Publications by authors named "Damian Mawer"
Importance: Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) are important complications of surgical procedures for which prevention remains suboptimal. Contemporary data on the incidence of and etiologic factors for these infections are needed to support the development of improved preventive strategies.
Objectives: To assess the occurrence of postoperative S aureus SSIs and BSIs and quantify its association with patient-related and contextual factors.
Subacute thyroiditis following Mpox infection in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus.
Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
August 2023
Summary: Mpox (MPX) formerly known as monkeypox was declared a public health emergency of international concern, following an outbreak that commenced in May 2022. We report a case of subacute thyroiditis following MPX infection. To our knowledge, it is the first documented incidence of this complication in humans.
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- A study was conducted to assess a comprehensive behavior change intervention aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in hospitals by encouraging prescribers to make appropriate decisions during clinical reviews.
- The research utilized a randomized controlled trial across multiple hospitals in the UK, tracking outcomes such as antibiotic dosage and patient mortality within 30 days post-admission through electronic health records and audits.
- The effectiveness of the intervention was analyzed using time series methods and random-effects meta-analysis, with the study now completed and registered for validation.
Fosfomycin has retained activity against many multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negatives, and may be useful against extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales to improve clinical outcomes. There are few data from the UK on the susceptibility of invasive Gram-negative isolates to fosfomycin, especially in the era of increasing use of oral fosfomycin for urinary tract infections (UTIs). We evaluated fosfomycin susceptibility against 100 consecutive Gram-negative bloodstream isolates, both individually, and in combination with other mechanistically similar and differing antibiotics.
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- Infectious SARS-CoV-2 can be found in the saliva of COVID-19 patients, which raises concerns about how the virus spreads.
- Antiviral mouthwashes may help lower the viral load in saliva, potentially preventing the virus from being transmitted, especially in dental settings.
- The study found that certain mouthwashes, particularly those with stabilised hypochlorous acid or povidone iodine, significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 levels, while others containing hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine were ineffective.
An Analysis of Environmental Contamination During and After Treatment for Infection.
Open Forum Infect Dis
November 2020
Background: Lower spore counts in feces from infection (CDI) patients treated with fidaxomicin versus vancomycin have been observed. We aimed to determine whether environmental contamination is lower in patients treated with fidaxomicin compared with those treated with vancomycin/metronidazole.
Methods: The CDI cases were recruited at 4 UK hospitals (Leeds, Bradford, and London [2 centers]).
Article Synopsis
- A 55-year-old British traveler developed cutaneous furuncular myiasis after returning from Uganda, initially presenting with a swollen and painful forehead.
- Treatment included applying petroleum jelly and extracting a larva, which was identified as Lund's Fly, a rare species found in African rainforests, with only one other reported UK case since 2015.
- Ultrasound revealed another larva, leading to surgical cleaning, and the patient's condition improved significantly, resulting in complete healing.
Background: No study has used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate risk factors for Clostridium difficile (CD) transmission between cases, or assessed the impact of recent acquisition on patient outcome.
Methods: This 20 month retrospective cohort study included consecutive cytotoxin-positive diarrheal samples, which underwent culture, ribotyping, and WGS (Illumina). Sequenced isolates were compared using single nucleotide variants (SNVs).
Background: The role of symptomatic patients who are toxigenic strain positive (TS+) but fecal toxin negative (FT-) in transmission of Clostridium difficile is currently unknown.
Methods: We investigated the contribution of symptomatic TS+/FT- and TS+/FT+ patients in C. difficile transmission in 2 UK regions.
Article Synopsis
- Biological therapies for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) include probiotics and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), which are being explored for treating recurrent cases.
- Recent studies on probiotics show mixed results, with some meta-analyses suggesting benefits despite the poor quality of the underlying research; however, FMT has demonstrated high effectiveness, with an 81% cure rate in the latest randomized controlled trial.
- Future research will focus on large-scale studies to determine which patients will benefit most from these biological therapies.
We report a case of Buruli ulcer in a tourist from the United Kingdom. The disease was almost certainly acquired in Brazil, where only 1 case had previously been reported. The delay in diagnosis highlights the need for physicians to be aware of the disease and its epidemiology.
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