Invasive Infections in Children in Vaccine Era: Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization Tunis, Tunisia.

The changing epidemiological profile of invasive infections (IIHi) is noted in the post-vaccination era. The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypically and genotypically invasive (Hi) isolates detected in Tunisian pediatric patients. A retrospective study was conducted in the microbiology laboratory of the Children's Hospital of Tunis over ten years (2013-2023).

Characterization of Unusual Serogroups of .

Most cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Europe are caused by isolates of the serogroups B, C, W, and Y. We aimed to explore cases caused by other unusual serogroups. We retrospectively screened IMD cases in the databases of the National Reference Center for Meningococci and in France between 2014 and 2023.

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

Spread of the meningococci group C isolates of the clonal complex 10217 beyond the African meningitis belt.

Objectives: To monitor the spread of invasive meningococcal disease due to group C of the clonal complex 10217 isolates beyond the sub-Saharan African meningitis belt.

Methods: Cases were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples and further characterized by multi-locus sequence typing that defined sequence type and clonal complexes. Sequencing of gene (encoding the penicillin-binding protein 2) was also used to predict susceptibility to β-lactams.