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Susan M. Adams

Bio: Susan M. Adams is an academic researcher from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The author has contributed to research in topics: Norovirus & Outbreak. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 6 publications receiving 707 citations.
Topics: Norovirus, Outbreak, Chemokine, TaqMan, Interleukin 12

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fecal specimens from 270 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by local or state health departments for calicivirus testing and nucleotide-sequence analysis indicated a great diversity of NoV strains.
Abstract: Between July 2000 and June 2004, fecal specimens from 270 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by local or state health departments for calicivirus testing. Of the 226 outbreaks that met the criteria for inclusion in the present study, caliciviruses were detected in 184 (81%) by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing. Nursing homes, retirement centers, and hospitals were the most frequently reported settings, and person-to-person contact was the most common mode of transmission, followed by foodborne spread. Overall, genogroup II norovirus (NoV) strains were the most abundant (79%), followed by genogroup I NoV strains (19%) and sapovirus (2%). Nucleotide-sequence analysis indicated a great diversity of NoV strains and implicated the emergence of one particular sequence variant in outbreaks occurring between July 2002 and June 2003. The public health impact of caliciviruses will not be fully appreciated, nor will interventions be completely evaluated, until methods to detect these viruses are more routinely used.

261 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The TaqMan methods dramatically decrease the turnaround time by eliminating post-PCR processing and have proven useful in assisting scientists in public health and diagnostic laboratories report findings quickly to outbreak management teams.
Abstract: Noroviruses (NoVs) are the most commonly identified cause of outbreaks and sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis. We evaluated and optimized NoV-specific TaqMan real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays for the rapid detection and typing of NoV strains belonging to genogroups GI and GII and adapted them to the LightCycler platform. We expanded the detection ability of the assays by developing an assay that detects the GIV NoV strain. The assays were validated with 92 clinical samples and 33 water samples from confirmed NoV outbreaks and suspected NoV contamination cases. The assays detected NoV RNA in all of the clinical specimens previously confirmed positive by conventional RT-PCR and sequencing. Additionally, the TaqMan assays successfully detected NoV RNA in water samples containing low viral concentrations and inhibitors of RT and/or PCR, whereas the conventional method with region B primers required dilution of the inhibitors. By means of serially diluted NoV T7 RNA transcripts, a potential detection limit of <10 transcript copies per reaction mixture was observed with the GII assay and a potential detection limit of <100 transcript copies per reaction mixture was observed with the GI assay. These results and the ability to detect virus in water that was negative by RT-PCR demonstrate the higher sensitivity of the TaqMan assay compared with that of a conventional RT-PCR assay. The TaqMan methods dramatically decrease the turnaround time by eliminating post-PCR processing. These assays have proven useful in assisting scientists in public health and diagnostic laboratories report findings quickly to outbreak management teams.

239 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Herpes simplex virus infection of keratinocytes in vitro stimulated production of beta chemokines followed by IL-12 and then IL-10,IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6, indicating a potential role for these events in early recruitment, activation, and interferon-gamma production of CD4 cells in herpetic lesions.
Abstract: Recurrent human herpes simplex lesions are infiltrated by macrophages and CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, which secrete cytokines and chemokines. Vesicle fluid was examined by ELISA for the presence of cytokines and beta (C-C) chemokines. On the first day of the lesion, high concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6, moderate concentrations of IL-1alpha and IL-10, and low concentrations of IL-12 and beta chemokines were found; levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta were significantly higher than levels of MIP-1alpha and RANTES. At day 3, the concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6, and MIP-1beta were lower, whereas the levels of IL-10, IL-12, and MIP-1alpha remained similar, and the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was now detectable. Herpes simplex virus infection of keratinocytes in vitro stimulated production of beta chemokines followed by IL-12 and then IL-10, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6, indicating a potential role for these events in early recruitment, activation, and interferon-gamma production of CD4 cells in herpetic lesions.

106 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study demonstrates the vulnerability of recreational water to Norovirus contamination, even in the absence of any obvious vomiting or faecal accident, and suggests that norovirus is not as resistant to chlorine as previously reported in experimental studies.
Abstract: On 3 February 2004, the Vermont Department of Health received reports of acute gastroenteritis in persons who had recently visited a swimming facility. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among persons attending the facility between 30 January and 2 February. Fifty-three of 189 (28%) persons interviewed developed vomiting or diarrhoea within 72 h after visiting the facility. Five specimens tested positive for norovirus and three specimen sequences were identical. Entering the smaller of the two pools at the facility was significantly associated with illness (RR 5·67, 95% CI 1·5–22·0, P=0·012). The investigation identified several maintenance system failures: chlorine equipment failure, poorly trained operators, inadequate maintenance checks, failure to alert management, and insufficient record keeping. This study demonstrates the vulnerability of recreational water to norovirus contamination, even in the absence of any obvious vomiting or faecal accident. Our findings also suggest that norovirus is not as resistant to chlorine as previously reported in experimental studies. Appropriate regulations and enforcement, with adequate staff training, are necessary to ensure recreational water safety.

64 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The cause of the outbreak was determined to be a combination of stool contamination, a blocked chlorine feed tube, and multiple lapses of pool-maintenance procedures, which underscores the importance of correct pool maintenance for rapid identification of water-quality problems to prevent outbreaks of swimming pool-associated illness.
Abstract: John Snow's historic investigation of a severe epidemic of cholera traced the cause of infection to a common water source. Today, 150 years later, waterborne diseases remain a public health problem, and similar investigations are used to identify the source of infection. On February 3, 2004, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) was notified of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis among children whose only common exposure was attendance at a swimming club the previous weekend (January 31-February 1). This report summarizes the results of an investigation conducted by VDH and CDC, which determined the cause of the outbreak to be a combination of stool contamination, a blocked chlorine feed tube, and multiple lapses of pool-maintenance procedures. The findings underscore the importance of correct pool maintenance for rapid identification of water-quality problems to prevent outbreaks of swimming pool-associated illness.

28 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Each year, 31 pathogens caused 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness, resulting in 55,961 hospitalizations and 1,351 deaths in the United States.
Abstract: Estimates of foodborne illness can be used to direct food safety policy and interventions. We used data from active and passive surveillance and other sources to estimate that each year 31 major pathogens acquired in the United States caused 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness (90% credible interval [CrI] 6.6–12.7 million), 55,961 hospitalizations (90% CrI 39,534–75,741), and 1,351 deaths (90% CrI 712–2,268). Most (58%) illnesses were caused by norovirus, followed by nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. (11%), Clostridium perfringens (10%), and Campylobacter spp. (9%). Leading causes of hospitalization were nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. (35%), norovirus (26%), Campylobacter spp. (15%), and Toxoplasma gondii (8%). Leading causes of death were nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. (28%), T. gondii (24%), Listeria monocytogenes (19%), and norovirus (11%). These estimates cannot be compared with prior (1999) estimates to assess trends because different methods were used. Additional data and more refined methods can improve future estimates.

6,490 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ability of hospital ventilation systems to filter Aspergillus and other fungi following a building implosion and the impact of bedside design and furnishing on nosocomial infections are investigated.

2,632 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The strength of the correlation between norovirus outbreaks and survey results suggests that the population survey is sensitive to norov virus activity and that Norovirus may account for much of what is considered to be unspecified.
Abstract: To the Editor: The updated estimates of foodborne illness in the United States reported by Scallan et al. probably overestimate the occurrence of illness caused by unspecified agents because they did not account for the apparent sensitivity of the population survey to the occurrence of norovirus (1,2). The number of illnesses attributed to unspecified agents was derived from the simultaneous processes of extrapolation and subtraction: extrapolation from the population survey to create a base of diarrheal illnesses and subtraction of known agents from this base. Scallan et al. averaged illness rates from 3 successive population surveys to come up with a rate of 0.6 episodes of acute gastroenteritis per person per year. However, the individual rates were 0.49 (2000–2001), 0.54 (2002–2003), and 0.73 (2006–2007). The 2006–2007 survey was conducted at the time of widespread norovirus activity. The estimated rate of population illness was strongly correlated with the number of confirmed and suspected norovirus outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System during each of the survey periods (300, 371, and 491, respectively; R2 = 0.97, p<0.0001). No other known agents were correlated with the population survey rates, and the total numbers of outbreaks were inversely correlated with the population survey data. The strength of the correlation between norovirus outbreaks and survey results suggests that the population survey is sensitive to norovirus activity and that norovirus may account for much of what is considered to be unspecified. The fact that the highest observed population rate was ≈50% greater than the lowest rate suggests that annual variation in norovirus activity may account for a considerable proportion of what otherwise seems to be unspecified. More thorough and timely investigation and reporting of outbreaks could facilitate the development of models to evaluate the number of illnesses and update them annually.

1,474 citations

01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: The ability of hospital ventilation systems to filter Aspergillus and other fungi following a building implosion and the impact of bedside design and furnishing on nosocomial infections are investigated.
Abstract: 146. In: 16th Annual Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Chicago, Ill; 2006. 950. Harvey MA. Critical-care-unit bedside design and furnishing: impact on nosocomial infections. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1998;19(8):597­ 601. 951. Srinivasan A, Beck C, Buckley T, et al. The ability of hospital ventilation systems to filter Aspergillus and other fungi following a building implosion. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002;23(9):520-4. 952. Maragakis LL, Bradley KL, Song X, et al. Increased catheter-related bloodstream infection rates after the introduction of a new mechanical valve intravenous access port. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006;27(1):67-70. 953. Organizations JCoAoH. Comprehensive Accredication Manual for Hospitals: The Official Handbook. Oakbrook Terrace: JCAHO; 2007. 954. Peterson LR, Noskin GA. New technology for detecting multidrug­ resistant pathogens in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7(2):306-11. 955. Diekema DJ, Doebbeling BN. Employee health and infection control. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1995;16(5):292-301. 956. Rutala WA, Weber DJ, Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Health-Care Facilities. In preparation. 957. Weems JJ, Jr. Nosocomial outbreak of Pseudomonas cepacia associated with contamination of reusable electronic ventilator temperature probes. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1993;14(10):583-6. 958. Berthelot P, Grattard F, Mahul P, et al. Ventilator temperature sensors: an unusual source of Pseudomonas cepacia in nosocomial infection. J Hosp Infect 1993;25(1):33-43. 959. 959. CDC. Bronchoscopy-related infections and pseudoinfections--New York, 1996 and 1998. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999;48(26):557­ 60. 960. Heeg P, Roth K, Reichl R, Cogdill CP, Bond WW. Decontaminated single-use devices: an oxymoron that may be placing patients at risk for cross-contamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2001;22(9):542-9. 961. www.fda.gov/cdrh/reprocessing/ 962. CDC. Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2003;52(RR08):1-36.

961 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Noroviruses accounted for 12% of severe gastroenteritis cases among children <5 years of age and 10% among children under the age of five, according to World Health Organization data.
Abstract: We conducted a systematic review of studies that used reverse transcription–PCR to diagnose norovirus (NoV) infections in patients with mild or moderate (outpatient) and severe (hospitalized) diarrhea. NoVs accounted for 12% (95% confi dence interval [CI] 10%–15%) of severe gastroenteritis cases among children <5 years of age and 12% (95% CI 9%–15%) of mild and moderate diarrhea cases among persons of all ages. Of 19 studies among children <5 years of age, 7 were in developing countries where pooled prevalence of severe NoV disease (12%) was comparable to that for industrialized countries (12%). We estimate that each year NoVs cause 64,000 episodes of diarrhea requir

924 citations