Autochthonous Human Babesiosis Caused by Babesia venatorum, the Netherlands.

Severe babesiosis with 9.8% parasitemia was diagnosed in a patient in the Netherlands who had previously undergone splenectomy. We confirmed Babesia venatorum using PCR and sequencing.

Seroprevalence of and associated risk factors for infection in the Netherlands: third cross-sectional national study.

A third nationally representative serosurvey was performed to study the changes in seroprevalence in the Netherlands over a 20-year time span and to identify and confirm risk factors for acquired toxoplasmosis. This cross-sectional study (conducted in 2016/2017) was designed similarly to the previous two studies (1995/1996 and 2006/2007) and included a questionnaire and serum sampling among Dutch residents. Factors associated with seropositivity for were determined using multivariable analysis of the questionnaire-derived data.

Incidence of Early and Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis in Suriname: A National Tertiary Hospital Birth-cohort Study.

Background: Early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) and late onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) are important causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. A pressing need for reliable and detailed data of low- and middle-income countries exists. This study aimed to describe the incidence and outcome of neonatal sepsis in the only tertiary hospital of Suriname, a middle-income country in South America.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission upon return to work in RNA-positive healthcare workers.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and for spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) amongst colleagues and patients.

Aim: To study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and possible onward transmission by HCWs upon return to work after COVID-19, and association with disease severity and development of antibodies over time.

Methods: Unvaccinated HCWs with positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were recruited prospectively.

Are national treatment guidelines for falciparum malaria in line with WHO recommendations and is antimalarial resistance taken into consideration? - A review of guidelines in non-endemic countries.

Objective: Plasmodium falciparum infections are a relatively rare but potentially deadly disease found in returning travellers. We compare the national treatment guidelines of non-endemic countries with the WHO guidelines for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Methods: Review.

Requirement of respiratory support in acute bronchiolitis in infants is linked to endothelial and neutrophil activation.

Background: Evidence shows that activation of pulmonary vascular endothelium and neutrophils are involved in the pathophysiology of acute bronchiolitis. We hypothesized that levels of markers of endothelial activation and leukocyte counts are associated with requirement and duration of respiratory support.

Methods: Thirty-four infants with bronchiolitis and eight controls were included.

Head-to-head validation of six immunoassays for SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients.

Background: Detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may help to diagnose COVID-19. Head-to-head validation of different types of immunoassays in well-characterized cohorts of hospitalized patients remains needed.

Methods: We validated three chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIAs) (Liaison, Elecsys, and Abbott) and one single molecule array assay (SIMOA) (Quanterix) for automated analyzers, one rapid immunoassay RIA (AllTest), and one ELISA (Wantai) in parallel in first samples from 126 PCR confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients and 158 pre-COVID-19 patients.

Viral causes of severe acute respiratory infection in hospitalized children and association with outcomes: A two-year prospective surveillance study in Suriname.

Background: Viruses are the most frequent cause of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in children. It is currently unknown whether presence of a virus, the number of viruses, or type of virus, are associated with clinical outcomes of pediatric SARI in developing countries.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2014 nasopharyngeal swabs and demographic and clinical variables were prospectively collected for surveillance of viral causes of SARI in Surinamese children within 48 hours after hospitalization.

Serum Levels of Markers of Endothelial Activation Are Not Associated with a Positive Blood Culture in Surinamese Children with Suspected Severe Infection.

Background: Systemic serum levels of markers of endothelial activation are associated with infection. We hypothesize that levels of markers of endothelial activation are associated with the presence of a positive blood culture as a manifestation of a systemic infection in children with a suspected severe infection in Suriname.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, children between 1 month and 18 years of age suspected of severe infection as assessed by the threating physician, and in whom laboratory testing and blood culturing was performed before start of intravenous antibiotic treatment, were recruited at the emergency department of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Suriname.

Epidemiology and Mortality of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis in Suriname: A 2-Year Surveillance Study.

We conducted a nationwide surveillance study to produce reliable national estimates on incidence, etiology, and mortality of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) in Suriname. The estimated national population incidence rate of EONS was 1.37 (95% CI: 0.

Post-traumatic growth as positive personality change: Challenges, opportunities, and recommendations.

Objective: Post-traumatic growth typically refers to enduring positive psychological change experienced as a result of adversity, trauma, or highly challenging life circumstances. Critics have challenged insights from much of the prior research on this topic, pinpointing its significant methodological limitations. In response to these critiques, we propose that post-traumatic growth can be more accurately captured in terms of personality change-an approach that affords a more rigorous examination of the phenomenon.

Markers of endothelial cell activation in suspected late onset neonatal sepsis in Surinamese newborns: a pilot study.

Background: Serum levels of markers of endothelial cell activation are associated with bacteremia and mortality in sepsis in adults, children, and newborns with early onset sepsis. We hypothesize that levels of these markers are associated with these outcomes in hospitalized newborns with suspected late onset neonatal sepsis (LONS).

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, newborns admitted to the tertiary neonatal care facility of Suriname were included upon clinical suspicion of LONS and before start of antibiotic treatment, between April 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016.

Neutrophil-endothelial interactions in respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: An understudied aspect with a potential for prediction of severity of disease.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) causes significant morbidity and mortality among young infants worldwide. It is currently widely accepted that neutrophil influx into the airways is a hallmark of the pathophysiology. However, the exact mechanism of neutrophil migration from the vasculature into the alveolar space in RSV LRTI has received little attention.

Potentially inappropriate medicine prescribing by nurse practitioners in New Zealand.

Background And Purpose: Nurse practitioners (NPs) in New Zealand (NZ) prescribe a broad range of medicines; little is known about their prescribing practice for older adults. Potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) can cause more harm than benefit. This study reports on the prescribing of PIMs to older adults (≥65 years) by NPs in NZ.

Frequency and characterization of RHD variants in serologically D- Surinamese pregnant women and D- newborns.

Background: Numerous RHD variant genes affect the expression of D on the red blood cell surface. In Suriname, 4.3% of pregnant women were D-, ranging from virtually zero to 7% among ethnic groups.

Severe Fetal Hemolysis and Cholestasis Due to High-Titer Maternal IgG Anti-A Antibodies.

ABO blood group incompatibility between mother and fetus can lead to hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). We present the first case of severe O/A HDFN associated with extremely high-titer (1:32 000) immunoglobulin G anti-A antibodies in a Cameroon mother. Cord blood analysis revealed severe fetal hemolytic anemia and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Serum concentrations of endothelial cell adhesion molecules and their shedding enzymes and early onset sepsis in newborns in Suriname.

Background: Early onset sepsis (EOS) is defined as onset of sepsis within 72 hours after birth. Leucocyte-endothelial interactions play a pivotal part in EOS pathophysiology. Endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) orchestrate these interactions and their soluble isoforms (sCAMs) are released into the vasculature by enzymes called sheddases.

Rhabdomyolysis in Children: Three Exotic Presentations from Suriname.

We describe three clinical cases of Surinamese children with rhabdomyolysis with diverse clinical presentation and course. The first patient had rhabdomyolysis because of toxins caused by multiple beestings and developed acute kidney injury. The other two patients had rhabdomyolysis following acute infection with chikungunya and influenza A/H1N1 virus.

Severity of acute Zika virus infection: A prospective emergency room surveillance study during the 2015-2016 outbreak in Suriname.

Acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is usually mild and self-limiting. Earlier, we reported three cases of fatal acute ZIKV infection in patients without typical signs of ZIKV, but rather with criteria of systemic inflammation response syndrome (SIRS). To follow up these observations, we prospectively included patients at the emergency room with temperature instability and suspected to have acute ZIKV infection, SIRS, or both.

Improved referral and survival of newborns after scaling up of intensive care in Suriname.

Background: Scaling up neonatal care facilities in developing countries can improve survival of newborns. Recently, the only tertiary neonatal care facility in Suriname transitioned to a modern environment in which interventions to improve intensive care were performed. This study evaluates impact of this transition on referral pattern and outcomes of newborns.

Prescribing by nurse practitioners: Insights from a New Zealand study.

Background And Purpose: Nurse practitioners (NPs) in New Zealand have been able to prescribe medicines since 2001; however, little is known about their prescribing practice. This study describes the NPs who prescribe community-dispensed medicines, the patients, and identifies the most frequently prescribed medications.

Methods: A retrospective search of the Ministry of Health pharmaceutical collection was completed from 2013 to 2015.

D antibodies in pregnant women in multiethnic Suriname: the observational RheSuN study.

Background: Maternal antibodies against the D antigen are the most common cause of severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). In high-income countries, the risk of D immunization has been reduced by routine antenatal and postpartum administration of RhIG from 13% to less than 0.5%.

Prevalence of positive direct antiglobulin test and clinical outcomes in Surinamese newborns from D-negative women.

Background: In low-resource countries, screening for D antibodies to detect pregnancies at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn is not routine practice. Retrospective data showed that 5.5% of Surinamese newborns of D-negative women had a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT), indicating the presence of maternal antibodies against fetal antigens.

Low Serum Angiopoietin-1, High Serum Angiopoietin-2, and High Ang-2/Ang-1 Protein Ratio are Associated with Early Onset Sepsis in Surinamese Newborns.

Purpose: Vascular inflammation and leakage in sepsis is mediated by Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and their phosphorylation of the endothelial Tie-2 receptor. This study investigates levels of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in newborns to gain insight in the vascular pathophysiology of early onset sepsis (EOS) within 72 h after birth.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed among 71 Surinamese newborns treated with antibiotics for suspected EOS and 20 control newborns.

Three atypical lethal cases associated with acute Zika virus infection in Suriname.

Acute Zika virus infection usually presents with a self-limiting triad of fever, rash and arthritis. There is limited information on severe or lethal cases. We report three cases of lethal acute Zika infection, confirmed with polymerase chain reaction, in adult patients with some co-morbidities.