Outbreak of perichondritis associated with ear piercings and a contaminated water system.

In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) South West Health Protection Team received notification of patients with perichondritis. All five cases had attended the same cosmetic piercing studio and a multi-disciplinary outbreak control investigation was subsequently initiated. An additional five cases attending the same studio were found.

The effects of Müller-Lyer illusion on toe clearance height in stair ascent.

Background: The appearance of a stair can impact the safe negotiation of stair climbing. Increasing toe clearance height is a common strategy for reducing the risk of tripping when stepping onto a raised surface.

Research Question: Can the Müller-Lyer illusion cause people to increase their toe clearance height when walking over a stair?

Methods: Indoors, 15 healthy individuals (9 women and 6 men) walked up a 3-step staircase with each step 60 cm wide, 18 cm tall, and 30.

Outbreak of group A Streptococcus emm94.0 affecting people who inject drugs in southwest England, April 2017.

We report an outbreak of invasive and noninvasive group A Streptococcus during April 2017 among people who inject drugs in southwest England. To date we have identified 14 cases linked to a specific town, all confirmed as group A Streptococcus emm94.0, a strain type not previously reported in the area.