Epidemiology and genetic diversity of linezolid-resistant Enterococcus clinical isolates in Belgium from 2013 to 2021.

Objectives: Linezolid-resistant opportunistic human pathogens Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are emerging health threats as limited therapeutic options remain. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, and genetic diversity of linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) isolated between 2013 and 2021 and received at the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) for Enterococci.

Methods: Linezolid susceptibility testing was performed upon request on 2458 submitted enterococci strains.

Concentration strategies for spiked and naturally present biomarkers in non-invasively collected first-void urine.

Background: First-void urine (FVU) provides a non-invasive method for collecting a wide range of biomarkers found in genital tract secretions. To optimize biomarker collection in FVU, this study investigated the impact of naturally present and supplemented precipitating agents: uromodulin (UMOD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), on the concentration of human papillomavirus (HPV) pseudovirions (PsV), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and cellular genomic DNA (gDNA) through centrifugation.

Methods: FVU samples from ten healthy female volunteers, along with a control sample, were spiked with seal herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) DNA, HPV16 plasmid DNA, and HPV16 PsV with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter.

Estimation of antimicrobial resistance of Belgium, 2022.

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) of (MG) is a growing concern worldwide and surveillance is needed. In Belgium, samples are sent to the National Reference Centre of Sexually Transmitted Infections (NRC-STI) on a voluntary basis and representative or robust national AMR data are lacking.AimWe aimed to estimate the occurrence of resistant MG in Belgium.

Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre.

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be the first Belgian laboratory to develop and implement laboratory developed diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and later to assess the quality of commercial kits. To meet the growing demand for decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories and government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium. Consequently, the role of the NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance.

Clinical and molecular epidemiological features of critically ill patients with invasive group A Streptococcus infections: a Belgian multicenter case-series.

Background: Recent alerts have highlighted an increase in group A streptococcal (GAS) infections since 2022 in Europe and the United States. Streptococcus pyogenes can cause limited skin or mucosal disease, but can also present as severe invasive disease necessitating critical care. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients with GAS infections recently admitted to Belgian intensive care units (ICUs) since January 2022.

Genital Infection Caused by Serovar Hvittingfoss: A Case Report.

Background: Nontyphoidal serovars predominantly cause gastrointestinal infections. However, other clinical presentations, including urogenital infections, have been reported, although they are rather rare.

Case Presentation: This case is about a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with serovar Hvittingfoss ( Hvittingfoss) bacteremia and endometritis six days post uterine aspiration in the context of a missed abortion.

Multicenter interlaboratory study of routine systems for the susceptibility testing of temocillin using a challenge panel of multidrug-resistant strains.

Accurate susceptibility result of temocillin (TMO) is important for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales. This multicenter study aimed to investigate the performance of routine temocillin testing assays against Enterobacterales challenging strains. Forty-seven selected clinical isolates were blindly analyzed by 12 Belgian laboratories using VITEK® 2 (n = 5) and BD Phoenix™ (n = 3) automated systems, ETEST® gradient strip (n = 3), and disk (3 brands) diffusion method (DD; n = 6) for temocillin susceptibility using standardized methodology.

Surveillance on meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection is a significant health concern in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Bacterial colonization increases the risk of subsequent infection, leading to morbidity and mortality.

Aim: To report the findings of a retrospective cohort study on the surveillance of MSSA colonization and infection in NICU patients.

Increase in bloodstream infections caused by 1 group A correlates with emergence of toxigenic M1, Belgium, May 2022 to August 2023.

Many European countries have recently reported upsurges in invasive group A (iGAS) infections, mainly caused by 1 , specifically the toxigenic M1 lineage. We present the epidemiology of 1 causing iGAS in Belgium during 2018-August 2023, and describe an emergence of the toxigenic M1 lineage in Belgium in mid-2022 that was observed as an increase in bloodstream infections caused by 1 that continued into 2023.

Incidence and clinical and microbiological features of invasive and probable invasive streptococcal group A infections in children and adults in the Brussels-Capital Region, 2005-2020.

Assess the incidence, risk factors, clinical and microbiological features, and outcome of both probable invasive and invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in children and adults in the BrusselsCapital Region between 2005 and 2020. A retrospective, multicentric study was performed in three university hospitals in Brussels. Patients were identified through the centralized laboratory information system.

Is Polyomavirus-Associated Nephropathy More Common in Kidney Transplant Recipients Exposed to Valganciclovir? A Retrospective Single Center Analysis.

Background: BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) is a frequent complication in the early phase after kidney transplantation. The most important risk factor for PVAN is the intensity of immunosuppression. A recent study suggests that exposure to valganciclovir (VGC) could also be a risk factor.

Severity of COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients: Omicron Remains a Severe Threat for Immunocompromised Hosts.

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the general population in the context of a relatively high immunity gained through the early waves of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), and vaccination campaigns. Despite this context, a significant number of patients were hospitalized, and identifying the risk factors associated with severe disease in the Omicron era is critical for targeting further preventive, and curative interventions. We retrospectively analyzed the individual medical records of 1501 SARS-CoV-2 positive hospitalized patients between 13 December 2021, and 13 February 2022, in Belgium, of which 187 (12.

Two Years of Genomic Surveillance in Belgium during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic to Attain Country-Wide Coverage and Monitor the Introduction and Spread of Emerging Variants.

An adequate SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance strategy has proven to be essential for countries to obtain a thorough understanding of the variants and lineages being imported and successfully established within their borders. During 2020, genomic surveillance in Belgium was not structurally implemented but performed by individual research laboratories that had to acquire the necessary funds themselves to perform this important task. At the start of 2021, a nationwide genomic surveillance consortium was established in Belgium to markedly increase the country's genomic sequencing efforts (both in terms of intensity and representativeness), to perform quality control among participating laboratories, and to enable coordination and collaboration of research projects and publications.

Evaluation of Saliva as a Matrix for RT-PCR Analysis and Two Rapid Antigen Tests for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The use of saliva for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sparks debate due to presumed lower sensitivity and lack of standardization. Our aim was to evaluate the performance characteristics of (i) saliva collected by the ORAcollect device as a matrix for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and (ii) 2 saliva rapid antigen tests (AgRDT). From 342 ambulatory individuals, both a nasopharyngeal swab and saliva sample via ORAcollect were obtained for a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test.

Multicentre interlaboratory analysis of routine susceptibility testing with a challenge panel of resistant strains.

Objectives: In order to elaborate a new national challenge panel of resistant Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci strains for the validation of routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods, an interlaboratory evaluation was organised.

Methods: The results of 12 well-characterised multidrug-resistant strains tested by nine laboratories using local disk diffusion (DD) and automated AST (AUST) methods were compared with the reference broth microdilution method.

Results: Overall categorical agreement ranged from 70% to 100% both for DD and AUST and was >90% for all but one strain for all antibiotics.

Clinical presentation, microbiological aetiology and disease course in patients with flu-like illness: a post hoc analysis of randomised controlled trial data.

Background: There is little evidence about the relationship between aetiology, illness severity, and clinical course of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care. Understanding these associations would aid in the development of effective management strategies for these infections.

Aim: To investigate whether clinical presentation and illness course differ between RTIs where a viral pathogen was detected and those where a potential bacterial pathogen was found.

Laboratory analysis of two Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant outbreaks in the Port of Antwerp.

Introduction: The B.1.617.

Diagnostic performance of the Idylla™ respiratory panel for molecular detection of influenza A/B in patients presenting to primary care with influenza-like illness during 3 consecutive influenza seasons.

Background: Influenza virus (IFV) is often encountered in primary care. Implementation of a rapid diagnostic test for its detection at the point-of-care would enable discrimination from other viral causes of influenza-like-illness (ILI) and might be helpful in individual patient management. In this study, the diagnostic performance of such a point-of-care platform was evaluated.

Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: screening algorithm with single nucleotide polymorphism detection for the rapid identification of established and emerging variants.

Objectives: To evaluate a testing algorithm for the rapid identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that includes the use of PCR-based targeted single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection assays preceded by a multiplex PCR sensitive to S-Gene Target Failure (SGTF).

Methods: PCR SNP assays targeting SARS-CoV-2 S-gene mutations ΔH69-V70, L452R, E484K, N501Y, H655Y and P681R using melting curve analysis were performed on 567 samples in which SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA was detected by a multiplex PCR. Viral whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to confirm the presence of SNPs and to identify the Pangolin lineage.

Novel vancomycin resistance gene cluster in ST1486, Belgium, June 2021.

We identified a novel gene cluster in a clinical isolate with vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 µg/mL. The ligase gene, , was part of a operon cluster of 4,589 bp on a putative novel integrative conjugative element located in a ca 98 kb genomic region presumed to be acquired by horizontal gene transfer from and sp. 499.

Aetiology of acute respiratory infection in preschool children requiring hospitalisation in Europe-results from the PED-MERMAIDS multicentre case-control study.

Background: Both pathogenic bacteria and viruses are frequently detected in the nasopharynx (NP) of children in the absence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms. The aim of this study was to estimate the aetiological fractions for ARI hospitalisation in children for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus and to determine whether detection of specific respiratory pathogens on NP samples was associated with ARI hospitalisation.

Methods: 349 children up to 5 years of age hospitalised for ARI (following a symptom-based case definition) and 306 hospital controls were prospectively enrolled in 16 centres across seven European Union countries between 2016 and 2019.