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Miller EM, Law EA, Ajeen R, Karasik J, Mendoza C, Abernathy H, Garrett H, King E, Wallace J, Zelek M, Edwards JK, Xiong K, Beatty C, Fleischauer AT, Ciccone EJ, Shook-Sa BE, Aiello AE, Boyce RM. SARS-CoV-2 infection in central North Carolina: Protocol for a population-based longitudinal cohort study and preliminary participant results. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259070. [PMID: 34695156 PMCID: PMC8544868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Public health surveillance systems likely underestimate the true prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to limited access to testing and the high proportion of subclinical infections in community-based settings. This ongoing prospective, observational study aimed to generate accurate estimates of the prevalence and incidence of, and risk factors for, SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents of a central North Carolina county. From this cohort, we collected survey data and nasal swabs every two weeks and venous blood specimens every month. Nasal swabs were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus (evidence of active infection), and serum specimens for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (evidence of prior infection). As of June 23, 2021, we have enrolled a total of 153 participants from a county with an estimated 76,285 total residents. The anticipated study duration is at least 24 months, pending the evolution of the pandemic. Study data are being shared on a monthly basis with North Carolina state health authorities and future analyses aim to compare study data to state-wide metrics over time. Overall, the use of a probability-based sampling design and a well-characterized cohort will enable collection of critical data that can be used in planning and policy decisions for North Carolina and may be informative for other states with similar demographic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse M. Miller
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Elle A. Law
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Rawan Ajeen
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jaclyn Karasik
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Carmen Mendoza
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Haley Abernathy
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Haley Garrett
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Elise King
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - John Wallace
- North Carolina Institute of Public Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Michael Zelek
- Chatham County Public Health Department, Pittsboro, NC, United States of America
| | - Jessie K. Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Khou Xiong
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Cherese Beatty
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Aaron T. Fleischauer
- Division of State and Local Readiness, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- Epidemiology Branch, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
| | - Emily J. Ciccone
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Bonnie E. Shook-Sa
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Allison E. Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Ross M. Boyce
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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Money EB, Williams J, Zelek M, Amobi A. Engaging the Power of Communities for Better Health. N C Med J 2020; 81:195-197. [PMID: 32366631 DOI: 10.18043/ncm.81.3.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Authentically engaging community residents is necessary to impact social drivers of health. Acknowledging the value of residents' lived experiences in the planning, implementation, and financial decisions of community engagement initiatives is key. Sustainability of community engagement initiatives depends on open communication and follow-through on commitments.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Benjamin Money
- deputy secretary for health services, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Josie Williams
- director of community engagement, Greensboro Housing Coalition, Greensboro, North Carolina
| | - Michael Zelek
- director, Health Promotion and Policy Division, Chatham County Public Health, Pittsboro, North Carolina
| | - Adaugo Amobi
- physician lead, Health Equity Institute, Rhode Island Department of Health; instructor in medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Betts A, Gray C, Zelek M, MacLean RC, King KC. High parasite diversity accelerates host adaptation and diversification. Science 2018; 360:907-911. [PMID: 29798882 PMCID: PMC7612933 DOI: 10.1126/science.aam9974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Host-parasite species pairs are known to coevolve, but how multiple parasites coevolve with their host is unclear. By using experimental coevolution of a host bacterium and its viral parasites, we revealed that diverse parasite communities accelerated host evolution and altered coevolutionary dynamics to enhance host resistance and decrease parasite infectivity. Increases in parasite diversity drove shifts in the mode of selection from fluctuating (Red Queen) dynamics to predominately directional (arms race) dynamics. Arms race dynamics were characterized by selective sweeps of generalist resistance mutations in the genes for the host bacterium's cell surface lipopolysaccharide (a bacteriophage receptor), which caused faster molecular evolution within host populations and greater genetic divergence among populations. These results indicate that exposure to multiple parasites influences the rate and type of host-parasite coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Betts
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
| | - C Gray
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - M Zelek
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - R C MacLean
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - K C King
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
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Davis MV, Mahanna E, Joly B, Zelek M, Riley W, Verma P, Fisher JS. Creating quality improvement culture in public health agencies. Am J Public Health 2013; 104:e98-104. [PMID: 24228680 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2013.301413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We conducted case studies of 10 agencies that participated in early quality improvement efforts. METHODS The agencies participated in a project conducted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (2007-2008). Case study participants included health directors and quality improvement team leaders and members. We implemented multiple qualitative analysis processes, including cross-case analysis and logic modeling. We categorized agencies according to the extent to which they had developed a quality improvement culture. RESULTS Agencies were conducting informal quality improvement projects (n = 4), conducting formal quality improvement projects (n = 3), or creating a quality improvement culture (n = 4). Agencies conducting formal quality improvement and creating a quality improvement culture had leadership support for quality improvement, participated in national quality improvement initiatives, had a greater number of staff trained in quality improvement and quality improvement teams that met regularly with decision-making authority. Agencies conducting informal quality improvement were likely to report that accreditation is the major driver for quality improvement work. Agencies creating a quality improvement culture were more likely to have a history of evidence-based decision-making and use quality improvement to address emerging issues. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support previous research and add the roles of national public health accreditation and emerging issues as factors in agencies' ability to create and sustain a quality improvement culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary V Davis
- At the time of the study, Mary V. Davis, Elizabeth Mahanna, and Michael Zelek were with the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Brenda Joly is with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland. William Riley is with the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Pooja Verma and Jessica Solomon Fisher are with the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Washington, DC
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