Assessing the Prevalence and Dynamics of Emerging Campylobacterales in Human Stool Samples in Brussels by Filtration Culture.

Thermophilic C. jejuni/coli is reported to be the first bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and the most common zoonosis in Europe. Although non-jejuni/coli Campylobacter sp. are increasingly suspected to be responsible for diarrhoea or to be involved in inflammatory bowel disease, they remain poorly isolated due to their fastidious and non-thermophilic nature. Additionally, they are not targeted by commercial syndromic PCR assays. In this study, we present routine diagnostic results over 6 years (2017-2019 and 2021-2023) of Campylobacter sp. and related species, obtained by optimised culture from 51,065 stools by both 0.65 µm pore filtration on antibiotic-free agar, incubated in an H2-enriched atmosphere at 37 °C (also known as the Cape Town protocol), and the use of selective inhibitory Butzler medium incubated at 42 °C. This allowed the isolation of 16 Campylobacter species, 2 Aliarcobacter species, and 2 Helicobacter species, providing a completely different view of the epidemiology of Campylobacterales, in which C. jejuni/coli represents only 30.0% of all isolates, while C. concisus represents 44.4%. C. ureolyticus, representing only 5.5% of all Campylobacterales pre-COVID-19, represented 20.6% of all strains post-COVID-19 (218% increase; p < 0.05). At the same time, the proportions of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. concisus decreased by 37, 53, and 28%, respectively (p < 0.05).

Staggered enforcement of infection control and prevention measures following four consecutive potential laboratory exposures to imported Brucella melitensis.

From 2015 until 2020, Brucella melitensis was isolated four times in our microbiology laboratory. All patients had travelled in endemic-areas. Immediately after the first occurrence, all laboratory staff were risk-stratified and preventive and protective measures were applied according to CDC guidelines. Nineteen workers were exposed and needed chemoprophylaxis and follow-up. At each subsequent occurrence, risk analysis was performed, and additional measures were implemented accordingly, leading to a progressive reduction of exposed staff members to none the fourth time. We describe here the additional measures that permitted this important exposure reduction.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia: Risk factors, outcome and links with S. boulardii-containing probiotic administration.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia: risk factors, outcome and links with S. boulardii-containing probiotic administration. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to review cases of S. cerevisiae fungemia along with the corresponding risk factors (including S. boulardii probiotic intake), treatment and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study (2005-2017) of S. cerevisiae fungemia. All the data were extracted from medical files. RESULTS: We identified 10 patients with S. cerevisiae fungemia. Mean age was 59.4 years (range 21-88). Four fifths (80%) were on total parenteral or enteral nutrition, 70% had a central venous line, and 30% were admitted in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). S. boulardii-containing probiotic prescription was identified in 6 subjects. Three patients with no risk factors such as ICU or central venous catheter were 80 years old or more. Mortality rate was 50%. CONCLUSION: S. cerevisiae fungemia is a rare but life-threatening infection, associated with intake of probiotics containing S. boulardii. Besides classical risk factors, older age should be a contraindication for these probiotics.

First case of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia successfully identified using MALDI-TOF MS.

Desulfovibrio species are anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli that make up part of the human gastrointestinal and vaginal flora. Infection with these bacteria is usually secondary to an intra-abdominal source. Identification of these bacteria is possible using available contemporary methods. We report the first case of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Emergence of livestock-associated MRSA isolated from cystic fibrosis patients: Result of a Belgian national survey.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in Belgian cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. METHODS: Non-duplicate respiratory samples from 510 CF-patients (2012-2013) were examined. One isolate per patient was analysed unless different phenotypes were recovered. Isolates were investigated for mecA/mecC, toxins presence, spa-typing, MLST and SCCmec-typing. Potential livestock-associated (LA) isolates were examined for their immune-evasion-cluster (IEC) genes. RESULTS: S. aureus (n = 380), including 41 small-colony variants (SCVs), were isolated from 66.7% patients. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization was 4.9%. Two MRSA isolates carried toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Most MRSA (65%) belonged to two nosocomial epidemic clones (CC5, CC8) widespread in Belgium. Methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) showed great genetic diversity. Five of 33 isolates belonging to potential LA-lineages were IEC negative, including three methicillin-resistant isolates, suggesting an animal origin. CONCLUSIONS: The MRSA-prevalence in Belgian CF-patients remained constant (2001-2013), but SCV-prevalence increased. Most MRSA belonged to health-care-associated clones. Three patients carrying LA-MRSA were found, requiring further investigation to determine the risk factors for LA-MRSA acquisition.

Epidemiology and mortality of candidemia both related and unrelated to the central venous catheter: a retrospective cohort study.

Our objective was to compare mortality, epidemiology, and morbidity in hospitalized patients with candidemia which was both related and unrelated to the central venous catheter (CVC). This was a monocentric, retrospective cohort study of candidemia. The sample consisted of 103 patients with laboratory-confirmed nosocomial candidemia hospitalized between 2006 and 2013 in a tertiary care public hospital. We included 65 (63.1 %) patients (24 in the CVC-positive group, 41 in the CVC-negative group). Demographic data and risk factors were recorded using a structured case report form. In the group of candidemia associated to the CVC, survival at day 50 was 58.6 ± 11.9 %, compared to 26.5 ± 8.9 % for the CVC-negative group (p-value = 0.012); the hazard ratio of death was 0.38 (95 % confidence interval 0.17-0.85, p-value = 0.019). Compared with the CVC-positive patients, CVC-negative patients were often colonized with yeast (41.5 % vs. 16.7 %, p-value = 0.041), had a shorter previous in-hospital stay (20 days vs. 34 days, p-value = 0.023), and were more severely ill (severe sepsis 85.4 % vs. 58.3 %, p-value = 0.016). In this study, when the origin of candidemia was not the CVC, patients were more seriously ill, had a higher mortality rate, and the removal of the catheter seemed to lead to disappointing results. It would be useful to explore the impact of retention of the CVC on survival in the CVC-negative patients, where the CVCs are essential to treating these patients.

Feasibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) networking in university hospitals in Brussels.

The mutualisation of analytical platforms might be used to address rising healthcare costs. Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of networking a unique matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system for common use in several university hospitals in Brussels, Belgium. During a one-month period, 1,055 successive bacterial isolates from the Brugmann University Hospital were identified on-site using conventional techniques; these same isolates were also identified using a MALDI-TOF MS system at the Porte de Hal Laboratory by sending target plates and identification projects via transportation and the INFECTIO_MALDI software (Infopartner, Nancy, France), respectively. The occurrence of transmission problems (<2 %) and human errors (<1 %) suggested that the system was sufficiently robust to be implemented in a network. With a median time-to-identification of 5 h and 11 min (78 min, min-max: 154-547), MALDI-TOF MS networking always provided a faster identification result than conventional techniques, except when chromogenic culture media and oxidase tests were used (p < 0.0001). However, the limited clinical benefits of the chromogenic culture media do not support their extra cost. Our financial analysis also suggested that MALDI-TOF MS networking could lead to substantial annual cost savings. MALDI-TOF MS networking presents many advantages, and few conventional techniques (optochin and oxidase tests) are required to ensure the same quality in patient care from the distant laboratory. Nevertheless, such networking should not be considered unless there is a reorganisation of workflow, efficient communication between teams, qualified technologists and a reliable IT department and helpdesk to manage potential connectivity problems.

Follow-up of Helicobacter pylori infection in children over two decades (1988-2007): persistence, relapse and acquisition rates.

Helicobacter pylori culture on gastric biopsy was performed on 4964 subjects aged <18 years from 1988 to 2007 at a central laboratory in Brussels. The total number of biopsies increased markedly from 941 in 1988-1993 to 1608 in 2004-2007. Biopsies were repeated at least once for 922 subjects (603 initially negative and 319 initially positive for H. pylori). Persistence rate of H. pylori at 1 year after initial positive biopsy was greater in the 1998-2007 cohort than in the 1988-1997 cohort (72.7% vs. 45.8%, P = 0.002), suggesting a tailored selection of candidates for biopsy with non-invasive tests (13C urea breath test). Of 68 subjects initially positive and re-examined subsequently after a documented cure, re-infection/relapse rate was 48.6% within 5 years post-elimination of H. pylori. Acquisition rate over 10 years follow-up in the initially negative cohort (603 patients) was 38.7% (re-infection/relapse vs. acquisition: P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed a fourfold greater risk of H. pylori acquisition in children of non-European origin vs. European origin (P < 0.001). Clarithromycin and metronidazole susceptibility were determined in 226 and 223 paired positive cultures in cases of re-infection/relapse or persistence. An initial non-susceptibility profile was highly predictive of a subsequent non-susceptibility profile, and the non-susceptible proportion increased markedly from 13.3% to 21.2% for clarithromycin (P < 0.001) and from 27.3% to 35.0% for metronidazole (P = 0.014), with no difference regarding European or non-European origin.

Multicenter survey of routine determinations of resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antimicrobials over the last 20 years (1990 to 2009) in Belgium.

We analyzed the rates of antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients from 1990 to 2009 and identified risk factors associated with resistance. Gastric biopsy specimens were collected from several digestive disease centers in Brussels, Belgium. We routinely performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing for clarithromycin (CLR), metronidazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. Evaluable susceptibility testing was obtained for 9,430 strains isolated from patients who were not previously treated for Helicobacter pylori infection (1,527 isolates from children and 7,903 from adults) and 1,371 strains from patients who were previously treated (162 isolates from children and 1,209 from adults). No resistance to amoxicillin was observed, and tetracycline resistance was very rare (<0.01%). Primary metronidazole resistance remained stable over the years, with significantly lower rates for isolates from children (23.4%) than for isolates from adults (30.6%). Ciprofloxacin resistance remained rare in children, while it increased significantly over the last years in adults. Primary clarithromycin resistance increased significantly, reaching peaks in 2000 for children (16.9%) and in 2003 for adults (23.7%). A subsequent decrease of resistance rates down to 10% in both groups corresponded to a parallel decrease in macrolide consumption during the same period. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that female gender, age of the patient of 40 to 64 years, ethnic background, the number of previously unsuccessful eradication attempts, and the different time periods studied were independent risk factors of resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and ciprofloxacin. Our study highlights the need to update local epidemiological data. Thus, the empirical CLR-based triple therapy proposed by the Maastricht III consensus report remains currently applicable to our population.

Marching cohort of Helicobacter pylori infection over two decades (1988-2007): combined effects of secular trend and population migration.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is decreasing in developed countries. In this study we included 22,612 patients in whom a first culture of gastric biopsy (routinely performed in our medical centres) yielded an interpretable result over a 20-year period (1988-2007) in Brussels. The effects of patients' age, gender and ethnic background were analysed. The overall proportion of H. pylori-infected patients was 37·7%, with a progressive decline over time (P<10(-5)). A gender effect was observed in adults. The lowest infection rate was observed in Western European patients (n=11,238) with respectively 36·2% and 15·2% infected subjects in 1988 and 2007, compared to 71·7% and 40% in North African patients (n=3200) (P<10(-5)). However, no trend of decline was observed over time in North African children aged ≤9 years. These data show the effects of time, age and ethnicity on the prevalence of H. pylori infection, and its complex heterogeneity in the same cosmopolitan urban area.

[Aerococcus urinae endocarditis: first case report in Belgium and review of the literature]. / Endocardite a Aerococcus urinae: premier cas en Belgique et revue de la littérature.

Aerococcus urinae is a rarely reported pathogen, possibly due to difficulties in the identification of the organism. Only sixteen cases of A. urinae endocarditis have yet been described. Generally, patients were males with predisposing conditions and the outcomes were bad. We describe the first Belgian case of endocarditis due to A. urinae. Which occurred to a 79-year-old female patient. The diagnostic of A. urinae endocarditis was based on the cardiac ultrasonography and the isolation of the bacteria in 6/7 pairs of blood culture. The patient has been successfully treated by a long course of intravenous antibiotics (38 days) and surgery (aortic valve replacement by bioprothesis). We review the 14 cases published in the English literature and discuss the best clinical management of this type of endocarditis.