Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine 2024 Projects

mHealth to improve anxiety and depression care and accelerate progress on the HIV care continuum in the rural South

Name:
Dr. Preeti Manavalan

Email
preeti.manavalan@medicine.ufl.edu

Phone
(617) 515-9698

Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine

This project is primarily:
Clinical

Research Project Description:
Untreated anxiety and depression are exceedingly common in people living with HIV (PLWH) in the rural South, a population critically affected by the HIV epidemic. However, outside of routine clinical care, few interventions target anxiety and depression in this population. This NIH-funded project aims to address the mental health treatment gap that exists in PLWH in the rural South, by incorporating evidence-based mental health interventions into an existing mHealth application with the goal of improving HIV care engagement, antiretroviral therapy adherence and maximizing virologic suppression.

In Aim 1, we will conduct robust qualitative research with diverse key stakeholders to inform development and implementation of the intervention. Next, in Aim 2, we will assemble a Design Consultation Team composed of key stakeholder groups to assist in developing the intervention. Lastly, in Aim 3, we will pilot the intervention with a pilot randomized control trial and assess implementation and preliminary effectiveness outcomes.

Does this project have an international component or travel?
No

Epidemiological Features, Management and Clinical Outcomes of those Presenting to UF Health Shands Hospital with Vibriosis

Name:
Dr. Norman Beatty

Email
norman.beatty@medicine.ufl.edu

Phone
(352) 273-8830
Faculty Department/Division
Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine

This project is primarily:
Case Review

Research Project Description:
Vibriosis is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease among some who are exposed to Vibrio species. There are two primary routes of exposure to humans. This includes ingestion of contaminated salt or brackish water which contains the bacteria or even eating raw or undercooked shellfish like oysters or other crustaceans. The other route manifests after direct exposure through an open break in the skin or a cut which is exposed to salt- or brackish water, leading to a necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection. In some individuals with immunocompromising conditions or chronic liver disease, vibriosis can lead to fatal sepsis and septic shock. Those exposed through the skin often need surgical debridement and commonly have amputations of digits and extremities.

This project will involve a retrospective chart review analysis of suspected and confirmed cases of vibriosis which have presented to UF Health Shands Hospital here in Gainesville, Florida. We will analyze epidemiological features of the exposure, including suspected route of exposure, regions of coastal Florida and other demographic information such as occupational and recreational associations. We will then examine the clinical manifestations, treatment modalities and ultimately the clinical outcomes, including looking at mortality. We are expecting to look at 25 years worth of data and possibly look at any trends as it pertains to seasonal risks and possible increase in cases over this time period. Data will be extracted via EMR data and entered into RedCap database.

Project could be of interest to medical students who are interested in internal medicine, infectious diseases, medical and surgical intensive care, acute care surgery and trauma surgery as future medical career paths.

Student will have the opportunity to go into the field and collect water samples (if desired but not required) with an existing vibriosis team and visit microbiology laboratory culturing the pathogens.

Does this project have an international component or travel?
No