Low expression of the CCL5 gene and low serum concentrations of CCL5 in severe invasive group a streptococcal disease.

Purpose: Our objective was to elucidate host dependent factors of disease severity in invasive group A Streptococcal disease (iGAS) using transcriptome profiling of iGAS cases of varying degrees of severity at different timepoints. To our knowledge there are no previous transcriptome studies in iGAS patients.

Methods: We recruited iGAS cases from June 2018 to July 2020.

Assessment of a novel BLOOMY score for predicting mortality in hospitalised adults with bloodstream infection.

Purpose: A German multicentre study BLOOMY was the first to use machine learning approach to develop mortality prediction scores for bloodstream infection (BSI) patients, but the scores have not been assessed in other cohorts. Our aim was to assess how the BLOOMY 14-day and 6-month scores estimate mortality in our cohort of 497 cases with BSI.

Methods: Clinical data, laboratory data, and patient outcome were gathered retrospectively from patient records.

Presence of in the throat in invasive Group A Streptococcal disease: a prospective two-year study in two health districts, Finland.

Purpose: (Group A , GAS) is an important human pathogen that can cause severe invasive (iGAS) infections. Throat carriage has been assumed to possibly lead to hematogenous seeding. Retrospective studies may estimate the incidence of throat carriage in iGAS patients inaccurately.

Evaluation of the Roche-SD Biosensor rapid antigen test: Antigen is not reliable in detecting SARS-CoV-2 at the early stage of infection with respiratory symptoms.

We evaluated a rapid antigen test against SARS-CoV-2 virus (Roche-SD Biosensor; RSDB-RAT) in children and adults with respiratory symptoms compared to those with nonrespiratory symptoms or asymptomatic. Also the performance of RSDB-RAT with respect to the duration of respiratory symptoms was assessed. A viral cross-reactivity panel was included.