in the Vietnam outbreak. Probable SARS cases were defined by using the revised World Health Organization criteria. We systematically reviewed medical records and undertook descriptive statistical analyses. All 62 patients were hospitalized. On admission, the most prominent symptoms were malaise (82.3%) and fever (79.0%). Cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath were present in approximately one quarter of the patients; 79.0% had lymphopenia; 40.3% had thrombocytopenia; 19.4% had leukopenia; and 75.8% showed changes on chest radiograph. Fever developed on the first day of illness onset, and both respiratory symptoms and radiographic changes occurred on day 4. On average, maximal radiographic changes were observed on day 10, and fevers subsided by day 13. Symptoms on admission were nonspecific, although fever, malaise, and lymphopenia were common. The complications of SARS included invasive intubation and ventilation (11.3%) and death (9.7%).

Adult↗

Monkeypox transmission and pathogenesis in prairie dogs.

During May and June 2003, the first cluster of human monkeypox cases in the United States was reported. Most patients with this febrile vesicular rash illness presumably acquired the infection from prairie dogs. Monkeypox virus was demonstrated by using polymerase chain reaction in two prairie dogs in which pathologic studies showed necrotizing bronchopneumonia, conjunctivitis, and tongue ulceration. Immunohistochemical assays for orthopoxviruses demonstrated abundant viral antigens in surface epithelial cells of lesions in conjunctiva and tongue, with less amounts in adjacent macrophages, fibroblasts, and connective tissues. Viral antigens in the lung were abundant in bronchial epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts. Virus isolation and electron microscopy demonstrated active viral replication in lungs and tongue. These findings indicate that both respiratory and direct mucocutaneous exposures are potentially important routes of transmission of monkeypox virus between rodents and to humans. Prairie dogs offer insights into transmission, pathogenesis, and new vaccine and treatment trials because they are susceptible to severe monkeypox infection.

Animals↗