Although Providencia species are recognised as important causes of bloodstream infections (BSI), their epidemiology is not well defined due to their infrequent occurrence. Our objective was to determine the overall incidence, determinants, and outcomes of Providencia species BSI, and compare the epidemiology of P. stuartii and P. rettgeri in a large population.

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exerted unprecedented pressure on global healthcare systems, with an urgent demand for widespread testing to monitor virus spread and contribute to disease control.

Managing complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) poses significant challenges, often resulting in the overprescription of empiric antibiotics. This approach exposes patients to multiple antimicrobials and raises the risk of inadequate treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the clinical utility of molecular testing (PCR) versus conventional culture and sensitivity (C&S) in managing cUTI, to identify optimal management strategies for cUTI patients.

This study assessed antimicrobial susceptibility, biofilm formation, hypervirulence traits, and virulence-related genes in K. pneumoniae. 119 isolates underwent antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer method, biofilm assessment through Congo red agar and Microtiter plate assays, PCR for various genes, and the String test for hypermucoviscosity. Clinical characteristics and virulence factors of hypervirulent (hvKP) were compared to classic K. pneumoniae (cKP) strains. Among the isolates, 77.3% were multi-drug resistant (MDR), and 83.2% showed biofilm-forming ability, with a higher MDR incidence in biofilm producers. A significant correlation was found between biofilm formation and the presence of the bla gene. Genes luxS, mrkA, pgaA, and wzm were significantly related to biofilm production. Three K. pneumoniae (2.5%) were identified as hvKP, with higher prevalence of capsular serotypes K1/K2 and virulence-related genes iuc, rmpA, and rmpA2 than cKP. The study underscores the importance of surveillance and stewardship in combating MDR, biofilm-forming, highly virulent K. pneumoniae.

To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of nanopore sequencing technology in tuberculous meningitis (TBM).

Vector-Borne disease represent a significant global public health issue, with tsutsugamushi disease (TD) being a notable zoonotic disease transmitted through the bites of chigger larvae. TD is associated with a broad spectrum of complications and is characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic, therapeutic, and care standards for TD differ across regions worldwide, and there is a dearth of documented care cases. This case report details a critical TD presentation involving infectious shock and multiple organ failure. After nine days of intensive treatment and nursing intervention, which included correction of hypoxemia, anti-infection measures, antispasmodic and asthmatic management, and stabilization of the internal environment, the patient's condition was effectively managed.

This study aimed to report a tularemia outbreak in Sivas and describe the epidemiological and diagnostic characteristics of the patients. Patients aged 18 and over followed up with a diagnosis of tularemia in Sivas Cumhuriyet University Hospital, Sivas Numune State Hospital, and Sivas State Hospital Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinics and wards between November 2023 and May 2024 were evaluated. 205 adult patients with tularemia were included. The most common symptoms were sore throat (73.2 %, n=150), swelling in the neck (70.2 %, n = 144), and fatigue (55.1 %, n = 113). The most common form was oropharyngeal (82.4 %, n = 169) and glandular (14.6 %, n = 30). Lymphadenopathy was detected in 182 (88.8 %) patients, the most is cervical lymphadenopathy (60 %, n = 123). Lymph node drainage/excision was performed on 50 patients (24.3 %). There have been no deaths in this outbreak. This study presents patient data from the tularemia outbreak in Sivas.

Brucellosis remains a significant public health issue in some parts of the world. It is clear that new laboratory methods are needed to diagnose brucellosis. Currently, no test method meets the criteria of high specificity, sensitivity, reliability, and low cost for the diagnosis of brucellosis, which could also predict chronicity. This study was conducted based on the data from a study conducted in 2015, which aimed to reveal genes with different transcript levels in chronic and acute patients and to evaluate their effects on the progression to chronicity by studying mRNA microarray and miRNA array in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in acute, chronic brucellosis and healthy control groups. According to the data obtained in this study, a second study was conducted to determine new markers that could aid in diagnosis and/or predict chronicity, with the most prominent gene products being [ABI3 (ABL interactor), PIAS4 (Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT 4), PPP2R4 (Protein Phosphatase 2 Phosphatase Activator), DDIT4L (DNA Damage Inducible Transcript 4 Like), WDR33 (WD Repeat-Containing Protein 33), and IDO (Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase)]. The study speculates that increased levels of ABI3, CLEC12B, PPP2R4 and decreased levels of DDIT4L, PIAS4, and IDO may be used as markers for the diagnosis of acute brucellosis, decreased levels of ABI3, CLEC12B, PPP2R4 and increased levels of DDIT4L, PIAS4, IDO may be assessed for treatment response. The study also suggested that maintaining consistent levels of ABI3, CLEC12B, PIAS4, PPP2R4, and IDO in subsequent titers may serve as a potential marker to predict chronic progression.

This study investigates the prevalence and clinical characteristics of respiratory viruses among patients with acute respiratory illness (ARI) in a low-resource setting, using a rapid antigen test as a point-of-care test (POCT). We included 343 patients presenting with ARI symptoms at an outpatient pulmonary clinic from December 2023 to April 2024. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus using POCT. The overall prevalence of respiratory viruses was 21.2 %, with influenza A being the most common (11.4 %). Shorter duration of symptoms and lower lymphocyte counts were associated with higher influenza positivity. Patients who tested positive for influenza received significantly more antiviral therapy (98.1 % vs. 39.4 %, p<0.001) and less antibiotic therapy (1.9 % vs. 28.5 %, p<0.001) compared to those who tested negative. The study highlights the utility of rapid antigen testing in enhancing antiviral and antibiotic stewardship, thereby improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Limited genomic surveillance data is available for SARS-CoV-2 in Thailand during the second and third wave outbreaks, including both patient and environmental samples. This study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in patient samples, on frequently touched surfaces, and in environmental swab samples (EVSs) collected from urban markets in Bangkok between April 2021 and August 2022. A total of 78,159 nasopharyngeal swab samples from patients and 327 environmental swab samples from hospital and market settings were collected. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 3,706 of 78,159 patient samples and one of 327 environmental samples using real-time RT-PCR. In total, 54 patient samples and an environmental sample were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and mass array genotyping, respectively. Only 46 samples passed the quality assessment based on the analysis criteria. The lineages detected included B.1.1.529 (2 samples), B.1.1.7 (15 samples), B.1.351 (3 samples), B.1.36.16 (6 samples), B.1.617.2 (1 sample), AY.102 (1 sample), AY.4 (11 samples), AY.25 (1 sample), BA.1 (1 sample), BA.1.1 (3 samples), and BA.2 (2 samples). The phylogenetic analysis of the viral genome sequences revealed similar lineages during this study period.

Dengue, a vector-borne disease, affects nearly 400 million people annually. Although commercially available dengue NS1 antigen-based ELISA kits are simple and rapid, they are expensive as monoclonal antibodies are used in these tests, and also, they have short expiry dates. As an alternative, the polyclonal antibodies generated against dengue NS1 antigen from the individuals who recovered from the dengue infection (human polyclonal antibodies against dengue; HuPA-D) can be explored for the detection of NS1 antigen in the dengue virus (DENV) infected patients' sera. In this study, blood samples were collected from the dengue-recovered patients after obtaining the IHEC approval. The anti-NS1 HuPA-D (IgG) was purified using NAb™ Spin Column kit and tested on SDS-PAGE. HuPA-D ELISA was developed to test the sensitivity and specificity of the antibodies using the recombinant NS1 antigens of dengue serotypes and flaviviruses. Further, the HuPA-D were used to detect the sera of the dengue patients. The assay was found to be sensitive to detect all the serotypes of recombinant dengue NS1 antigen and also NS1 antigen from the sera of DENV infected patients.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an increasingly well-known cause of severe respiratory symptoms in adults. We aimed to describe characteristics, complications and in-hospital mortality of adults admitted to hospital with RSV-related respiratory symptoms.

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), traditionally a second-line drug, is now proposed as the primary alternative treatment for macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis (B.pertussis). Thus, there is an urgent need to evaluate the phenotypic profile of B. pertussis regarding susceptibility to TMP/SMZ.

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Rapiim SARS-CoV-2-H (Rapiim-H)-a point-of-care qualitative antigen test-using nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and saliva samples and compared its results with those from antigen quantification and nucleic acid amplification tests. NPS and saliva were collected from patients with confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In total, 142 NPS and saliva samples were collected. In symptomatic cases, in which the first NPS sample was collected within 10 days of disease onset, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for COVID-19 diagnosis were 91.7 %, 88.6 %, 93.2 %, and 86.1 %, respectively. A similar analysis was performed on saliva samples, and the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 50.8 %, 91.4 %, 91.2 %, and 51.6 %, respectively. The Rapiim-H test using NPS demonstrated approximately 90 % sensitivity and specificity, particularly within the first 10 days after disease onset.

Pseudallescheria boydii (P. boydii) is widely found in soil, sewage, decaying organic matter, and feces. Although it is associated with various clinical infections, no bloodstream infection has been reported. A 61-year-old male patient diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma who is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The patient underwent blood culture sampling due to fever. Microscopic examination, SDA plate morphology, and mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the pathogen as P. boydii, which was further confirmed by internal transcribed spacer DNA sequencing. During treatment, empirical treatment voriconazole was significantly more effective than micafungin in treating P. boydii infection. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of the fungal isolates showed a very low MIC for voriconazole. In conclusion, bloodstream infections of P. boydii can occur in immunocompromised patients, and routine mass spectrometry techniques can assist in its rapid and accurate diagnosis. Additionally, empirical antifungal therapy with voriconazole remains effective in treating bloodstream infections caused by P. boydii.

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii)is a significant microbe linked to the zoonotic disease Q fever, known for its atypical clinical manifestations and sporadic cases. It can cause lumbar infections. In this report, we present a 66-year-old male sheep farmer who experienced low back pain for five months, with worsening numbness in both lower limbs over two months. Several standard diagnostic tests were negative. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed on lumbar spine tissue obtained via biopsy, identifying C. burnetii infection. After surgical excision of the lesion, the patient received a combination of levofloxacin, doxycycline, rifampicin, and supportive medications. Postoperatively, the patient's condition stabilized, showing a significant reduction in low back pain. This case highlights mNGS as a valuable tool for diagnosing rare infections, especially in patients with a history of animal exposure. It underscores the importance of considering zoonotic infections and the need for combined antibiotic and surgical management in suspected cases.

To investigate differences in the clinical features of patients with sporotrichosis and cutaneous Mycobacterium marinum infection, and develop a prediction model for the initial identification. A total of 121 patients were selected based on the results from etiological culture. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the most valuable variables. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following were finally considered independent predictors (OR = 3.650∼14.024, P<0.05) of cutaneous M. marinum infection: age<60 years (P = 0.031); female (P = 0.001); only the extremities involved (P = 0.031); clear triggers (P = 0.022); and presence of swelling (P = 0.024). A nomogram was developed based on these factors, and the area under the curve was 0.860. The model presented is based on clinical features and can help identify patients with sporotrichosis and cutaneous M. marinum infection. This may help increase the accuracy of doctors' initial examination and diagnostic outcomes.

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis. Lymphadenitis due to Listeria monocytogenes is rarely described. We present a case of a 59-year-old woman from Mexico presented to the Emergency Department with a 2-week history of erythematous and painful swelling in the right retromandibular area. An ultrasound-guided bedside needle aspiration of the lump was performed by an infectious diseases specialist and a diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes and tuberculous coinfection was done. To our knowledge this is the first case of tuberculous and Listeria-associated lymphadenitis.

Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungal pathogen. Diagnosing it is challenging due to the need for modern techniques. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of Enterobacteriaceae culture media in screening and identifying Candida auris, as those media are accessible in resource-limited laboratories.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of colistin resistance in the study group and compare alternative methods with the gold standard. It sought to evaluate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes.

This study aims to analyze clinical isolates of E. coli causing septicemia across various phylogroups utilizing the PFGE method.