Reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in a primary school using epidemiological and genomic data.

Mathematical modelling studies have shown that repetitive screening can be used to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission in primary schools while keeping schools open. However, not much is known about how transmission progresses within schools and whether there is a risk of importation to households. During the academic year 2020-2021, a prospective surveillance study using repetitive screening was conducted in a primary school and associated households in Liège (Belgium).

Analysis of a Combined HBHA and ESAT-6-Interferon-γ-Release Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Lymphadenopathies.

Background And Objectives: The incidence of tuberculosis lymphadenopathy (TBLA) is increasing, and diagnostic procedures lack sensitivity and are often highly invasive. TBLA may be asymptomatic, and differential diagnosis with other adenopathies (ADPs) is difficult. We evaluated a blood-cell interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) with two different stage-specific mycobacterial antigens for the differential diagnosis of ADP suspected of mycobacterial origin.

The Dynamic Relationship between the Intention and Final Decision for the COVID-19 Booster: A Study among Students and Staff at the University of Liège, Belgium.

While many studies have documented the intentions for the COVID-19 vaccine booster, few have explored the change from intention to final decision. This study explores the COVID-19 booster intentions and the change from intention to decision in a primo-vaccinated university population, with a distinction between staff members and students. It looks at the sociodemographic and medical characteristics, health literacy, personal COVID-19 infection and vaccination history, and attitudes/intentions regarding the booster, among the 1030 participants (64.

[Monkeypox].

Monkeypox (MPX), is a rare endemic zoonotic disease of certain areas of Central and West Africa. Nevertheless, in recent years, several outbreaks have occurred outside the African continent. Monkeypox usually presents with a flu-like prodromal period (fever, headache, chills, sweating) associated or followed by the appearance of lymphadenopathy and a typical skin rash.

Controlling SARS-CoV-2 in schools using repetitive testing strategies.

SARS-CoV-2 remains a worldwide emergency. While vaccines have been approved and are widely administered, there is an ongoing debate whether children should be vaccinated or prioritized for vaccination. Therefore, in order to mitigate the spread of more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants among children, the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions is still warranted.

Evaluation of Screening Program and Phylogenetic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Infections among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Liège, Belgium.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are known to be at higher risk of developing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections although whether these risks are equal across all occupational roles is uncertain. Identifying these risk factors and understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission pathways in healthcare settings are of high importance to achieve optimal protection measures. We aimed to investigate the implementation of a voluntary screening program for SARS-CoV-2 infections among hospital HCWs and to elucidate potential transmission pathways though phylogenetic analysis before the vaccination era.

Kinetics and Persistence of the Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses to BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in SARS-CoV-2-Naive and -Experienced Subjects: Impact of Booster Dose and Breakthrough Infections.

Background: Understanding and measuring the individual level of immune protection and its persistence at both humoral and cellular levels after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is mandatory for the management of the vaccination booster campaign. Our prospective study was designed to assess the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in triggering the cellular and humoral immune response in healthcare workers up to 12 months after the initial vaccination, with one additional boosting dose between 6 and 12 months.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 208 healthcare workers (HCWs) from the Liège University Hospital (CHU) of Liège in Belgium.

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Screening and Mitigation Measures for Primary School Children Attending School in Liège, Belgium.

Importance: Recent data suggest a relatively low incidence of COVID-19 among children. The possible role that children attending primary school may play in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains poorly understood.

Objective: To gain a better understanding of the possible role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Impact of switch from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based regimens to tenofovir alafenamide-based regimens on lipid profile, weight gain and cardiovascular risk score in people living with HIV.

Background: As cardiovascular diseases represent the main cause of non-AIDS related death in people living with HIV (PLWH) with undetectable viral load, we evaluated lipid profile, weight gain and calculated cardiovascular risk change after switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based regimens to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-based regimens.

Methods: For this retrospective study, we selected HIV-infected patients with suppressed viral load who fitted in one of the two groups below: First group (TDF/TDF): Patients treated continuously with TDF-based regimens. Second group (TDF/TAF): Patients treated with TDF-regimens during at least 6 months then switched to TAF-regimens while maintaining other drugs unchanged.

[Ten years ahead in infectious diseases : AIDS/ HIV towards stopping transmission].

In order to end the AIDS pandemic, new infections must be avoided. This prevention can be divided into four axes depending on the risk of exposure to the HIV virus. Over the past decade, new prevention strategies supported by various studies have emerged.

Detectability of HIV Residual Viremia despite Therapy Is Highly Associated with Treatment with a Protease Inhibitor-Based Combination Antiretroviral Therapy.

HIV persistence despite therapy contributes to chronic immune activation and inflammation, increasing the risk of aging-associated events in HIV-infected individuals. We sought here to better understand the complex link between clinical and treatment features and HIV persistence despite therapy. A total of 11,045 samples from 1,160 individuals under combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with an unquantifiable viral load (VL; limit of quantification, 20 copies/ml) were categorized as detectable or undetectable depending on the detection of a PCR signal using a commercially available assay.

[Application of the Upper Council of Health recommendations in the respiratory isolation of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at Liège University Hospital.].

The fight against tuberculosis is a public health objective at the world level. The prevention of the hospital-borne tuberculosis by an adequate isolation of the contagious patients is inescapable to eliminate the tuberculosis in Belgium. The Upper Council of the Health set up recommendations relative to the duration and the criteria of the isolation discontinuation.

Early listeriosis after liver transplantation: Report of two cases.

Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of potentially lethal infection and sepsis in transplant recipients. Listeriosis is usually described after kidney or bone marrow transplant, and has been less frequently reported after liver transplantation. Here, the authors present two cases of severe Listeria infection occurring within 4 months after complicated liver transplantation in patients still recovering on the ward.

Factors associated with late presentation for HIV care in a single Belgian reference center: 2006-2017.

Late presentation for HIV care is a major issue and the cause of higher morbidity, mortality and transmission. In this regard, we analyzed the characteristics of patients presenting for care at our center from January 2006 to July 2017 (n = 687). The majority of the studied population was of African origin (54.

Prevalence of non-infectious comorbidities in the HIV-positive population in Belgium: a multicenter, retrospective study.

Objectives: In Belgium, eleven AIDS Reference Centers (ARCs) and seven AIDS Reference Laboratories diagnose and treat HIV-positive individuals and track patients under care. As AIDS-related deaths are avoided and the HIV-positive population ages, non-infectious comorbidities (NICMs), such as cardiovascular disease, renal disease and certain cancers, play a larger role in the quality and length of patients' lives. This study aims to characterize the HIV-positive population in Belgium in terms of the prevalence of key NICMs.

Louse-borne relapsing fever in a refugee from Somalia arriving in Belgium.

We report a case of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) in a refugee from Somalia who had arrived in Belgium a few days earlier. He complained of myalgia and secondarily presented fever. Blood smears revealed spirochetes later identified as Borrelia recurrentis.

[Hooping cough in adults, think about it!].

We report the case of a 47 year old patient who had been suffering from persistent cough for more than three weeks. Patient coughed predominantly during night time, without fever. The amoxicillin-clavulanic acid initially prescribed was not effective.

A pauci-symptomatic case of documented Hantavirus (Puumala) infection in a patient under anti-TNF treatment.

We describe the case of an 18-yr-old male under anti-TNF treatment for Crohn's disease for more than 8 months. He developed fever and biological inflammatory syndrome without absolutely no accompanying sign or symptom or paraclinical abnormality despite extensive work-up performed in the context of his immunocompromised state. Symptoms disappeared after 10 days and a diagnosis of Puumala infection was made retrospectively on a serological basis.