Publications

multilevel factors influencing hepatitis b screening and vaccination among vietnamese americans in atlanta, georgia.	chronic hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection may lead to liver cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, and liver cancer. immunization rates are suboptimal among asian americans/pacific islanders (aapis), who remain disproportionately affected by these illnesses. we investigated socioecological factors affecting hbv prevention among 316 vietnamese americans in atlanta, georgia. social and community support of hbv vaccination was associated with screening (or=1.69, 95% ci [1.21,2.38]), vaccination (or=1.89 ...	2014	25506280
hepatitis c virus co-infection increases the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.	the country of georgia has a high prevalence of tuberculosis (tb) and hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection.	2013	24367617
occupational exposure to body fluids among health care workers in georgia.	health care workers (hcws) are at increased risk of being infected with blood-borne pathogens.	2012	22869786
hepatitis b virus infection among refugees resettled in the u.s.: high prevalence and challenges in access to health care.	hepatitis b virus infection (hbv) remains highly endemic in many parts of the world. refugees resettling in their host countries may carry a significant burden of disease due to hbv and may require long-term medical care. a retrospective descriptive study was conducted to assess the epidemiology of hbv and entry into medical care in refugee communities resettled in the state of georgia over a five-year period: 2003-2007. among 6,347 refugees (89.7% of those resettled) screened for hbv infection, ...	2010	20204515
reduction in hepatitis b virus seroprevalence among u.s.-born children of foreign-born asian parents -- benefit of universal infant hepatitis b vaccination.	we demonstrate that after implementation of recommendations for universal infant hepatitis b vaccination, hbv infection prevalence among children of foreign-born asian parents in georgia declined dramatically; horizontal transmission of infection within households has occurred infrequently; and the vast majority of infants and children have received the recommended hepatitis b vaccinations. these results provide evidence of the success of the hepatitis b infant vaccination program and highlight ...	2009	19679217
hepatitis b virus and hiv coinfection: relationship of different serological patterns to survival and liver disease.	eighty per cent of hiv-positive patients show evidence of past or current infection with hepatitis b virus (hbv). the impact of chronic hbv infection or the presence of isolated hbv core antibody on survival in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart) has not been well studied.	2007	17561872
transmission of hepatitis b virus in correctional facilities--georgia, january 1999-june 2002.	incarcerated persons have a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases, including hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection. among u.s. adult prison inmates, the overall prevalence of current or previous hbv infection ranges from 13% to 47%. the prevalence of chronic hbv infection among inmates is approximately 1.0%-3.7%, two to six times the prevalence among adults in the general u.s. population. incarcerated persons can acquire hbv infection in the community or in correctional settings. this repor ...	2004	15295311
psychosocial predictors of hepatitis b vaccination among young african-american gay men in the deep south.	despite recommendations for vaccination against hepatitis b virus (hbv) of men who have sex with men (msm), most remain unvaccinated.	2003	12916138
a new genotype of hepatitis b virus: complete genome and phylogenetic relatedness.	the hepatitis b virus (hbv) genotype was determined in a total of 121 plasma samples collected in france and the us from patients chronically infected with hbv. hbv genotype a was predominant in this collection, appearing in 66 samples (54%), while genotypes b, c, d, e and f occurred in 4 (3%), 14 (12%), 23 (19%), 1 (1%) and 0 (0%) of samples, respectively. however, the genotype of a total of 13 (11%) samples (2 from france, 11 from the us) could not be determined with the methodology used. sequ ...	2000	10640543
recommendations for preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis b virus to patients during exposure-prone invasive procedures. centers for disease control.	the governor's subcommittee on aids has prompted the periodic publication of articles in the bulletin in an effort to broaden surgeons' understanding of this significant health problem. the availability of information related to this disease has expanded significantly in recent years, and those in the health care profession have been able to assimilate this information and deal realistically with the problem as it begins to fall into proper perspective. we recognize that much information is not ...	1991	10128662
viral infections among patients with hemophilia in the state of georgia.	this analysis evaluated the extent to which infections with selected blood-borne viruses, specifically infection with hepatitis b virus, hepatitis c virus, and/or the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv), continue to contribute to the morbidity of persons with hemophilia. the georgia hemophilia surveillance system collected information on 336 state residents with hemophilia a or b who were followed by a physician in 1994. data abstracted from medical records included information on demographics, s ...	1998	9723574
blood exposure and the risk of hepatitis b virus infection in firefighters.	the risk of infection with bloodborne pathogens among public safety workers is not well defined. this survey assessed personal and occupational risk factors among uniformed fire department employees by a self-administered questionnaire and hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection status by serologic testing. overall, 46 (7.8%) of 592 employees had past or current hepatitis b virus infection. employees reporting blood contact with skin had been infected more often than employees without this exposure (1 ...	1993	8271077
the prevalence of hepatitis b viral markers in anesthesia personnel.	the prevalence of hepatitis b viral markers is increased in some groups of medical workers who are exposed to blood from patients carrying the virus, but this has not been studied critically in physicians and others who administer anesthesia. physician anesthesiologists (m.d.) and nurse anesthetists and anesthesia assistants (non-m.d.) at four university-affiliated hospitals were evaluated for hepatitis b markers as determined by seropositivity for hepatitis b surface antigen, antibody to the he ...	1984	6140888
hepatitis b virus infection among children born in the united states to southeast asian refugees.	since 1975 nearly 1 million persons have entered the united states from southeast asia, where infection with hepatitis b virus (hbv) is hyperendemic. to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of transmission of hbv infection among the children of refugees from southeast asia, we studied 196 refugee families with 257 children born in the united states. of 31 children born in the united states to mothers with infectious disease, 17 (55 percent) had been infected with hbv. of 226 children whose mothe ...	1989	2797103
prevention of perinatal transmission of the hepatitis b virus. outcome of infants in a community prevention program.	to assess the outcome of infants born to hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag)-positive mothers who received prenatal and infant care in a large, public health care system.	1992	1496944
a survey of hepatitis b surface antigen-positive blood donors: degree of understanding and action taken after notification.	all blood donors in the united states are tested for hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag) upon donation; if the test result is positive, the primary method of notification is by letter. to assess the effectiveness of this notification methods in stimulating hbsag-positive donors to seek medical care and take preventive measures, 54 donors who tested hbsag-positive on donation at the american red cross blood services. atlanta region, from january 1987 to july 1989 were interviewed. thirty-nine don ...	1992	1412675