Publications by authors named "Eleri Wilson-Davies"

Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the gold standard diagnostic method for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Cycle threshold (Ct) is defined as the number of heating and cooling cycles required during the PCR process. Ct-values are inversely proportional to the amount of target nucleic acid in a sample.

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The most commonly used molecular diagnostic technique is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR detects a short section of genetic code of interest, a cancer gene, human mRNA or a pathogen's genome. It is used by every specialty in medicine and surgery, with increasing frequency and importance.

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Article Synopsis
  • Recent SARS-CoV-2 variants have raised concerns about increased transmission within communities, prompting an investigation into their impact on hospital settings.
  • A study analyzed viral sequences and epidemiological data from patients in nine UK hospitals to assess the likelihood of healthcare-associated infections being caused by the Alpha variant versus community-acquired infections.
  • The results indicated no significant difference in the transmission of the Alpha variant compared to other lineages, suggesting existing infection control measures in UK hospitals are effective at containing the spread of emergent variants.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant on hospitalised patients, focusing on transmission rates and disease severity.
  • Analysis included data from 2,341 inpatients, and results indicated no overall increase in mortality or intensive therapy unit (ITU) admissions associated with B.1.1.7 compared to other variants.
  • However, female patients infected with B.1.1.7 demonstrated a higher risk for ITU admission and a modestly increased risk of mortality.
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Background: We report an outbreak of SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCW) in an NHS elective healthcare facility.

Methodology: A narrative chronological account of events after declaring an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs. As part of the investigations, HCWs were offered testing during the outbreak.

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Objectives: Travel-associated infections are challenging to diagnose because of the broad spectrum of potential aetiologies. As a proof-of-principle study, we used MNGS to identify viral pathogens in clinical samples from returning travellers in a single center to explore its suitability as a diagnostic tool.

Methods: Plasma samples from 40 returning travellers presenting with a fever of ≥38°C were sequenced using MNGS on the Illumina MiSeq platform and compared with standard-of-care diagnostic assays.

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Background: The cause of severe disease in some patients infected with pandemic influenza A virus is unclear.

Methodology/principal Findings: We present the cellular immunology profile in the blood, and detailed clinical (and post-mortem) findings of three patients with rapidly progressive infection, including a pregnant patient who died. The striking finding is of reduction in natural killer (NK) cells but preservation of activated effector CD8 T lymphocytes; with viraemia in the patient who had no NK cells.

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