Outbreak of associated with contamination of saline products distributed internationally, the United Kingdom, 2024.

We describe an outbreak of in the United Kingdom, with isolates genetically indistinguishable from a 2023 Australian outbreak linked to internationally distributed saline solutions. Confirmed cases (n = 3) had bacteraemia, clinically relevant infection, indwelling venous lines and frequent healthcare contact. Multi-stakeholder intervention was required including product recall and risk communications.

The experiences of socially vulnerable groups in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid health needs assessment.

Objectives: This rapid health needs assessment was undertaken to urgently identify the needs of socially vulnerable groups arising during the first wave of cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The objective was to develop recommendations for policy makers and stakeholders to mitigate adverse impacts on socially vulnerable groups throughout the COVID-19 response and recovery period.

Study Design: Rapid health needs assessment.

Maternal health after Ebola: unmet needs and barriers to healthcare in rural Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone has the world's highest estimated maternal mortality. Following the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak, we described health outcomes and health-seeking behaviour amongst pregnant women to inform health policy. In October 2016-January 2017, we conducted a sequential mixed-methods study in urban and rural areas of Tonkolili District comprising: household survey targeting women who had given birth since onset of the Ebola outbreak; structured interviews at rural sites investigating maternal deaths and reporting; and in-depth interviews (IDIs) targeting mothers, community leaders and health workers.

The health impact of the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak.

Objectives: The 2014-15 outbreak in West Africa was the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded; however, there remains uncertainty over its wider health consequences. Our objective was to provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of the Ebola outbreak on population health in the three most affected countries: Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Study Design: Narrative review.

Increasing incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia despite improved vaccination uptake: surveillance in Hull and East Yorkshire, UK, 2002-2009.

Introduction of pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV23) and conjugate vaccine (PCV7) programmes were expected to change the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumonia in the UK. We describe the epidemiology of IPD and hospitalization with pneumonia using high-quality surveillance data over an 8-year period, 2002-2009. Although PPV23 uptake increased from 49% to 70% and PCV7 uptake reached 98% by 2009, the overall incidence of IPD increased from 11.

Community-associated MRSA in the United Kingdom.

Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains have rapidly emerged worldwide as a cause of skin and soft tissue infections and occasionally severe disease. Although there have been relatively few reports from the UK, it is clear that the incidence of CA-MRSA infections is rising. Several distinct clonal CA-MRSA lineages have been identified causing infections in individuals both in the community and in UK hospitals.

Community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: epidemiology, microbiology and clinical impact in East Yorkshire, UK.

The prevalence of community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is increasing worldwide. Whilst CA-MRSA has been reported in the UK, there is little information concerning its clinical impact. Here we report three epidemic lineages of CA-MRSA occurring in East Yorkshire and describe their epidemiology, microbiology and clinical impact.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) inhibits HIV replication, allowing recovery of CD4+ T cell numbers and the restoration of immune function; its introduction has led to improved outcomes for individuals with HIV infection. However, it has been observed that some individuals responding to ART experience a clinical deterioration with symptoms and signs of an inflammatory illness. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) results from pathological immune responses occurring during immune reconstitution.

Low prevalence of transmitted antiretroviral drug resistance in a large UK HIV-1 cohort.

Objectives: To describe current practice in testing for transmitted antiretroviral drug resistance (TDR) and the prevalence of TDR in a large UK HIV-1 cohort.

Methods: The study includes a retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected patients presenting to eight HIV clinics in the north of England between March 2005 and March 2007. Resistance mutations were defined by IAS-USA.