Featured Publications
Factors influencing the decision to receive seasonal influenza vaccination among US corporate non-healthcare workers
Aguolu OG, Willebrand K, Elharake JA, Qureshi HM, Kiti MC, Liu CY, Mesa A, Nelson K, Jenness S, Melegaro A, Ahmed F, Yildirim I, Malik FA, Lopman B, Omer SB. Factors influencing the decision to receive seasonal influenza vaccination among US corporate non-healthcare workers. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2022, 18: 2122379. PMID: 36136345, PMCID: PMC9746537, DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2122379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfluenza vaccinationNon-healthcare workersInfluenza vaccinePromotion messagesWorkplace vaccination programsSeasonal influenza vaccinationInfluenza vaccine acceptancePublic health authoritiesLogistic regression modelsInfluenza seasonPhysician recommendationVaccination acceptanceVaccine accessibilityVaccine acceptanceSevere outcomesVaccination programPromotion interventionsUS adultsWork absenceVaccinationVaccination decisionsHealth authoritiesSignificant mortalityUnderstanding predictorsSignificant predictorsCOVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers in Lebanon
Youssef N, Tfaily N, Moumneh M, Boutros C, Elharake J, Malik A, McFadden S, Galal B, Yildirim I, Khoshnood K, Omer S, Memish Z, Dbaibo G. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers in Lebanon. Journal Of Epidemiology And Global Health 2023, 13: 55-66. PMID: 36735184, PMCID: PMC9896451, DOI: 10.1007/s44197-023-00086-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care workersCOVID-19 vaccine acceptanceVaccine acceptancePrevious infectionCare workersPrevious SARS-CoV-2 infectionSARS-CoV-2 infectionMethodsA cross-sectional studyCOVID-19 vaccination ratesCOVID-19 vaccinationCross-sectional studyCOVID-19 vaccineHealth care authoritiesVaccine uptakeVaccination ratesOrder of PhysiciansVaccine hesitancyGeneral populationHealthcare providersVaccineCare authoritiesInfectionCOVID-19 informationTrusted sourceCOVID-19 pandemic
2024
BK polyomavirus DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor‐specific antibodies after lowering target tacrolimus levels in pediatric kidney transplant recipients
Huang H, Xiang Y, George R, Winterberg P, Serluco A, Liverman R, Yildirim I, Garro R. BK polyomavirus DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor‐specific antibodies after lowering target tacrolimus levels in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation 2024, 28: e14791. PMID: 38808701, DOI: 10.1111/petr.14791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDe novo donor-specific antibodiesTarget tacrolimus levelsDevelopment of de novo donor-specific antibodiesBiopsy-proven rejectionDonor-specific antibodiesMonths post-KTTacrolimus levelsTime of transplantationPediatric KT recipientsBK polyomavirusBKV-DNAemiaPost-KTPost-intervention cohortAllograft rejectionRecipient ageKT recipientsKidney transplantationPediatric kidney transplant recipientsLow tacrolimus levelsReduction of immunosuppressionKaplan-Meier survival analysisYounger recipient ageIndividualized immunosuppressive regimensKidney transplant recipientsRetrospective chart review
2022
Association of Child Masking With COVID-19–Related Closures in US Childcare Programs
Murray TS, Malik AA, Shafiq M, Lee A, Harris C, Klotz M, Humphries JE, Patel KM, Wilkinson D, Yildirim I, Elharake JA, Diaz R, Reyes C, Omer SB, Gilliam WS. Association of Child Masking With COVID-19–Related Closures in US Childcare Programs. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2141227. PMID: 35084484, PMCID: PMC8796014, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41227.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 casesLower riskImportant public health policy implicationsCOVID-19-related closuresPublic health policy implicationsChildren 2 yearsElectronic survey studyCenter-based childcare programsHealth policy implicationsSARS-CoV-2Survey studyChildcare professionalsMAIN OUTCOMEProgram closureHealth policyStudy periodRobust SEsBaselineChildcare programsCOVID-19Young childrenChildcare settingsChildrenPhysical distancingAssociation
2021
Bloodstream Infections in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: 2010-2019.
Yee ME, Lai KW, Bakshi N, Grossman JK, Jaggi P, Mallis A, Wang YF, Jerris RC, Lane PA, Yildirim I. Bloodstream Infections in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: 2010-2019. Pediatrics 2021, 149 PMID: 34913059, PMCID: PMC8959248, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-051892.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSickle cell diseaseBloodstream infectionsBlood culturesSickle cell anemia genotypesRetrospective cohort studyInvasive bacterial infectionsMultivariate logistic regressionConfidence intervalsAverage incidence rateSpectrum of pathogensAntibiotic prophylaxisEligible patientsFunctional aspleniaBSI episodesCohort studyChronic transfusionMedian ageAnnual incidenceOverall incidenceRisk factorsIncidence rateCell diseaseEmpirical treatmentBordetella holmesiiCommon pathogensImpact of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants on mRNA vaccine-induced immunity
Lucas C, Vogels CBF, Yildirim I, Rothman JE, Lu P, Monteiro V, Gehlhausen JR, Campbell M, Silva J, Tabachnikova A, Peña-Hernandez MA, Muenker MC, Breban MI, Fauver JR, Mohanty S, Huang J, Shaw A, Ko A, Omer S, Grubaugh N, Iwasaki A. Impact of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants on mRNA vaccine-induced immunity. Nature 2021, 600: 523-529. PMID: 34634791, PMCID: PMC9348899, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04085-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 variantsMRNA vaccine-induced immunityT-cell activation markersSARS-CoV-2 antibodiesSecond vaccine doseVaccine-induced immunityCell activation markersT cell responsesHigh antibody titresSARS-CoV-2Vaccine boosterVaccine doseActivation markersVaccine dosesHumoral immunityAntibody titresMRNA vaccinesVitro stimulationNeutralization capacityNeutralization responseCell responsesE484KNucleocapsid peptideAntibody-binding sitesGreater reductionRespiratory Syncytial Virus–Associated Mortality Among Young Infants in Karachi, Pakistan: A Prospective Postmortem Surveillance Study
Kazi AM, Aguolu OG, Mughis W, Ahsan N, Jamal S, Khan A, Qureshi HM, Yildirim I, Malik FA, Omer SB. Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Associated Mortality Among Young Infants in Karachi, Pakistan: A Prospective Postmortem Surveillance Study. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2021, 73: s203-s209. PMID: 34472574, PMCID: PMC8411247, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab488.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusRespiratory symptomsInfant deathRSV seasonalityRole of RSVYoung infantsPresence of RSVMultivariable logistic regression analysisMaternal immunization strategiesSignificant mortality burdenVaccine-hesitant populationYoung infant deathsMultivariable logistic regressionCold-like symptomsSignificant predictorsLogistic regression analysisPostneonatal ageRSV mortalityRSV seasonMaternal immunizationInfant morbidityNasopharyngeal specimensNasopharyngeal swabsSyncytial virusRespiratory illnessA Retrospective Test-Negative Case-Control Study to Evaluate Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Hospitalizations in Children
Yildirim I, Kao CM, Tippett A, Suntarattiwong P, Munye M, Yi J, Elmontser M, Quincer E, Focht C, Watson N, Bilen H, Baker JM, Lopman B, Hogenesch E, Rostad CA, Anderson EJ. A Retrospective Test-Negative Case-Control Study to Evaluate Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Hospitalizations in Children. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2021, 73: 1759-1767. PMID: 34410341, PMCID: PMC8599178, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab709.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfluenza vaccine effectivenessInfluenza-positive casesInfluenza-related hospitalizationsVaccine effectivenessInfluenza seasonOdds ratioInfluenza ALaboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizationsTest-negative case-control study designAdjusted vaccine effectivenessInfluenza-negative controlsTest-negative controlsCase-control study designHospitalization of childrenTest-negative casesConfidence intervalsNon-Hispanic blacksLogistic regression modelsPreventing HospitalizationInfluenza vaccinationInfluenza burdenMedian ageInfluenza B.Influenza infectionPediatric hospitalizationsCOVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Elharake JA, Galal B, Alqahtani SA, Kattan RF, Barry MA, Temsah MH, Malik AA, McFadden SM, Yildirim I, Khoshnood K, Omer SB, Memish ZA. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. International Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 109: 286-293. PMID: 34242765, PMCID: PMC8260488, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care workersCOVID-19 vaccineCOVID-19 vaccine acceptanceVaccine acceptanceCare workersPublic health messaging campaignsCOVID-19 vaccine concernsPotential side effectsHealth care authoritiesVaccine concernsGeneral populationSide effectsVaccineCare authoritiesSaudi ArabiaHealth officialsMessaging campaignsDemographic characteristicsCOVID-19 informationKSA MinistryDemographic differencesParticipantsDelayed production of neutralizing antibodies correlates with fatal COVID-19
Lucas C, Klein J, Sundaram ME, Liu F, Wong P, Silva J, Mao T, Oh JE, Mohanty S, Huang J, Tokuyama M, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Park A, Israelow B, Vogels CBF, Muenker MC, Chang CH, Casanovas-Massana A, Moore AJ, Zell J, Fournier JB, Wyllie A, Campbell M, Lee A, Chun H, Grubaugh N, Schulz W, Farhadian S, Dela Cruz C, Ring A, Shaw A, Wisnewski A, Yildirim I, Ko A, Omer S, Iwasaki A. Delayed production of neutralizing antibodies correlates with fatal COVID-19. Nature Medicine 2021, 27: 1178-1186. PMID: 33953384, PMCID: PMC8785364, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01355-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDeceased patientsAntibody levelsAntibody responseDisease severityAnti-S IgG levelsCOVID-19 disease outcomesFatal COVID-19Impaired viral controlWorse clinical progressionWorse disease severitySevere COVID-19Length of hospitalizationImmunoglobulin G levelsHumoral immune responseCoronavirus disease 2019COVID-19 mortalityCOVID-19Domain (RBD) IgGSeroconversion kineticsDisease courseIgG levelsClinical parametersClinical progressionHumoral responseDisease onsetClinical Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections
Yi J, Wood JB, Creech CB, Williams D, Jimenez-Truque N, Yildirim I, Sederdahl B, Daugherty M, Hussaini L, Munye M, Tomashek KM, Focht C, Watson N, Anderson EJ, Thomsen I. Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections. The Journal Of Pediatrics 2021, 234: 236-244.e2. PMID: 33771580, PMCID: PMC8238832, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcute DiseaseAdministration, OralAdolescentAnti-Bacterial AgentsArthritis, InfectiousChildChild, PreschoolCombined Modality TherapyFemaleGram-Negative Bacterial InfectionsGram-Positive Bacterial InfectionsHumansInfantLogistic ModelsMaleMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusOrthopedic ProceduresOsteomyelitisRetrospective StudiesStaphylococcal InfectionsTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesConceptsOsteomyelitis/septic arthritisAcute hematogenous osteomyelitisMethicillin-resistant S aureusSeptic arthritisHematogenous osteomyelitisTreatment failureS aureusOral therapyAntibiotic therapyMusculoskeletal infectionsHigher oddsPediatric musculoskeletal infectionsLonger hospital stayOral antibiotic therapyRetrospective cohort studyTreatment-related complicationsTreatment-associated complicationsHospital stayPediatric infectionsCohort studyParenteral therapyTreatment complicationsIntensive careRecurrent infectionsWorse outcomes
2020
Vaccine‐induced protection against hepatitis B in pediatric solid organ transplant patients
Ball M, Liverman R, Serluco A, Yildirim I. Vaccine‐induced protection against hepatitis B in pediatric solid organ transplant patients. Pediatric Transplantation 2020, 25: e13920. PMID: 33217081, DOI: 10.1111/petr.13920.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine-induced protectionPediatric solid organ transplant patientsSolid organ transplant patientsOrgan transplant patientsHepatitis B virusHBV vaccinationTransplant patientsHepatitis B surface antibody titerHBV vaccination coverageHBV vaccine seriesPediatric SOT recipientsDetailed chart reviewYears of ageHBsAb titersSeroprotection ratesSOT recipientsHBV infectionTransplanted childrenVaccine seriesChart reviewHepatitis BLaboratory featuresImmunogenicity dataVaccination coverageVaccine immunityThe burden of respiratory syncytial virus infections among children with sickle cell disease
Rostad CA, Maillis AN, Lai K, Bakshi N, Jerris RC, Lane PA, Yee ME, Yildirim I. The burden of respiratory syncytial virus infections among children with sickle cell disease. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2020, 68: e28759. PMID: 33034160, PMCID: PMC8246443, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28759.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusSickle cell diseaseRespiratory viral panelRSV-positive casesRSV infectionAnnual incidenceHospitalization ratesCell diseaseBurden of RSVPediatric lower respiratory tract infectionsLaboratory-confirmed RSV infectionRespiratory syncytial virus infectionRSV-related hospitalization rateLower respiratory tract infectionsRSV positive testRSV-negative childrenRSV-negative patientsAcute chest syndromeSyncytial virus infectionRespiratory tract infectionsAverage annual incidenceMultivariate logistic regressionConfidence intervalsCase-control studyOutcome of childrenMicrobiology and radiographic features of osteomyelitis in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease
Kao CM, Yee ME, Maillis A, Lai K, Bakshi N, Rostad BS, Jerris RC, Lane PA, Yildirim I. Microbiology and radiographic features of osteomyelitis in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2020, 67: e28517. PMID: 32710705, PMCID: PMC8369475, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28517.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSickle cell diseaseMethicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureusMagnetic resonance imagingAntibiotic treatmentOperative culturesCell diseaseLarge tertiary pediatric centerPrescribed antibiotic treatmentTertiary pediatric centerCulture-positive casesKey presenting symptomsChildren ages 6Bone painMicrobiologic etiologyPresenting symptomPediatric centersBone infarctsMedical chartsMicrobiologic findingsRadiographic featuresImaging featuresOsteomyelitisProbable osteomyelitisDiagnostic codingTissue debridementInitial posaconazole dosing to achieve therapeutic serum posaconazole concentrations among children, adolescents, and young adults receiving delayed‐release tablet and intravenous posaconazole
Bernardo V, Miles A, Fernandez AJ, Liverman R, Tippett A, Yildirim I. Initial posaconazole dosing to achieve therapeutic serum posaconazole concentrations among children, adolescents, and young adults receiving delayed‐release tablet and intravenous posaconazole. Pediatric Transplantation 2020, 24: e13777. PMID: 32639095, DOI: 10.1111/petr.13777.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsYears of ageMedian daily doseTrough concentrationsDaily dosePlasma concentrationsYoung adultsPlasma trough concentrationsSerum posaconazole concentrationsInvasive fungal diseaseTherapeutic plasma concentrationsDelayed-release tabletsIntravenous posaconazolePosaconazole dosingImmunocompromised childrenPatients 13Optimal dosingBroad-spectrum antifungalsAdolescent patientsPosaconazole concentrationsHigher dosingPatientsBody weightGrade 1ProphylaxisDosingBrincidofovir for the treatment of human adenovirus infection in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients: A case series
Londeree J, Winterberg PD, Garro R, George RP, Shin S, Liverman R, Serluco A, Romero R, Yildirim I. Brincidofovir for the treatment of human adenovirus infection in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients: A case series. Pediatric Transplantation 2020, 24: e13769. PMID: 32558134, DOI: 10.1111/petr.13769.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric SOT recipientsSOT recipientsCase seriesSevere diseasePediatric solid organ transplant recipientsSolid organ transplant recipientsType of allograftMainstay of treatmentOrgan transplant recipientsSeverity of diseaseHuman adenovirus infectionHAdV diseaseHAdV viremiaPediatric recipientsTransplant recipientsHAdV infectionDisease courseAntiviral therapySignificant morbidityDisease presentationUS FDAAdenovirus infectionBrincidofovirDiseaseRecipientsInfluenza vaccine effectiveness and disease burden in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: 2012‐2017
Kao CM, Lai K, McAteer JM, Elmontser M, Quincer EM, Yee MEM, Tippet A, Jerris RC, Lane PA, Anderson EJ, Bakshi N, Yildirim I. Influenza vaccine effectiveness and disease burden in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: 2012‐2017. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2020, 67: e28358. PMID: 32469138, PMCID: PMC8221251, DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28358.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfluenza vaccine effectivenessSickle cell diseaseVaccine effectivenessYears of ageInfluenza infectionOdds ratioCell diseaseLaboratory-confirmed influenza infectionSeasonal influenza vaccine effectivenessTest-negative case-control study designAdjusted vaccine effectivenessAdjusted VE estimatesInfluenza-positive casesOverall vaccine effectivenessAcute chest syndromeBurden of influenzaPatients 6 monthsMulticenter prospective studyTest-negative controlsAnnual influenza vaccineCase-control study designConfidence intervalsLogistic regression modelsChest syndromeInfluenza seasonUrinary Tract Infections With Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Bacteria: Case-control Study.
Amin O, Prestel C, Gonzalez MD, Lyon T, Shane A, Jaggi P, Tippett A, Yildirim I. Urinary Tract Infections With Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Bacteria: Case-control Study. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2020, 39: 211-216. PMID: 32032306, DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000002531.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrinary tract infectionESBL-producing bacteriaCase-control studyRisk factorsTract infectionsPrior intensive care unit admissionIntensive care unit admissionPediatric urinary tract infectionCause of UTIClinical signs/symptomsCare unit admissionIndependent risk factorYear of diagnosisΒ-lactamase-producing bacteriaSigns/symptomsCommon bacterial infectionsSpectrum β-lactamasesRational antimicrobial useESBL casesESBL-UTIUnit admissionUnderlying comorbiditiesPrior hospitalizationEmpirical therapyPediatric patients
2019
Cryptosporidiosis among solid organ transplant recipient attendees at a summer camp
McAteer J, Jernigan S, Mao C, Gonzalez MD, Watson RJ, Liverman R, Angelo M, M. H, Shane A, Yildirim I. Cryptosporidiosis among solid organ transplant recipient attendees at a summer camp. Pediatric Transplantation 2019, 24: e13649. PMID: 31885132, DOI: 10.1111/petr.13649.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransplant recipientsSolid organ transplant recipientsKidney transplant recipientsRetrospective cohort studyOrgan transplant recipientsPediatric transplant recipientsOverall attack rateAcute rejection eventsLong-term interventionsImmunosuppressive therapySymptom durationCohort studyRisk factorsNotable burdenStool specimensCryptosporidiosis infectionEtiologic agentRejection eventsAttack rateFurther outbreaksInfectionRecipientsCryptosporidium hominisCryptosporidiosisOutbreakAssessment and Validation of Syndromic Case Definitions for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Young Infants: A Latent Class Analysis.
Lalani K, Yildirim I, Phadke VK, Bednarczyk RA, Omer SB. Assessment and Validation of Syndromic Case Definitions for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Young Infants: A Latent Class Analysis. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2019, 38: 1177-1182. PMID: 31568250, DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000002468.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusSyndromic case definitionsCase definitionYoung infantsWorld Health OrganizationRSV infectionLatent class analysisPredictive valueLaboratory-confirmed RSV infectionRespiratory syncytial virus infectionSyncytial virus infectionAcute respiratory infectionsHigh positive predictive valueRoutine clinical careStandardized case definitionsHigh-resource settingsAppropriate case definitionsHigh-income settingsNegative predictive valueMonths of agePositive predictive valueRespiratory infectionsVaccine evaluationClinical featuresPediatric morbidity