Gale R. Burstein

Bio: Gale R. Burstein is an academic researcher from University at Buffalo. The author has contributed to research in topics: Gonorrhea & Population. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 65 publications receiving 5969 citations. Previous affiliations of Gale R. Burstein include University of Maryland, Baltimore & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines.

Abstract: The MMWR series of publications is published by the Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Incident Chlamydia trachomatis Infections Among Inner-city Adolescent Females

Abstract: Context Adolescents are at highest risk for infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, an important preventable cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent tubal factor infertility in US women Current guidelines for delivery of adolescent primary care services recommend yearly chlamydia screening for those adolescent females considered to be at risk Objectives To describe the epidemiology of prevalent and incident chlamydia infection among adolescent females to assess the appropriate interval for chlamydia screening and to define risk factors that would identify adolescent females to target for screening Design Prospective longitudinal study Patients A consecutive sample of 3202 sexually active females 12 through 19 years old making 5360 patient visits over a 33-month period, January 1994 through September 1996 Setting Baltimore, Md, family planning, sexually transmitted disease, and school-based clinics Intervention Testing for C trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction Main outcome measures Prevalence and incidence of C trachomatis infections; predictors of positive test result for C trachomatis Results Chlamydia infection was found in 771 first visits (241%) and 299 repeat visits (139%); 933 adolescent females (291%) had at least 1 positive test result Females who were 14 years old had the highest age-specific chlamydia prevalence rate (63 [275%] of 229 cases; P=01) The chlamydia incidence rate was 280 cases per 1000 person-months (95% confidence interval, 249-315 cases) The median time was 72 months to a first positive chlamydia test result and 63 months to a repeat positive test result among those with repeat visits Independent predictors of chlamydia infection--reason for clinic visit, clinic type, prior sexually transmitted diseases, multiple or new partners, or inconsistent condom use-failed to identify a subset of adolescent females with the majority of infections Conclusions A high prevalence and incidence of C trachomatis infection were found among adolescent females We, therefore, recommend screening all sexually active adolescent females for chlamydia infection every 6 months, regardless of symptoms, prior infections, condom use, or multiple partner risks

A rapid review of rapid HIV antibody tests

Abstract: Rapid HIV antibody tests recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration can help reduce unrecognized infections by improving access to testing in both clinical and nonclinical settings and increase the proportion of those tested who learn their results. Four rapid HIV antibody tests are now available in the United States; two are approved for use at point-of-care sites outside a traditional laboratory. All four tests are interpreted visually. Sites offering rapid HIV testing must periodically run external controls (known HIV-positive and HIV-negative specimens) and provide persons who undergo rapid testing a subject information sheet. This paper reviews the operating and performance characteristics, quality assurance and laboratory requirements, and HIV counseling implications of the currently available rapid HIV tests.

Missed opportunities for sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, and pregnancy prevention services during adolescent health supervision visits.

Abstract: Objective. To describe prevention counseling on pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), received by sexually experienced youth in the primary care setting and to test associations between recent sexual risk behaviors and preventive counseling. Methods. Using data from the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, a nationally representative survey (N = 15 349) of high school students, we analyzed responses to questions about sexual experience, time since last preventive health care visit, and discussion of STD, HIV, or pregnancy prevention with a doctor or nurse during their last preventive health care visit. Logistic regression was used to test associations; students’ demographic characteristics were controlled. Results. More than half of the US high school students surveyed reported a preventive health care visit in the 12 months preceding the survey: 60.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57.2%–63.6%) of female students and 57.5% (95% CI: 53.9%–61.1%) of male students. For female students, sexual experience was positively associated with a preventive health care visit (odds ratio [OR]: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1–1.6), but for male students, sexual experience had a negative effect (OR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7–0.9). Of the students who reported a preventive health care visit in the 12 months preceding the survey, 42.8% (95% CI: 38.6%–47.1%) of female students and 26.4% (95% CI: 22.7%–30.2%) of male students reported having discussed STD, HIV, or pregnancy prevention at those visits. Sexual experience was associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in a dialogue about sexual health once a student entered the health care system: female students (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 3.0–4.9) and male students (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3–2.7). Conclusion. Primary care providers miss opportunities to provide STD, HIV, and pregnancy prevention counseling to high-risk youth.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services in the Pediatric Setting

Abstract: Pediatricians are an important source of health care for adolescents and young adults and can play a significant role in addressing their patients' sexual and reproductive health needs, including preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and promoting healthy relationships. STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancy are all preventable health outcomes with potentially serious permanent sequelae; the highest rates of STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancy are reported among adolescents and young adults. Office visits present opportunities to provide comprehensive education and health care services to adolescents and young adults to prevent STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancies. The American Academy of Pediatrics, other professional medical organizations, and the government have guidelines and recommendations regarding the provision of sexual and reproductive health information and services. However, despite these recommendations, recent studies have revealed that there is substantial room for improvement in actually delivering the recommended services. The purpose of this clinical report is to assist pediatricians to operationalize the provision of various aspects of sexual and reproductive health care into their practices and to provide guidance on overcoming barriers to providing this care routinely while maximizing opportunities for confidential health services delivery in their offices.

Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines.

Abstract: The MMWR series of publications is published by the Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Vaginal microbiome of reproductive-age women

Abstract: The means by which vaginal microbiomes help prevent urogenital diseases in women and maintain health are poorly understood. To gain insight into this, the vaginal bacterial communities of 396 asymptomatic North American women who represented four ethnic groups (white, black, Hispanic, and Asian) were sampled and the species composition characterized by pyrosequencing of barcoded 16S rRNA genes. The communities clustered into five groups: four were dominated by Lactobacillus iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, or L. jensenii, whereas the fifth had lower proportions of lactic acid bacteria and higher proportions of strictly anaerobic organisms, indicating that a potential key ecological function, the production of lactic acid, seems to be conserved in all communities. The proportions of each community group varied among the four ethnic groups, and these differences were statistically significant [χ(2)(10) = 36.8, P < 0.0001]. Moreover, the vaginal pH of women in different ethnic groups also differed and was higher in Hispanic (pH 5.0 ± 0.59) and black (pH 4.7 ± 1.04) women as compared with Asian (pH 4.4 ± 0.59) and white (pH 4.2 ± 0.3) women. Phylotypes with correlated relative abundances were found in all communities, and these patterns were associated with either high or low Nugent scores, which are used as a factor for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. The inherent differences within and between women in different ethnic groups strongly argues for a more refined definition of the kinds of bacterial communities normally found in healthy women and the need to appreciate differences between individuals so they can be taken into account in risk assessment and disease diagnosis.

Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease. Revised guidelines from CDC.

Abstract: Despite substantial progress in prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease since the 1990s, GBS remains the leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis in the United States In 1996, CDC, in collaboration with relevant professional societies, published guidelines for the prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease (CDC Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease: a public health perspective MMWR 1996;45[No RR-7]); those guidelines were updated and republished in 2002 (CDC Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease: revised guidelines from CDC MMWR 2002;51[No RR-11]) In June 2009, a meeting of clinical and public health representatives was held to reevaluate prevention strategies on the basis of data collected after the issuance of the 2002 guidelines This report presents CDC's updated guidelines, which have been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Society for Microbiology The recommendations were made on the basis of available evidence when such evidence was sufficient and on expert opinion when available evidence was insufficient The key changes in the 2010 guidelines include the following: • expanded recommendations on laboratory methods for the identification of GBS, • clarification of the colony-count threshold required for reporting GBS detected in the urine of pregnant women, • updated algorithms for GBS screening and intrapartum chemoprophylaxis for women with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes, • a change in the recommended dose of penicillin-G for chemoprophylaxis, • updated prophylaxis regimens for women with penicillin allergy, and • a revised algorithm for management of newborns with respect to risk for early-onset GBS disease Universal screening at 35-37 weeks' gestation for maternal GBS colonization and use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis has resulted in substantial reductions in the burden of early-onset GBS disease among newborns Although early-onset GBS disease has become relatively uncommon in recent years, the rates of maternal GBS colonization (and therefore the risk for early-onset GBS disease in the absence of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis) remain unchanged since the 1970s Continued efforts are needed to sustain and improve on the progress achieved in the prevention of GBS disease There also is a need to monitor for potential adverse consequences of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (eg, emergence of bacterial antimicrobial resistance or increased incidence or severity of non-GBS neonatal pathogens) In the absence of a licensed GBS vaccine, universal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis continue to be the cornerstones of early-onset GBS disease prevention