Prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis carriage among men who have sex with men at a sexual health clinic in Brussels, Belgium: a cross-sectional study.

To assess the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) carriage among men who have sex with men (MSM) and examine potential risk factors associated with colonization. This was an observational, cross-sectional, monocentric study. Inclusion criteria were asymptomatic adult MSM.

Infections in Children.

In the context of epidemiology, host response, disease presentation, diagnosis, and treatment management, the manifestation of () infection diverges between children and adults. infection stands out as one of the most prevalent bacterial infections globally, and its prevalence in both children and adults is decreasing in many developing countries but some still struggle with a high prevalence of pediatric infection and its consequences. The majority of infected children are asymptomatic and pediatric studies do not support the involvement of in functional disorders such as recurrent abdominal pain.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gram-negative bacteria susceptibility patterns in respiratory samples of intensive care units in the Brussels Capital Region, 2010-2021.

Background: The effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on gram-negative bacteria nonsusceptibility to antibiotics is unclear.

Methods: Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021, the respiratory samples of intensive care unit patients at 3 University Hospitals in Brussels were retrieved. Based on the nonsusceptibility to antimicrobial classes, drug-resistance patterns were defined as multi-drug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and pan-drug-resistant.

Antibiotic resistance, heteroresistance, and eradication success of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a well-known factor of Helicobacter pylori eradication failure. Heteroresistance indicates the coexistence of resistant and susceptible strains and might lead to underestimating antimicrobial resistance. This study aims to evaluate the susceptibility profile, the frequency of heteroresistance of H.

Incidence and clinical and microbiological features of invasive and probable invasive streptococcal group A infections in children and adults in the Brussels-Capital Region, 2005-2020.

Assess the incidence, risk factors, clinical and microbiological features, and outcome of both probable invasive and invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in children and adults in the BrusselsCapital Region between 2005 and 2020. A retrospective, multicentric study was performed in three university hospitals in Brussels. Patients were identified through the centralized laboratory information system.

Primary Helicobacter pylori resistance to antimicrobials in the Brussels area in 2021.

This manuscript summarizes current primary resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antibiotics in Brussels in 2021. Resistance rates were estimated at 18% for clarithromycin, 24% for levofloxacin, 52% for metronidazole, and 0% for amoxicillin and tetracycline. When compared to 2016, resistance rates remain stable, except an increase of 30% for metronidazole.

Characterization of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Belgium.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) raised concern worldwide. We studied 22 hvKp clinical invasive isolates referred to the Belgian national reference laboratory between 2014 and 2020. Sixty-four percent of the isolates expressed K2 capsular serotype and belonged to 7 different MLST lineages, while 32% expressed K1 (all belonging to ST23) and were associated with liver abscesses.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolates is twofold more frequent in HIV-positive than HIV-negative individuals: A descriptive observational study.

The antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from HIV-positive individuals is not well characterized. This study aimed to measure the prevalence and long-term trends associated with primary H. pylori antibiotic resistance, evaluate correlations with antibiotic consumption, and compare predictors for H.

Efficacy and safety of bismuth-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 10-day quadruple therapy containing colloidal bismuth sub-citrate (CBS), esomeprazole (ESO), amoxicillin (AMO), and metronidazole (MET) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in children.

Methods: Monocentric, open-label, prospective, single-arm clinical trial in children aged 6-17 years with H.

Update of primary Helicobacter pylori resistance to antimicrobials in Brussels, Belgium.

This study aimed to follow the trend of primary antimicrobial resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates obtained from several centers in Brussels. We observed increasing rates of primary resistance to macrolides (10.5% to 18%) to nitro-imidazoles (28% to 40%) and to fluoroquinolones (12.

Evolution of Helicobacter pylori associated with gastroduodenal ulcers or erosions in children over the past 23 years: Decline or steady state?

Background: Recent data suggest that in children, the proportion of gastroduodenal ulcers/erosions associated with Helicobacter pylori infection is currently lower than expected. In this study, we trace this proportion over two decades.

Methods: We reviewed the reports of all upper gastrointestinal endoscopies with biopsies for histology and culture over the past 23 years.

Echtyma gangrenosum caused by coinfection with and : an emerging etiology? Case reports and literature review.

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a potentially lethal skin infection, most commonly due to with bacteremic dissemination and affecting mostly immunocompromised patients. We present two cases of EG in two men in Belgium recently admitted to our hospital, caused by a suspected coinfection by group A and , with a cutaneous dissemination, in which multiple impetigo lesions were the portal of entry. The first patient had no risk factors nor immunodeficiency, but the second was a homeless man with drug and alcohol abuse and advanced HIV infection.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Serotype Distribution of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women Living in Belgium: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is a leading cause of severe neonatal infection. Maternal GBS carriage during pregnancy is the main risk factor for both early-onset and late-onset GBS disease. High incidence of GBS infection has been reported in HIV-exposed but -uninfected infants (HEU).

Eradication rate of Helicobacter Pylori infection is directly influenced by adherence to therapy in children.

Background: Current commonly accepted strategies to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in children are a 10-day sequential treatment or a triple therapy for 7-14 days. To avoid further expensive and possibly risky investigations as well as induction of secondary antimicrobial resistance, a success rate of elimination strategies over 90% in a per-protocol analysis is the target goal but rates observed in clinical trials are lower. Antimicrobial resistance is a well-recognized risk factor for treatment failure; therefore, only a treatment tailored to susceptibility testing should be recommended.

HIV-Helicobacter pylori Co-Infection: Antibiotic Resistance, Prevalence, and Risk Factors.

Background: Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer due to the availability of more potent treatments. However, prescription of antibiotics to treat or prevent infections in these patients may increase the likelihood of co-infection with antibiotic-resistant species.

Aim: To compare antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori (H.

Vacuolating cytotoxin genotypes are strong markers of gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer-associated Helicobacter pylori strains: a matched case-control study.

The Helicobacter pylori virulence gene, cagA, and active forms of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene, vacA, are major determinants of pathogenesis. However, previous studies linking these factors to disease risk have often included patients using aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) or acid-suppressing drugs, both of which may confound results. Also, particularly for gastric cancer (GC), controls have often been of quite different ages.

Group A streptococcus colonies from a single throat swab can have heterogeneous antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

This study describes for the first time heterogeneity of antibiotic resistance profiles among group A Streptococcus isolates originating from a single throat swab in patients with acute pharyngitis. For each throat swab, 10 group A Streptococcus colonies were randomly selected from the primary plate and subcultured to a secondary plate. These isolates were characterized by various phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Performance of individual Helicobacter pylori antigens in the immunoblot-based detection of H. pylori infection.

To develop a specific line blot (LB) for supporting ELISA-based serodiagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, individual native/recombinant H. pylori antigens were evaluated with respect to their reactivity with both serum IgG and IgA from 156 dyspeptic screening patients (67% H. pylori positive).

Practical use of GenoType® HelicoDR, a molecular test for Helicobacter pylori detection and susceptibility testing.

Compared to culture-based method, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the GenoType(®) HelicoDR for detecting Helicobacter pylori resistance were, respectively, 100, 86.2, 89.7%, and 100% to clarithromycin as well as 82.

Comparative evaluation of 3 selective media for primary isolation of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies under routine conditions.

This study evaluates 3 selective media (Pylori agar [bioMérieux, France], BD Helicobacter agar, modified [Becton Dickinson, USA], and an in-house medium) designed for Helicobacter pylori isolation. Ninety-eight strains were isolated from 400 gastric biopsies. The media were equally efficient for Helicobacter pylori's growth.

Kytococcus schroeteri infection of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a child.

Kytococcus schroeteri is a newly described micrococcal species and, to date, has been associated mostly with endocarditis. Six infections attributable to this opportunistic pathogen have been described since 2002, when the first case was identified. We describe here the first pediatric case of a K.

Diagnostic value of five commercial tests for the rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated disease.

We compared five commercial immunoassays (Biostar OIA CdTOX AB, ImmunoCard Toxins A&B - Meridian, Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B -Remel, C. difficile toxin A test- Oxoid, and TOX A/B QUIK CHEK- Techlab) which allow a rapid diagnosis of C.