Correction: The first wave of COVID-19 in Malta; a national cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

mucosal leishmaniasis in Malta.

We report a case of a 76-year-old British man living in Malta who presented with a 7-month history of recurrent epistaxis and an enlarging right nasal vestibular lesion. Of note, his medical history included rheumatoid arthritis for which he was on long-term methotrexate. Blood results were unremarkable other than a mild lymphopaenia.

The first wave of COVID-19 in Malta; a national cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major challenges to all aspects of healthcare. Malta's population density, large proportion of elderly and high prevalence of diabetes and obesity put the country at risk of uncontrolled viral transmission and high mortality. Despite this, Malta achieved low mortality rates compared to figures overseas.

Empyema Secondary to Treated Successfully with Ceftriaxone Followed by Doxycycline.

Actinomycosis is a relatively rare infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria. We present the case of a 54-year-old, previously healthy, male patient with a history of severe penicillin allergy who developed severe pneumonia and empyema caused by . Presenting symptoms included productive cough, right upper quadrant pain, and chills and rigors.

Wound swab use and misuse at a regional general hospital.

Objective: Guidelines for swab use at our centre cover lower-limb wounds, ulcers and postoperative wound infections but not all types of wound. The objective of this study was to assess current practices in wound management at Mater Dei Hospital and to identify areas for improvement.

Method: Wound swabs received at the microbiology department between February and April 2013 from adult inpatients departments were included.

A difficult case of Crohn's disease?

A young lady with a long history of recurrent infections was referred to the gastroenterology department by an infectious disease consultant because of a long history of profuse diarrhoea. A nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test performed in her mid-teens had shown zero reduction of the dye. The clinical, biochemical, radiological and endoscopic findings were suggestive of possible underlying Crohn's disease.

Carbamazepine-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome in a 35-year-old man with epilepsy.

The drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome describes a hypersensitivity reaction to a number of drugs. It is characterized by a triad of fever, rash, and internal organ involvement. Carbamazepine is suspected to be the cause of the drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome in this young man who presented with fulminant hepatitis and an exfoliating rash 8 weeks after starting carbamazepine.

Leishmaniasis.

Epidemiology, disease patterns, immunology, diagnosis, treatment and control measures of leishmaniasis are described. Various issues relating to leishmaniasis are highlighted: the relative lack of importance given to this disease compared with other infections, climate change and its possible impact on extension of endemicity of this infection, and new diagnostic tests which are improving diagnosis, especially in resource poor areas. Other important aspects discussed include the potential for newer oral therapy to change the way this disease is managed; Leishmania-HIV coinfection and groups at risk; and development of an effective vaccine.

Leishmaniasis.

Epidemiology, disease patterns, immunology, diagnosis, treatment and control measures of leishmaniasis are described. Various issues relating to leishmaniasis are highlighted: the relative lack of importance given to this disease is compared with other infections, climate change and its possible effect on extension of endemicity of this infection, and new diagnostic tests that are helping better diagnosis, especially in resource-poor areas. Other important aspects discussed include the potential for newer oral treatment to change the way this disease is managed; leishmania-HIV coinfection and groups at risk; and the development of an effective vaccine.

Laryngeal leishmaniasis in Malta.

The localization of Leishmania spp. in the larynx is rare especially when not associated with immunosuppression or with visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis. We present a case of isolated laryngeal leishmaniasis, the first of its kind documented in Malta and infrequently reported from the Mediterranean basin.

Characterisation of rickettsial diseases in a hospital-based population in Malta.

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterise the causative agents of rickettsial disease in Malta. A secondary objective was to study the epidemiology of cases of rickettsial disease.

Methods: Cases admitted to St Luke's Hospital between June 2002 and May 2003 presenting with complaints of fever, headache, rash and/or an eschar were considered possible cases of rickettsial disease.

Serum creatine phosphokinase monitoring in patients infected with HIV.

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) estimations are done routinely in some HIV clinics, irrespective of patient symptoms. We studied patients attending the Worcestershire HIV clinic between 1987 and 2001 to identify whether routine elevations in serum levels of CPK in patients with HIV were associated with clinical features of muscle disease (CFMD), and whether such elevations influenced patient management. There was no association between CFMD and a rise in CPK.

Epidemiology and prognostic factors in meningococcal disease in a small island population: Malta 1994-1998.

Study Objective: To review the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Malta over the period 1994-1998, and to identify factors at presentation and in the management of meningococcal disease which may influence mortality.

Design: All admissions with meningococcal disease to a national hospital in a population-based study over the period 1994-1998 were studied retrospectively.

Main Results: Fifty-six cases were diagnosed over 1994-1998, the incidence rising from 0.