Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along the United States– Mexico Border, 2013–2016
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Table 1.  

Element Case-patient 1 Case-patient 2 Case-patient 3 Case-patient 4
Patient history
   Known exposure in RMSF-epidemic area of Mexico +   + +
   Evidence of receipt of medical care in Mexico +     +
   Prescribed nontetracycline antimicrobial drug + + + +
Signs and symptoms at initial presentation
   Fever + + + +
   Headache   +   +
   Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea   + +  
   Rash        
Severe end-stage manifestations
   Skin necrosis + +   +
   Rash + + + +
   Respiratory failure + + + +
   Disseminated intravascular coagulation   +    

Table 1. Selected epidemiologic and clinical elements from patients with fatal cases of RMSF along the US–Mexico border, 2013–2016*

*RMSF, Rocky Mountain spotted fever; +, present; blank cells, absent.

CME

Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along the United States– Mexico Border, 2013–2016

  • Authors: Naomi A. Drexler, MPH; Hayley Yaglom, MS, MPH; Mariana Casal, MD, MPH; Maria Fierro, MD, MPH; Paula Kriner, MPH; Brian Murphy, DrPH; Anne Kjemtrup, DVM, MPVM, PhD; Christopher D. Paddock, MD, MPH
  • CME Released: 9/13/2017
  • THIS ACTIVITY HAS EXPIRED FOR CREDIT
  • Valid for credit through: 9/13/2018, 11:59 PM EST


Target Audience and Goal Statement

This activity is intended for infectious disease practitioners, internists, intensivists, pulmonologists, public health officials, and other clinicians caring for patients with presumed or diagnosed Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The goal of this activity is to describe clinical features and recommended management of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in patients with rapidly progressing febrile illness and recent exposure in northern Mexico, based on a series of 4 fatal cases.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify clinical presentation and diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in patients with rapidly progressing febrile illness and recent exposure in northern Mexico, based on a series of 4 fatal cases
  2. Interpret the clinical course and management of RMSF in patients with rapidly progressing febrile illness and recent exposure in northern Mexico
  3. Determine the clinical implications of analysis of this series of 4 fatal cases of RMSF in patients with rapidly progressing febrile illness and recent exposure in northern Mexico


Disclosures

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Medscape, LLC, encourages Authors to identify investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, at first mention and where appropriate in the content.


Authors

  • Naomi A. Drexler, MPH

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Naomi A. Drexler, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Hayley Yaglom, MS, MPH

    Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Hayley Yaglom, MS, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Mariana Casal, MD, MPH

    Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Mariana Casal, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Maria Fierro, MD, MPH

    Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, California, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Maria Fierro, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Paula Kriner, MPH

    Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, California, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Paula Kriner, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Brian Murphy, DrPH

    County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, California, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Brian Murphy, DrPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Anne Kjemtrup, DVM, MPVM, PhD

    California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Anne Kjemtrup, DVM, MPVM, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

  • Christopher D. Paddock, MD, MPH

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Christopher D. Paddock, MD, MPH, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

CME Author

  • Laurie Barclay, MD

    Freelance writer and reviewer, Medscape, LLC

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Laurie Barclay, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
    Owns stock, stock options, or bonds from: Alnylam; Biogen; Pfizer Inc.

Editor

  • P. Lynne Stockton Taylor, VMD, MS, ELS(D)

    Technical Writer-Editor, Emerging Infectious Diseases

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: P. Lynne Stockton Taylor, VMD, MS, ELS(D), has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

CME Reviewer

  • Robert Morris, PharmD

    Associate CME Clinical Director, Medscape, LLC

    Disclosures

    Disclosure: Robert Morris, PharmD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.


Accreditation Statements


Interprofessional Continuing Education

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medscape, LLC and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Medscape, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

    For Physicians

  • Medscape, LLC designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Medscape, LLC staff have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

    Contact This Provider

For questions regarding the content of this activity, contact the accredited provider for this CME/CE activity noted above. For technical assistance, contact [email protected]


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CME

Fatal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever along the United States– Mexico Border, 2013–2016: Methods

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Methods

During 2013–2016, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 4 cases of RMSF in persons who acquired the illness in Mexico and later died in the United States ( Table 1 ). The cases were identified during the course of routine surveillance and diagnostic testing for this disease at the respective state public health laboratories or CDC. To better characterize the epidemiologic risk factors, clinical progression, and treatment course associated with each of these deaths, we performed a retrospective review of clinical and epidemiologic data and, when available, medical charts. Because the CDC Human Subjects Review Committee determined that this evaluation was not research, this case series was exempt from institutional review board and human subjects review.