Physician-led thoracic ultrasound-guided biopsy; a district general hospital perspective.

BACKGROUND: Physician-led thoracic ultrasound (TUS)-guided biopsies provide a prompt route to tissue diagnosis in pleural and peripheral lung malignancies. This retrospective study reviews the diagnostic performance and safety of this approach in a UK District General Hospital. METHODS: Time to biopsy, diagnostic yield and complication rate were analysed in a cohort of 49 patients undergoing ultrasound-guided tissue sampling between September 2019 and December 2022. RESULTS: Fifty-one TUS-guided biopsies were attempted. Mean time from decision to biopsy was 5 days. The overall diagnostic yield was 82%. Complication rate was low; 3 minor adverse effects were reported which led to no change in routine care. CONCLUSION: This single centre retrospective study shows that physician-led TUS-guided biopsy provides a safe and timely method of obtaining a tissue diagnosis in thoracic malignancy. It offers an alternative to computer tomography (CT)-guided or thoracoscopic biopsies and should be considered in selected patients where local procedural expertise exists.

Antibiotic susceptibility and molecular analysis of invasive Neisseria meningitidis recovered in the Republic of Ireland, 1996 to 2016.

This study examined the antimicrobial susceptibility of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)-associated Neisseria meningitidis recovered in the Republic of Ireland between 1996 and 2016. In total, 1359 isolates representing over one-third of all laboratory-confirmed cases of IMD diagnosed each epidemiological year (EY; July 1-June 30) were analysed. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and cefotaxime and 74% and 87% were susceptible to sulphonamide and penicillin, respectively. The proportion of isolates exhibiting reduced susceptibility to penicillin increased significantly during the study with no evidence of major clonal expansion or horizontal spread of a specific penA allele. Greater diversity observed among recently recovered meningococci and specifically among isolates exhibiting reduced penicillin susceptibility contributed to the overall increase in penA allele diversity throughout. The emergence and dissemination of strains with phenotypic and genotypic reduced susceptibility to penicillin increase the need for continued surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of meningococci in the Republic of Ireland especially in view of the recommendation of penicillin G as empiric treatment of choice for pre-hospital management.

Awareness and Preventative Behaviours Regarding Toxoplasma, Listeria and Cytomegalovirus Among Pregnant Women

Aim Infection with toxoplasma, listeria and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes. Awareness of these infections, knowledge of preventive practices and pertinent behaviours was assessed. Methods A survey of patients at antenatal clinics in a Dublin maternity hospital was conducted over a six month period. Analysis was undertaken using SPSS. Results The response rate was 36% (287/800). One in two respondents were aware of toxoplasma, one in four of Listeria but only 1 in 10 of CMV. Overall, knowledge was highest among older, more educated pregnant women. Nativity had a significant effect on knowledge and behaviour, but increasing parity did not. However the majority practised key safe behaviours. Conclusion Information must be conveyed to pregnant women in a user friendly format and in a culturally sensitive way.

Epidemiology of two decades of invasive meningococcal disease in the Republic of Ireland: an analysis of national surveillance data on laboratory-confirmed cases from 1996 to 2016.

We examined the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) between epidemiological year (EY) 1996/1997 and EY2015/2016. Over the 20 EYs, 3707 cases were reported with annual incidence rates per 100 000 peaking at 11.6 in EY1999/2000, decreasing significantly to 1.5 in EY2015/2016. The highest disease burden was in infants and children <5, whereas adults aged ⩾65 years experienced the highest case fatality ratio (CFR) of 15.7% but over the study period the median annual CFR remained low (4.4%). Meningococcal serogroup B (menB) dominated (78%), followed by menC (17%), menW (1%) and menY (1%). The incidence of menC IMD declined significantly in all age groups after menC vaccine introduction in 2000. MenB incidence also declined over the 20 EYs with decreasing trends in all age groups under 65, including an almost 50% decrease in infants over the final four EYs. IMD incidence in the ROI has declined, partly attributable to menC vaccination success, coupled with a spontaneous decline in menB. However, recent gradual increases in non-menB IMD and the introduction of vaccines targeting menB demand continued detailed surveillance to accurately monitor trends and to assess vaccine impact.

A retrospective assessment of the completeness and timeliness of meningococcal disease notifications in the Republic of Ireland over a 16-year period, 1999-2015.

OBJECTIVES: To assess how invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) records held by the Irish Meningitis & Sepsis Reference Laboratory (IMSRL) compare to records of IMD notifications reported on the national integrated electronic Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system. STUDY DESIGN: We assessed the completeness, data quality and timeliness of IMD notifications and reference laboratory records for the period between 01 July 1999 and 30 June 2015 by identifying discrepant and/or missing data items in a matched case data set and by measuring the timeliness of case reporting. METHODS: We matched anonymised cases notified to CIDR to records based at the IMSRL using birth, reporting and onset dates with gender and laboratory parameters of meningococcal strain characteristics and method of confirmation. Completeness, data quality and the timeliness of notifications were assessed by a stratified sensitivity-based technique and by calculating the average difference between IMSRL and CIDR reporting dates. RESULTS: CIDR recorded a total of 3163 notifications, of which 2759 (87.2%) were matched to IMSRL records. Completeness of IMD case classification as confirmed was estimated to be >99%. Examining the levels of discrepant or missing data in both matched CIDR and IMSRL records as a measure of data quality, recording of demographic items and meningococcal group showed least differences, recording of laboratory case confirmation method and meningococcal strain characteristics were less well recorded, with detail on clinical presentation/diagnosis least well recorded. Overall average annual difference between CIDR and IMSRL recording dates was 3.2 days (95% confidence interval 2.6-3.8). CONCLUSIONS: A high quality of IMD surveillance in Ireland was demonstrated, but scope for improvements in timeliness and capture of enhanced surveillance data regarding date of onset and strain-specific characteristics were identified.

Impact of a rapid molecular test for positive blood cultures from neonatal intensive care patients on clinical management: a retrospective audit.

BACKGROUND: Both Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative Staphylococci are common causes of late-onset neonatal sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), usually relating to intravascular access device infections. AIMS: This project aimed to review the impact on antimicrobial treatment and clinical outcome in the NICU setting, of the introduction of the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test (Cepheid, USA) for the identification of staphylococci in blood cultures. METHODS: A retrospective audit was carried out of the pre- and post-intervention periods; the intervention was the introduction of the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test. RESULTS: In total, 88 neonates had positive blood cultures with Staphylococcus spp., comprising 42 neonates in the pre-intervention and 46 in the post-intervention groups. The pre-intervention group had a higher birth weight (1.541 kg vs. 1.219 kg, p = 0.05) and higher platelet count (288 vs. 224 × 109/L, p = 0.05). There was a trend towards a shorter duration of antimicrobial therapy in term infants and in the length of admission; however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.2). All of the nine infants post-intervention with significant bacteraemia (S. aureus =3, CoNS =6) were changed to the optimal antimicrobial at the time the result was available. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the introduction of the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test can lead to a reduction in the length of admission and duration of antimicrobials in term infants; however, the difference was not statistically significant. All nine infants with clinically significant bacteraemia were treated with the appropriate antimicrobial when the Xpert MRSA/SA BC test result was available.

The epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in older adults in the post-PCV era. Has there been a herd effect?

The 7 and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children in many countries. The objective of this work was to assess the impact of PCVs and potential herd-protection in older adults in Ireland. IPD notification and typing data from adults ⩾65 years of age from July 2007 to June 2016 was assessed using national surveillance data. There was a 94% reduction in PCV7 serotypes from 2007-2008 to 2015-2016, incidence rate ratio (IRR 0·05, P < 0·0001). However, there was no decline in the additional PCV13 (PCV13-7) serotypes over the same period (IRR 0·90) nor in comparison with the pre-PCV13 period 2009-2010 (IRR 0·92). The incidence of serotypes in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine only (PPV23-PCV13) and non-vaccine types (NVTs) increased significantly (IRR 2·17, P = 0·0002 and IRR 3·43, P = 0·0001 respectively). Consequently, the overall IPD incidence rate in adults has remained relatively unchanged (from 28·66/100 000 to 28·88/100 000, IRR 1·01, P = 0·9477). Serotype 19A and NVTs were mainly responsible for penicillin resistance in recent years. The decline of PCV7 serotypes indicate that the introduction of PCV7 resulted in herd-protection for adults. However, increases in PPV23-PCV13 and NVTs suggest that changes in vaccination strategy amongst older adults are needed to build on the success of PCVs in children.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction and culture in the diagnosis of invasive group B streptococcal disease in infants: a retrospective study.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of invasive disease in infants. Accurate and rapid diagnosis is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the dltR gene was utilised for the direct detection of GBS DNA in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from infants at an Irish maternity hospital. A retrospective review of laboratory and patient records during the period 2011-2013 was performed in order to evaluate PCR and culture for the diagnosis of invasive GBS disease. A total of 3570 blood and 189 CSF samples from 3510 infants had corresponding culture and PCR results. Culture and PCR exhibited concordance in 3526 GBS-negative samples and 13 (25%) GBS-positive samples (n = 53). Six (11%) and 34 (64%) GBS-positive samples were positive only in culture or PCR, respectively. Culture and PCR identified more GBS-positive infants (n = 47) than PCR (n = 43) or culture (n = 16) alone. Using culture as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for PCR on blood samples were 71.4%, 99.2%, 25% and 99.9%, and for CSF samples, they were 60%, 97.8%, 42.9% and 98.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and positive predictive values were improved (blood: 84.6% and 55%; CSF: 77.8% and 100%, respectively) when maternal risk factors and other laboratory test results were considered. The findings in this study recommend the use of direct GBS real-time PCR for the diagnosis of GBS infection in infants with a clinical suspicion of invasive disease and as a complement to culture, but should be interpreted in the light of other laboratory and clinical findings.

Universal antenatal screening for hepatitis C.

The aims of this study were to pilot universal antenatal HCV screening and to determine the true seroprevalence of HCV infection in an unselected antenatal population. A risk assessment questionnaire for HCV infection was applied to all women booking for antenatal care over a 1-year period. In addition the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody positive serology in this population was determined. Over the course of the year, 9121 women booked for antenatal care at the Rotunda and 8976 women agreed to take part in the study, representing an uptake of 98.4%. 78 (0.9%) women were diagnosed as anti-HCV positive, the majority of whom were Irish (60.3%) or from Eastern Europe (24.4%). 73% of anti-HCV positive women reported one or more known risk factor with tattooing and a history of drug abuse the most commonly reported. 27% (n = 21) of anti-HCV positive women had no identifiable risk factors. Due to selective screening, seroprevalence of HCV is impossible to accurately calculate. However the universal screening applied here and the high uptake of testing has allowed the prevalence of anti-HCV among our antenatal population to be calculated at 0.9%. A significant proportion (27%) of anti-HCV positive women in this study reported no epidemiological risk factors at the time

Lack of awareness of risk factors for primary toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasma antibodies in women of childbearing age in Ireland is 25% [1]. Hence, 75% of women remain susceptible to primary toxoplasma infection during pregnancy, which if transmitted to the foetus can cause ocular, neurological and other sequelae. Toxoplasma exposure during pregnancy can be avoided if there is an awareness of the potential sources of infection, mainly contaminated food, water, soil and cat faeces. AIMS: To determine risk factor exposure in a cohort of women with congenitally infected infants and to assess maternal risk awareness prior to diagnosis of infection. METHODS: Data, prospectively gathered during 2 years of pilot newborn screening for congenital toxoplasmosis in Ireland, was retrospectively analysed. Known risk factors for acquisition of infection were identified. Women were questioned regarding risk awareness and implementation of avoidance measures, if any, during pregnancy. RESULTS: Fifteen congenitally infected infants were identified by newborn screening. Seventy-three percent of their mothers (11/15) reported lack of knowledge concerning risk factors for toxoplasma infection or its potential threat to the foetus. Ingestion of raw or undercooked meat during pregnancy was the predominant source of toxoplasma cyst exposure identified. Contact with cats was reported in just one case. CONCLUSIONS: Most women were uneducated about the risks posed by Toxoplasma gondii exposure during pregnancy. There is a clear need for better educational programmes regarding primary prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis if neonatal infection is to be avoided.

Should children with inherited metabolic disorders receive varicella vaccination?

The aim was to determine the rate of varicella infection and complications in children with disorders of intermediary metabolism (IEM) between the ages of 1 and 16 years attending our national metabolic referral centre. Of 126 children identified, a response was received from 122. A history of previous varicella infection was identified in 64 cases (53%) and of varicella vaccination in 5 (4%). Fifty-three (43%) patients apparently did not have a history of clinical varicella infection. Of the 64 children with a history of varicella infection, five required hospitalisation for complications, including life-threatening lactic acidosis in one patient with mitochondrial disease and metabolic decompensation in four patients. In conclusion, varicella infection may cause an increased risk of metabolic decompensation in patients with IEMs. We propose that a trial of varicella vaccination be considered for this cohort of patients with monitoring of its safety and efficacy.

Pneumococcal meningitis: clinical outcomes in a pre-vaccine era at a Dublin paediatric hospital, 1999-2007.

AIM: To document the long-term outcomes of pneumococcal meningitis in children presenting to a Dublin paediatric hospital in the pre-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) era (1998-2007). METHODS: Subjects with pneumococcal meningitis were identified at The Children's University Hospital, Dublin through the hospital surveillance system and laboratory archives. RESULTS: 44 children were identified with S. pneumoniae meningitis. Mean age of presentation was 23.45 months (2 days to 13 years) and 28 (65%) cases were less than 12 months old. Eight (18.6%) children died. 55% of cases were left with significant deficits. Of the survivors, 7 (20%) had moderate to severe neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION: Pneumococcal meningitis is a devastating childhood disease with significant mortality and morbidity, especially in those less than 2 years of age. These data provide a baseline against which the impact of PCV7 on pneumococcal meningitis can be measured.

Multiplex PCR to determine Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes causing otitis media in the Republic of Ireland with further characterisation of antimicrobial susceptibilities and genotypes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the serotypes, genotypes and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing otitis media (OM) in children in Dublin, Ireland. S. pneumoniae isolates (n = 28) from spontaneously discharging OM were studied. Serotyping was performed using a previously undescribed multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) scheme in combination with serological methods. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed using standard procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Etest method. Fourteen different S. pneumoniae serotypes were identified. The five most common serotypes were 3, 19F, 19A, 14 and 6A, which accounted for 68% of all infections. The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) provided potential coverages of 43%, 46% and 86%, respectively. Reduced susceptibility to penicillin was evident for 25% of isolates and was associated with serotypes 14, 19A, 19F and 9V. A total of 21 different sequence types (STs) were identified. Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN) clones or their variants represented 54% (15/28) of all isolates. Continued monitoring and characterisation of S. pneumoniae causing OM in Ireland is warranted in order to guide future vaccine and treatment policies.

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive disease in the Republic of Ireland.

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was included in the routine infant immunization schedule in Ireland in September 2008. We determined the serotype of 977 S. pneumoniae isolates causing invasive disease between 2000-2002 and 2007-2008, assessed for the presence of the recently described serotype 6C and determined the susceptibility of isolates during 2007-2008 to penicillin and cefotaxime. Serotype 14 was the most common serotype during both periods and 7·7% of isolates previously typed as serotype 6A were serotype 6C. During 2000-2002 and 2007-2008, PCV7 could potentially have prevented 85% and 74% of invasive pneumococcal disease in the target population (i.e. children aged <2 years), respectively. The level of penicillin non-susceptibility was 17% in 2007-2008. Ongoing surveillance of serotypes is required to determine the impact of PCV7 in the Irish population and to assess the potential of new vaccines with expanded valency.

HIV testing and treatment in the antenatal care setting.

Routine linked HIV antenatal screening, with "opt-out", was introduced at the Rotunda in January 1998. This paper reviews the screening and subsequent pregnancy management and outcome in HIV positive women from 1998 to 2006. During this time 225 women (280 pregnancies) were HIV positive and 194 women subsequently delivered at the Rotunda, representing 233 liveborn infants. Overall anti-HIV prevalence was 0.42%, increasing from 0.06% in 1998 to 0.57% in 2006. Of 233 livebirths, 111 (48%) were delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD). HIV treatment was started pre-pregnancy in 14 (6%) pregnancies and antenatally in 208 (90%). The vertical transmission rate in mothers receiving >4 weeks of treatment was 0%. We conclude that routine antenatal HIV screening is effective and significantly benefits the health of mother and child.

Imported childhood malaria: the Dublin experience, 1999-2006.

AIMS: Imported childhood malaria has never been studied in Ireland. We aimed to document the incidence and species of malaria in children presenting to paediatric hospitals in Dublin and to examine management and outcome measures. METHODS: Subjects were identified through laboratory archives from the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin. Clinical data were extracted retrospectively from clinical and laboratory records. RESULTS: As much as 67 episodes of malaria occurred in 66 children. Episodes occurred among new immigrants (n = 31) and Irish residents (n = 33) who travelled to endemic regions. The majority of those who travelled to endemic regions did not receive appropriate prophylaxis. Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 64 (95%) episodes, 26 with a parasite load above 2%. Eighteen children developed complications. All cases were treated successfully. CONCLUSIONS: Irish health-care practitioners need to encourage malaria prophylaxis among travellers to malaria-endemic regions. Management guidelines should be formulated to assist Irish clinicians treating this potentially fatal illness.

Susceptibility of pregnant women to toxoplasma infection--potential benefits for newborn screening.

Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) arises as a result of new acquisition of Toxoplasma infection by a susceptible woman during pregnancy. Early detection of CT through neonatal screening programmes could optimize management and improve infant outcome. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma susceptibility in pregnant women. As detection of Toxoplasma antibodies in neonatal blood reflects maternal exposure history, maternal antibody seroprevalence was determined using anonymized residual blood from newborn screening cards. A total of 20,252 cards were tested in 1 year. 4,991 (24.6%) cards tested positive for Toxoplasma antibody. Results were stratified by county. Toxoplasma antibody seroprevalence rates of 25% indicated that Toxoplasma infection is common in Ireland and that up to 75% of women remain susceptible to primary infection during pregnancy. This study aimed to a) determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibody in pregnant women, and hence b) estimate the risk for acquisition of primary toxoplasmosis in pregnancy in order to support an application to fund a pilot newborn screening programme.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children in Ireland--the anticipated benefit of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of childhood illness. Recently a safe and effective 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine for children has been licensed in the EU. AIMS: To calculate the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children in Ireland, to estimate the burden of disease and to anticipate the protective effect of the conjugate vaccine. METHODS: Retrospective review of data from children with IPD. RESULTS: Ninety-six cases of IPD in 95 children including two related deaths were identified. All childhood IPD incidence was estimated at 10.6/100,000. We anticipate that the 7-valent conjugate vaccine could prevent up to 90% of sepsis and up to 82.5% of meningitis cases. CONCLUSIONS: IPD is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children in Ireland. Routine use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine would have a significant impact on pneumococcal disease, especially in vaccinated children but also in unvaccinated children and older adults.

A case of disseminated miliary tuberculosis in a five-year-old child.

A five-year old girl was referred, by the local area medical officer, as she had a positive Mantoux test and a chest x-ray consistent with miliary tuberculosis. She had initially been identified three months previously as a contact of a case of open pulmonary tuberculosis. A CT scan of the brain at the time of presentation showed multiple intracranial tuberculomae. A CT Brain scan three months into the treatment regime showed a significant reduction in the number and size of nodules indicating a favourable response to treatment. This case emphasises the importance of rapid tracing of paediatric tuberculosis contacts, if serious complications and their consequences are to be avoided.