Research

Active Projects

 

 

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Arizona Household Virus Study

Funding Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021-23)

We study household transmission of respiratory viruses using a case-ascertainment approach. We aim to estimate attack rates of respiratory infection among household members. We will compare attack rates for vaccinated and unvaccinated household members and assess risk factors for infection. Through this work southern Arizona will serve as a sentinel site for a national study

*Ellingson (Co-PI with Lutrick), Ramadan (Coordinator)

Prospective Cohort to Assess Novel and Repeated SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Illness: Arizona Healthcare, Emergency Responder and Other Essential worker Surveillance (AZ-HEROES) Study

Funding: CDC (2020-2023)

We are conducting active surveillance on a longitudinal cohort of SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and seronegative frontline workers. Through weekly testing and symptom monitoring, we will assess the incidence, predictors, and consequences of infection and reinfection among participants in the AZ-HEROES study. 

* Ellingson (Co-Investigator), Romine (postdoc), Baccum, Khan, Miiro, & Porter (GRAs)

 

 

 

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Antibiotic Stewardship in Arizona Skilled Nursing Facilities

Funding: Arizona Biomedical Research Commission (2018-22)

Using a mixed-methods approach, we study barriers and facilitators to antibiotic stewardship in Arizona nursing homes. We have built on a successful pilot protocol to scale up and rigorously evaluate stewardship implementation in a diverse array of facilities, including those in rural or border regions of Arizona. Outcomes include intervention-attributable changes in inappropriate antibiotic use, C. difficile and cost.

* Ellingson (PI), Ramadan (Coordinator), Kelley, LeGros & Romine (GRAs)

Antibiotic Resistance and Use Patterns in Arizona’s Border Region and in Sonora, Mexico

Funding: Arizona Area Health Education Centers (domestic work) and University of Arizona (binational work)

Our objectives are to identify antibiotic use and seeking patterns among residents of the US-Mexico border region and to create a database of resistance patterns from clinical microbiology laboratories along the Arizona-Sonora border. Our work involves binational surveys, partnerships with the University of Sonora-Hermosillo, and work with local clinics and labs.

* Ellingson (PI), Villanueva (Co-I), Catalfamo, Hawkes, Khan (GRAs), Parra (Undergraduate RA)

 

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Rapid Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid Diagnosis of Coccidiodomycosis to Reduce the Unnecessary Use of Antibacterial Drugs 

Funding: CDC

We aim to advance antibiotic stewardship through more rapid diagnosis of Valley Fever as diagnostic delays frequently result in repeated doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We enrolled and continue to study a cohort of inpatients and outpatients who presented to medical care with signs of upper-respiratory infection in 2019. In collaboration with the Valley Fever Center of Excellence, our lab leads study design, data management, and analytic efforts.

* Ellingson (Co-I), Ramadan (Coordinator)

 

Enhancing Capacity for Infection Prevention in High-Risk Congregate Settings

Funding: National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) through the Pima County Department of Health

This project is supported by Building Local Operational Capacity for COVID-19 (BLOC COVID-19) funds. We will implement Infection Control and Response tools (ICAR) in high-risk congregate settings and work with health departments and congregate settings in other US-Mexico border counties.

* Ellingson (PI), Ramadan (Coordinator), Romine, Hawkes, Woodson (GRAs)

 

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Healthcare-associated Infection Costs in Latin American Countries

Funding: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

We will systematically review articles that evaluate the incremental cost of device- and procedure-associated infections acquired in hospitals in Latin American countries.

* Ellingson (PI), Kaur & Khan (GRAs)

 

 

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Yuma Farm Worker Enumeration Study

Funding: COVID-19 Disparities grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distributed through the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Center for Rural Health.

The Arizona Farmworker Enumeration Profiles Study (AZ-FEPS) is a pivotal research initiative dedicated to generating accurate and county-specific data on farmworkers and their families in Arizona. Its core mission is to address the critical gap in knowledge about this vital workforce, which is essential to Arizona's economy and the nation's food supply. The study aims to provide current, credible estimates of farmworkers through established quantitative and community-engaged methods. This effort is crucial for enhancing public health services, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

* Ellingson (PI), Rudas, Hawkes (GRAs)
The 2024 AZ-FEPS will be spearheaded by a diverse team of researchers, including faculty and staff from the University of Arizona, the Yuma County Public Health Services District, and Campesinos Sin Fronteras, along with Dr. Alice Larson, a renowned consultant on migrant and seasonal farmworker issues. This team will collaborate with a wide range of partners to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the farmworker population.