Robert F Breiman
Biographic Data
| ID | 7000407 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Robert F Breiman |
| GIVEN NAMES | Robert F |
| FAMILY NAME | Breiman |
| SIGNATURE | BREIMAN R F |
| AFFILIATIONS | Emory University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7099-2936 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1992 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Patterns of antibiotic use for acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings: A multicenter study in DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda
Introduction In East Africa and beyond, uncertainty regarding the underlying aetiology of febrile illnesses may result in inappropriate treatment. In our study, we aimed at enhancing our understanding of antibiotic use patterns, prescribing practices and factors influencing antibiotic use in this region by exploring the pathways of care for acute febrile illnesses in three countries in East Africa. Methods Between October 2021 and February 2024, …
Use of a pathogen X tabletop exercise to assess the operational response preparedness of an emerging infectious diseases research network
In mid-2020, the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network was established to address critical gaps in research expertise and capacity in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). As the Network was established during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the Network’s research centers initially focused on SARS-CoV-2 research. By the end of 2021, the Network leadership realized that it had a blind spot with regards …
Importance of outbreak response research in bridging knowledge gaps on emerging infectious diseases
An important outcome of the devastating 2014 West African Ebola virus disease outbreak and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has been the growing promotion of conducting research during outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) as a valuable and acceptable process of acquiring knowledge to enhance our ability to better prevent and control these diseases in the future. Recognising the unique opportunity during outbreaks to leverage increases in ca…
High Sars-CoV-2 secondary infection rates in households with children in Georgia, United States, Fall 2020—Winter 2021
Background A wide range of household secondary infection rates has been reported, and the role of children in population transmission dynamics for SARS-CoV-2 remains ill-defined. We sought to better understand household infection early in the pandemic. Methodology A cross-sectional study of 17 households in the Atlanta metropolitan area with at least one child and one case of COVID-19 in the prior 1–4 months were recruited between December 2020 a…
Widening geographic range of Rift Valley fever disease clusters associated with climate change in East Africa
BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiology of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease in Africa suggests growing frequency and expanding geographic range of small disease clusters in regions that previously had not reported the disease. We investigated factors associated with the phenomenon by characterising recent RVF disease events in East Africa. METHODS: Data on 100 disease events (2008-2022) from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were obtained from public databases a…
Identifying delays in healthcare seeking and provision: The Three Delays-in-Healthcare and mortality among infants and children aged 1–59 months
Delays in illness recognition, healthcare seeking, and in the provision of appropriate clinical care are common in resource-limited settings. Our objective was to determine the frequency of delays in the “Three Delays-in-Healthcare”, and factors associated with delays, among deceased infants and children in seven countries with high childhood mortality. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study using data from verbal autopsies and medical r…
LetsTalkShots: Personalized vaccine risk communication
Introduction Vaccine hesitancy is a global health threat undermining control of many vaccine-preventable diseases. Patient-level education has largely been ineffective in reducing vaccine concerns and increasing vaccine uptake. We built and evaluated a personalized vaccine risk communication website called LetsTalkShots in English, Spanish and French (Canadian) for vaccines across the lifespan. LetsTalkShots tailors lived experiences, credible so…
Evaluation of online videos to engage viewers and support decision-making for Covid-19 vaccination: How narratives and race/ethnicity enhance viewer experiences
Background Vaccine hesitancy has hampered the control of COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Methods We conducted a national internet-based, quasi-experimental study to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine informational videos. Participants received an informational animated video paired with the randomized assignment of (1) a credible source (differing race/ethnicity) and (2) sequencing of a personal narrative before or after the video address…
Shifting the center of gravity for addressing the rising cancer disease burden in Africa: A rationale for African-based integrative infectious diseases and oncology research
Regardless of location, few people have escaped being touched by cancer and infectious diseases. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the world has a new-found respect for infectious diseases threats; people everywhere on the planet already had an awareness and substantial fear of cancer
Causes of death identified in neonates enrolled through Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS), December 2016 –December 2021
Each year, 2.4 million children die within their first month of life. Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) established in 7 countries aims to generate accurate data on why such deaths occur and inform prevention strategies. Neonatal deaths that occurred between December 2016 and December 2021 were investigated with MITS within 24–72 hours of death. Testing included blood, cerebrospinal fluid and lung cultures, multi-pathoge…
Mortality patterns over a 10-year period in Kibera, an urban informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, 2009–2018
Background Reliable mortality data are important for evaluating the impact of health interventions. However, data on mortality patterns among populations living in urban informal settlements are limited.Objectives To examine the mortality patterns and trends in an urban informal settlement in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya,Methods Using data from a population-based surveillance platform we estimated overall and cause-specific mortality rates for all age …
The genomic epidemiology of multi-drug resistant invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella in selected sub-Saharan African countries
Background Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) is one of the leading causes of bacteraemia in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to provide a better understanding of the genetic characteristics and transmission patterns associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) iNTS serovars across the continent. Methods A total of 166 iNTS isolates collected from a multi-centre surveillance in 10 African countries (2010–2014) and a fever study in Ghana (2007–200…
Effect of Delays in Maternal Access to Healthcare on Neonatal Mortality in Sierra Leone: A Social Autopsy Case–Control Study at a Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Site
The evolution of minimally invasive tissue sampling in postmortem examination: A narrative review
Associations between Household-Level Exposures and All-Cause Diarrhea and Pathogen-Specific Enteric Infections in Children Enrolled in Five Sentinel Surveillance Studies
Diarrheal disease remains a major cause of childhood mortality and morbidity causing poor health and economic outcomes. In low-resource settings, young children are exposed to numerous risk factors for enteric pathogen transmission within their dwellings, though the relative importance of different transmission pathways varies by pathogen species. The objective of this analysis was to model associations between five household-level risk factors-w…
Successes and challenges of the One Health approach in Kenya over the last decade
More than 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin and a transdisciplinary, multi-sectoral One Health approach is a key strategy for their effective prevention and control. In 2004, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention office in Kenya (CDC Kenya) established the Global Disease Detection Division of which one core component was to support, with other partners, the One Health approach to public health science. After catal…
Building laboratory capacity to detect and characterize pathogens of public and global health security concern in Kenya
Since 1979, multiple CDC Kenya programs have supported the development of diagnostic expertise and laboratory capacity in Kenya. In 2004, CDC's Global Disease Detection (GDD) program within the Division of Global Health Protection in Kenya (DGHP-Kenya) initiated close collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and developed a laboratory partnership called the Diagnostic and Laboratory Systems Program (DLSP). DLSP built onto previ…
The effect of costs on Kenyan households’ demand for medical care: Why time and distance matter
In an environment of constrained resources, policymakers must identify solutions for financing and delivering health services that are efficient and sustainable. However, such solutions require that policymakers understand the complex interaction between household utilization patterns, factors influencing household medical decisions, and provider performance. This study examined whether and under what conditions out-of-pocket, transportation, and…
Risk factors of hypertension among adults aged 35–64 years living in an urban slum Nairobi, Kenya
Hypertension in the slum is a public health problem affecting at least one in three adults aged 35-64 years. Age, marital status, wealth index, physical inactivity and body mass index are important risk factors associated with hypertension. Prevention measures targeting the modifiable risk factors associated with hypertension are warranted to curb hypertension and its progressive effects
Burden and aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children in developing countries (the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, Gems): A prospective, case-control study
Assessing parents’ knowledge and attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccination of children before and after a seasonal influenza vaccination effectiveness study in low-income urban and rural Kenya,…
If influenza vaccine were to be introduced more broadly in Kenya, effective health messaging will be needed on vaccine side effects and frequency and potential severity of influenza infection
Epidemiology of Respiratory Infections Caused by Atypical Bacteria in Two Kenyan Refugee Camps
Imported leprosy in the United States, 1978 through 1988: An epidemic without secondary transmission
OBJECTIVES. Leprosy remains a major health problem in many regions of the world. In the United States, although leprosy continues to be reported, approximately 90% of cases are imported (i.e., occur among immigrants and refugees). An increase in imported cases began in 1978. This study was conducted to analyze this trend and to characterize the contributing cases. METHODS. Centers for Disease Control leprosy surveillance data from 1971 through 19…
Imported leprosy in the United States, 1978 through 1988: An epidemic without secondary transmission
OBJECTIVES. Leprosy remains a major health problem in many regions of the world. In the United States, although leprosy continues to be reported, approximately 90% of cases are imported (i.e., occur among immigrants and refugees). An increase in imported cases began in 1978. This study was conducted to analyze this trend and to characterize the contributing cases. METHODS. Centers for Disease Control leprosy surveillance data from 1971 through 19…
Imported leprosy in the United States, 1978 through 1988: An epidemic without secondary transmission
OBJECTIVES. Leprosy remains a major health problem in many regions of the world. In the United States, although leprosy continues to be reported, approximately 90% of cases are imported (i.e., occur among immigrants and refugees). An increase in imported cases began in 1978. This study was conducted to analyze this trend and to characterize the contributing cases. METHODS. Centers for Disease Control leprosy surveillance data from 1971 through 19…
Epidemiology of Respiratory Infections Caused by Atypical Bacteria in Two Kenyan Refugee Camps
Burden and aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children in developing countries (the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, Gems): A prospective, case-control study
Assessing parents’ knowledge and attitudes towards seasonal influenza vaccination of children before and after a seasonal influenza vaccination effectiveness study in low-income urban and rural Kenya,…
If influenza vaccine were to be introduced more broadly in Kenya, effective health messaging will be needed on vaccine side effects and frequency and potential severity of influenza infection
Risk factors of hypertension among adults aged 35–64 years living in an urban slum Nairobi, Kenya
Hypertension in the slum is a public health problem affecting at least one in three adults aged 35-64 years. Age, marital status, wealth index, physical inactivity and body mass index are important risk factors associated with hypertension. Prevention measures targeting the modifiable risk factors associated with hypertension are warranted to curb hypertension and its progressive effects
The effect of costs on Kenyan households’ demand for medical care: Why time and distance matter
In an environment of constrained resources, policymakers must identify solutions for financing and delivering health services that are efficient and sustainable. However, such solutions require that policymakers understand the complex interaction between household utilization patterns, factors influencing household medical decisions, and provider performance. This study examined whether and under what conditions out-of-pocket, transportation, and…
Successes and challenges of the One Health approach in Kenya over the last decade
More than 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin and a transdisciplinary, multi-sectoral One Health approach is a key strategy for their effective prevention and control. In 2004, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention office in Kenya (CDC Kenya) established the Global Disease Detection Division of which one core component was to support, with other partners, the One Health approach to public health science. After catal…
Building laboratory capacity to detect and characterize pathogens of public and global health security concern in Kenya
Since 1979, multiple CDC Kenya programs have supported the development of diagnostic expertise and laboratory capacity in Kenya. In 2004, CDC's Global Disease Detection (GDD) program within the Division of Global Health Protection in Kenya (DGHP-Kenya) initiated close collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and developed a laboratory partnership called the Diagnostic and Laboratory Systems Program (DLSP). DLSP built onto previ…
The evolution of minimally invasive tissue sampling in postmortem examination: A narrative review
Associations between Household-Level Exposures and All-Cause Diarrhea and Pathogen-Specific Enteric Infections in Children Enrolled in Five Sentinel Surveillance Studies
Diarrheal disease remains a major cause of childhood mortality and morbidity causing poor health and economic outcomes. In low-resource settings, young children are exposed to numerous risk factors for enteric pathogen transmission within their dwellings, though the relative importance of different transmission pathways varies by pathogen species. The objective of this analysis was to model associations between five household-level risk factors-w…
The genomic epidemiology of multi-drug resistant invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella in selected sub-Saharan African countries
Background Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) is one of the leading causes of bacteraemia in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to provide a better understanding of the genetic characteristics and transmission patterns associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) iNTS serovars across the continent. Methods A total of 166 iNTS isolates collected from a multi-centre surveillance in 10 African countries (2010–2014) and a fever study in Ghana (2007–200…
Effect of Delays in Maternal Access to Healthcare on Neonatal Mortality in Sierra Leone: A Social Autopsy Case–Control Study at a Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Site
LetsTalkShots: Personalized vaccine risk communication
Introduction Vaccine hesitancy is a global health threat undermining control of many vaccine-preventable diseases. Patient-level education has largely been ineffective in reducing vaccine concerns and increasing vaccine uptake. We built and evaluated a personalized vaccine risk communication website called LetsTalkShots in English, Spanish and French (Canadian) for vaccines across the lifespan. LetsTalkShots tailors lived experiences, credible so…
Evaluation of online videos to engage viewers and support decision-making for Covid-19 vaccination: How narratives and race/ethnicity enhance viewer experiences
Background Vaccine hesitancy has hampered the control of COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Methods We conducted a national internet-based, quasi-experimental study to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine informational videos. Participants received an informational animated video paired with the randomized assignment of (1) a credible source (differing race/ethnicity) and (2) sequencing of a personal narrative before or after the video address…
Shifting the center of gravity for addressing the rising cancer disease burden in Africa: A rationale for African-based integrative infectious diseases and oncology research
Regardless of location, few people have escaped being touched by cancer and infectious diseases. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the world has a new-found respect for infectious diseases threats; people everywhere on the planet already had an awareness and substantial fear of cancer
Causes of death identified in neonates enrolled through Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS), December 2016 –December 2021
Each year, 2.4 million children die within their first month of life. Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) established in 7 countries aims to generate accurate data on why such deaths occur and inform prevention strategies. Neonatal deaths that occurred between December 2016 and December 2021 were investigated with MITS within 24–72 hours of death. Testing included blood, cerebrospinal fluid and lung cultures, multi-pathoge…
Mortality patterns over a 10-year period in Kibera, an urban informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, 2009–2018
Background Reliable mortality data are important for evaluating the impact of health interventions. However, data on mortality patterns among populations living in urban informal settlements are limited.Objectives To examine the mortality patterns and trends in an urban informal settlement in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya,Methods Using data from a population-based surveillance platform we estimated overall and cause-specific mortality rates for all age …
High Sars-CoV-2 secondary infection rates in households with children in Georgia, United States, Fall 2020—Winter 2021
Background A wide range of household secondary infection rates has been reported, and the role of children in population transmission dynamics for SARS-CoV-2 remains ill-defined. We sought to better understand household infection early in the pandemic. Methodology A cross-sectional study of 17 households in the Atlanta metropolitan area with at least one child and one case of COVID-19 in the prior 1–4 months were recruited between December 2020 a…
Widening geographic range of Rift Valley fever disease clusters associated with climate change in East Africa
BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiology of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease in Africa suggests growing frequency and expanding geographic range of small disease clusters in regions that previously had not reported the disease. We investigated factors associated with the phenomenon by characterising recent RVF disease events in East Africa. METHODS: Data on 100 disease events (2008-2022) from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were obtained from public databases a…
Identifying delays in healthcare seeking and provision: The Three Delays-in-Healthcare and mortality among infants and children aged 1–59 months
Delays in illness recognition, healthcare seeking, and in the provision of appropriate clinical care are common in resource-limited settings. Our objective was to determine the frequency of delays in the “Three Delays-in-Healthcare”, and factors associated with delays, among deceased infants and children in seven countries with high childhood mortality. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study using data from verbal autopsies and medical r…
Use of a pathogen X tabletop exercise to assess the operational response preparedness of an emerging infectious diseases research network
In mid-2020, the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) Network was established to address critical gaps in research expertise and capacity in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). As the Network was established during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the Network’s research centers initially focused on SARS-CoV-2 research. By the end of 2021, the Network leadership realized that it had a blind spot with regards …
Importance of outbreak response research in bridging knowledge gaps on emerging infectious diseases
An important outcome of the devastating 2014 West African Ebola virus disease outbreak and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has been the growing promotion of conducting research during outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) as a valuable and acceptable process of acquiring knowledge to enhance our ability to better prevent and control these diseases in the future. Recognising the unique opportunity during outbreaks to leverage increases in ca…
Patterns of antibiotic use for acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings: A multicenter study in DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda
Introduction In East Africa and beyond, uncertainty regarding the underlying aetiology of febrile illnesses may result in inappropriate treatment. In our study, we aimed at enhancing our understanding of antibiotic use patterns, prescribing practices and factors influencing antibiotic use in this region by exploring the pathways of care for acute febrile illnesses in three countries in East Africa. Methods Between October 2021 and February 2024, …
Medicine (21 works) · Environmental health (14 works) · Population (9 works) · Disease (8 works) · Virology (8 works) · Internal Medicine (7 works) · Demography (6 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (6 works) · Immunology (6 works) · Public health (6 works)