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Clin Microbiol Infect 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Nantes and CIC 1413, INSERM, Nantes, France; EA 3826, Laboratory of clinical and experimental therapeutics of infections, IRS2-Nantes Biotech, Nantes, France. Electronic address:

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess the meningeal penetration of cefazolin and cloxacillin in patients treated for methicillin-susceptible staphylococcal meningitis.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients treated for Staphylococcus meningitis with measurements of cefazolin or cloxacillin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a liquid-chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry validated assay at the Nantes University Hospital between January 2009 and October 2019. Staphylococcus meningitis was defined by a compatible clinical presentation and a microbiological confirmation (positive CSF culture or positive specific polymerase chain reaction). Read More

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020 May 13:1-12. Epub 2020 May 13.

Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Athens, Greece.

: Central nervous system (CNS) infections have considerable morbidity and mortality. Fosfomycin is a broad spectrum bactericidal antibiotic with favorable pharmacokinetic properties and low toxicity, satisfactory penetration in the cerebrospinal fluid and is authorized for the treatment of bacterial meningitis.: The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the available data regarding the effectiveness and safety of intravenous fosfomycin for the treatment of CNS infections. Read More

Pharmacy (Basel) 2020 Apr 21;8(2). Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Department of Pharmacy Services, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Dignity Health, Gilbert, AZ 85297, USA.

Glycopeptides, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin, are primarily used in the treatment of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections, such as cellulitis, endocarditis, meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia, and are some of the most commonly prescribed parenteral antimicrobials. Parenteral glycopeptides are first-line therapy for severe MRSA infections; however, oral vancomycin is used as a first-line treatment of infections Also, we currently have the longer-acting lipoglycopeptides, such as dalbavancin, oritavancin, and telavancin to our armamentarium for the treatment of MRSA infections. Lastly, vancomycin is often used as an alternative treatment for patients with β-lactam hypersensitivity. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2020 Mar 31. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Institut für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Objectives: Brain abscesses lead to high mortality despite antibiotic and surgical treatment. Identification of causative bacteria is important to guide antibiotic therapy, but culture-based methods and molecular diagnostics by Sanger sequencing of 16S PCR products are hampered by antibiotic treatment and the often polymicrobial nature of brain abscesses. We have applied 16S-rRNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) for metagenomic analysis of intracranial abscess (brain and epidural) and meningitis samples. Read More

Pediatr Crit Care Med 2020 Mar 12. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Université de Paris, Paris, France.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of community-onset severe bacterial infections in children and its recent evolution.

Design: Prospective, observational, population-based study from 2009 to 2014.

Setting: An administrative area accounting for 13% of the French pediatric population. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2020 04;118(2):e166-e169

Unidad de Infectología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.

Acute mastoiditis is an infection that affects the mastoid air-cell system, usually due to the progression of an acute otitis media. The bacteria most frequently isolated in acute mastoiditis are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The mastoid infection can extend affecting contiguous structures and producing intra or extracranial complications. Read More

Pak J Pharm Sci 2020 Jan;33(1(Special)):489-494

Department of Pediatrics, Hanchuan People's Hospital of Hubei Province, Hanchuan, Hubei, China.

To analyze the pathogenic bacteria, feature of drug resistance and the efficacy of dexamethasone as the auxiliary medication in pediatric refractory purulent meningitis (PM). The 190 refractory PM child patients were selected for the culture of pathogenic bacteria and analysis of drug resistance. In total, 190 pathogenic bacteria were detected, consisting of gram-positive bacteria (77. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2020 Jun 6;255:112716. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The dicotyledonous plant Piptadeniastrum africanum (hook.f.) Brennan (Fabaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat various human complaints including bronchitis, coughing, urino-genital ailments, meningitis, abdominal pain, treatment of wounds, malaria and gastrointestinal ailments, and is used as a purgative and worm expeller. Read More

Drug Res (Stuttg) 2020 Apr 28;70(4):174-177. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

The frequency and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial meningitis in children older than one month at Children's Medical Center during 2012-2017 were evaluated in this study. The CSF samples were cultured, and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed. The samples were cultured on chocolate agar, blood agar (for gram positive) and Mkanky (for gram negative). Read More

J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2020 Feb 14. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address:

Objectives: Herein, we aimed to compare the antibacterial activity of ceftaroline and vancomycin in the treatment of MRSA meningitis in experimental rabbit meningitis model.

Methods: We compared the antibacterial activity of ceftaroline with vancomycin in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis (induced by MRSA strain ATCC 43300) in an experimental rabbit meningitis model. Quantitative cerebrospinal fluid cultures were performed at the beginning, 24 and 73 hours after the first antibiotic dose. Read More

IDCases 2020 9;19:e00699. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Department of Internal Medicine, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

We present a case of in an immunocompetent middle-aged woman with a disseminated manifestation of pulmonary cryptoccoma and cryptococcal meningitis resulting in bilateral blindness. The presentation was complicated by delayed diagnosis resulting in optic neuritis and an infected percutaneous lumbar drainage with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and a paradoxical reaction of suspected immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We discuss the pathogen, the clinical manifestations and diagnostic approach (through laboratory and radiology findings), differential diagnosis, treatment, and proposed pathogenesis of IRIS and in an immunocompetent patient. Read More

Vaccine 2020 Feb 5;38(10):2350-2360. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

GSK, Wavre, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background: Nasopharyngeal carriage (NPC) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a precondition for pneumococcal disease and a source of transmission. This trial evaluated NPC of S. pneumoniae and other pathogens post-vaccination with the pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected (HIV+), HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU), and HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) South African children. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2020 Jan 23. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Department of Surgery, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Background: Myelomeningocoele (MMC) is common in the developing world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of myelomeningocoele and to identify factors contributing to outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study of consecutive children diagnosed with MMC managed in the Paediatric Neurosurgery Unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Read More

J Transl Med 2020 Jan 7;18(1). Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Research Group "Biomarkers for Infectious Diseases", TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany.

Background: The timely diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is of utmost importance due to the need to institute antibiotic treatment as early as possible. Moreover, the differentiation from other causes of meningitis/encephalitis is critical because of differences in management such as the need for antiviral or immunosuppressive treatments. Considering our previously reported association between free membrane phospholipids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CNS involvement in neuroinfections we evaluated phosphatidylcholine PC ae C44:6, an integral constituent of cell membranes, as diagnostic biomarker for bacterial meningitis. Read More

J Neurosci Rural Pract 2019 Oct 11;10(4):718-720. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Postsurgical device-related meningitis caused by multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci often complicates the treatment options. We report a rare and, to our knowledge, the first clinical case report of drain-associated meningitis caused by methicillin- and linezolid-resistant following linezolid therapy in a vancomycin-hypersensitive patient subsequently treated with cotrimoxazole, resulting in clinical improvement. The molecular mechanisms responsible for linezolid resistance were found to be the presence of G2576T mutation in domain V of 23srRNA region, which often arises during linezolid usage and also carriage of gene, which promotes resistance independent of antibiotic pressure. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 12 12;19(1):490. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate data on early-onset neonatal invasive infections in western Sweden for the period 1997-2017. To identify changes in incidence, etiology and mortality and compare to previous studies from the same area starting from 1975.

Methods: Observational epidemiological, retrospective study on infants 0-6 days of age with a positive culture in blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid between 1997 and 2017. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Dec 9;12(12). Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Rheumatology, Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem inflammatory disease which can involve many organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Though not very common, the results can be severely debilitating. The spectrum of the CNS involvement includes meningitis, encephalitis and occasionally rheumatoid nodules. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2019 8;10:215. Epub 2019 Nov 8.

Departments of Neurosurgery, Traumatology and Severe Burns Center, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Uninversity of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia.

Background: Postneurosurgical infection (PNSI) is a major problem. Linezolid is a bacteriostatic oxazolidinone antibiotic with a highly activity against Gram-positive cocci resistant to methicillin and a good cerebrospinal fluid penetration. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of linezolid in the treatment of PNSI caused by methicillin-resistant (MRS). Read More

PLoS One 2019 22;14(11):e0225407. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Orsola-Malpighi-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Most studies regarding late-onset sepsis (LOS) address selected populations (i.e., neonates with low birth weight or extremely preterm neonates). Read More

J Med Microbiol 2019 Nov;68(11):1585-1590

Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Acute bacterial meningitis continues to be a potentially life threatening condition. Hospital-acquired meningitis is rapidly increasing and adding an immense burden to the health system due to the emergence of multidrug resistance isolates. The purpose of this study is to find the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacteria detected from hospital- and community-acquired meningitis. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2019 Oct 28;59(10):666-668. Epub 2019 Sep 28.

Department of Neurology, Toyama University Hospital.

A 17-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a high fever, consciousness disturbance, and delirious behavior. Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection was confirmed by blood culture. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed no abnormality at first. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2019 11 12;19(11):1219-1234. Epub 2019 Sep 12.

MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Background: Aetiological data for neonatal infections are essential to inform policies and programme strategies, but such data are scarce from sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore completed a systematic review and meta-analysis of available data from the African continent since 1980, with a focus on regional differences in aetiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the past decade (2008-18).

Methods: We included data for microbiologically confirmed invasive bacterial infection including meningitis and AMR among neonates in sub-Saharan Africa and assessed the quality of scientific reporting according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology for Newborn Infection (STROBE-NI) checklist. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S105-S113

Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul.

Background: Invasive bacterial diseases cause significant disease and death in sub-Saharan Africa. Several are vaccine preventable, although the impact of new vaccines and vaccine policies on disease patterns in these communities is poorly understood owing to limited surveillance data.

Methods: We conducted a hospital-based surveillance of invasive bacterial diseases in The Gambia where blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of hospitalized participants were processed. Read More

J Med Primatol 2019 12 3;48(6):370-373. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Non-human primates are susceptible to many bacteria, some of which bear zoonotic potential. We report the pathologic features of spontaneous fulminating meningoencephalitis by Staphylococcus aureus in a captive infant golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) from Brazil. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Aug 28;12(8). Epub 2019 Aug 28.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida Health at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

A 61-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the emergency room complaining of left-sided chest pain and altered mentation for 3 days. Her medical history included liver cirrhosis and coronary artery disease. On admission, she was found to have methicillin-resistant (MRSA) bacteraemia. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2019 6;6:112. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Genomic Research Laboratory, Service of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.

The most common causes of infective endocarditis (IE) are , and HACEK-related organisms. In 15-30% of the IE cases, standard blood cultures remain sterile. We aimed at identifying the causative agent of a blood-culture-negative IE by whole metagenome shotgun sequencing (WMGS). Read More

Ophthalmol Retina 2019 11 20;3(11):971-978. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey. Electronic address:

Purpose: Population-based reports regarding bacterial endogenous endophthalmitis (BEE) are scarce in the literature. Our study sought to investigate the incidence of BEE, relative risk of comorbid conditions, and treatment patterns using a nationally representative database, the National Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Read More

PLoS One 2019 22;14(8):e0221525. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.

We aimed to investigate the nasopharyngeal colonization (NPC) by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus in the elderly population and to assess the demographic factors associated with NPC. This was an observational cohort study in which outpatients aged ≥60 years were enrolled from April to August 2017, with a follow-up visit from September through December 2017. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs were collected, bacteria were detected and isolated, and isolates were subjected to phenotypic and molecular characterization using standard microbiological techniques. Read More

J Emerg Med 2019 Sep 8;57(3):e81-e84. Epub 2019 Aug 8.

The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.

Background: Bowel perforation is a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement that can result in anal protrusion of a VP shunt. Retrograde migration of bacteria through the shunt can lead to central nervous system (CNS) infections, such as meningitis, most commonly caused by Escherichia coli or other enteric pathogens. Here we present a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis from transanal migration of a VP shunt. Read More

Sudan J Paediatr 2019 ;19(1):37-43

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine University of Lagos & Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Nigeria.

Subdural empyema (SDE), a common neurosurgical emergency in the developing countries, accounts for 15%-20% of localised paediatric intracranial infections. In regions where modern diagnostic tools are scarce and inaccessible, detection of SDE may be delayed with subsequent poor outcome. Percutaneous subdural aspiration in patients with open anterior fontanel may be the only surgical option in resource-poor regions of the world. Read More

Neurosurg Focus 2019 08;47(2):E3

Departments of1Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify surgical site infection (SSI) rates after cranial neurosurgery in a tertiary care hospital, identify risk factors for SSI, and evaluate the impact of standardized surveillance and an infection prevention bundle (IPB).

Methods: The authors compared SSI rates during 7 months before and after the intervention. The IPB included standardized patient preparation, perioperative antibiotic/antiseptic use, barrier precautions, coaching of surgeons, and the implementation of a specialized technical operation assistant team. Read More

Microorganisms 2019 Jul 22;7(7). Epub 2019 Jul 22.

Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Ceuma, São Luís 65075-120, Brazil.

is a notorious human pathogen associated with serious nosocomial and community-acquired infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, and sepsis, among others. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular profile, antimicrobial resistance, and clonal diversity of isolated from the bloodstream. The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antimicrobial was performed by an automated method. Read More

World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Jun 16;5(2):88-94. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha "O" Anusandhan University, K8, Kalinganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India.

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a common problem in worldwide and untreated CSOM leads to fatal complications like facial nerve paralysis, lateral sinus thrombosis, labyrinthitis, meningitis and brain abscess in developing country like India.

Objective: To isolate causative bacteria and antibiotic sensitivity pattern for CSOM and to know the prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) and Metallobetalactamases (MBL) in CSOM patients.

Methods: A total of 500 ear swabs of clinical suspected CSOM patients were cultured on specific cultured medium and identified the bacteria with conventional methods. Read More

Int J Antimicrob Agents 2019 Nov 3;54(5):562-571. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

Clinical Pharmacology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Italy; Department of Oncology and Onco-Hematology, Postgraduate School of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Milan Statale, Italy. Electronic address:

Ceftaroline fosamil is a fifth-generation cephalosporin with anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity. It has been approved by the EMA and FDA for the treatment of adults and children with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). However, ceftaroline fosamil has a broad spectrum of activity, and a good safety and tolerability profile, so is frequently used off-label. Read More

Curr Med Sci 2019 Jun 17;39(3):449-454. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.

Central nervous system (CNS) infections are associated with high mortality rates. The clinical presentation of many CNS infections by different pathogens is difficult to distinguish, but the definite diagnosis of the etiology is critical for effective therapy and prognosis. The aim of this study was to explore the etiology of CNS infections with definite diagnoses based on data from a clinical microbiology laboratory in Tongji Hospital, a teaching hospital in China, obtained over a six-year period. Read More

Case Rep Infect Dis 2019 28;2019:7910262. Epub 2019 Apr 28.

Infectious Diseases Consultant, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, P.O. Box: 51900, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus that leads to destructive infective endocarditis. The clinical course of endocarditis is usually aggressive with a high mortality rate compared to endocarditis caused by other coagulase-negative staphylococcal species. Despite that, it is usually sensitive to Penicillin G, and surgical intervention is sometimes warranted. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019 Jun 12;11(25):22164-22170. Epub 2019 Jun 12.

College of Animal Science , Jilin University , Changchun 130062 , China.

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria (such as sepsis and meningitis) seriously threaten public health; therefore, rapid and accurate identification of the target bacteria is urgently needed to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Although technologies including plate-counting and polymerase chain reaction have been established to detect the pathogenic bacteria, they are either time-consuming or sophisticated. Herein, a biomimetic octopus-like structure integrating merits of multiarm and multivalent interaction is designed for ultraspecific capture and detection of pathogens. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2019 Apr 30;59(4):185-189. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Division of Ophthalmology, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center.

Endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare complication of acute meningitis. A healthy 82-year-old woman suddenly developed septic bacteremia and meningitis owing to Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus); she presented with a high fever and drowsiness. Improvement of these initial symptoms unveiled impaired bilateral visual acuity. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(11):e14874

Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Rationale: Trans-sacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) is a noninvasive pain-relieving procedure for treatment of herniated lumbar disc (HLD), and is known to have positive effects in alleviating lower back pain or radicular leg pain after HLD. However, little is known about the possible complications of SELD.

Patient Concerns: A 51-year-old woman received SELD with a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser for controlling radicular pain due to HLD on L5-S1. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 04;25(4):701-709

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a substantial cause of childhood disease and death, but few studies have described its epidemiology in developing countries. Using a population-based surveillance system for pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, we estimated S. aureus bacteremia incidence and the case-fatality ratio in children <5 years of age in 2 regions in the eastern part of The Gambia during 2008-2015. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2019 Nov 25;188(4):1297-1301. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Clinical Innovation Unit, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) in NICU patients can cause significant morbidity and mortality.

Aims: To review early and late neonatal SAB with regard to risk factors, treatment, acute complications and long-term outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study of laboratory confirmed SAB over a 16-year period (November 2001-January 2017) in a tertiary neonatal unit in Ireland. Read More

PLoS One 2019 8;14(2):e0212052. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, National Reference Centre for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A Streptococcus (GAS), and Staphylococcus aureus in asymptomatic elderly people and to unravel risk factors leading to colonization.

Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted including 677 asymptomatic adults aged 65 years or more, living at home or in nursing homes. Study areas were Greater Aachen (North-Rhine-Westphalia) and Wuerzburg (Bavaria), both regions with medium to high population density. Read More

Infection 2019 Aug 7;47(4):651-653. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

S.C.D.U. Medicina Interna I, A.O.U. Maggiore Della Carità, Università del Piemonte Orientale, via Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.

Staphylococcus condimenti (S. condimenti) is a coagulase-negative bacterium, generally regarded as not pathogenic. Indeed, S. Read More

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2019 Mar/Apr;35(2):e47-e49

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

An 81-year-old man with unilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction underwent routine endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and 2 days postoperatively developed a severe headache and rigors. Subsequent CT and MRI imaging demonstrated a defect in the floor of the right anterior cranial fossa, which possibly was damaged during the operation, and meningoencephalitis of the adjacent frontal lobe gyrus. Following intravenous antibiotic treatment, the patient made a full recovery with no ongoing sequelae, and his epiphora completely resolved. Read More

Front Microbiol 2019 23;10:10. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS; ) is a leading cause of sepsis in neonates and pregnant mothers worldwide. Whereas the hyper-virulent serogroup III clonal cluster 17 has been associated with neonatal disease and meningitis, serogroup III ST283 was recently implicated in invasive disease among non-pregnant adults in Asia. Here, through comparative genome analyses of invasive and non-invasive ST283 strains, we identified a truncated DNA-binding regulator of a two-component system in a non-invasive strain that was homologous to , encoding the response regulator, which was conserved among GBS strains. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2019 Nov 31;188(4):1289-1295. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Irish Meningitis and Sepsis Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Background: Culture yield in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis is low, emphasising the role for molecular techniques.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to review the laboratory investigation of childhood osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken in an acute tertiary referral paediatric hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Jan 10;12(1). Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Hospital Universitario de Mostoles, Mostoles, Spain.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 May 4;94(1):60-65. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889.

Objectives: Austrian syndrome comprises the triad of pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis secondary to Streptococcus pneumonia. We present what we believe to be the first reported case of Austrian syndrome with quadruple heart valve involvement and review the literature detailing cases of quadruple valve infective endocarditis.

Case Presentation And Results: A case is presented of a patient with radiographic evidence of a left lower lobe pneumonia. Read More