Performance evaluation of InfectID-BSI: A rapid quantitative PCR assay for detecting sepsis-associated organisms directly from whole blood.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) (presence of pathogenic organism in blood) that progress to sepsis (life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body's dysregulated response to an infection) is a major healthcare issue globally with close to 50 million cases annually and 11 million sepsis-related deaths, representing about 20% of all global deaths. A rapid diagnostic assay with accurate pathogen identification has the potential to improve antibiotic stewardship and clinical outcomes.

Methods: The InfectID-Bloodstream Infection (InfectID-BSI) test is a real-time quantitative PCR assay, which detects 26 of the most prevalent BSI-causing pathogens (bacteria and yeast) directly from blood (without need for pre-culture).

Genomic analysis of an outbreak of toxin gene bearing in Northern Queensland, Australia reveals high level of genetic similarity.

Toxigenic diphtheria is rare in Australia with generally fewer than 10 cases reported annually; however, since 2020, there has been an increase in toxin gene-bearing isolates of cases in North Queensland, with an approximately 300% escalation in cases in 2022. Genomic analysis on both toxin gene-bearing and non-toxin gene-bearing isolated from this region between 2017 and 2022 demonstrated that the surge in cases was largely due to one sequence type (ST), ST381, all of which carried the toxin gene. ST381 isolates collected between 2020 and 2022 were highly genetically related to each other, and less closely related to ST381 isolates collected prior to 2020.

Molecular characterisation of associated with disseminated gonococcal infections in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective surveillance study.

Objectives: Gonorrhoea caused by is the second most notified sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Australia and the case numbers for this STI have been increasing globally. Progressive gonococcal infection may lead to disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), which causes significant morbidity among patients. This study aims to examine the genetic diversity of isolates collected in Queensland from January 2010 to August 2015 and to determine factors associated with DGI in Queensland.

Implementing a Hospital-Based Safe Sleep Program for Newborns and Infants.

Background: An unsafe sleep environment remains the leading contributor to unexpected infant death.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of a quality improvement initiative developed to create a hospital-based safe sleep environment for all newborns and infants.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team from the well-baby nursery (WBN) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a 149-bed academic, quaternary care, regional referral center developed and implemented safe sleep environments within the hospital for all prior to discharge.

A dental student view on learning gained through Inter-Professional Engagement with people experiencing homelessness.

Community engagement is an important element of the undergraduate programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. This report presents a project that a group of second year dental students undertook with people experiencing homelessness, and provides an in-depth reflective account of its impact on the students' learning. The project formed part of the students' inter-professional engagement module and delivered an intervention to enable residents at a temporary accommodation centre to access dental treatment.

A Comparison of Pain Management Protocols Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Femoral Nerve Block versus Periarticular Injection of Liposomal Bupivacaine with an Adductor Canal Block.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) results in significant postoperative pain and a demanding postoperative path for recovery. This study was conducted to determine whether a femoral nerve block (FNB) or a periarticular injection of liposomal bupivacaine with an adductor canal block (LB+ACB) is superior for pain management.

Materials And Methods: A total of 557 consecutive primary TKA cases performed at a single hospital between 2010-2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

Prognosis of teeth in the line of jaw fractures.

Background/aim: The decision as to whether teeth in the line of jaw fractures should be extracted or retained remains a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to assess the prognosis of teeth directly in the line of, and adjacent to, jaw fracture sites.

Materials And Methods: The study consisted of 50 patients with facial fractures in the dentate region, the diagnosis of which was made on the basis of clinical and radiographic examinations.

Odontogenic infections: Microbiology and management.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the involvement of fascial spaces, their bacteriology, sensitivity to antibiotics and management of odontogenic infection in 100 patients of age less than 60 years.

Resuls: The mandibular 3(rd) molar was found to be the most commonly offending tooth, followed by the mandibular 2(nd) molar. The submandibular space was the most frequently involved fascial space both in single fascial space infections and multiple fascial space infections.

MicroRNAs activate natural killer cells through Toll-like receptor signaling.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) bind to complementary sequences of target mRNAs, resulting in translational repression or target degradation and thus gene silencing. miRNAs are abundant in circulating blood, yet it is not known whether, as a class of regulatory molecules, they interact with human natural killer (NK) cells. Here we found that the treatment of human NK cells with several mature miRNAs in the presence of a low concentration of interleukin-12 induced CD69 expression, interferon-γ production, and degranulation marker CD107a expression.

Radiographic study of the positional changes and eruption of impacted third molars in young adults of an Asian Indian population.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess changes in the angular position and eruption status of third molars in students of an Asian Indian population during a 4-year follow-up period.

Patients And Methods: The series consisted of 43 students (11 males, 32 females). Standardized panoramic radiographs were taken at baseline (mean age, 19.

Radiographic evaluation of the status of third molars in the Asian-Indian students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence and agenesis of third molars, their impaction status, and the time and sequence of their eruption in the students of Asian-Indian population.

Patients And Methods: One hundred students with ages ranging from 17.5 to 20.

Aspergillosis: a rare case of secondary delayed mandibular involvement.

Invasive aspergillosis in healthy hosts is a very rare occurrence, but it may become pathogenic under certain circumstances. In the head and neck region, aspergillosis usually involves the maxillary sinus. This case report describes secondary Aspergillus infection of the mandible in a 35-year-old female patient in whom the maxillary sinus was primarily involved 5 years previously.