Outbreak of invasive Group A streptococcus disease in a nursing home in Ireland in February 2023 caused by type 18.

An out-of-season increase in cases of invasive Group A streptococcus (iGAS) was observed in Ireland between October 2022 and August 2023. We describe the management of an iGAS outbreak involving three nursing home residents in Ireland in early 2023. A regional Department of Public Health was notified of an iGAS case in a nursing home resident in January 2023.

Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of air pollution in Ireland.

Aim: Air pollution remains a major global public health challenge; and Ireland is no exception to the human health implications of exposure ambient air pollutants. Accurate and timely information can be critical to mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes to poor air quality in Ireland to assist stakeholders in developing and implementing effective communication pieces and policies about the management of air pollution.

Public health response to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry in Northeast of Ireland, November 2021 to January 2022.

Objectives: Human infections from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 are associated with significant morbidity and mortality internationally. This study aimed to use routinely available data to examine key strategies to prevent H5N1 transmission to humans during outbreaks in poultry in residents in Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional based study.

Ambient air pollutant concentrations and asthma-related hospital admissions during COVID-19 transport restrictions.

Objectives: Exposure to air pollution is a known risk factor for asthma exacerbations and hospitalisations. This study aimed to identify if COVID-19 transport restrictions led to improvements in air quality in Dublin and if this had an impact on asthma-related hospital admissions.

Study Design: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Establishing a COVID-19 pandemic severity assessment surveillance system in Ireland.

We developed a COVID-19 pandemic severity assessment (PSA) monitoring system in Ireland, in order to inform and improve public health preparedness, response and recovery. The system based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment (PISA) project included a panel of surveillance parameters for the following indicators: transmissibility, impact and disease severity. Age-specific thresholds were established for each parameter and data visualised using heat maps.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions: Ambient NO2 and Asthma Hospital Admissions.

Aim The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic a global health emergency. Many countries of the world, including Ireland, closed their borders and imposed nationwide lockdown. During this period, all major anthropogenic transport activities, which contribute to atmospheric pollution, were restricted.

COVID-19 transport restrictions in Ireland: impact on air quality and respiratory hospital admissions.

Aim: Exposure to poor air quality is a well-established factor for exacerbation of respiratory system diseases (RSDs); whether air pollutants are a cause of the development of RSD, however, remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between COVID-19 transport restrictions and hospital admissions because of RSD in Dublin city and county for 2020.

Study Design: This was a retrospective population-based cohort.

False detection of rifampicin resistance using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay due to an A451V mutation in .

Background: In a 12 month period, three Irish-born adult cases with pulmonary TB were initially diagnosed by Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay, which detected a rifampicin resistance-conferring mutation prompting treatment as potential MDR cases.

Methods: Further laboratory investigations on the cultured isolates included GenoType MTBDR assay, phenotypic drug susceptibility tests using the BD BACTEC MGIT culture system and MIC broth microdilution tests. Sequencing of the gene was performed using Sanger sequencing and WGS.

Air Quality and Its Association with Cardiovascular and Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Ireland.

Aim Cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory (RSD) diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Ireland. Clear links have been demonstrated in the literature between poor air quality and these diseases. This study aimed to use routinely available data to examine the relationship between air quality index for health (AQIH) (Available URL: http://www.

Counting the Toll of Smoking-Attributable Hospitalisations.

Aim In Ireland, 20% of adults smoke. Many current and ex-smokers live with ill-health and disability as a result of smoking, and this study aimed to quantify the extent of smoking-related hospitalisations in Irish publicly-funded hospitals. Methods A population attributable fractions approach was used in this analysis utilising smoking prevalence data from the Healthy Ireland Survey and combining this with internationally-recognised relative-risks for current and past smoking, and hospitalisation data and hospital base costs data sourced from HIPE, for the years 2011-2016.

Appraisal of International Guidelines on Smoking Cessation using the AGREE II Assessment Tool.

Aims Several international professional bodies have produced and disseminated clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for smoking cessation. However, to date, the quality of guidelines for use in the Irish context has never been appraised and explored. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the quality of methodological rigours and transparency used in guidelines for smoking cessation (for speci􀂡c groups including: general adult population; persons with mental illness; and pregnant women).

Attitudes and Uptake of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination for Health Service Executive (HSE) Staff.

Aims Annual seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination is recommended for all healthcare workers (HCW) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland. This is to reduce the risk of HCW contracting the flu and onward transmission to their patients. HCW uptake remains less than ideal, despite extensive seasonal influenza campaigns and vaccination promotions.

Lymph Node Ratio in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Era: Are We Losing Prognostic Information?

Background: The number of involved axillary lymph nodes (LNs) found pathologically is regarded as a significant prognostic factor in early-stage breast cancer (EBC). Recently, there is speculation that LN ratio (LNR) may be a better surrogate at predicting cancer-specific outcome than number of involved LNs. This study investigated prognostic value of LNR, using predetermined cutoff values.

Unilateral Warthin's tumour in a patient of Afro-Caribbean descent.

Warthin's tumours are the second most common benign tumours of the parotid gland. The authors report the case of a 40-year-old man of Afro-Caribbean decent who presented with a painless mass at the angle of the right mandible. It was an incidental finding while shaving and was not associated with any symptoms.

Uncommon side effect with a commonly used targeted agent: sunitinib-induced nephrotic syndrome in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The authors report the case of a 67-year-old woman with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) without prior nephrectomy, who had received long-term exposure (38 months) to the oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), sunitinib. She had a sustained clinical and radiological response to her therapy, but had this therapy discontinued due to the rare development of nephrotic syndrome.

Correlation between Nottingham Prognostic Index and Adjuvant! Online prognostic tools in patients with early-stage breast cancer in Mid-Western Ireland.

Background: Prognostic tools are widely used in the practice of oncology and have been developed to help stratify patients into specific risk-related grouping. We sought to apply tool such tools used for patients with early-stage breast cancer (EBC) and correlate them to actual outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was designed to include EBC cases seen at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002.

Good clinical and radiological response to BRAF inhibitor in patient with metastatic thin melanoma.

The authors herein report the case of a 32-year-old man with advancing metastatic malignant melanoma, who has progressed through all previous lines of therapy, presenting with ongoing respiratory tract symptoms of exertional shortness of breath and cough. CT restaging confirmed clinical findings of deteriorating pulmonary disease; histological review revealed V600E BRAF mutation. He was started on targeted biological therapy with BRAF inhibitor GSK2118436, and is having a good clinical and radiological response without significant lasting toxicity.

Erratum: Profound and persistent painful paclitaxel peripheral neuropathy in a premenopausal patient.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1136/bcr.12.

Erratum: Primary gastric Hodgkin's lymphoma: favourable outcome following multi-agent chemotherapy without surgical intervention.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1136/bcr.11.

Primary gastric Hodgkin's lymphoma: favourable outcome following multi-agent chemotherapy without surgical intervention.

The authors report the case of a 51-year-old man who presented with left-sided abdominal pain and weight loss associated with drenching night sweats. Preliminary blood tests yielded no specific cause for his symptoms, but abdominal ultrasound revealed multiple hepatic lesions and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy. Further imaging, including positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, revealed fludeoxyglucose 18F (FDG) avid uptake within lymphadenopathy above and below the diaphragm and also noted gastric thickening.

Profound and persistent painful paclitaxel peripheral neuropathy in a premenopausal patient.

The authors herein report the case of a 35-year-old woman undergoing adjuvant therapy for node positive breast cancer, who presented with short and rapidly progressive history of bilateral lower limb symptoms of peripheral neuropathy following therapy with paclitaxel. MRI of her neural axis revealed no leptomeningeal enhancement or focal metastatic lesions. Neurophysiological tests favoured toxic sensory axonal polyneuropathy.

Advanced and rapidly progressing head and neck cancer: good palliation following intralesional bleomycin.

The authors herein report the case of a 61-year-old man undergoing adjuvant therapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer, who developed parastomal recurrence in his radiation field around his tracheotomy site, while he was undergoing radiation therapy, and compromised the secure placement of his tracheotomy tube and maintenance of his upper airway. MRI restaging and biopsy confirmed recurrence and progressive disease in his mediastinum. He underwent local therapy with intralesional bleomycin with good palliation, and ability to maintain the patency of his upper airway.