Sharp increase in gonorrhoea notifications among young people, EU/EEA, July 2022 to June 2023.

Gonorrhoea cases increased steeply in women aged 20 to 24 years across 15 EU/EEA countries in July to December 2022 and January to June 2023 with, respectively, 73% and 89% more cases reported than expected, based on historical data from 2015 to 2019. Smaller increases among men due to heterosexual transmission were observed in nine EU/EEA countries. Interventions to raise awareness among young people about sexually transmitted infection risks are needed, emphasising the benefit of safe sexual practices and testing.

Description of a nationwide structure for monitoring nosocomial outbreaks of (highly resistant) microorganisms in the Netherlands: characteristics of outbreaks in 2012-2021.

Background: Before 2012, established national surveillance systems in the Netherlands were not able to provide a timely, comprehensive epidemiological view on nosocomial outbreaks. The Healthcare-associated Infections and AntiMicrobial Resistance Monitoring Group (SO-ZI/AMR) was initiated in 2012 for timely national nosocomial outbreak monitoring and risk assessment. This paper aims to describe the achievements of the SO-ZI/AMR by presenting characteristics of outbreaks reported in 2012-2021.

Diagnostic value of Chest X-Ray in Febrile Patients without Localizing Signs or Symptoms at the Emergency Department.

Background: The chest X-ray (CXR) remains a widely used examination in the evaluation of patients with fever, to diagnose or rule out pneumonia. Recently, a study by our group suggested that it has no diagnostic value in patients with fever without respiratory signs and/or symptoms.

Objective: The objective of this study is to validate the results of our previous study.

[Monkeypox, a new pandemic?].

Monkeypox (MPX) is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a viral zoonotic disease, endemic in Central and West Africa. Human-to-human spread also occurs and is a feature of the current global outbreak.

[Carbapenems: take it when needed but leave it if you can].

Surveillance data and literature have shown a worldwide increase in infections with resistant bacteria, which has led to increased prescriptions of carbapenems, which in turn has led to increased carbapenem resistance. There is also an increasing use of carbapenems in the Netherlands, a county usually very conservative in antibiotic use. Carbapenem sparing strategies are essential in an attempt to prevent further rise of infections caused by carbapenem resistant bacteria.

Diagnostic Value of Chest X-Ray in Patients With Suspected Infection and No Respiratory Signs or Symptoms.

Suspicion of an infection without localizing signs or symptoms is a common problem. A chest x-ray (CXR) is often performed to rule out pneumonia. Our prospective cross-sectional study suggests that a CXR has no diagnostic value in patients without respiratory signs or symptoms, if a reliable medical history can be obtained.

[Chest X-ray in patients with fever and no localizing symptoms?].

Fever without localizing symptoms is a clinical problem that is frequently encountered on the emergency department. According to the NICE sepsis guideline, a chest X-ray should be considered in such patients. However, the evidence supporting this recommendation is limited to patients with neutropenic fever.

Nbeal2 Deficiency Increases Organ Damage but Does Not Affect Host Defense During Gram-Negative Pneumonia-Derived Sepsis.

Objective- Nbeal2 mice, a model of human gray platelet syndrome, have reduced neutrophil granularity and impaired host defense against systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection. We here aimed to study the role of Nbeal2 deficiency in both leukocytes and platelets during gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis. Approach and Results- We studied the role of Nbeal2 in platelets and leukocytes during murine pneumonia and sepsis by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Facilitates Bacterial Dissemination in Pneumococcal Pneumonia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is expressed by different cell types in the lungs and can mediate inflammatory responses. We sought to determine the role of PAR2 during pneumococcal pneumonia.

Thrombin contributes to protective immunity in pneumonia-derived sepsis via fibrin polymerization and platelet-neutrophil interactions.

Unlabelled: Essentials Immunity and coagulation are linked during sepsis but the role of thrombin is not fully elucidated. We investigated the effect of thrombin inhibition on murine Klebsiella pneumosepsis outcome. Thrombin is crucial for survival and limiting bacterial growth in pneumonia derived sepsis.

Toll-Like Receptor Signalling Is Not Involved in Platelet Response to Streptococcus pneumoniae In Vitro or In Vivo.

Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae strains vary considerably in their ability to cause invasive disease in humans, which is at least in part determined by the capsular serotype. Platelets have been implicated as sentinel cells in the circulation for host defence.

Chronic antiplatelet therapy is not associated with alterations in the presentation, outcome, or host response biomarkers during sepsis: a propensity-matched analysis.

Purpose: Sepsis is a major health burden worldwide. Preclinical investigations in animals and retrospective studies in patients have suggested that inhibition of platelets may improve the outcome of sepsis. In this study we investigated whether chronic antiplatelet therapy impacts on the presentation and outcome of sepsis, and the host response.

Effect of the oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran on allergic lung inflammation induced by repeated house dust mite administration in mice.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways; asthma patients are hampered by recurrent symptoms of dyspnoea and wheezing caused by bronchial obstruction. Most asthma patients suffer from chronic allergic lung inflammation triggered by allergens such as house dust mite (HDM). Coagulation activation in the pulmonary compartment is currently recognized as a feature of allergic lung inflammation, and data suggest that coagulation proteases further drive inflammatory mechanisms.

The role of platelet MyD88 in host response during gram-negative sepsis.

Background: Beside their role in hemostasis, platelets serve as sentinel cells in host defense during infection. In sepsis, platelets have been implicated in both beneficial (antibacterial) and detrimental responses (thrombosis and organ damage). Toll-like receptors and their common adaptor, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), are essential for pathogen recognition and protective immunity.

Platelet and endothelial cell P-selectin are required for host defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced pneumosepsis.

Background: Sepsis is associated with activation of platelets and endothelial cells accompanied by enhanced P-selectin surface expression. Both platelet- and endothelial P-selectin have been associated with leukocyte recruitment and induction of inflammatory alterations. Klebsiella (K.

Thrombocytopenia impairs host defense during murine Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.

Objectives: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia. In patients, thrombocytopenia is correlated with an adverse outcome of pneumonia. Platelets can modulate the host response to infection in several ways, that is, by facilitating clot formation, production of antimicrobial proteins, and interaction with neutrophils.

Thrombocytopenia impairs host defense in gram-negative pneumonia-derived sepsis in mice.

Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in sepsis and associated with a worse outcome. We used a mouse model of pneumonia-derived sepsis caused by the human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae to study the role of platelets in host response to sepsis. Platelet counts (PCs) were reduced to less than a median of 5 × 10(9)/L or to 5 to 13 × 10(9)/L by administration of a depleting antibody in mice infected with Klebsiella via the airways.

The role of platelets in sepsis.

Platelets are small circulating anucleate cells that are of crucial importance in haemostasis. Over the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that platelets play an important role in inflammation and can influence both innate and adaptive immunity. Sepsis is a potentially lethal condition caused by detrimental host response to an invading pathogen.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serine protease HtrA, but not SFP or PrtA, is a major virulence factor in pneumonia.

Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae is a common causative pathogen in pneumonia. Serine protease orthologs expressed by a variety of bacteria have been found of importance for virulence.

Protease activated receptor 4 limits bacterial growth and lung pathology during late stage Streptococcus pneumoniae induced pneumonia in mice.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common causative pathogen of pneumonia and sepsis. Pneumonia and sepsis are associated with enhanced activation of coagulation, resulting in the production of several host-derived proteases at the primary site of infection and in the circulation. Serine proteases cleave protease activated receptors (PARs), which form a molecular link between coagulation and inflammation.