Misidentification of as species: potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of brucellosis.

We describe a case of brucellosis in a man in his 20s, who presented to the emergency department with a 1-month history of fevers, dry cough and knee pain. Blood cultures were positive after 55 hours and was identified on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. spp are Gram-negative organisms that are phylogenetically related to spp but commercially available MALDI-TOF libraries cannot distinguish between the two genera.

Getting to the heart of the matter-are two agents really better than one for the treatment of staphylococcal infective endocarditis?

The recently published European Society of Cardiology guidelines for infective endocarditis management recommends daptomycin combination therapy for the treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis in severe penicillin allergy, rather than daptomycin monotherapy. We discuss the evidence base behind this recommendation, highlighting concerns regarding the lack of robust clinical studies, increased cost and logistical considerations, and adverse effects of combination therapy. Although further studies are required to elucidate the role of combination vs monotherapy in these patients, we propose a pragmatic management approach to reduce the risk of adverse antimicrobial side effects and limit costs, while aiming to maintain treatment efficacy.

Preparing for the next pandemic: lessons learnt from the implementation of point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 testing in an emergency department.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides rapid, accurate results that facilitate diagnosis and patient management. POCT for infectious agents allows timely infection prevention and control interventions and informs decisions around safe patient placement. However, POCT implementation requires careful governance as they are primarily operated by staff with limited prior education on laboratory quality control and assurance processes.

Social network and genomic analysis of an OXA-48 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales hospital ward outbreak in Ireland, 2018-2019.

Background: Nosocomial transmission and outbreaks of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) represent a challenge to healthcare systems. In July 2018, a CPE hospital ward outbreak was declared. Our aim was to investigate transmission patterns, using social network analysis and genomics in a nosocomial CPE outbreak.

Molecular epidemiology of an extended multiple-species OXA-48 CPE outbreak in a hospital ward in Ireland, 2018-2019.

Objectives: Molecular epidemiological description of an OXA-48 CPE outbreak affecting a tertiary-care hospital ward in Ireland over an extended period (2018-2019).

Methods: Microbiological testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed on all 56 positive OXA-48 outbreak case isolates.

Results: In total, 7 different species were identified: (n = 35, 62.

meningitis/ventriculitis over a decade. Increased morbidity and length of stay a concern.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to review the diagnosis, management and outcome of meningitis/ventriculitis in our hospital over a ten-year period.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all culture and 18s rRNA nucleic acid positive CSF specimens processed between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020. Patient records were subsequently reviewed to assess the significance of the isolate.

Surveillance of common infections in the early period after renal transplantation in a national center: 2014-2017.

Background: Infection prevention and timely and effective treatment are among the major aims of care in kidney transplant recipients. Pre-transplant vaccination and pre-transplant viral screening have been extensively studied and are now considered standard practice. Early post-operative infection surveillance is mandatory in other vulnerable cohorts, but has not been extensively studied in this population.

Erysipelas or cellulitis with a prosthetic joint .

We describe a case of a 60-year old male who developed an acute prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee, secondary to erysipelas of the lower leg due to beta-hemolytic Group G streptococci. As it is unknown how often this phenomenon occurs in patients with prosthetic implants and which patients are most prone to develop this complication, we analyzed: i) the incidence of the development of a PJI in these patients and ii) the clinical characteristics of streptococcal PJI during an episode of erysipelas/cellulitis. Based on a retrospective analysis of patients with a prosthetic implant presenting at the emergency department with erysipelas/cellulitis, 1 out of 10 patients developed a PJI.

Beware of Rim-Enhancing Lesions: A Rare Case of Multiple Scedosporium apiospermum and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Intra-Cranial Abscesses.

Background: The aim of this submission is to demonstrate the need for broad antimicrobial therapy, including empiric anti-fungal therapy, if rim-enhancing lesions are noted on cerebral imaging.

Methods: A retrospective microbiological and radiologic review of the management of a rare case of multiple Scedosporium apiospermum and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium intra-cranial abscesses in an immunocompromised patient was performed. A manual chart review assessing clinical and epidemiologic characteristics was completed including procedures and operative notes, use of invasive devices, biochemical and haematological blood test results, antimicrobial agents received, and documentation of a travel history.

Increasing prevalence of ESBL production among Irish clinical Enterobacteriaceae from 2004 to 2008: an observational study.

Background: Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae infections are associated with delayed initiation of appropriate treatment, poor outcomes and increased hospital stay and expense. Although initially associated with healthcare settings, more recent international reports have shown increasing isolation of ESBLs in the community. Both hospital and community ESBL epidemiology in Ireland are poorly defined.

A Rare Case of Soft-Tissue Infection Caused by Raoultella planticola.

Raoultella species are Gram-negative, non-motile bacilli primarily considered to be environmental bacteria. Raoultella planticola is a rare cause of human infections. We report a case of serious soft-tissue infection in a young male tiler who presented with cellulitis of his left thumb.