Invasive Streptococcus anginosus group infection-does the species predict the outcome?

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between the species of Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) bacteria and the clinical outcome.

Methods: Isolates from invasive infections caused by SAG bacteria at our institution between January 2004 and February 2009 were identified phenotypically to the taxonomic level of species. Clinical data from the medical records of the patients from whom these isolates were recovered were obtained retrospectively and analyzed.

Participants' recall and understanding of genomic research and large-scale data sharing.

As genomic researchers are urged to openly share generated sequence data with other researchers, it is important to examine the utility of informed consent documents and processes, particularly as these relate to participants' engagement with and recall of the information presented to them, their objective or subjective understanding of the key elements of genomic research (e.g., data sharing), as well as how these factors influence or mediate the decisions they make.

Returning genetic research results: study type matters.

Aim: The return of individual genetic research results has been identified as one of the most pressing ethical challenges warranting immediate policy attention. We explored the practices and perspectives of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) investigators on this topic.

Materials & Methods: Corresponding authors of published GWAS were invited to participate in a semistructured interview.

Experiences and attitudes of genome investigators regarding return of individual genetic test results.

Purpose: Whether and how to return individual genetic results to study participants is among the most contentious policy issues in contemporary genomic research.

Methods: We surveyed corresponding authors of genome-wide association studies, identified through the National Human Genome Research Institute's Catalog of Published Genome-Wide Association Studies, to describe the experiences and attitudes of these stakeholders.

Results: Of 357 corresponding authors, 200 (56%) responded.

Vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration, host comorbidities and mortality in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

We reported an association between elevated vancomycin MIC and 30-day mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB), including patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) treated with flucloxacillin. A detailed analysis of comorbidities and disease severity scores in the same cohort of patients was performed to ascertain if unknown clinical parameters may have influenced these results.

Vancomycin AUC/MIC ratio and 30-day mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

A ratio of the vancomycin area under the concentration-time curve to the MIC (AUC/MIC) of ≥ 400 has been associated with clinical success when treating Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, and this target was recommended by recently published vancomycin therapeutic monitoring consensus guidelines for treating all serious S. aureus infections. Here, vancomycin serum trough levels and vancomycin AUC/MIC were evaluated in a "real-world" context by following a cohort of 182 patients with S.

Is overall similarity classification less effortful than single-dimension classification?

It is sometimes argued that the implementation of an overall similarity classification is less effortful than the implementation of a single-dimension classification. In the current article, we argue that the evidence securely in support of this view is limited, and report additional evidence in support of the opposite proposition--overall similarity classification is more effortful than single-dimension classification. Using a match-to-standards procedure, Experiments 1A, 1B and 2 demonstrate that concurrent load reduces the prevalence of overall similarity classification, and that this effect is robust to changes in the concurrent load task employed, the level of time pressure experienced, and the short-term memory requirements of the classification task.

Illness severity in community-onset invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection and the presence of virulence genes.

Background: It is uncertain whether particular clones causing invasive community-onset methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (cMRSA/cMSSA) infection differ in virulence.

Methods: Invasive cMRSA and cMSSA cases were prospectively identified. Principal component analysis was used to derive an illness severity score (ISS) from clinical data, including 30-day mortality, requirement for intensive hospital support, the presence of bloodstream infection, and hospital length of stay.

Formal infectious diseases consultation is associated with decreased mortality in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

To determine the impact of infectious diseases consultation (IDC) in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. All MRSA bacteraemia and a random subset of MSSA bacteraemia were retrospectively analysed. Out of 599 SAB episodes, 162 (27%) were followed by an IDC.

Prevalence of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in healthcare workers in a Western Australian acute care hospital.

Due to a longstanding comprehensive "search and destroy policy", methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is not endemic in Western Australian (WA) acute care hospitals. As the prevalence of MRSA in the community has increased, healthcare workers (HCW) are at risk of importing MRSA into hospitals. We aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for nasal MRSA colonization in our HCW population.

Antibiotic choice may not explain poorer outcomes in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and high vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Background: There are concerns about reduced efficacy of vancomycin in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), especially when the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) nears the upper limit of the susceptible range.

Methods: We examined the relationship between antibiotic treatment, 30-day mortality, and microbiologic parameters in a large Australasian cohort of patients with SAB.

Results: We assessed 532 patients with SAB from 8 hospitals.

Monitoring procalcitonin in febrile neutropenia: what is its utility for initial diagnosis of infection and reassessment in persistent fever?

Background: Management of febrile neutropenic episodes (FE) is challenged by lacking microbiological and clinical documentation of infection. We aimed at evaluating the utility of monitoring blood procalcitonin (PCT) in FE for initial diagnosis of infection and reassessment in persistent fever.

Methods: PCT kinetics was prospectively monitored in 194 consecutive FE (1771 blood samples): 65 microbiologically documented infections (MDI, 33.

Validity of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in detecting depressive and anxiety disorders among high school students.

Despite the common use of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) with adolescents, there is limited data supporting its validity with this population. The aims of the study were to investigate the psychometric properties of the GHQ-12 among high school students, to validate the GHQ-12 against the gold standard of a diagnostic interview, and to suggest a threshold score for detecting depressive and anxiety disorders. Six hundred and fifty-four high school students from years 10 to 12 (ages 15-18) completed the GHQ-12 (Likert scored) and the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Test Revision (DSM-IV-TR).