Monocyte Anisocytosis is Associated with Sepsis in Children with Suspected Infection.

Background: Early, accurate determination of disease severity in an emergency setting is paramount for improving patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Monocyte anisocytosis, quantified as monocyte distribution width (MDW), has been shown to correspond with immune dysregulation. We hypothesize that MDW is broadly associated with illness severity related to sepsis and serious infection in children.

An outbreak of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a neonatal intensive care unit: use of a case-control study to investigate and control it and lessons learnt.

Aim: To describe the investigation and management of a meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak on a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the lessons learnt.

Methods: This was an outbreak report and case-control study conducted in a 40-cot NICU in a tertiary referral hospital and included all infants colonized/infected with gentamicin-resistant MRSA.

Intervention: Standard infection-control measures including segregation of infants, barrier precautions, enhanced cleaning, assessment of staff practice including hand hygiene, and increased MRSA screening of infants were implemented.

HIV seroprevalence, self-reported STIs and associated risk factors among men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study in Rwanda, 2015.

Objectives: In many populations, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at a high risk of HIV infection. This study aimed to estimate the burden of HIV, other STIs and risk behaviours among Rwandan MSM.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited through peer referral men aged between 18 and 60 years, who reported sex with men at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Regulatory T Cell Responses in Participants with Type 1 Diabetes after a Single Dose of Interleukin-2: A Non-Randomised, Open Label, Adaptive Dose-Finding Trial.

Background: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has an essential role in the expansion and function of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs reduce tissue damage by limiting the immune response following infection and regulate autoreactive CD4+ effector T cells (Teffs) to prevent autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Genetic susceptibility to T1D causes alterations in the IL-2 pathway, a finding that supports Tregs as a cellular therapeutic target.

The environmental deposition of influenza virus from patients infected with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09: Implications for infection prevention and control.

In a multi-center, prospective, observational study over two influenza seasons, we sought to quantify and correlate the amount of virus recovered from the nares of infected subjects with that recovered from their immediate environment in community and hospital settings. We recorded the symptoms of adults and children with A(H1N1)pdm09 infection, took nasal swabs, and sampled touched surfaces and room air. Forty-two infected subjects were followed up.