Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in a long-term care facility: hypothesis about selection and transmission

Background: many studies have identified long-term care facilities (LTCFs) as reservoirs of patients carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, few data about the mechanisms of MRSA diffusion in these settings are available.Objectives: the purpose of our study was to suggest hypothesis on the possible ways of MRSA transmission to residents in or outside a LTCF. Methods: data concerning patients on the day of the survey and within the preceding year were collected. Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with MRSA carriage. MRSA strains were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the relatedness between DNA patterns was studied with Gel Compar software. Results: the prevalence of MRSA carriage was 37.6%. Treatment with fluoroquinolones or third-generation cephalosporins [odds ratio (OR) = 12.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.90–24.7], treatment with other antimicrobial agents (OR = 4.40; 95% CI = 2.43–7.97), at least one medical imaging session (OR = 5.08; 95% CI = 2.66–9.69) within the 12 preceding months, and the presence of a subcutaneous catheter on the day of the survey (OR = 3.09; 95% CI = 1.87–5.10) were independently associated with MRSA carriage. Twenty-eight of the 38 strains tested were clustered in two major groups. In each of these groups, strains had at least a 90% relatedness. These strains were isolated in patients hospitalised in different areas of the LTCF. Conclusion: we identified that both molecular and epidemiological arguments support the hypothesis of the possibility of MRSA cross-transmission inside the LTCF. Further studies are needed to confirm and explain the association identified between MRSA carriage and medical imaging

A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing

Purpose Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned. Methods Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted. Results We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency). Conclusion The “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock

Integration of scientific and technological progress into practical uses in water resources management

This research aimed at examining the integration of scientific and technological progress into practical uses in water resources management and highlighting an existing interface, the WISE-RTD Web Portal that was built to aid the science-policy communication of the European water legislation. It also presents the different possible solutions to address the science-policy and industry communication gaps. Based on the several lessons arising from existing literature, it is noted that challenges to the take up of science in policy stem from the fact that science and policy communities have very different “cultures”. Not only do most members understand each other poorly, in general most scientists have little time to engage with policy makers as their career path usually depends instead on research and scientific publications. Similarly, policy officials have little time to engage with scientists or the scientific information is not easily accessible or adapted to the policy implementation jargon. The two communities also often find themselves working to very different timescales, hence face difficulties of matching in-depth research and reporting with the day-to-day needs of policy making/decisions. Difficulties experienced to date stem from the fact that there is no sufficient streamlining of information from the scientific community to policy decision-makers and vice versa. Solutions consist of science-policy interfacing and communication channels. One such channel currently under development is the WISE-RTD Water Knowledge Portal. It is based on an intelligent matching system that maps research results and water technologies to water policies. Other solutions discussed in the paper are the need for scientists & research projects to establish a “Policy Watch” to anticipate policy evidence requirements and greater interaction, discussion and deliberation between researchers and policy makers is called for. It should also be noted that science-policy interfacing is about people; a focus solely on flows of information will not be able to build effective transfer mechanisms without these interactions.status: publishe

Streptococcus Gallolyticus Subsp. Pasteurianus Infection In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

International audienceWe report nosocomial transmission of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus among 3 neonates, 1 of whom died. Genome analysis of the strains showed a specific pattern of metabolic and regulatory functions as well as of expressed antigens and antibiotic resistance genes that might have contributed to their specific virulence

Disease characteristics in Belgian myelofibrosis patients and management guidelines anno 2013

Diagnostic and management guidelines for myelofibrosis patients are presented in this paper. As a consequence of the rapid evolution and progress in this domain over the last years, the need was felt by the BHS MPN subcommittee to update these guidelines for our country. The different prognostic scores in myelofibrosis, the diagnostic tools and treatment options with the focus on new possibilities are discussed

La formation et les actions de prévention

Former les professionnels de santé en leur apportant des informations scientifiques solides est une priorité. Informer et donner des conseils pratiques permet de répondre aux inquiétudes de la population sur les perturbateurs endocriniens. Plan : - Le réseau Îsée et les perturbateurs endocriniens ;-- Le réseau, ses missions et réalisations ;-- Le réseau et les perturbateurs endocriniens ;- Agir pour bébé ;- Le programme Nesting : sensibiliser et protéger la santé des femmes enceintes et des enfants ;- Formation des professionnels de santé : les outils pour comprendre et agir ;-- Méthodologie d’élaboration ;-- Organisation et contenu ;-- Déploiement ;-- Perspectives ;- Améliorer la lisibilité de l’étiquetage des produits ménagers : ce que prévoit le PNSE 4 ;-- Améliorer la lisibilité de l’étiquetage des produits ménagers