Investigating the effectiveness of commercially available mouthwash on SARS-CoV-2 in vivo using viable virus titre as the primary outcome. A randomised controlled trial.

This multi-arm, parallel group, single-blinded randomised controlled trial aimed to assess three commercially available mouthwashes effectiveness against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This manuscript has been written in accordance with the CONSORT statement. Eligible participants were SARS-CoV-2 positive with a positive test in the last 72 h.

Postoperative Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Patients With and Without Preoperative Colonization.

Importance: Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) are important complications of surgical procedures for which prevention remains suboptimal. Contemporary data on the incidence of and etiologic factors for these infections are needed to support the development of improved preventive strategies.

Objectives: To assess the occurrence of postoperative S aureus SSIs and BSIs and quantify its association with patient-related and contextual factors.

Subacute thyroiditis following Mpox infection in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus.

Summary: Mpox (MPX) formerly known as monkeypox was declared a public health emergency of international concern, following an outbreak that commenced in May 2022. We report a case of subacute thyroiditis following MPX infection. To our knowledge, it is the first documented incidence of this complication in humans.

Evaluation of activity of fosfomycin, and synergy in combination, in Gram-negative bloodstream infection isolates in a UK teaching hospital.

Fosfomycin has retained activity against many multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negatives, and may be useful against extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales to improve clinical outcomes. There are few data from the UK on the susceptibility of invasive Gram-negative isolates to fosfomycin, especially in the era of increasing use of oral fosfomycin for urinary tract infections (UTIs). We evaluated fosfomycin susceptibility against 100 consecutive Gram-negative bloodstream isolates, both individually, and in combination with other mechanistically similar and differing antibiotics.

An Analysis of Environmental Contamination During and After Treatment for Infection.

Background: Lower spore counts in feces from infection (CDI) patients treated with fidaxomicin versus vancomycin have been observed. We aimed to determine whether environmental contamination is lower in patients treated with fidaxomicin compared with those treated with vancomycin/metronidazole.

Methods: The CDI cases were recruited at 4 UK hospitals (Leeds, Bradford, and London [2 centers]).

Cross-sectional study of the prevalence, causes and management of hospital-onset diarrhoea.

Background: The National Health Service in England advises hospitals collect data on hospital-onset diarrhoea (HOD). Contemporaneous data on HOD are lacking.

Aim: To investigate prevalence, aetiology and management of HOD on medical, surgical and elderly-care wards.

Rare cutaneous myiasis of the face due to Lund's fly () in a British traveller returning from Uganda.

We present a rare cause for cutaneous furuncular myiasis in a 55-year-old British traveller returning from Uganda. Initially presenting with what appeared to be a cellulitic furuncle on her forehead, she returned to the emergency department 3 days later with extensive preseptal periorbital swelling and pain. Occlusive treatment with petroleum jelly was applied and one larva manually extracted and sent to London School of Tropical Medicine for examination.

Patient and Strain Characteristics Associated With Clostridium difficile Transmission and Adverse Outcomes.

Background: No study has used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate risk factors for Clostridium difficile (CD) transmission between cases, or assessed the impact of recent acquisition on patient outcome.

Methods: This 20 month retrospective cohort study included consecutive cytotoxin-positive diarrheal samples, which underwent culture, ribotyping, and WGS (Illumina). Sequenced isolates were compared using single nucleotide variants (SNVs).

Contribution to Clostridium Difficile Transmission of Symptomatic Patients With Toxigenic Strains Who Are Fecal Toxin Negative.

Background: The role of symptomatic patients who are toxigenic strain positive (TS+) but fecal toxin negative (FT-) in transmission of Clostridium difficile is currently unknown.

Methods: We investigated the contribution of symptomatic TS+/FT- and TS+/FT+ patients in C. difficile transmission in 2 UK regions.

Clostridium difficile: biological therapies.

Purpose Of Review: Biological therapies for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) include probiotics and faecal microbiota transplant (FMT). There is significant interest in their use in treating refractory/recurrent CDI. This review summarizes the latest evidence for these approaches.

Reduced susceptibility to chlorhexidine in staphylococci: is it increasing and does it matter?

Antiseptic agents are increasingly used for hand hygiene and skin decolonization as key tools for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Chlorhexidine, a divalent, cationic biguanide, has a broad spectrum of activity and is one of the most frequently used topical antiseptic agents. Notably, there are an increasing number of prevalence studies that report reduced levels of susceptibility to chlorhexidine.

Buruli ulcer in United Kingdom tourist returning from Latin America.

We report a case of Buruli ulcer in a tourist from the United Kingdom. The disease was almost certainly acquired in Brazil, where only 1 case had previously been reported. The delay in diagnosis highlights the need for physicians to be aware of the disease and its epidemiology.

The development of a scoring system for symphysis pubis dysfunction.

Based on a review of the literature, a questionnaire was developed to create a scoring system for pregnancy-related symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) and completed by 150 (100 without SPD and 50 with SPD) peri-partum women. The questionnaire was tested for reliability in a sub-set of 21 women. Symptoms that were significantly associated with SPD were identified and used in a scoring system in order to diagnose patients with SPD.

Symphysis pubis dysfunction: a review of the literature.

A review of the literature revealed a multitude of terms used to describe Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). No unambiguous definition was found, rather the condition is described in terms of symptoms and signs. These occur due to the physiological pelvic ligament relaxation and increased joint mobility seen in pregnancy.

Counter-proliferative effects of nucleosomal antigens in cultures from lupus patients.

Blood mononuclear cells from 20 lupus patients were cultured in the presence of nucleosomal antigens to determine whether they induce lymphocyte proliferation. The predominant effect seen, however, was one of inhibition of the background proliferation. Such inhibition was rare with cells from female or male controls.