Associations of early changes in lung ultrasound aeration scores and mortality in invasively ventilated patients: a post hoc analysis.

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) in an emerging technique used in the intensive care unit (ICU). The derivative LUS aeration score has been shown to have associations with mortality in invasively ventilated patients. This study assessed the predictive value of baseline and early changes in LUS aeration scores in critically ill invasively ventilated patients with and without ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) on 30- and 90-day mortality.

Personalized mechanical ventilation guided by ultrasound in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (PEGASUS): study protocol for an international randomized clinical trial.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a frequent cause of hypoxemic respiratory failure with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. Identifying ARDS subphenotypes based on "focal" or "non-focal" lung morphology has the potential to better target mechanical ventilation strategies of individual patients. However, classifying morphology through chest radiography or computed tomography is either inaccurate or impractical.

Large outbreak of typhoid fever on a river cruise ship used as accommodation for asylum seekers, the Netherlands, 2022.

On 6 April 2022, the Public Health Service of Kennemerland, the Netherlands, was notified about an outbreak of fever and abdominal complaints on a retired river cruise ship, used as shelter for asylum seekers. The diagnosis typhoid fever was confirmed on 7 April. An extensive outbreak investigation was performed.

A Prospective, Longitudinal Study Evaluating the Efficacy of an Automated Secretion Removal Technology.

Background: Endotracheal suctioning causes discomfort, is associated with adverse effects, and is resource-demanding. An artificial secretion removal method, known as an automated cough, has been developed, which applies rapid, automated deflation, and inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff during the inspiratory phase of mechanical ventilation. This method has been evaluated in the hands of researchers but not when used by attending nurses.

Development and validation of a fully automated laboratory-developed test for detection of HSV-1/2 and VZV in clinical samples run on the Panther Fusion® system.

The purpose of this study was to develop a laboratory developed test (LDT) for HSV1/2 and VZV to run on fully automated Hologic Panther Fusion® System. The Panther Fusion System is a fully automated walkaway system, providing end-to-end workflow from sample input to DNA/RNA extraction, amplification, automated analysis, and reporting to a laboratory information system (LIS). The LDT was developed and validated on 230 clinical and 20 reference samples (n = 250) and compared to a commercially available kit.

Similar Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Oropharyngeal/Nasopharyngeal and Saliva Samples on the Hologic Panther Platform.

Background: Oropharyngeal (OP) and nasopharyngeal (NP) sampling has historically been considered the reference specimen type used for respiratory virus detection. Saliva could be a less invasive alternative for SARS-CoV-2 detection, but limited evidence is available.

Methods: The technical and clinical performance of saliva was compared to OP/NP on the Hologic Panther platform with two Aptima assays, the End-Point Transcription-Mediated Amplification assay (EP-TMA) and Real-Time Transcription-Mediated Amplification assay (RT-TMA).

Effect of Automated Closed-loop ventilation versus convenTional VEntilation on duration and quality of ventilation in critically ill patients (ACTiVE) - study protocol of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: INTELLiVENT-Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) is a fully automated closed-loop mode of ventilation for use in critically ill patients. Evidence for benefit of INTELLiVENT-ASV in comparison to ventilation that is not fully automated with regard to duration of ventilation and quality of breathing is largely lacking. We test the hypothesis that INTELLiVENT-ASV shortens time spent on a ventilator and improves the quality of breathing.

The Effect of Varying Interval Definitions on the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rate in a large patient cohort, and evaluated the effect of varying time intervals between two positive tests on assumed reinfection rates using viral load data.

Methods: All positive SARS-CoV-2 samples collected between 1 March 2020 and 1 August 2021 from a laboratory in the region Kennemerland, the Netherlands, were included. The reinfection rate was analyzed using different time intervals between two positive tests varying between 2 and 16 weeks.

SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution reveals that viral loads increase with age: a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study.

Background: Describing the SARS-CoV-2 viral-load distribution in different patient groups and age categories.

Methods: All results from first nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) swabs from unique patients tested via SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) collected between 1 January and 1 December 2020 predominantly in the Public Health Services regions Kennemerland and Hollands Noorden, province of North Holland, the Netherlands, were included in this study. SARS-CoV-2 PCR crossing-point (Cp)-values were used to estimate viral loads.

Epidemiology and Mortality of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis in Suriname: A 2-Year Surveillance Study.

We conducted a nationwide surveillance study to produce reliable national estimates on incidence, etiology, and mortality of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) in Suriname. The estimated national population incidence rate of EONS was 1.37 (95% CI: 0.

Detection of bacteria in burn wounds with a novel handheld autofluorescence wound imaging device: a pilot study.

Objective: To compare the detection of bacteria in burn wounds between an bacterial fluorescence imaging device MolecuLight i:X, (Canada), and standard microbiological swabs.

Methods: Wounds were swabbed three times on one occasion; once with a standard swab, once with a high-fluorescent area swab, indicating a bacterial load >10 colony-forming units (CFU)/gram and a finally with a non-fluorescent (nF) area swab. Proportion agreement of the microbiological results was calculated and the accuracy of the device to detect relevant bacteria was assessed.

Indirect Burst Pressure Measurements for the Mechanical Assessment of Biological Vessels.

Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) is a rapidly expanding field, with numerous approaches being explored both in preclinical and clinical settings. A pivotal factor in the development of VTE techniques is patient safety, notably with respect to the mechanical properties of the vessels. Of the mechanical properties, the bursting strength, representing the ability of a vessel to withstand the forces exerted on it by blood pressure, is the most important.

Recommendations for the successful control of a large outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in a non-endemic hospital setting.

Background: A large outbreak of three epidemic vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) clones affected the study hospital for almost two years.

Aim: To describe the strategy to successfully control this outbreak and eradicate VRE from the study hospital.

Methods: Infection control interventions started after detection of VRE in three patients.

Identification of a Novel Genomic Island Associated with -Type Vancomycin Resistance in Six Dutch Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Isolates.

Genomic comparison of the first six Dutch -type vancomycin-resistant (VRE) isolates with four gene clusters from other enterococcal species and anaerobic gut commensals revealed that the gene cluster was located on a genomic island of variable size. Phylogenetic inferences revealed that the Dutch VRE isolates were genetically not closely related and that genetic variation of the -containing genomic island was not species specific, suggesting that this island is transferred horizontally between enterococci and anaerobic gut commensals.

Late-life depression and the association with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy, which may complicate medical treatment.

Objective: To determine the associations between patients diagnosed with late-life depression in primary care and multimorbidity and polypharmacy.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was performed using 2012 primary care data.

[Inter-practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence amongst older patients in primary care].

Purpose: Complex medication management in older people with multiple chronic conditions can introduce practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence. This study aimed to determine the inter-practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence and examine how this variation was influenced by patient and practice characteristics.

Methods: This cohort study included 45,731 patients aged 55 years and older with at least one prescribed medication from 126 general practices that participated in NIVEL Primary Care Database in the Netherlands.

Medication management strategy for older people with polypharmacy in general practice: a qualitative study on prescribing behaviour in primary care.

Background: For older patients with polypharmacy, medication management is a process of careful deliberation that needs periodic adjustment based on treatment effects and changing conditions. Because of the heterogeneity of the patient group, and limited applicability of current guidelines, it is difficult for GPs to build up a routine.

Aim: To gain insight into GPs' medication management strategies for patients with polypharmacy, and to explore the GPs' perspectives and needs on decision-making support to facilitate this medication management.

Inter-practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence amongst older patients in primary care.

Purpose: Complex medication management in older people with multiple chronic conditions can introduce practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence. This study aimed to determine the inter-practice variation in polypharmacy prevalence and examine how this variation was influenced by patient and practice characteristics.

Methods: This cohort study included 45,731 patients aged 55 years and older with at least one prescribed medication from 126 general practices that participated in NIVEL Primary Care Database in the Netherlands.

Growth condition-dependent cell surface proteome analysis of Enterococcus faecium.

The last 30 years Enterococcus faecium has become an important nosocomial pathogen in hospitals worldwide. The aim of this study was to obtain insight in the cell surface proteome of E. faecium when grown in laboratory and clinically relevant conditions.

Multimorbidity patterns in a primary care population aged 55 years and over.

Background: To support the management of multimorbid patients in primary care, evidence is needed on prevalent multimorbidity patterns.

Objective: To identify the common and distinctive multimorbidity patterns.

Methods: Clinical data of 120480 patients (≥55 years) were extracted from 158 general practices in 2002-11.

Campylobacter fetus subsp. testudinum subsp. nov., isolated from humans and reptiles.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to determine the taxonomic position of 13 Campylobacter fetus-like strains from humans (n = 8) and reptiles (n = 5). The results of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS and genomic data from sap analysis, 16S rRNA gene and hsp60 sequence comparison, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization and whole genome sequencing demonstrated that these strains are closely related to C. fetus but clearly differentiated from recognized subspecies of C.

The prevalence of disease clusters in older adults with multiple chronic diseases--a systematic literature review.

Background: Since most clinical guidelines address single diseases, treatment of patients with multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of multiple (chronic) diseases within one person, can become complicated. Information on highly prevalent combinations of diseases can set the agenda for guideline development on multimorbidity. With this systematic review we aim to describe the prevalence of disease combinations (i.