Cluster of invasive Mycobacteria chimaera infections following cardiac surgery demonstrating novel clinical features and risks of aortic valve replacement.

There is a global outbreak of infections due to Mycobacterium chimaera associated with cardiac surgery. The most serious infections involve prosthetic material implantation, and all have followed surgical procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass. We describe a cluster of four cases following cardiac surgery at a tertiary referral centre in Sydney, Australia.

Disseminated infection with spondylodiscitis of thoracic spine.

A case is presented of an immunosuppressed 51-year-old man with spondylodiscitis of the thoracic vertebrae from infection, in context of disseminated multi-systemic infection with pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement. Multiple challenges in the diagnosis and management of this confounding case are outlined. The patient underwent aggressive surgical debridement via T8-T10 vertebrectomy plus reconstruction, and right hemicolectomy to obtain source control.

Improving influenza virus detection.

Introduction: Influenza virus infections cause significant morbidity, and the unique ability of these viruses to undergo antigenic drift and shift means that it is critical for current laboratory assays to keep pace with these changes for accurate diagnosis. New subtypes have the potential to evolve into pandemics hence accurate virus subtyping is also essential.

Areas Covered: In this article, the authors review the current techniques available to detect influenza virus.

Influenza A testing and detection in patients admitted through emergency departments in Sydney during winter 2009: implications for rational testing.

Aim: To examine factors associated with testing and detection of influenza A in patients admitted to hospital for acute care during the winter 2009 pandemic influenza outbreak.

Design, Setting And Participants: Retrospective observational study of patients who were tested for influenza A after being admitted to hospital through emergency departments of the Sydney South West Area Health Service from 15 June to 30 August 2009.

Main Outcome Measures: The association of factors such as age, diagnosis at admission, hospital and week of admission with rates of testing and detection of influenza A.