Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: Comparison of clinical and radiological features.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is a critical tool for the diagnosis of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The Delta and Omicron variants show distinct clinical features, but the radiological differences between pneumonia caused by these variants have not been extensively studied in patients with oxygen-dependent pneumonia.

Objective: To compare the radiological and clinical features of pneumonia in patients hospitalized with oxygen-dependent SARS-CoV-2 infection caused by the Delta and Omicron variants.

Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Early-Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Magnetic Resonance Lymphography: A Pilot Study.

To assess the efficacy of magnetic resonance (MR) lymphography with gadobutrol contrast for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This pilot study compared the identification of SLNs by MR lymphography using a gadolinium-based contrast agent (gadobutrol) to conventional [Tc]Tc-nanocolloid lymphoscintigraphy (including single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT)) in 10 early-stage OSCC patients undergoing SLN biopsy. The patients initially underwent conventional lymphoscintigraphy following the peritumoral administration of indocyanine green [Tc]Tc-nanocolloid (120 megabecquerel; ~0.

Evaluation of the 10 %-rule in sentinel lymph node biopsy for clinically node-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has proven to reliably stage the clinically negative neck in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The 10%-rule, used to define sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) intraoperatively, states that an SLN is defined by gamma counts that are at least 10% of the hottest harvested lymph node (LN). However, this intraoperative rule has not yet been adequately evaluated for early-stage OSCC.

Efficacy and safety of co-trimoxazole in device-related bone and joint infections: a CRIOGO multicentre case-control study.

Objectives: Co-trimoxazole could be an alternative antibiotic to treat device-related bone and joint infection (BJI) but there are few published data about its efficacy and safety in this complex scenario to treat infection. The objective was to compare the outcome of patients with device-related BJI treated with an antibiotic regimen including co-trimoxazole versus a regimen without co-trimoxazole.

Methods: This multicentre case-control study included consecutive adult patients diagnosed with device-related BJI.

Derivation and validation of a risk-stratification model for patients with probable or proven COVID-19 in EDs: the revised HOME-CoV score.

Background: The HOME-CoV (Hospitalisation or Outpatient ManagEment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection) score is a validated list of uniquely clinical criteria indicating which patients with probable or proven COVID-19 can be treated at home. The aim of this study was to optimise the score to improve its ability to discriminate between patients who do and do not need admission.

Methods: A revised HOME-CoV score was derived using data from a previous prospective multicentre study which evaluated the original Home-CoV score.

Prevalence of hospital-associated infections and its association with discharge destinations and hospital readmissions in Brussels, Belgium, from 2008 to 2020: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To examine time trends of hospital-associated infections (HAIs) in people living in the Brussels-Capital Region, and to evaluate the consequences for hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Design: Cross-sectional analyses of yearly hospital administrative data.

Setting: All Belgian hospitals and discharge destinations, focusing on LTCFs.

A clinical decision rule to rule out bloodstream infection in the emergency department: retrospective multicentric observational cohort study.

Background: We aimed to identify patients at low risk of bloodstream infection (BSI) in the ED.

Methods: We derived and validated a prediction model to rule out BSI in the ED without the need for laboratory testing by determining variables associated with a positive blood culture (BC) and assigned points according to regression coefficients. This retrospective study included adult patients suspected of having BSI (defined by at least one BC collection) from two European ED between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2019.

The potential of the Crystal Cam handheld gamma-camera for preoperative and intraoperative sentinel lymph node localization in early-stage oral cancer.

Purpose: Evaluating the Crystal Cam handheld gamma-camera for preoperative and intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) localization in early-stage oral cancer.

Methods: The handheld gamma-camera was used complementary to conventional gamma-probe guidance for intraoperative SLN localization in 53 early-stage oral cancer patients undergoing SLN biopsy. In 36 of these patients, a blinded comparison was made between preoperative handheld gamma-camera and lymphoscintigraphy outcomes.

Vaccine effectiveness against transmission of alpha, delta and omicron SARS-COV-2-infection, Belgian contact tracing, 2021-2022.

Objectives: Vaccine effectiveness against transmission (VET) of SARS-CoV-2-infection can be estimated from secondary attack rates observed during contact tracing. We estimated VET, the vaccine-effect on infectiousness of the index case and susceptibility of the high-risk exposure contact (HREC).

Methods: We fitted RT-PCR-test results from HREC to immunity status (vaccine schedule, prior infection, time since last immunity-conferring event), age, sex, calendar week of sampling, household, background positivity rate and dominant VOC using a multilevel Bayesian regression-model.

Impact of a strategy based on unique blood culture sampling on contamination rate and detection of bloodstream infections in critically ill patients.

Background: Unique blood culture (UBC) has been proposed to limit the number of venipuncture and to decrease the risk of BC contaminations (BCC) without affecting their yield. We hypothesized that a multi-faceted program based on UBC in the ICU may reduce the rate of contaminants with a similar performance for bloodstream infections (BSI) identification.

Methods: In a before and after design, we compared the proportion of BSI and BCC.

COVID-19 Clusters in Belgian Nursing Homes: Impact of Facility Characteristics and Vaccination on Cluster Occurrence, Duration and Severity.

COVID-19 severely affected nursing home residents from March 2020 onwards in Belgium. This study aimed to model the impact of vaccination and facility characteristics on cluster occurrence, duration and severity in this setting. Possible clusters were identified between June 2020 and January 2022, based on the Belgian COVID-19 surveillance in nursing homes.

BIOFIRE® Blood Culture IDentification 2 (BCID2) panel for early adaptation of antimicrobial therapy in adult patients with bloodstream infections: a real-life experience.

Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a multiplex PCR panel for blood culture identification (BCID2) on the implementation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. We conducted a monocentric pre/post study comparing the time to result from direct microscopic examination (DE) to bacterial identification (BI) in positive blood cultures between 2 different periods: P1 without BCID2 and P2 with BCID2. Appropriate treatments prescribed before DE and after DE / BCID2 and after BI / BCID2 were compared using direct proportion comparison and survival analysis.

Understanding sexual transmission dynamics and transmission contexts of monkeypox virus: a mixed-methods study of the early outbreak in Belgium (May-June 2022).

Objective: The available epidemiological and clinical evidence from the currently ongoing monkeypox (MPX) outbreak in non-endemic areas suggests an important factor of sexual transmission. However, limited information on the behaviour and experiences of individuals with an MPX infection has to date been provided. We aimed to describe the initial phase of the MPX outbreak in Belgium, and to provide a more in-depth description of sexual behaviour and transmission contexts.

CT Lymphography Using Lipiodol for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Oral Cancer.

This study evaluated sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification with CT lymphography (CTL) following peritumoral administration of Lipiodol relative to conventional Tc-nanocolloid lymphoscintigraphy (including SPECT/CT) in 10 early-stage oral cancer patients undergoing SLN biopsy. Patients first underwent early dynamic and static scintigraphy after peritumoral administration of Tc-nanocolloid. Subsequently, Lipiodol was administered at the same injection sites, followed by fluoroscopy and CT acquisition.

Cefoxitin-based combination for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae endocarditis.

Background: Endocarditis due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a rare but challenging condition. Its treatment relies on carbapenems alone or in combination, and no alternative has been described to date. The cephamycin cefoxitin has been used for treatment of mild ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae infections.

Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in Belgian Nursing Homes on COVID-19 Cases, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths among Residents.

In view of the grave situation during the first two waves of SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), nursing homes (NHs) were prioritised for vaccination once vaccines became available in Belgium. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination campaign on COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions, and deaths among residents living in Belgian NHs. All 1545 Belgian NHs were invited to participate in a COVID-19 surveillance program.

Identification of spp. in a Clinical Sample: Always Contamination? Results of a French Retrospective Study.

Background: are environmental gram-positive bacilli that can cause ubiquitous mycetoma and, more rarely, invasive infections. We describe the clinical relevance of spp. identified in human samples and characteristics of patients with invasive infections.

Machine-learning approaches prevent post-treatment resistance-gaining bacterial recurrences.

Despite susceptibility testing, recurrent infections are common and are associated with resistance. Using whole-genome sequencing, Stracy et al. demonstrated that recurrence is often driven by a different strain than the original infection.

Vaccine effectiveness against onward transmission of SARS-CoV2-infection by variant of concern and time since vaccination, Belgian contact tracing, 2021.

Background: During the first half of 2021, we observed high vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV2-infection. The replacement of the alpha-'variant of concern' (VOC) by the delta-VOC and uncertainty about the time course of immunity called for a re-assessment.

Methods: We estimated VE against transmission of infection (VET) from Belgian contact tracing data for high-risk exposure contacts between 26/01/2021 and 14/12/2021 by susceptibility (VEs) and infectiousness of breakthrough cases (VEi) for a complete schedule of Ad26.

COVID-19 contact tracing in Belgium: main indicators and performance, January - September 2021.

Background: Contact tracing is one of the main public health tools in the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A centralized contact tracing system was developed in Belgium in 2020. We aim to evaluate the performance and describe the results, between January 01, 2021, and September 30, 2021.

Comparison of performance between three SARS-CoV-2 molecular assays (Aptima™, Laboratory Developed Test-Fusion, and R-GENE®) with special attention to turnaround time, a key point in laboratory management.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) highlights the importance of rapid diagnostic testing to identify individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infections and to limit the spread of the virus. Many molecular assays have become commercially available to cope with this surging demand for timely diagnosis of COVID-19 cases, but identifying individuals requires accurate diagnostic tools. We compared the performance of three molecular SARS-CoV-2 assays: Aptima™ SARS-CoV-2 assay running on the Panther system (Hologic), an in-house assay (Laboratory Developed Test, LDT) running on the Fusion module of the Panther Fusion system (LDT-Fusion; Hologic), and the R-GENE® SARS-CoV-2 assay (bioMérieux).

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Belgian nursing homes: results of a surveillance conducted between April and December 2020.

Background: In Belgium, the first COVID-19 death was reported on 10 March 2020. Nursing home (NH) residents are particularly vulnerable for COVID-19, making it essential to follow-up the spread of COVID-19 in this setting. This manuscript describes the methodology of surveillance and epidemiology of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Belgian NHs.

Within-patient comparison between [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept PET/CT lymphoscintigraphy and [Tc]Tc-tilmanocept lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel lymph node detection in oral cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: To compare sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept PET/CT lymphoscintigraphy to [Tc]Tc-tilmanocept lymphoscintigraphy (including SPECT/CT) in early-stage oral cancer. Furthermore, to assess whether reliable intraoperative SLN localization can be performed with a conventional portable gamma-probe using [Tc]Tc-tilmanocept without the interference of [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept in these patients.

Methods: This prospective within-patient comparison pilot study evaluated SLN identification by [Ga]Ga-tilmanocept PET/CT lymphoscintigraphy compared to conventional lymphoscintigraphy using [Tc]Tc-tilmanocept (~ 74 MBq) in 10 early-stage oral cancer patients scheduled for SLN biopsy.