Q fever across the Dutch border in Limburg province, Belgium.

Data from three different data sources were compiled to estimate the presence of Coxiella burnetii in the Belgian Limburg province for both humans and livestock. First, serological data of all samples sent to the Belgian reference centre (2003­2010) for human Q fever were analysed, showing evidence for an acute Q fever infection in 1­5% of the cases. Second, a multi-centre prospective survey was conducted in Limburg in 2010 to detect undiagnosed human cases; evidence for a recent infection with Coxiella burnetii was found in three out of 100 patients from which clinicians suspected a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Third, we analyzed data from the Belgian livestock screening program (2009­2010) which consisted of investigating all reported abortions, sampling tank milk, and serological screening of cattle. The results suggest an endemicity in the Limburgian livestock which seems to be especially high in cattle.

In vitro activity of tigecycline against multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from a Belgian hospital.

Bacterial resistance among Gram-negative pathogens is a challenging clinical problem. Tigecycline has been developed specifically to overcome resistance. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro activity of tigecycline against ESBL-producing Escherichia coli, ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp., and multidrug-resistant Enterobacter spp. Between May 2007 and March 2008, 26 strains of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli, 10 strains of ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp., and 27 strains of multidrug-resistant Enterobacter spp. were isolated consecutively from inpatients with a documented infection in which the collected isolate was identified as the probable causative organism. The in vitro susceptibility against tigecycline was measured by the E-test method. MIC(50) values were 1 microg/ml, 2 microg/ml, and 3 microg/ml respectively. MIC(90) values were respectively 1.5 microg/ml, 4 microg/ml, and 12 microg/ml. Nonsusceptibility rates of 35%, 100%, and 96% respectively were found using EUCAST breakpoints. Despite the limited number of strains tested, our in vitro data suggest that tigecycline is unsuitable for the treatment of infections with multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in our setting. Therefore, we suggest that larger multicenter studies should be conducted to reconsider the value of tigecycline for the treatment of infections with multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria.

Direct carotid-cavernous fistula: a case report and review of the literature.

A 21-year-old man presented with severe proptosis, chemosis, diplopia and an orbital bruit three weeks after a motor vehicle accident. The intraocular pressure was increased. The suspected diagnosis of a direct carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) was confirmed by digital substraction arteriography. Placement of a covered stent in the internal carotid artery was performed with rapid resolution of the symptoms and normalization of the intraocular pressure. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, differential diagnosis, treatment and outcome of carotid-cavernous fistulas are discussed.

A tropical diabetic foot.

Foot infections are a common problem and an important cause of morbidity in patients with diabetes. We report a patient with type 2 diabetes, presenting with a chronic foot wound resistant to standard care, in whom the diagnosis of eumycetoma was made through histopathological examination of a bone biopsy specimen and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Diagnosis and treatment of eumycetoma are reviewed. Eumycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis is an uncommon cause of osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes in Europe, but should be considered in patients from endemic regions when (antibacterial) therapy fails.

False positive Lyme serology due to syphilis: report of 6 cases and review of the literature.

A 44-year-old man presented with visual field defects. Ophthalmoscopy revealed papilloedema of the left eye. Neuroborreliosis was suspected and serum was positively being tested using VIDAS* Lyme screen II (bioMerieux Vitek Inc). However, confirmatory testing using the Borrelia VlsE C6 titre was negative. Western Blotting on serum and cerebrospinal fluid could not confirm the possible diagnosis of neuroborreliosis. VDRL and TPPA testing was positive, and finally, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis was established. We subsequently screened our database on patients with positive VIDAS Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing by Western blot, and found another 5 cases in which Lyme screening was false positive due to cross-reactivity with Treponema pallidum antibodies. Our data show that in patients with positive Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing, performance of lues serology should be considered.

Invasive fungal infection in an elderly patient with defective inflammatory macrophage function.

Macrophages are known to be involved in pathogen recognition and mediate host immune responses, but, in the clinical setting, their purported central role in opportunistic fungal infections has not been demonstrated to date. Herein, we describe a patient with invasive testicular aspergillosis in whom we found, for the first time, a defect in macrophage function.