Bifidobacterium longum vertebrodiscitis in a patient with cirrhosis and prostate cancer.

Bifidobacterium species are anaerobic, Gram-positive bacilli that colonize the human intestinal tract and oral cavity. They are an infrequent cause of invasive human infection. We report a case of Bifidobacterium longum lumbar vertebrodiscitis in a 71 year old man who was subsequently diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and prostate cancer. The clinical outcome was good following antibiotic treatment with penicillin and clindamycin. The laboratory identification of Bifidobacterium species and risk factors for invasive infection are discussed.

Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica, Tasmania, Australia, 2011.

We report a case of ulceroglandular tularemia that developed in a woman after she was bitten by a ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in a forest in Tasmania, Australia. Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica was identified. This case indicates the emergence of F. tularensis type B in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sexual transmission of Zika virus: a literature review.

Zika virus is an emerging health threat worldwide. A member of the yellow fever virus family, it is primarily spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes (Stegomyia) genus. Unusually for a mosquito-borne virus, sexual spread has also been reported; with cases of male-to-female, female-to-male and male-to-male sexual transmission all now published in the scientific literature, in both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. Female-to-female sexual transmission has not yet been reported, but is biologically plausible. The extent of the effect of sexual transmission on the spread of Zika virus around the world is not well-characterised, but has particular relevance to travellers to and from non-endemic regions, and assisted reproduction services.

Microbial contamination of autologous peripheral blood stem cell products: incidence, clinical outcome, quality control and management strategies.

BACKGROUND: Microbial screening is part of quality control for autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) manipulation. The incidence of culture positive products varies widely. The clinical significance of infusing culture positive products is uncertain, with no consensus on the interventions required. METHODS: Microbial cultures of 606 consecutive autologous PBSC products from 278 patients between 1995 and 2005 were retrospectively analysed to determine the incidence of culture positivity and classified according to likely clinical significance. Clinical outcomes of patients who received culture positive products were reviewed. Using the baseline probability of contamination, a quality control method to detect a systematic source of contamination during product manipulation was developed. RESULTS: Eleven (1.8%) of 606 products were culture positive in eight (2.9%) patients. Ten products yielded coagulase negative Staphylococcus species and one Corynebacterium accolens. One patient had catheter sepsis during collection. Five patients received culture positive products, with prophylactic antibiotics when there was known coagulase negative Staphylococcus species. None had clinical evidence of infection following product infusion. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of culture positive products was comparable to published series. Only skin commensals were isolated. Infusion of skin commensal positive products appears safe with antibiotic prophylaxis. Using local and published experience, clinical and laboratory policies were developed for culture positive products.