Background Antecedents for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) vary across studies; therefore, we conducted a multistate, population‐based retrospective study of the prevalence and descriptive epidemiology of IHPS in the United States (US). Methods Data for IHPS cases (n = 29,554) delivered from 1999–2010 and enumerated from 11 US population‐based birth defect surveillance programs, along with data for live births (n = 14,707,418) delivered within the same birth period and jurisdictions, were analyzed using Poisson regression to estimate IHPS prevalence per 10,000 live births. Additional data on deliveries from 1999–2005 from seven of these programs were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR)s and 95% confidence intervals (CI)s for selected infant and parental characteristics. Results Overall, IHPS prevalence from 1999–2010 was 20.09 (95% CI = 19.87, 20.32) per 10,000 live births, with statistically significant increases from 2003–2006 and decreases from 2007–2010. Compared to their respective referents, aPRs were higher in magnitude for males, preterm births, and multiple births, but lower for birth weights <2,500 g. The aPRs for all cases increased with decreasing parental age, maternal education, and maternal parity, but decreased for parental race/ethnicity other than non‐Hispanic White. Estimates restricted to isolated cases or stratified by infant sex were similar to those for all cases. Conclusions This study covers one of the largest samples and longest temporal period examined for IHPS in the US. Similar to findings reported in Europe, estimates suggest that IHPS prevalence has decreased recently in the US. Additional analyses supported associations with several infant and parental characteristics.

An ATP-based biocide susceptibility assay for mycobacteria was developed by optimizing the cell lysis and assay conditions. Compared to the conventional agar plating method, the assay was rapid (1.5 h) and showed high sensitivity and specificity as determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The test species, Mycobacterium immunogenum, M. chelonae, and M. abscessus, showed various susceptibilities to the glutaraldehyde-and isothiazolone-based test biocides.

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Background Despite the development and enforcement of preventive guidelines by governments, COVID-19 continues to spread across nations, causing unprecedented economic losses and mortality. Public places remain hotspots for COVID-19 transmission due to large numbers of people present; however preventive measures are poorly enforced. Supermarkets are among the high-risk establishments due to the high interactions involved, which makes compliance with the COVID-19 preventive guidelines of paramount importance. However, until now, there has been limited evidence on compliance with the set COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Therefore, this study aimed to measure compliance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines among supermarkets in Kampala Capital City and Mukono Municipality Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among selected supermarkets in Kampala Capital City and Mukono Municipality in September 2020. A total of 229 supermarkets (195 in Kampala City and 34 in Mukono Municipality) were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected through structured observations on the status of compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, and entered using the KoboCollect software, which was preinstalled on mobile devices (smart phones and tablets). Descriptive statistics were generated to measure compliance to the set COVID-19 Ministry of Health prevention guidelines using Stata 14 software. Results Only 16.6% (38/229) of the supermarkets complied with the COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines. In line with the specific measures, almost all supermarkets 95.2% (218/229) had hand washing facilities placed at strategic points such as the entrance, and 59.8% (137/229) of the supermarkets surveyed regularly disinfected commonly touched surfaces. Only 40.6% and 30.6% of the supermarkets enforced mandatory hand washing and use of face masks respectively for all customers accessing the premises. Slightly more than half, 52.4% (120/229) of the supermarkets had someone or a team in charge of enforcing compliance to COVID-19 measures and more than half, 55.5% (127/229) of the supermarkets had not provided their staff with job-specific training/mentorship on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Less than a third, 26.2% (60/229) of the supermarkets had an infrared temperature gun for screening every customer, and only 5.7% (13/229) of the supermarkets captured details of clients accessing the supermarket as a measure to ease follow-up. Conclusion This study revealed low compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, which required mandatory preventive measures such as face masking, regular disinfection, social distancing, and hand hygiene. This study suggests the need for health authorities to strengthen enforcement of these guidelines, and to sensitise the supermarket managers on COVID-19 in order to increase the uptake of the different measures.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in machinists. Only two species of NTM, namely Mycobacterium immunogenum and Mycobacterium chelonae, have been reported thus far to have the ability to colonize contaminated metalworking fluids (MWFs). Here, we report, for the first time, the presence and characterization (phenotypic and genotypic) of a third species, Mycobacterium abscessus, colonizing these harsh alkaline machining fluids. Two Mycobacterium morphotypes, smooth (S) and rough (R), were isolated (two isolates each) from an in-use industrial MWFs. Biocide susceptibility analysis using triclosan as a model yielded the same minimal inhibitory concentration for the two morphotypes. PCR-restriction analysis-based speciation of the morphotypes confirmed their identity as M. abscessus. Genotyping based on partial DNA sequences corresponding to the variable regions of the hsp65 gene and 16S-23S rRNA operon internal transcribed spacer region and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR analysis showed that both morphotypes belong to a single genotype. In addition, we isolated and confirmed two novel mycobacterial genotypes, one each of M. immunogenum and M. chelonae from additional in-use MWF screening. Taken together, this study expands the known mycobacterial species- and strain-diversity colonizing MWF. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for including M. abscessus species in the existing mycobacterial screening of contaminated MWF.