Clinical prediction of laboratory-confirmed influenza in adults with influenza-like illness in primary care. A randomized controlled trial secondary analysis in 15 European countries.

Background: Clinical findings do not accurately predict laboratory diagnosis of influenza. Early identification of influenza is considered useful for proper management decisions in primary care.

Objective: We evaluated the diagnostic value of the presence and the severity of symptoms for the diagnosis of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection among adults presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) in primary care.

Epidemic Achromobacter xylosoxidans strain among Belgian cystic fibrosis patients and review of literature.

Background: Achromobacter xylosoxidans is increasingly being recognized as an emerging pathogen in cystic fibrosis. Recent severe infections with A. xylosoxidans in some of our cystic fibrosis (CF) patients led to a re-evaluation of the epidemiology of CF-associated A.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of Brucella strains isolated from cattle in the Gambia.

Thirty-five serum samples and six hygroma fluid samples were collected from sexually mature cattle in one herd with clinical signs of brucellosis (abortion and hygromas) in the Western Region of the Gambia in order to isolate and characterise Brucella species. Information on the sex, age, number of calvings, number of abortions, presence of hygromas, and presence of orchitis was also collected for each animal sampled. Twenty-six (74 per cent) of the serum samples were positive in the rose bengal test and 29 (83 per cent) were positive by indirect ELISA.

A traveler with neurobrucellosis.

An Indian traveler developed fever and neurological symptoms after a visit to East Africa. He was treated with suramin, melarsoprol and prednisolone for presumed East African trypanosomiasis. His condition deteriorated and cerebral lesions developed.

In vitro activity of temocillin against prevalent extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae from Belgian intensive care units.

Temocillin is a narrow spectrum penicillin with high stability to most beta-lactamases including AmpC types and extended-spectrum types (ESBLs). We have analysed its in vitro activity against 652 clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae prospectively collected from patients hospitalised in intensive care units at seven different university hospitals in Belgium in 2005. Strains were screened for ESBL production using cefotaxime and ceftazidime screen agar plates and by double ESBL E-tests.