Description of an influenza outbreak in a French university hospital and risk factors of nosocomial influenza.

Our objective was to evaluate risk factors of nosocomial influenza (NI) in an university hospital during the 2015/2016 influenza season. All hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness associated with laboratory confirmation by polymerase chain reaction were included in a prospective observational study. We identified 44 cases (19%) of NI among the 233 cases of influenza: 38/178 (21%) in adults and 6/55 (11%) in children. Among adults, hospitalization in a double or multi-occupancy room was independently associated with NI (adjusted Odds Ratio, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.29-9.08; p = 0.013). The results of the study underline the importance of single room to prevent NI.

Screening of hepatitis E in patients presenting for acute neurological disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been reported to be associated with neurological disorders. However, the real prevalence of acute hepatitis E in those diseases is still unknown. We determined the prevalence of anti-HEV IgM antibody in a population with acute non-traumatic, non-metabolic, non-vascular neurological injury. METHOD: A registry was created in Grenoble Hospital University from 2014 to 2018 to collect data on patients with acute (<3 months) non-traumatic, non-metabolic, non-vascular neurological injuries. Acute hepatitis E was defined as anti-HEV IgM-positive serum in immunocompetent patient, and as anti-HEV IgM-positive serum or HEV RNA-positive serum in immunocompromised patients. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine patients were included. Anti-HEV IgM seroprevalence in our cohort of non-traumatic, non-metabolic, non-vascular neurological injuries was 6.9% (eleven patients, including 4 Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) and 2 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)). Elevated transaminases were observed in only 64% of hepatitis E patients and cholestasis in 64%. CONCLUSION: In this study, 6·9% of patients with acute non-traumatic, non-metabolic, non-vascular neurological injuries had a probable recent HEV infection. HEV serology should be systematically performed in this population, even in patients with normal transaminase level.

Added Value of Next-Generation Sequencing for Multilocus Sequence Typing Analysis of a Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Outbreak1.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is a major threat for immunocompromised patients, and clusters of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) have been increasingly described in transplant units during the past decade. Exploring an outbreak transmission network requires complementary spatiotemporal and strain-typing approaches. We analyzed a PCP outbreak and demonstrated the added value of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) study of P. jirovecii strains. Thirty-two PCP patients were included. Among the 12 solid organ transplant patients, 5 shared a major and unique genotype that was also found as a minor strain in a sixth patient. A transmission map analysis strengthened the suspicion of nosocomial acquisition of this strain for the 6 patients. NGS-MLST enables accurate determination of subpopulation, which allowed excluding other patients from the transmission network. NGS-MLST genotyping approach was essential to deciphering this outbreak. This innovative approach brings new insights for future epidemiologic studies on this uncultivable opportunistic fungus.

Ultrasonography helps emergency physician identify the best lumbar puncture site under the conus medullaris.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography - assisted lumbar puncture helps physicians identify traditional anatomical landmarks. However, it could help to overcome the anatomical dogmas and thus identify the best interspinous space under the medullary cone. METHODS: Traditional anatomical landmarks were reported on a tracing paper in patients with an indication for lumbar puncture. Then, ultrasonography was used to locate the optimal interspinous level defined as the widest subarachnoid space located below the conus medullaris. Primary endpoint was the distance between traditional and ultrasound landmarks. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were included. Seven emergency physicians practiced the procedure. The median absolute distance between traditional anatomical landmarks and ultrasound marking was 32 [interquartile (IQR) 27 - 37] mm. The inter-spinous space identified in the two procedures was different in 68% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound not only allows us to better identify anatomical structures before lumbar puncture, but it also allows us to choose a site of puncture different from recommendations.

Grouped Cases of Pulmonary Pneumocystosis After Solid Organ Transplantation: Advantages of Coordination by an Infectious Diseases Unit for Overall Management and Epidemiological Monitoring.

OBJECTIVE To determine the origin of grouped cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia in solid-organ transplant recipients at our institution. DESIGN A case series with clinical examinations, genotyping, and an epidemiological survey. SETTING A university hospital in France. PATIENTS We report 12 solid-organ transplant recipients with successive cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia that occurred over 3 years; 10 of these cases occurred in a single year. METHODS We used molecular typing of P. jirovecii strains by multilocus sequence typing and clinical epidemiological survey to determine potential dates and places of transmission. RESULTS Between May 2014 and March 2015, 10 solid-organ transplant recipients (5 kidney transplants, 4 heart transplants, and 1 lung transplant) presented with Pneumocystis pneumonia. Molecular genotyping revealed the same P. jirovecii strain in at least 6 patients. This Pneumocystis strain was not identified in control patients (ie, nontransplant patients presenting with pulmonary pneumocystosis) during this period. The epidemiological survey guided by sequencing results provided information on the probable or possible dates and places of contamination for 5 of these patients. The mobile infectious diseases unit played a coordination role in the clinical management (adaptation of the local guidelines) and epidemiological survey. CONCLUSION Our cardiac and kidney transplant units experienced grouped cases of pulmonary pneumocystosis. Genotyping and epidemiological surveying results suggested interhuman contamination, which was quickly eliminated thanks to multidisciplinary coordination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:179-185.

[Suspicion of meningitis: evaluation of the management in the emergency unit]. / Suspicion de méningite : évaluation de la prise en charge aux urgences.

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial meningitis is a diagnosis and therapeutic emergency. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The objective was to evaluate the management of suspicion of meningitis in an emergency unit, following the update of recommendations. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 1st January and 30th June 2009 in the emergency unit of Grenoble University Hospital. Inclusion criteria were: patient aged 15 years and 3 months or older with suspicion of meningitis (fever in the last 24 hours with the presence of at least one meningeal or neurological clinical sign), for whom a lombar puncture was realized in the 48 hours following the admission. Two infectious disease specialists independently evaluated the management of these patients in the emergency unit. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included. Median time of the lombar puncture was 5.5 hours after admission [25-75 percentiles, 3.7-8,9]. Median time for antibiotic administration was 6 hours after admission [25-75 percentiles, 3.3-8.75]. Lactate prescription was stable during the study period (P=0.58) whereas procalcitonin prescription increased significantly (P=0.02). The realization of a brain scanner before the lumbar puncture was associated with a significant delay in the realization of the lumbar puncture (P<0.001), and was not associated with a delay in the prescription and administration of antimicrobial treatment. According to the infectious disease specialists, an antimicrobial treatment was recommended for 37 patients (54.4%); and 35 of them (94.6%) received an antibiotic in the emergency department. Dosage of ceftriaxone complied with recommendations in 17.8% of cases. A brain scanner was recommended for 33 patients and realized for 25 among them (75.8%). Ten patients (28.6%) had a brain scanner whereas it was not recommended. CONCLUSION: Time management was in accordance with those found in previous studies, although higher than those recommended. Consequently it should be reduced. All professionals should be concerned. Staff training and writing of protocols are necessary (especially for the treatment and the brain scanner indications).