In this survey of 31 hospitals, large metropolitan facilities had a 9.5-fold odds of reporting preparedness for special pathogens; hospitals with special pathogens teams had a 14.3-fold odds of reporting preparedness for special pathogens. In the postpandemic world, healthcare institutions must invest in special pathogen responses to maximize patient safety.

Background: Central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates increased nationally during COVID-19, the drivers of which are still being characterized in the literature. CLABSI rates doubled during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron-variant surge at our rural academic medical center. We sought to identify potential drivers of CLABSIs by comparing period- and patient-specific characteristics of this COVID-19 surge to a historical control period. Methods: We defined the study period as the time of highest COVID-19 burden at our hospital (July 2021–June 2022) and the control period as the previous 2 years (July 2019–June 2021). We compared NHSN CLABSI standardized infection ratios (SIRs), central-line standardized utilization ratios (SURs), completion of practice evaluation tools (PETs) for monitoring of central-line bundle compliance, and proportions of traveling nurses. We performed chart reviews to determine patient-specific characteristics of NHSN CLABSIs during these periods, including demographics, comorbidities, central-line characteristics and care, and microbiology. Results: The CLABSI SIR was significantly higher during the study period than the control period (0.89 vs 0.52; P = .03); the SUR was significantly higher during the study period (1.08 vs 1.02; P < .01); the PET completion per 100 central-line days was significantly lower during the study period (23.0 vs 31.5; P < .01); and the proportion of traveling nurses was significantly higher during the study period (0.20 vs 0.08; P < .01) (Fig. 1). Patients with NHSN CLABSIs during the study period were more likely to have a history of COVID-19 (27% vs 3%; P = .01) and were more likely to receive a higher level of care (60% vs 27%; P = .02). During the study period, more patients had multilumen catheters (87% vs 61%; P = .04). The type of catheter, catheter care (ie, dressing changes and chlorhexidine bathing), catheter duration before CLABSI, and associated microbiology were similar between the study and control periods (Table 1). Conclusions: During the SARS-CoV-2 omicron-variant surge, the increase in CLABSIs at our hospital was significantly associated with increased central-line utilization, decreased PET completion, and increased proportion of traveling nurses. Critical illness and multilumen catheters were significant patient-specific factors that differed between CLABSIs from the study and control periods. We did not observe differences in catheter type, duration, or catheter care. Our study highlights key modifiable risk factors for CLABSI reduction. These findings may be surrogates for other difficult-to-measure challenges related to the culture of safety during a global pandemic, such as staff education related to infection prevention and daily review of central-line necessity.

Disclosures: None

For 147 hospital-onset bloodstream infections, we assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance definitions of central-line–associated bloodstream infections against the gold standard of physician review, examining the drivers of discrepancies and related implications for reporting and infection prevention.

In this survey of 41 hospitals, 18 (72%) of 25 respondents reporting utilization of National Healthcare Safety Network resources demonstrated accurate central-line–associated bloodstream infection reporting compared to 6 (38%) of 16 without utilization (adjusted odds ratio, 5.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–24.8). Adherence to standard definitions is essential for consistent reporting across healthcare facilities.

This article examines the legacy of lynchings on contemporary whites' views of blacks as criminal threats. To this end, it draws on prior literature on racial animus to demonstrate the sustained influence of lynching on contemporary America. We hypothesize that one long-standing legacy of lynchings is its influence in shaping views about blacks as criminals and, in particular, as a group that poses a criminal threat to whites. In addition, we hypothesize that this effect will be greater among whites who live in areas in America where socioeconomic disadvantage and political conservatism are greater. Results of multilevel analyses of lynching and survey data on whites' views toward blacks support the hypotheses. In turn, they underscore the salience of understanding historical forces, including the legacy of lynchings that influence contemporary views of blacks, criminals, and punishment policies.

Cyathostomins are ubiquitous nematodes of horses. Once ingested, they can spend a substantial time as encysted larvae in the intestinal wall. The larvae can comprise up to 90% of the total burden, with up to several million worms reported in individuals. These stages can emerge in large numbers to cause life-threatening colitis. Direct methods for detection of encysted larval burdens in live horses do not exist. Previously, two antigen complexes were identified as promising markers for infection. A component of these, cyathostomin gut associated larval antigen-1 (Cy-GALA-1), was identified following immunoscreening of a complementary DNA library. Serum immunoglobulin G(T) (IgG(T)) responses to Cy-GALA-1 were shown to inform on larval infection. Sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction products amplified from individual worms indicated that Cy-GALA-1 was derived from Cyathostomum pateratum. As cyathostomin infections always comprise multiple species, a diagnostic test must account for this. Here, segments of the Cy-gala gene were isolated from four common species, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicocyclus ashworthi, Cylicostephanus goldi and Cylicostephanus longibursatus, and the associated proteins expressed in recombinant form. The specificity and immunogenicity of each protein was confirmed. Each protein was assessed by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) for its ability for informing on the presence of encysted larval infection and the level of burden.

The Parkes 64 m telescope has been used to survey a complete sample of nearby red giants (i.e. not members of close binaries or showing strong emission lines of CaII). The sample consisted of all 82 stars in the Bright Star Catalogue within 30 pc having spectral types G, K, M and luminosity classes I, II, III south of the celestial equator.

We describe bright microwave events that were first detected with the Parkes 64-m telescope at 8.4 or 22 GHz from six active-chromosphere stars. In some flares spectral data were obtained over a large frequency range from simultaneous measurements with the Parkes reflector (8.4 or 22 GHz), the Tidbinbilla interferometer (8.4 and 2.29 GHz), the Fleurs synthesis telescope (1.42 GHz) and the Molonglo Observatory synthesis telescope (0.843 GHz). Data on circular polarization were obtained from the Parkes observations at 8.4 GHz.

The stars were in a wide variety of evolutionary states, ranging from a single pre-main-sequence star (HD 36705), two RS CVn binaries (HD 127535, HD 128171), an Algol (HD 132742) and two apparently single K giants (HD 32918 and HD 196818). Their high brightness temperatures, positive spectral indices and low polarization are consistent with optically thick gyrosynchrotron emission from mildly relativistic electrons with average energies 0.5 to 3 MeV gyrating in inhomogeneous magnetic fields of 5 to 100 G.

We present an overview of the survey for radio emission from active stars that has been in progress for the last six years using the observatories at Fleurs, Molonglo, Parkes and Tidbinbilla. The role of complementary optical observations at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Mount Burnett, Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories and Mount Tamborine are also outlined. We describe the different types of star that have been included in our survey and discuss some of the problems in making the radio observations.

During routine monitoring of active-chromosphere stars in August 1987 an intense radio flare on the FK Comae star HD 32918 was detected by the Parkes radiotelescope. Other observatories were notified, enabling data to be collected at 843 MHz, 1.4 GHz, 8.4 GHz and optical frequencies.

The flare at radio frequencies was largely similar to a previous event on this star, reaching a peak radio power of 5 < 1012 W Hz−1 at 8.4 GHz. During the flare the spectrum varied as ∼ v 1.4 and later flattened as the flare progressed. Compared to the previous flare, circular polarization was higher.

Ca II and Hα optical spectra taken at the AAO 3.9-metre telescope show the star to have a highly active chromosphere and a strong wind, with a terminal velocity of ≈230 km s−1. While much of this activity appears to be long lived, there is good evidence for an increase in the strength of the chromospheric lines during the radio flare event.

Properties of the microwave emission from HR1099 are examined in an attempt to determine whether the emission arises as gyro-synchrotron radiation from mildly relativistic electrons trapped in magnetic fields above starspots on the active K subgiant component. It is shown that radio curves do not exhibit a systematic variation in phase with the rotation rate, as one might expect for emission from a source situated above a long-lived starspot. However, there is some evidence that the radio flaring occurs at two preferred longitude zones. Whether these zones agree with starspot locations remains to be determined by light curve modelling. What we can say with confidence is that the measured spectral index of the microwave emission does not fit a simple gyro-synchrotron source model, such as that proposed to explain the observed reversal with frequency of the sense of circular polarization.

The single G8V active chromosphere star HD36705 (AB Dor) was observed at 8.4 GHz with the Parkes 64 m telescope during three observing sessions involving a total of 21 days in the interval 1985 December to 1986 February. Subsequent photometric observations were made of the star with the 0.25 m and 0.45 m telescopes of the Monash Observatory in 1986 March-April. Two strong radio flares, each lasting three days, were detected; they yielded peak radio powers of P 8.4≈4×109 W Hz-1, comparable with the microwave power emitted by the RS CVn binaries. Significant circular polarization of 13% left-hand was measured on only one of the six active days. The 8.4 GHz flux density showed smooth variation over an interval of several hours, consistent with the flare source being partly occulted by the stellar disk as the star rotated. When all the radio data was phase-binned using the known rotation period of 0.514 day we found two radio maxima corresponding to radio sources at stellar longitudes ~180° apart. The subsequent photometric data showed intensity variations that were consistent with the starspots at the same approximate longitudes. We thus interpret our radio curve as showing the presence of comparatively small (<0.5 D*) radio sources in the corona above the star spots. The upper limit to source diameter gives a peak brightness temperature ≥2×l010 K, which can be achieved by gyro-synchrotron emission only if the source is optically thick and the electrons, with average energy ~ 2 MeV, have a hard energy spectrum. The observed radiation can be due only to very high harmonics of the gyro-frequency, leading to an estimate for the magnetic field strength of ~30G.