Whole genome sequencing reveals antimicrobial resistance determinants (AMR genes) of Salmonella enterica recovered from raw chicken and ready-to-eat leaves imported into England between 2014 and 2019.

AIMS: To compare the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in a genetically diverse group of Salmonella enterica recovered from foods imported into England between 2014 and 2018. METHODS AND RESULTS: Whole genome sequence was used to detect AMR genes or chromosomal mutations associated with AMR in Salmonella recovered from edible leaves imported from Asia (n = 115) as compared to Salmonella (n = 231) isolated from raw chicken, 74% originated from South America. Among isolates from edible leaves, three (3%) showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent, two (2%) of which were multidrug resistant (MDR, resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes). Resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent was detected in 214 (93%) in the chicken isolates, with 164 (71%) showing MDR. Genetic diversity and AMR profiles were highly heterogeneous across the different serovars. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance was rare among the Salmonella isolates from edible leaves but common (including MDR) among those from raw chicken. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Surveillance of AMR in imported foods is essential for monitoring the risk of transmission of resistance from the food chain to humans and provides added public health value to pre-existing controls of the food chain.

Unmet supportive care needs of breast, colorectal and testicular cancer survivors in the first 8 months post primary treatment: A prospective longitudinal survey.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the supportive care needs of cancer survivors, the characteristics of patients with high levels of unmet need, changes in unmet need after treatment ends and differences in unmet needs of breast, colorectal and testicular survivors. METHODS: The method used was a prospective longitudinal mailed survey. Unmet needs, measured by 25-item modified Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs survey at baseline (immediately post-treatment) and 8 months later, were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Of 434 breast, 186 colorectal and 75 testicular patients responding at baseline, 56.2%, 65.6% and 50.7%, respectively, had no unmet needs, the top decile having ≥10 (breast) or seven (colorectal and testicular) different needs and seven different unmet needs. The most frequently reported unmet need (all groups) was fear of cancer recurrence. Unmet needs fell significantly at 8 months for breast patients. Some patients reported new needs. Needs were lowest amongst colorectal survivors and differed between the three groups. Higher levels of unmet needs (breast and colorectal) were associated with having had chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Most survivors reported few unmet needs, but a small proportion have persisting or emerging needs. Routine or regular monitoring of unmet needs is required so that healthcare professionals can deliver personalised care based on individual needs, preferences and circumstances.

Preventing, identifying and managing delirium in nursing homes and acute settings.

Older people, particularly those in nursing homes, are vulnerable to delirium, which is a condition characterised by confusion. This article outlines the risk factors, prevention, identification and management of delirium in older people in nursing homes and acute settings. It uses a case study approach to encourage nurses to consider the challenges faced in these settings and how they could address delirium. The article also details the multicomponent interventions that can be used for prevention, as well as the available delirium assessment tools, with a focus on selecting tools based on the person's health status and the healthcare setting.

Management of cardiac arrest following blunt trauma: a critical evaluation of resuscitative thoracotomy.

Survival rates in patients who sustain cardiac arrest following blunt trauma are suboptimal. Although resuscitative thoracotomy is advocated for managing patients who present with penetrating trauma, its use in blunt trauma is controversial because it has been consistently shown to produce suboptimal outcomes. This article examines some of the challenges associated with decision-making regarding the management of patients with cardiac arrest following blunt trauma, critically evaluates the role of resuscitative thoracotomy and considers some novel interventions that may provide clinicians with alternative management options.

Engineered hexavalent Fc proteins with enhanced Fc-gamma receptor avidity provide insights into immune-complex interactions.

Autoantibody-mediated diseases are currently treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, which is thought to act in part via blockade of Fc gamma receptors, thereby inhibiting autoantibody effector functions and subsequent pathology. We aimed to develop recombinant molecules with enhanced Fc receptor avidity and thus increased potency over intravenous immunoglobulin. Here we describe the molecular engineering of human Fc hexamers and explore their therapeutic and safety profiles. We show Fc hexamers were more potent than IVIG in phagocytosis blockade and disease models. However, in human whole-blood safety assays incubation with IgG1 isotype Fc hexamers resulted in cytokine release, platelet and complement activation, whereas the IgG4 version did not. We used a statistically designed mutagenesis approach to identify the key Fc residues involved in these processes. Cytokine release was found to be dependent on neutrophil FcγRIIIb interactions with L234 and A327 in the Fc. Therefore, Fc hexamers provide unique insights into Fc receptor biology.

MDMA toxicity: management of acute and life-threatening presentations.

Since the 1980s, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been a popular recreational drug, used particularly among those who attend raves and nightclubs. Over the past 3 years, the popularity of this drug has once again increased and there has been an associated rise in deaths. The pathophysiology of MDMA toxicity is complex and much remains to be understood. This article aims to increase readers' knowledge of patient presentations, the pathophysiology behind life-threatening toxicity, current treatments and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a potential future treatment.

What's New in Diabetes Research?

The drive to discover new and innovative solutions for managing diabetes is international. The Diabetes UK Professional Conference, held in Glasgow in March 2016, presented many of these advances and developments, including new insights into diabulimia; the role of mindfulness in diabetes management; risk factors for Type 2 diabetes in the younger generations; and new discoveries in glucose monitoring and management. Through interviews conducted with the presenters of these topics, Dr. Nicola Davies explores the latest innovations in diabetes research.

Health promotion and information provision during long-term follow-up for childhood cancer survivors: A service evaluation.

Health promotion is an important component of long-term follow-up (LTFU) care for childhood cancer survivors (CCS). However, little information exists about how survivors perceive their own health promotion needs. As part of a service evaluation, 51 CCS who had previously attended the LTFU clinic took part in a single semistructured interview to seek their views on information they had received regarding late adverse effects (LAEs) of treatment, the purpose of LTFU, and the provision of health promotion information. Although most (93%) CCS were satisfied with the information received about LAEs, 37% desired further details. Over half (59%) believed that the purpose of LTFU was to screen for LAEs, whereas 31% felt that it was to check for relapse. No survivor reported health promotion to be an aim of LTFU; only 14% of CCS expected to receive healthy lifestyle advice, and fewer than 10% wanted dietary and physical activity advice. Most (88%) CCS felt that their hospital-based health care professional was best placed to give healthy lifestyle advice, but there was no consensus about the optimum timing for health promotion. CCS varied in their knowledge, needs, and wishes regarding LTFU care. The results of this evaluation strongly indicate that the profile of health promotion needs to be raised within our service and identifies issues that may be pertinent to similar services. Further research is needed to understand the views of CCS regarding health promotion and lifestyle behaviors, with the aim of tailoring and improving the delivery of effective health education to CCS.

Treating ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Treatment of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has moved from thrombolysis to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) over the past 20 years. This is a result of evidence that the latter has superior long-term benefits for patients. However, there is little research on whether patients who present after the mandated time of less than 120 minutes from onset of signs and symptoms could benefit from primary thrombolysis followed by rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), referred to here as angiography. This article, which includes a case study, describes the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, acute coronary syndrome, and STEMI, and examines some of the literature that compares primary PCI to thrombolysis followed by angiography. It also highlights gaps in research, and encourages practitioners to consider administering thrombolysis to patients who do not present within 120 minutes of the onset of signs and symptoms of STEMI.

Student life - Stay fit to make the grade.

Nurse training can be notoriously difficult, and can take its toll on your physical, mental and emotional health. The demands of nurse training can also put stress on your personal relationships and social life.