Faculty Bibliography

We investigated the proportion of mpox hospitalizations for medical indications versus infection control isolation at New York University Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals from May 1, 2022, through April 28, 2023. We reviewed the electronic medical records of people with a positive mpox nucleic acid amplification test independently. We collected demographic and clinical data on those who met our inclusion criteria, and we stratified patients by medical indication or infection control isolation based on their reason for hospitalization. This observational cohort study included 66 patients admitted for mpox, of whom 8 (12.1%) were admitted primarily for infection control isolation and 58 (87.9%) were admitted primarily for medical indications. Those hospitalized primarily for isolation (vs medical indications) were significantly less likely to have a private residence (25.0% vs 79.3%; P < .001). Those hospitalized for medical indications (vs isolation) were significantly more likely to be HIV positive (63.8% vs 12.5%; P = .006), to have secondary bacterial infections (65.5% vs 25.0%; P = .03), and to receive antibiotics (81.0% vs 25.0%; P < .001). We found no significant differences in the median cumulative length of stay per patient or the proportion of tecovirimat receipt between the 2 groups. While the small size of the isolation cohort was a limitation of this analysis, our findings argue for increased capacity for community-based isolation, which may reduce the use of hospital admissions primarily for infection control isolation in future outbreaks.

BACKGROUND:There is emerging literature describing clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with mpox treated with tecovirimat. METHODS:We analyzed retrospective deidentified data from healthcare systems in New York City with the highest number of tecovirimat prescriptions. Individuals with probable or confirmed mpox initiating tecovirimat from May-December 2022 were included. A chart abstraction instrument was used to extract demographic and clinical data from medical records. We examined factors associated with delay in treatment and hospitalization. RESULTS:A total of 708 individuals prescribed tecovirimat for mpox were included in the analysis; median age was 36 years (IQR 31-43); 566 (80%) were cisgender men who have sex with men; and 399 (56%) were living with HIV. Side effects (100, 14%) and severe adverse events (7, 1%) were rare. The most common long-term sequela was scarring (69, 10%). One hundred and one (14%) were hospitalized. Median time from symptom onset to treatment initiation was 8 days (IQR 6-11). Non-Hispanic Black patients had higher risk of initiating tecovirimat ≥8 days after symptom onset (relative risk [RR]=1.3, 95%CI: 1.2-1.7) and being hospitalized (adjusted relative risk [aRR]=2.2, 95%CI: 1.4-3.5) compared with Hispanic patients, after adjusting for HIV and insurance status. CONCLUSIONS:We described common reasons for tecovirimat initiation and hospitalization. There were racial inequities in hospitalization and treatment delays. More research and focused efforts to mitigate these inequities are needed. These findings may better inform decisions for treatment initiation and hospitalization for mpox.

This report describes a delayed recognition of mpox in a patient admitted to an inpatient psychiatry unit, resulting in potential exposures to staff and patients. We detail the investigation and risk mitigation efforts and emphasize the importance of prompt identification and isolation in congregate healthcare settings to prevent transmission.

Severe mpox has been observed in people with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We describe clinical outcomes of 13 patients with advanced HIV (CD4 <200 cells/μL), severe mpox, and multiorgan involvement. Despite extended tecovirimat courses and additional agents, including vaccinia immune globulin, cidofovir, and brincidofovir, this group experienced prolonged hospitalizations and high mortality.

INTRODUCTION/UNASSIGNED:There are scant data on implementation of large-scale direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus in jails in the U.S. New York City Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services aimed to scale up hepatitis C virus treatment in the New York City jail system. This study describes the trends in annual hepatitis C virus treatment in New York City jails compared with those in Medicaid-funded treatment in the New York City community from 2014 to 2020. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:In this observational study, we extracted annual counts of direct-acting antiviral prescriptions for hepatitis C virus for those (1) in the New York City community who were covered by Medicaid and (2) those detained in New York City jails for 2014-2020. Data sources were New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene annual reports and Correctional Health Services treatment records, respectively. We used linear regression analysis to test for significant trends in annual treatment in these 2 cohorts during 2015-2019. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:<0.001). In 2019, New York City jail-based treatment initiations totaled the equivalent of 10% of treatment covered by Medicaid in New York City, up from 0.3% in 2015. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Scale up of jail-based hepatitis C virus treatment is an important strategy to offset declines observed in the community. Addressing barriers to care in jail, such as improving testing, linkage to care, and affordability of direct-acting antivirals for jail-based health services, can help sustain high levels of treatment in U.S. jails and other carceral facilities.

We evaluated outcomes from a telephone-based transitional patient navigation (TPN) service for people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) upon returning to the community after incarceration in New York City (NYC) jails. NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services offered referrals for TPN services provided by the NYC local health department patient navigation staff. We compared rates of connection to care among people referred for TPN services with those who were not referred. People living with HIV had a higher connection to care rate at three months (65.0% vs 39.8%, p≤.05) and people with opioid use disorder had a higher connection rate at six months (55.1% vs 36.1%, p≤.05) compared with people without these conditions. However, there was not an improved connection to HCV care associated with referral to TPN services for the overall cohort. Further research, including qualitative studies, may inform improved strategies for connection to HCV care after incarceration.

Patients with suspected or confirmed high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) may present for care at any acute care facility. However, there are limited data to inform recommendations for the design, maintenance, and operation of isolation spaces for patients with suspected or confirmed HCIDs. To address this gap, we developed consensus statements by convening a group of 29 subject matter experts to participate in a modified Delphi process facilitated by a validated tool (the RAND-developed ExpertLens system). The subject matter experts participated in 3 consensus rounds, providing feedback and rating the appropriateness of 36 draft consensus statements. These draft statements were then revised based on their feedback. As a result, we developed 36 consensus statements addressing 5 domains: (1) patient room physical space, (2) doors and windows, (3) air handling, (4) electrical and plumbing, and (5) soiled utility rooms and waste management. These statements could inform the approaches of frontline acute care facilities when building new spaces or modifying existing spaces to enable appropriate HCID patient isolation and care.

The 2022 mpox outbreak in New York City posed challenges to rapidly scaling up treatment capacity. We describe a telehealth treatment model launched during this outbreak that facilitated healthcare provider treatment capacity, and was able to adhere to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-sponsored expanded access investigational new drug (EA-IND) protocol for tecovirimat. Sixty-nine patients were evaluated and prescribed tecovirimat for mpox through telehealth visits at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and NYU Langone Health from June to August 2022. Thirty-two (46.4%) were previously diagnosed with HIV. Forty-four (63.8%) reported full recovery, with the remainder lost to follow-up. Most patients (n = 60, 87.0%) attended at least one follow-up visit (either in person or through telehealth) after starting treatment. We observed favorable treatment outcomes, with no serious adverse events, hospitalizations, or deaths related to mpox. While equitable access to telehealth remains a limitation that needs to be addressed, this telehealth model enabled a rapid scale-up of tecovirimat prescription during the mpox outbreak, and should be considered as an important tool used to respond to future infectious disease outbreaks.