Retrospective cohort study investigating extent of pertussis transmission during a boarding school outbreak, England, December 2017 to June 2018.

On 1 May 2018, a pertussis outbreak was declared and widespread vaccination recommended at an all-female secondary boarding school in southern England. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the extent of pertussis transmission and identify risk factors in this semi-closed population. Of 504 students and staff assessed before post-exposure vaccination, 48% (n = 240) had evidence of pertussis.

Duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy for children with acute osteomyelitis or septic arthritis: a feasibility study.

Background: There is little current consensus regarding the route or duration of antibiotic treatment for acute osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis (SA) in children.

Objective: To assess the overall feasibility and inform the design of a future randomised controlled trial (RCT) to reduce the duration of intravenous (i.v.

Cryptic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: a risk for the treatment of skin infection?

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to explore major challenges that face routine diagnostic laboratories in detecting cryptic (hidden) antibiotic resistances in Staphylococcus aureus and the impact of these covert resistances in the management of skin and soft tissue infections.

Recent Findings: The review covers recent literature and works regarding a number of evolving mechanisms and forms of antibiotic resistances in S. aureus, including novel oxacillin-susceptible-mecA-positive meticillin-resistant S.

The value of procalcitonin measurement in localized skin and skin structure infection, diabetic foot infections, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.

Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is an established diagnostic marker for severe or systemic bacterial infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and septic shock. Data regarding the role of PCT in localized infections without systemic inflammatory response syndrome are scarce. The aim of this review is to assess the value of PCT measurements in localized infections such as skin and skin structure infections, diabetic foot infections, septic arthritis (SA) and osteomyelitis.

Nasal self-swabbing for estimating the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the community.

Staphylococcus aureus remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and, therefore, a burden on healthcare systems. Our aim was to estimate the current rate of nasal S. aureus carriage in the general population and to determine the feasibility of nasal self-swabbing as a means of detection.