Recent Iowa trends in sudden unexpected infant deaths: the importance of public health collaboration with medical examiners' offices

Meghan L Harris; David Massaquoi; Kenneth Soyemi; Sarah M Brend; Dennis Klein; Michael Pentella; John Kraemer; Marcus Nashelsky; Gregory Schmunk; Tara Smith; Ariel Pleva

doi:10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181efba1f

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Recent Iowa trends in sudden unexpected infant deaths: the importance of public health collaboration with medical examiners' offices

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Recent Iowa trends in sudden unexpected infant deaths: the importance of public health collaboration with medical examiners' offices

Meghan L Harris, David Massaquoi, Kenneth Soyemi, Sarah M Brend, Dennis Klein, Michael Pentella, John Kraemer, Marcus Nashelsky, Gregory Schmunk, Tara Smith, …

The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, Vol.33(2), pp.113-118

06/2012

DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181efba1f

PMID: 20938328

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Abstract

During the winter in 2008, Iowa experienced an increase in sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDs). SUIDs and infectious causes of infant deaths generally average 3 monthly (SD = 1.0) in Iowa. However, in January 2008, 9 infant deaths were reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner. Between January and March of 2008, joint investigation of 22 SUIDs was conducted. The investigations required the involvement of multiple medical examiners from various jurisdictions, testing for pathogens at the University Hygienic Laboratory, epidemiologic support from the Iowa Department of Public Health, and consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The preliminary hypotheses for the increase in the infant mortality included viral respiratory disease and/or possible novel respiratory viral infections being the cause. Collaboration between public health and the medical examiner offices resulted in timely assessment of the cases. While no single causative agent was responsible for the increase seen in the number of infant deaths, respiratory pathogens played a role in the deaths of 15 of 22 children.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - mortality

Coroners and Medical Examiners

Humans

Cooperative Behavior

Infant

Interprofessional Relations

Male

Sudden Infant Death - etiology

Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology

Public Health Administration

Respiratory Tract Infections - mortality

Analysis of Variance

Sudden Infant Death - epidemiology

Female

Iowa - epidemiology

Respiratory Tract Infections - virology

Seasons

Infant, Newborn

Details

Title: Subtitle: Recent Iowa trends in sudden unexpected infant deaths: the importance of public health collaboration with medical examiners' offices
Creators: Meghan L Harris - Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, IA 50319, USA. mharris@idph.state.ia.us
David Massaquoi
Kenneth Soyemi
Sarah M Brend
Dennis Klein
Michael Pentella
John Kraemer
Marcus Nashelsky
Gregory Schmunk
Tara Smith
Ariel Pleva
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, Vol.33(2), pp.113-118
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181efba1f
PMID: 20938328
ISSN: 0195-7910
eISSN: 1533-404X
Language: English
Date published: 06/2012
Academic Unit: Central Control Hygienic Laboratory; Epidemiology; Pathology
Record Identifier: 9984047795902771

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