Accuracy of Influenza ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes in Identifying Influenza Illness in Children

Importance

Studies of influenza in children commonly rely on coded diagnoses, yet the ability of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes to identify influenza in the emergency department (ED) and hospital is highly variable. The accuracy of newer International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes to identify influenza in children is unknown.

Objective

To determine the accuracy of ICD-10 influenza discharge diagnosis codes in the pediatric ED and inpatient settings.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Children younger than 18 years presenting to the ED or inpatient settings with fever and/or respiratory symptoms at 7 US pediatric medical centers affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored New Vaccine Surveillance Network from December 1, 2016, to March 31, 2020, were included in this cohort study. Nasal and/or throat swabs were collected for research molecular testing for influenza, regardless of clinical testing. Data, including ICD-10 discharge diagnoses and clinical testing for influenza, were obtained through medical record review. Data analysis was performed in August 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The accuracy of ICD-10-coded discharge diagnoses was characterized using molecular clinical or research laboratory test results as reference. Measures included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Estimates were stratified by setting (ED vs inpatient) and age (0-1, 2-4, and 5-17 years).

Results

A total of 16 867 children in the ED (median [IQR] age, 2.0 [0.0-4.0] years; 9304 boys [55.2%]) and 17 060 inpatients (median [IQR] age, 1.0 [0.0-4.0] years; 9798 boys [57.4%]) were included. In the ED, ICD-10 influenza diagnoses were highly specific (98.0%; 95% CI, 97.8%-98.3%), with high PPV (88.6%; 95% CI, 88.0%-89.2%) and high NPV (85.9%; 95% CI, 85.3%-86.6%), but sensitivity was lower (48.6%; 95% CI, 47.6%-49.5%). Among inpatients, specificity was 98.2% (95% CI, 98.0%-98.5%), PPV was 82.8% (95% CI, 82.1%-83.5%), sensitivity was 70.7% (95% CI, 69.8%-71.5%), and NPV was 96.5% (95% CI, 96.2%-96.9%). Accuracy of ICD-10 diagnoses varied by patient age, influenza season definition, time between disease onset and testing, and clinical setting.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this large cohort study, influenza ICD-10 discharge diagnoses were highly specific but moderately sensitive in identifying laboratory-confirmed influenza; the accuracy of influenza diagnoses varied by clinical and epidemiological factors. In the ED and inpatient settings, an ICD-10 diagnosis likely represents a true-positive influenza case.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations Among Children <5 Years Old: 2016 to 2020

BACKGROUND

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization in US infants. Accurate estimates of severe RSV disease inform policy decisions for RSV prevention.

METHODS

We conducted prospective surveillance for children <5 years old with acute respiratory illness from 2016 to 2020 at 7 pediatric hospitals. We interviewed parents, reviewed medical records, and tested midturbinate nasal ± throat swabs by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for RSV and other respiratory viruses. We describe characteristics of children hospitalized with RSV, risk factors for ICU admission, and estimate RSV-associated hospitalization rates.

RESULTS

Among 13 524 acute respiratory illness inpatients <5 years old, 4243 (31.4%) were RSV-positive; 2751 (64.8%) of RSV-positive children had no underlying condition or history of prematurity. The average annual RSV-associated hospitalization rate was 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-4.1) per 1000 children <5 years, was highest among children 0 to 2 months old (23.8 [95% CI: 22.5-25.2] per 1000) and decreased with increasing age. Higher RSV-associated hospitalization rates were found in premature versus term children (rate ratio = 1.95 [95% CI: 1.76-2.11]). Risk factors for ICU admission among RSV-positive inpatients included: age 0 to 2 and 3 to 5 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.97 [95% CI: 1.54-2.52] and aOR = 1.56 [95% CI: 1.18-2.06], respectively, compared with 24-59 months), prematurity (aOR = 1.32 [95% CI: 1.08-1.60]) and comorbid conditions (aOR = 1.35 [95% CI: 1.10-1.66]).

CONCLUSIONS

Younger infants and premature children experienced the highest rates of RSV-associated hospitalization and had increased risk of ICU admission. RSV prevention products are needed to reduce RSV-associated morbidity in young infants.

Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology and COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness Among Infants and Children Aged 6 Months-4 Years - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July 2022-September 2023

SARS-CoV-2 infection in young children is often mild or asymptomatic; however, some children are at risk for severe disease. Data describing the protective effectiveness of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines against COVID-19-associated emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization in this population are limited. Data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, a prospective population-based surveillance system, were used to estimate vaccine effectiveness using a test-negative, case-control design and describe the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in infants and children aged 6 months-4 years during July 1, 2022-September 30, 2023. Among 7,434 children included, 5% received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, and 95% received a negative test result; 86% were unvaccinated, 4% had received 1 dose of any vaccine product, and 10% had received ≥2 doses. When compared with receipt of no vaccines among children, receipt of ≥2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses was 40% effective (95% CI = 8%-60%) in preventing ED visits and hospitalization. These findings support existing recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination of young children to reduce COVID-19-associated ED visits and hospitalization.

Pilot evaluation of a virtual training program for child injury prevention

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of child death. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a behavioral injury prevention program for children aged 3-18 years and their caregivers. To accommodate families during the Coronavirus-19 pandemic, training was modified to be delivered virtually. Forty-one children aged 3-18 years and 14 parents/caregivers of children aged 3-5 years attended one of several 4-hour online injury prevention training sessions directed toward residents of Washington state. Training was targeted to three different developmental stages (ages 3-5, 6-12 and 13-18 years). Study outcomes included knowledge about injury prevention strategies, perceived vulnerability for injury, self-efficacy to engage in safety behaviors and behavioral intentions to be safe. Following training, participants showed improved self-efficacy to stay safe, excellent knowledge about the learned material and increased behavioral intention to engage safely. There was minimal change in perceived vulnerability to injury among children; caregivers of young children felt their children were somewhat less vulnerable to injury following the training. Almost all participants said they would recommend the program to others. Results suggest that a virtual behavioral training program delivered remotely is feasible and may be effective to create behavior change and reduce child injury risk. Given its scalability and reach, such programs are recommended for further study, refinement and, if demonstrated effective in larger-scale controlled trials, dissemination to address the leading cause of child mortality in the United States, unintentional injury.

Enhanced passive surveillance for early detection of African and classical swine fevers

African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF) are transboundary animal diseases (TADs) of pigs. Much effort and resources are regularly put into preventing these diseases' introduction in free areas. Passive surveillance activities bring the highest chances for the early detection of TAD incursions because they are routinely and widely conducted at farms, and because these activities focus on the time between introduction and when the first sample is sent for diagnostic testing. The authors proposed the implementation of an enhanced passive surveillance (EPS) protocol based on collecting data through participatory surveillance actions using an objective and adaptable scoring system to aid the early detection of ASF or CSF at the farm level. The protocol was applied in two commercial pig farms for ten weeks in the Dominican Republic, which is a CSF- and ASF-infected country. This study was a proof of concept, based on the EPS protocol to aid detection of substantial variations in the risk score triggering testing. One of the followed farms had score variation, which triggered testing of the animals, although the test results were negative. The study enables assessment of some of the weaknesses associated with passive surveillance and provides lessons applicable to the problem. Results demonstrate the potential for overcoming some issues preventing the broad application of EPS protocols and suggest that standardised approaches may contribute to the early detection of CSF and ASF introductions.

Circulation of Rhinoviruses and/or Enteroviruses in Pediatric Patients With Acute Respiratory Illness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US

IMPORTANCE

Rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses, which continued to circulate during the COVID-19 pandemic, are commonly detected in pediatric patients with acute respiratory illness (ARI). Yet detailed characterization of rhinovirus and/or enterovirus detection over time is limited, especially by age group and health care setting.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify and characterize rhinovirus and/or enterovirus detection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among children and adolescents seeking medical care for ARI at emergency departments (EDs) or hospitals.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study used data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), a multicenter, active, prospective surveillance platform, for pediatric patients who sought medical care for fever and/or respiratory symptoms at 7 EDs or hospitals within NVSN across the US between December 2016 and February 2021. Persons younger than 18 years were enrolled in NVSN, and respiratory specimens were collected and tested for multiple viruses.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Proportion of patients in whom rhinovirus and/or enterovirus, or another virus, was detected by calendar month and by prepandemic (December 1, 2016, to March 11, 2020) or pandemic (March 12, 2020, to February 28, 2021) periods. Month-specific adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for rhinovirus and/or enterovirus-positive test results (among all tested) by setting (ED or inpatient) and age group (<2, 2-4, or 5-17 years) were calculated, comparing each month during the pandemic to equivalent months of previous years.

RESULTS

Of the 38 198 children and adolescents who were enrolled and tested, 11 303 (29.6%; mean [SD] age, 2.8 [3.7] years; 6733 boys [59.6%]) had rhinovirus and/or enterovirus-positive test results. In prepandemic and pandemic periods, rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses were detected in 29.4% (9795 of 33 317) and 30.9% (1508 of 4881) of all patients who were enrolled and tested and in 42.2% (9795 of 23 236) and 73.0% (1508 of 2066) of those with test positivity for any virus, respectively. Rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses were the most frequently detected viruses in both periods and all age groups in the ED and inpatient setting. From April to September 2020 (pandemic period), rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses were detectable at similar or lower odds than in prepandemic years, with aORs ranging from 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04-0.19) to 0.76 (95% CI, 0.55-1.05) in the ED and 0.04 (95% CI, 0.01-0.11) to 0.71 (95% CI, 0.47-1.07) in the inpatient setting. However, unlike some other viruses, rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses soon returned to prepandemic levels and from October 2020 to February 2021 were detected at similar or higher odds than in prepandemic months in both settings, with aORs ranging from 1.47 (95% CI, 1.12-1.93) to 3.01 (95% CI, 2.30-3.94) in the ED and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.03-1.79) to 2.44 (95% CI, 1.78-3.34) in the inpatient setting, and in all age groups. Compared with prepandemic years, during the pandemic, rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses were detected in patients who were slightly older, although most (74.5% [1124 of 1508]) were younger than 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Results of this study show that rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses persisted and were the most common respiratory virus group detected across all pediatric age groups and in both ED and inpatient settings. Rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses remain a leading factor in ARI health care burden, and active ARI surveillance in children and adolescents remains critical for defining the health care burden of respiratory viruses.

2196. Frequencies of Adenovirus Types in U.S. Children with Acute Respiratory Illness, 2016–2019

Background

Adenovirus (AdV) is a common cause of acute respiratory illness (ARI). Multiple respiratory AdV types have been identified in humans, but it remains unclear which are the most common in U.S. children with ARI.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, prospective viral surveillance study at seven U.S. children’s hospitals, the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, during 12/1/16–11/30/19, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Children < 18 years of age seen in the emergency department or hospitalized with fever and/or respiratory symptoms were enrolled, and mid-turbinate nasal +/- throat swabs were tested using multiplex respiratory pathogen assays or real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for AdV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV), influenza, parainfluenza viruses, and endemic coronaviruses. AdV-positive specimens were subsequently typed using single-plex qPCR assays targeting sequences in the hexon gene specific for types 1-7, 11, 14, 16 and 21. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were compared between AdV types.

Results

Of 29,381 enrolled children, 2,106 (7.2%) tested positive for AdV. The distribution of types among the 1,330 (63.2%) successfully typed specimens were as follows: 31.7% AdV-2, 28.9% AdV-1, 15.3% AdV-3, 7.9% AdV-5, 5.9% AdV-7, 1.4% AdV-4, 1.2% AdV-6, 0.5% AdV-14, 0.2% AdV-21, 0.1% AdV-11, and 7.0% ≥1 AdV type. Most children with AdV-1 or AdV-2 detection were < 5 years of age (Figure 1a). Demographic and clinical characteristics varied by AdV types, including age, race/ethnicity, smoke exposure, daycare/school attendance, and hospitalization (Table 1). Co-detection with other viruses was common among all AdV types, with RV and RSV being the most frequently co-detected (Figure 1b). Fever and cough were the most common symptoms for all AdV types (Figure 2). Children with AdV-7 detected as single pathogen had higher odds of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio 6.34 [95% CI: 3.10, 12.95], p= 0.027).

Conclusion

AdV-2 and AdV-1 were the most frequently detected AdV types among children over the 3-year study period. Notable clinical heterogeneity of the AdV types warrants further surveillance studies to identify AdV types that could be targeted for pediatric vaccine development.

Disclosures

Rangaraj Selvarangan, BVSc, PhD, D(ABMM), FIDSA, F(AAM), BioFire: Grant/Research Support|Luminex: Grant/Research Support John Williams, MD, GlaxoSmithKline: Advisor/Consultant|Quidel: Advisor/Consultant Mary A. Staat, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Grant/Research Support|Cepheid: Grant/Research Support|National Institute of Health: Grant/Research Support|Uptodate: Royalties Christopher J Harrison, MD, Astellas: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pediatric news: Honoraria|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Mary E. Moffatt, M.D., Becton and Dickinson and Company: Stocks/Bonds|Biogen: Stocks/Bonds|Coloplast B: Stocks/Bonds|Express Scripts: Stocks/Bonds|Novo Nordisk A/S Spons ADR: Stocks/Bonds|Novo Nordisk A/S-B: Stocks/Bonds|Steris PLC: Stocks/Bonds|Stryker Corp: Stocks/Bonds|Thermo Fisher Scientific: Stocks/Bonds Geoffrey A. Weinberg, MD, Merck & Co.: Honoraria|Merck & Co.: Honoraria for composing and reviewing textbook chapters, Merck Manual of Therapeutics Janet A. Englund, MD, AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Advisor/Consultant Natasha B. Halasa, MD, Quidel: Grant/Research Support|Quidel: equipment donation|Sanofi: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi: HAI testing and vaccine donation.

880. Molecular Subtyping and Macrolide-Resistance Determination of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from Children Enrolled in New Vaccine Surveillance Network in the United States during 2015 to 2020

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), a common pediatric pneumonia pathogen, has 2 subtypes based on P1 adhesin gene variation. Macrolide-resistant MP (MRMP), seen since 2000 in many countries, has been subtype associated. Limited U.S. pediatric data exist on MP subtype or MRMP frequency and their clinical importance.

Methods

During 2015–2020, mid-turbinate nasal swab (MTNS) specimens and/or throat swabs were collected from children with acute respiratory illness (ARI) enrolled in emergency department (ED) or outpatient and inpatient settings at 4 CDC-funded New Vaccine Surveillance Network sites (Cincinnati, Seattle, Houston, and Kansas City). Specimens were tested for MP and common respiratory viruses by singleplex or multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR). P1-subtyping for MP positive specimens used multiplex TaqMan real-time PCR while MR was assessed by real time PCR with melt curve analysis (Lightmix®, TIBMolbiol). Select demographic/clinical data were analyzed by P1 subtype (P1–1 vs. P1–2).

Results

Of 208 MTNS specimens from 208 children (median age 5.5 years), 110 (53%) were P1–1, 89 (43%) P1–2, and 9 (4%) untypeable. Of 199 typeable specimens, 111 (56%) came from inpatients while 88 (44%) came from ED/outpatients.Overall MRMP prevalence during 2015–2020 was low (3/208,1.4%); all MRMP (Houston: 1 each in 2016–2017 and 2019–2020, Seattle: 1 in 2018–2019) were P1–1. Differences in P1–2 vs. P1–1 proportions were significant in 2 years: P1–2 dominated in 2015–2016; P1-1 in 2019–2020 (Figure 1). Common clinical symptoms for 199 MP-positive patients were fever (84%, mean 102.5±1.5oF), shortness of breath (82%), wheezing (67%), and cough (60%). Clinical manifestations, hospitalization, and antibiotic use did not differ in P1-1 vs. P1-2 patients. Antibiotics were used in 59/199 (30%) patients overall; amoxicillin was most frequent (48/199, 24%), followed by cefdinir (9/199, 5%) and azithromycin (5/199, 3%).

Conclusion

MP subtypes co-circulated during 2015–2020; P1-2 dominated in 2015–2016, P1-1 in 2018–2019. Signs/symptoms were similar for P1-1 and P1-2. MRMP detection was uncommon among our pediatric subjects. Ongoing surveillance is important to assess potential changes in MR prevalence and temporal subtype variation.

Disclosures

Christopher J Harrison, MD, Astellas: Grant/Research Support|GSK: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pediatric news: Honoraria|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Brian R. Lee, PhD, MPH, CDC: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support Mary E. Moffatt, M.D., Becton and Dickinson and Company: Stocks/Bonds|Biogen: Stocks/Bonds|Coloplast B: Stocks/Bonds|Express Scripts: Stocks/Bonds|Novo Nordisk A/S Spons ADR: Stocks/Bonds|Novo Nordisk A/S-B: Stocks/Bonds|Steris PLC: Stocks/Bonds|Stryker Corp: Stocks/Bonds|Thermo Fisher Scientific: Stocks/Bonds Janet A. Englund, MD, Astra Zeneca: Advisor/Consultant|Astra Zeneca: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccine: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|SanofiPasteur: Advisor/Consultant.

Multistate reptile- and amphibian-associated salmonellosis outbreaks in humans, United States, 2009-2018

Non-typhoidal Salmonella cause an estimated 1.4 million human illnesses, 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths annually in the United States. Approximately 11% of these infections are attributed to animal contact. Reptiles and amphibians are known sources of salmonellosis; young children (aged <5 years) are disproportionately affected by reptile- and amphibian-associated salmonellosis (RAAS) outbreaks. We describe multistate RAAS outbreaks to characterize illnesses and inform prevention efforts. RAAS outbreaks were defined as ≥2 culture-confirmed human Salmonella infections with similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and epidemiologic, laboratory or traceback evidence linking them to a common reptile/amphibian exposure. Data sources included the Animal Contact Outbreak Surveillance System; CDC Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch's outbreak management database; PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance in the United States; and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. Twenty-six RAAS outbreaks were reported during 2009-2018, resulting in 1465 illnesses and 306 hospitalizations. The outbreaks were associated with turtles (19), lizards (5), snakes (1) and frogs (1). Sixteen (61.5%) outbreaks were linked to small turtles (<4 inches), resulting in 914 illnesses. Forty-nine percent of outbreak-associated patients were aged <5 years. Of 362 patients/caregivers interviewed, 111 (30.7%) were aware that reptiles/amphibians can carry Salmonella. Among 267 patient isolates with antimicrobial susceptibility information, 20 (7.5%) were non-susceptible to ≥1 antibiotic used to treat human salmonellosis. RAAS outbreaks result in considerable morbidity, particularly among young children. Illnesses linked to small turtles are preventable through education, targeted outreach to caregivers and paediatricians, and when appropriate, enforcement. Historically, individual states and jurisdictions have enforced existing or promulgated new authorities to address outbreaks. Preventing future RAAS outbreaks requires addressing challenges related to the illegal sale/distribution of small turtles; and for legal reptile sales, providing information on RAAS risk to consumers at point of sale to support informed pet ownership decisions.

Increase in Acute Respiratory Illnesses Among Children and Adolescents Associated with Rhinoviruses and Enteroviruses, Including Enterovirus D68 - United States, July-September 2022

Increases in severe respiratory illness and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) among children and adolescents resulting from enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections occurred biennially in the United States during 2014, 2016, and 2018, primarily in late summer and fall. Although EV-D68 annual trends are not fully understood, EV-D68 levels were lower than expected in 2020, potentially because of implementation of COVID-19 mitigation measures (e.g., wearing face masks, enhanced hand hygiene, and physical distancing) (1). In August 2022, clinicians in several geographic areas notified CDC of an increase in hospitalizations of pediatric patients with severe respiratory illness and positive rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV) test results.* Surveillance data were analyzed from multiple national data sources to characterize reported trends in acute respiratory illness (ARI), asthma/reactive airway disease (RAD) exacerbations, and the percentage of positive RV/EV and EV-D68 test results during 2022 compared with previous years. These data demonstrated an increase in emergency department (ED) visits by children and adolescents with ARI and asthma/RAD in late summer 2022. The percentage of positive RV/EV test results in national laboratory-based surveillance and the percentage of positive EV-D68 test results in pediatric sentinel surveillance also increased during this time. Previous increases in EV-D68 respiratory illness have led to substantial resource demands in some hospitals and have also coincided with increases in cases of AFM (2), a rare but serious neurologic disease affecting the spinal cord. Therefore, clinicians should consider AFM in patients with acute flaccid limb weakness, especially after respiratory illness or fever, and ensure prompt hospitalization and referral to specialty care for such cases. Clinicians should also test for poliovirus infection in patients suspected of having AFM because of the clinical similarity to acute flaccid paralysis caused by poliovirus. Ongoing surveillance for EV-D68 is critical to ensuring preparedness for possible future increases in ARI and AFM.

Respiratory Virus Surveillance Among Children with Acute Respiratory Illnesses - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, 2016-2021

The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) is a prospective, active, population-based surveillance platform that enrolls children with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) at seven pediatric medical centers. ARIs are caused by respiratory viruses including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and most recently SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), which result in morbidity among infants and young children (1-6). NVSN estimates the incidence of pathogen-specific pediatric ARIs and collects clinical data (e.g., underlying medical conditions and vaccination status) to assess risk factors for severe disease and calculate influenza and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Current NVSN inpatient (i.e., hospital) surveillance began in 2015, expanded to emergency departments (EDs) in 2016, and to outpatient clinics in 2018. This report describes demographic characteristics of enrolled children who received care in these settings, and yearly circulation of influenza, RSV, HMPV, HPIV1-3, adenovirus, human rhinovirus and enterovirus (RV/EV),* and SARS-CoV-2 during December 2016-August 2021. Among 90,085 eligible infants, children, and adolescents (children) aged <18 years^† with ARI, 51,441 (57%) were enrolled, nearly 75% of whom were aged <5 years; 43% were hospitalized. Infants aged <1 year accounted for the largest proportion (38%) of those hospitalized. The most common pathogens detected were RV/EV and RSV. Before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, detected respiratory viruses followed previously described seasonal trends, with annual peaks of influenza and RSV in late fall and winter (7,8). After the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and implementation of associated pandemic nonpharmaceutical interventions and community mitigation measures, many respiratory viruses circulated at lower-than-expected levels during April 2020-May 2021. Beginning in summer 2021, NVSN detected higher than anticipated enrollment of hospitalized children as well as atypical interseasonal circulation of RSV. Further analyses of NVSN data and continued surveillance are vital in highlighting risk factors for severe disease and health disparities, measuring the effectiveness of vaccines and monoclonal antibody-based prophylactics, and guiding policies to protect young children from pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

High serum nitrates levels in non-survivor COVID-19 patients

Objective

Higher blood nitrate and nitrite levels have been found in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients than in healthy subjects. The present study explores the potential association between serum nitrate levels and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Design

A prospective observation study was carried out.

Setting

Eight Intensive Care Units (ICUs) from 6 hospitals in the Canary Islands (Spain).

Patients

COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU.

Interventions

Determination of serum nitrate levels at ICU admission.

Main variable of interest

Mortality at 30 days.

Results

Non-surviving (n = 11) compared to surviving patients (n = 42) showed higher APACHE-II (p < 0.001) and SOFA scores (p = 0.004), and higher serum nitrate levels (p = 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed serum nitrate levels to be associated to 30-day mortality after controlling for SOFA (OR = 1.021; 95%CI = 1.006–1.036; p = 0.01) or APACHE-II (OR = 1.023; 95%CI = 1.006–1.041; p = 0.01). There were no differences in the area under the curve (AUC) for mortality prediction by serum nitrate levels (AUC = 83%; 95%CI = 73–92%; p < 0.001), APACHE II (AUC = 85%; 95%CI = 75–96%; p < 0.001) and SOFA (AUC = 78%; 95%CI = 63–92%; p = 0.005) based on the DeLong method. The Kaplan–Meier analysis found patients with serum nitrates levels > 68.4 μmol/l to have a higher mortality rate (hazard ratio = 138.8; 95%CI = 22.3–863.9; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The main novel finding was the association between serum nitrate levels and mortality in COVID-19 patients controlling for the SOFA or APACHE-II scores, though larger studies are needed to confirm this observation.

154. Circulation of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus Respiratory Infections in Children During 2020-21 in the United States

Background

Sharp declines in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulation across the U.S. have been described during the pandemic in temporal association with community mitigation for control of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to determine relative frequencies of rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV) and other respiratory viruses in children presenting to emergency departments or hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a multi-center active prospective ARI surveillance study in children as part of the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) from December 2016 through January 2021. Molecular testing for RV/EV, RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viruses [i.e., human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus (Types 1-4), and adenovirus] were performed on specimens collected from children enrolled children. Cumulative percent positivity of each virus type during March 2020–January 2021 was compared from March-January in the prior seasons (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020) using Pearson’s chi-squared. Data are provisional.

Results

Among 69,403 eligible children, 37,676 (54%) were enrolled and tested for respiratory viruses. The number of both eligible and enrolled children declined in early 2020 (Figure 1), but 4,691 children (52% of eligible) were enrolled and tested during March 2020-January 2021. From March 2020-January 2021, the overall percentage of enrolled children with respiratory testing who had detectable RV/EV was similar compared to the same time period in 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 (Figure 1, Table 1). In contrast, the percent positivity of RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viruses combined declined compared to prior years, (p< 0.001, Figure 1, Table 1).

Figure 1. Percentage of Viral Detection Among Enrolled Children Who Received Respiratory Testing, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), United States, December 2016 – January 2021

Table 1. Percent of Respiratory Viruses Circulating in March 2020– January 2021, compared to March-January in Prior Years, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), United States, March 2017 – January 2021

Conclusion

During 2020, RV/EV continued to circulate among children receiving care for ARI despite abrupt declines in other respiratory viruses within this population. These findings warrant further studies to understand virologic, behavioral, biological, and/or environmental factors associated with this continued RV/EV circulation.

Disclosures

Jennifer E. Schuster, MD, Merck, Sharpe, and Dohme (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support Marian G. Michaels, MD, MPH, Viracor (Grant/Research Support, performs assay for research study no financial support) John V. Williams, MD, GlaxoSmithKline (Advisor or Review Panel member, Independent Data Monitoring Committee)Quidel (Advisor or Review Panel member, Scientific Advisory Board) Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, MD, MPH, Pfizer (Grant/Research Support)Sanofi Pasteur (Advisor or Review Panel member) Christopher J. Harrison, MD, GSK (Grant/Research Support)Merck (Grant/Research Support)Pfizer (Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator, Research Grant or Support) Janet A. Englund, MD, AstraZeneca (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)GlaxoSmithKline (Research Grant or Support)Meissa Vaccines (Consultant)Pfizer (Research Grant or Support)Sanofi Pasteur (Consultant)Teva Pharmaceuticals (Consultant) Claire Midgley, PhD, Nothing to disclose Natasha B. Halasa, MD, MPH, Genentech (Other Financial or Material Support, I receive an honorarium for lectures - it’s a education grant, supported by genetech)Quidel (Grant/Research Support, Other Financial or Material Support, Donation of supplies/kits)Sanofi (Grant/Research Support, Other Financial or Material Support, HAI/NAI testing) Natasha B. Halasa, MD, MPH, Genentech (Individual(s) Involved: Self): I receive an honorarium for lectures - it’s a education grant, supported by genetech, Other Financial or Material Support, Other Financial or Material Support; Sanofi (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support

Enterovirus D68-Associated Acute Respiratory Illness ─ New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July-November 2018-2020

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is associated with a broad spectrum of illnesses, including mild to severe acute respiratory illness (ARI) and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). Enteroviruses, including EV-D68, are typically detected in the United States during late summer through fall, with year-to-year fluctuations. Before 2014, EV-D68 was infrequently reported to CDC (1). However, numbers of EV-D68 detection have increased in recent years, with a biennial pattern observed during 2014-2018 in the United States, after the expansion of surveillance and wider availability of molecular testing. In 2014, a national outbreak of EV-D68 was detected (2). EV-D68 was also reported in 2016 via local (3) and passive national (4) surveillance. EV-D68 detections were limited in 2017, but substantial circulation was observed in 2018 (5). To assess recent levels of circulation, EV-D68 detections in respiratory specimens collected from patients aged <18 years* with ARI evaluated in emergency departments (EDs) or admitted to one of seven U.S. medical centers^† within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) were summarized. This report provides a provisional description of EV-D68 detections during July-November in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients. In 2018, a total of 382 EV-D68 detections in respiratory specimens obtained from patients aged <18 years with ARI were reported by NVSN; the number decreased to six detections in 2019 and 30 in 2020. Among patients aged <18 years with EV-D68 in 2020, 22 (73%) were non-Hispanic Black (Black) persons. EV-D68 detections in 2020 were lower than anticipated based on the biennial circulation pattern observed since 2014. The circulation of EV-D68 in 2020 might have been limited by widespread COVID-19 mitigation measures; how these changes in behavior might influence the timing and levels of circulation in future years is unknown. Ongoing monitoring of EV-D68 detections is warranted for preparedness for EV-D68-associated ARI and AFM.

Impact of admitting diagnosis on survival from in-hospital cardiac arrest

Background

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has an incidence of approximately 200,000 adults per year in the United States. Most events occur in patients without known heart disease. The majority of IHCA data is heterogenous from registries, pooled databases, and insurance claims. We sought to examine single-center data from our institution over a 5-year period.

Purpose

Does the category of admitting diagnosis impact the outcome of IHCA? We hypothesized that patients with cardiac admitting diagnoses would have higher rates of survival to discharge and discharge home due to an increased amount of shockable (ventricular) rhythms.

Methods

All IHCA events over 5 years were identified, and 1,105 charts were examined. Charts with missing information were excluded. Admitting diagnoses were reviewed and categorized by organ system. If there were multiple categories, the most causative was chosen. If equally causative, the most severe was chosen. Charts were organized by survival and sorted by the organ system of the admitting diagnosis. Categories with &lt;10 patients were excluded from analysis. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Secondary outcomes were initial rhythm, immediate survival, and discharge disposition. Initial rhythms were classified as asystole, pulseless electrical activity (PEA), and ventricular (ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation).

Results

Patients with a cardiac category of admitting diagnosis (Table 1) had the highest rate of IHCA (29.68%) while hematologic had the lowest (1.45%). Immediate survival and survival to discharge respectively were highest for transplant patients (85.71%, 32.14%) and lowest for vascular (37.5%, 12.5%). The initial rhythm was predominantly PEA across all groups. Patients with cardiac and pulmonary diagnoses had higher rates of ventricular rhythms than asystole, which was reversed in the other groups. Discharge disposition (Table 2) home was highest for transplant (55.56%), cancer (52%), and cardiac (49.35%). Cardiac patients were nearly as likely to be discharged to an inpatient facility (45.46%). Pulmonary and gastrointestinal patients were most likely to be discharged to a long-term acute care hospital (28.89% and 28.57%, respectively). Neurologic patients were all, and trauma patients were mostly, discharged to inpatient facilities.

Conclusion(s)

In keeping with established data, cardiac patients were most likely to suffer an IHCA and had more ventricular rhythms than the other groups. However, their initial rhythm was predominantly PEA, they had the third-highest survival to discharge, and were predominantly discharged home. Transplant and trauma patients surprisingly had the highest survival to discharge while gastrointestinal and infectious patients had the lowest. The data presented herein can serve as a guide for clinicians to better predict survival to discharge and disposition for their patients who suffer an IHCA.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Corrigendum to: "Task syndromes: linking personality and task allocation in social animal groups" by J. C. Loftus, A. Perez, and A. Sih. 32:1-17

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa083.].

Abstract 1753: Deregulation and therapeutic potential of targeting IRAK3 as chronic inflammation suppressor in prostate cancer

Chronic inflammation is emerging as a targetable driver of tumorigenesis. During chronic inflammation, several inflammatory molecules are either activated or suppressed for a prolonged time. The oncogenic role of many of these inflammatory genes in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unexplored despite the increasing association of chronic inflammation with PCa initiation, progression, and therapy resistance in the scientific literature. The overarching goal of this study was to identify deregulated inflammatory suppressor genes, including interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases 3 (IRAK3) as biomarkers for inflammation-driven PCa aggressiveness or progression. To achieve this, we utilize cutting-edge integrative (epi)genomic and transcriptomic techniques to investigate the role of IRAK3 in PCa progression, as well as the therapeutic potential of targeting IRAK3 in PCa. An array of computational tools was deployed to analyze Illumina HumanMethylation450K and whole exome RNAseq clinical datasets acquired from TCGA and cBioportal databases to identify differentially methylated and altered or expressed inflammatory suppressor genes in PCa patients/samples. We identified six inflammatory suppressor genes (IRAK3, TOLLIP, SOCS1, RNF216, IL1RL1, and TNFAIP3) to be significantly deregulated in indolent (n=493), metastatic (n=212), and lethal (n=50) PCa patients/samples. The expression patterns of these genes were correlated with clinical traits, such as age, progression-free status, overall survival status, biochemical recurrence, pathology as well as metastatic status using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, which identified IRAK3 as one of the top genes to explore. MutSigCV and GISTIC tools were used to identify somatic mutations and copy-number alterations. IRAK3 was found to be downregulated in most indolent, metastatic and lethal PCa samples. Its low expression correlated significantly with the progression, metastatic and recurrence statuses of the PCa. The genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of the 16 CpG probes identified in IRAK3 reveals hypermethylation (b-value or m-value &lt; 0.01) at the promoter regions, which may be responsible for the observed transcriptional repression of IRAK3. Further analysis shows that DNA methylation is higher in PCa samples with mutated IRAK3 compared to those without the mutation. Mechanistic studies using genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing techniques were performed to create IRAK3+/+ or IRAK3-/- PCa clones. Using a series of bioassays, IRAK3 reactivation was found to inhibit PCa cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, and chemoresistance as well as induce apoptotic cell death. IRAK3+/+ PCa cells responded well to Taxane analogs compared to IRAK3-/- PCa cells. In conclusion, we have been able to demonstrate the tumor suppressor potential of IRAK3 in prostate cancer cells.

Citation Format: Saheed Oluwasina Oseni, Corey Naar, Magdalah Philemy, Genesis Acosta Laguer, Faika Ambrin, Sharlanda Metayer, Ariana Perez, Javoncia Betty, Preethika Praveen, James Hartmann, Mirjana Pavlovic, James Kumi-Diaka. Deregulation and therapeutic potential of targeting IRAK3 as chronic inflammation suppressor in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1753.

The prognostic impact of tumor mutational burden (TMB) in the first-line management of advanced non-oncogene addicted non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The role of tumor mutational burden (TMB) is still debated for selecting advanced non-oncogene addicted non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who might benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Of note, TMB failed to predict a benefit in overall survival (OS) among such patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare efficacy outcomes among first-line immune-oncology (IO) agents versus standard platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) within two subgroups (TMB-low and TMB-high on either tissue or blood). We collected hazard ratios (HRs) to evaluate the association for progression-free survival (PFS) and OS, with the relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Risk ratios (RRs) were used as an association measure for objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Eight different cohorts of five randomized controlled phase III studies (3848 patients) were analyzed. In TMB-high patients, IO agents were associated with improved ORR (RRs 1.37, 95% CI 1.13-1.66), PFS (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.61-0.79) and OS (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.59-0.77) when compared with CT, thus suggesting a possible predictive role of high TMB for IO regimens. In TMB-low patients, the IO strategy did not lead to any significant benefit in survival and activity, whereas the pooled results of both ORR and PFS were intriguingly associated with a statistical significance in favor of CT.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis resulted in a proven benefit in OS in favor of IO agents in the TMB-high population. Although more prospective data are warranted, we postulated the hypothesis that monitoring TMB, in addition to the existing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression level, could represent the preferable option for future clinical research in the first-line management of advanced non-oncogene addicted NSCLC patients.

HLA genetic polymorphisms and prognosis of patients with COVID-19

Objective

Different genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) have been associated with the risk and prognosis of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there is an association between HLA genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility to and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Design

Observational and prospective study.

Setting

Eight Intensive Care Units (ICU) from 6 hospitals of Canary Islands (Spain).

Patients

COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU and healthy subjects.

Interventions

Determination of HLA genetic polymorphisms.

Main variable of interest

Mortality at 30 days.

Results

A total of 3886 healthy controls and 72 COVID-19 patients (10 non-survivors and 62 survivor patients at 30 days) were included. We found a trend to a higher rate of the alleles HLA-A*32 (p = 0.004) in healthy controls than in COVID-19 patients, and of the alleles HLA-B*39 (p = 0.02) and HLA-C*16 (p = 0.02) in COVID-19 patients than in healthy controls; however, all these p-values were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of certain alleles was associated with higher mortality, such as the allele HLA-A*11 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 7.693; 95% CI = 1.063-55.650; p = 0.04) or APACHE-II (OR = 11.858; 95% CI = 1.524-92.273; p = 0.02), the allele HLA-C*01 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 11.182; 95% CI = 1.053-118.700; p = 0.04) or APACHE-II (OR = 17.604; 95% CI = 1.629-190.211; p = 0.02), and the allele HLA-DQB1*04 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 9.963; 95% CI = 1.235-80.358; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

The new finding from our preliminary study of small sample size was that HLA genetic polymorphisms could be associated with COVID-19 mortality; however, studies with a larger sample size before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

HLA genetic polymorphisms and prognosis of patients with COVID-19

Objective

Different genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) have been associated with the risk and prognosis of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there is an association between HLA genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility to and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Design

Observational and prospective study.

Setting

Eight Intensive Care Units (ICU) from 6 hospitals of Canary Islands (Spain).

Patients

COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU and healthy subjects.

Interventions

Determination of HLA genetic polymorphisms.

Main variable of interest

Mortality at 30 days.

Results

A total of 3886 healthy controls and 72 COVID-19 patients (10 non-survivors and 62 survivor patients at 30 days) were included. We found a trend to a higher rate of the alleles HLA-A*32 (p = 0.004) in healthy controls than in COVID-19 patients, and of the alleles HLA-B*39 (p = 0.02) and HLA-C*16 (p = 0.02) in COVID-19 patients than in healthy controls; however, all these p-values were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of certain alleles was associated with higher mortality, such as the allele HLA-A*11 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 7.693; 95% CI = 1.063–55.650; p = 0.04) or APACHE-II (OR = 11.858; 95% CI = 1.524–92.273; p = 0.02), the allele HLA-C*01 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 11.182; 95% CI = 1.053–118.700; p = 0.04) or APACHE-II (OR = 17.604; 95% CI = 1.629–190.211; p = 0.02), and the allele HLA-DQB1*04 after controlling for SOFA (OR = 9.963; 95% CI = 1.235–80.358; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

The new finding from our preliminary study of small sample size was that HLA genetic polymorphisms could be associated with COVID-19 mortality; however, studies with a larger sample size before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Nanogap-based all-electronic DNA sequencing devices using MoS2 monolayers

The realization of nanopores in atom-thick materials may pave the way towards electrical detection of single biomolecules in a stable and scalable manner. In this work, we theoretically study the potential of different phases of MoS2 nanogaps to act as all-electronic DNA sequencing devices. We carry out simulations based on density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism to investigate the electronic transport across the device. Our results suggest that the 1T'-MoS2 nanogap structure is energetically more favorable than its 2H counterpart. At zero bias, the changes in the conductance of the 1T'-MoS2 device can be well distinguished, making possible the selectivity of the DNA nucleobases. Although the conductance fluctuates around the resonances, the overall results suggest that it is possible to distinguish the four DNA bases for energies close to the Fermi level.