Conflict and catastrophe-related severe burn injuries: A challenging setting for antimicrobial decision-making.

Severe burns are a major component of conflict-related injuries and can result in high rates of mortality. Conflict and disaster-related severe burn injuries present unique challenges in logistic, diagnostic and treatment options, while wider conflict is associated with driving local antimicrobial resistance. We present a targeted review of available literature over the last 10 years on the use of systemic antimicrobial antibiotics in this setting and, given limited available data, provide an expert consensus discussion.

Evaluating the dynamics of hospital COVID-19 contacts and subsequent conversion to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multi-centre retrospective cohort study.

We investigated the dynamics of COVID-19 contacts subsequent conversion to SARS-CoV-2 infection in an inpatient setting across three National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. 9.2% (476/5,156) COVID-19 contacts met inclusion criteria, were typable and tested positive for COVID-19.

Retrospective review of the epidemiology, microbiology, management and outcomes of intra-cranial abscesses at a neurosurgical tertiary referral centre, 2018-2020.

Background: Intracranial abscesses are rare but serious, and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Due to both the rarity and severity of these infections, well-controlled trials have not been reported in the literature, and optimal management is a matter for expert opinion. Advances in surgical management have improved outcomes and increased rates of microbiological diagnosis.

Prolonged QT predicts prognosis in COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) causes severe illness and multi-organ dysfunction. An abnormal electrocardiogram is associated with poor outcome, and QT prolongation during the illness has been linked to pharmacological effects. This study sought to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 illness on the corrected QT interval (QTc).

Trends in paediatric nosocomial bacteraemia in a London tertiary hospital.

Aim: To describe the incidence and microbiological characteristics of nosocomial bloodstream infections in childhood over a 9-year period at a South London tertiary hospital.

Methods: Analysis of prospective data collected for clinically significant nosocomial bloodstream infections in children aged <16 years during 2001-2009.

Results: During the study period, although the absolute number of nosocomial bloodstream infections were similar for the neonatal unit (n = 254) and paediatric wards (n = 224), rates were 11.

Detection of mobile-genetic-element variation between colonizing and infecting hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Whole-genome analysis by 62-strain microarray showed variation in resistance and virulence genes on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) between 40 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain CC22-SCCmecIV but also showed (i) detection of two previously unrecognized MRSA transmission events and (ii) that 7/8 patients were infected with a variant of their own colonizing isolate.

Are nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus more likely to become colonized or infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on admission to a hospital?

Of 840 patients at hospital admission, 2.7% were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 22.3% were positive for methicillin-susceptible S.

Risk factors for late onset gram-negative infections: a case-control study.

Objectives: To determine the incidence, mortality and risk factors for neonatal late onset gram-negative sepsis and meningitis (LOGNS).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Setting: Tertiary neonatal unit in London.

Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection by toxin detection kits: a systematic review.

Clostridium difficile can be a fatal hospital-acquired infection and its prevalence has increased. Accurate diagnosis of C difficile is essential for patient management, infection control, and for defining its epidemiology. We did a systematic review of commonly used commercial assays for detection of C difficile toxin (CDT) A and B in stool samples.

Helicobacter pylori antibiotic-resistance patterns and risk factors in adult dyspeptic patients from ethnically diverse populations in central and south London during 2000.

Surveillance of Helicobacter pylori antibiotic susceptibility from patients in London, the largest metropolitan area in the UK, is limited, despite resistance being a key factor in treatment failure. A two-centre survey was performed over 12 months (1999-2000) to determine antibiotic-resistance rates of isolates from dyspeptic patients attending endoscopy clinics serving two ethnically diverse central and south London communities. The in vitro antibiotic susceptibilities were determined from disc diffusion and epsilometer (E) tests on 101 H.

Isolation of cholesterol-dependent Candida glabrata from clinical specimens.

In the past few years, we have detected in the United Kingdom and in the United States several isolates of Candida glabrata that grew poorly unless bile was available. Cholesterol, a component of bile, stimulated equivalent growth of the bile-dependent isolates. The bile-dependent C.

Multiple drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: evidence for changing fitness following passage through human hosts.

Recent studies have shown a difference in the genotype of resistant bacteria following passage in animals compared to those passaged in vitro. This suggests that organisms rapidly adapt to their environment of growth. We sought to investigate whether this phenomenon occurred in human infection and whether changes could be detected in the fitness (growth velocity) of isolates transmitted between human hosts.