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Background Bacillus cereus can cause severe and potentially fatal bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients, including preterm neonates. When the infection is nosocomial, investigating a potential environmental source is crucial to mitigate the transmission. This study investigated the potential environmental sources of ten cases of B. cereus bacteraemia in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods We retrospectively analysed strains from 6 temporal groups of cases involving 10 preterm neonates with bacteraemia (December-2018 to November-2023) and 28 related environmental samples. Strain typing used Multi-locus Sequence Typing (MLST) to identify sequence types (ST), followed by core-genome analysis (cgMLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strains within the same ST. Results The 10 clinical strains belonged to 10 different STs, while environmental strains fell into 18 STs. Fourteen strains across four STs matched clinical and environmental sources and were grouped into 4 groups (G1 to G4). Two environmental strains linked to clinical cases were isolated from medical offices, and five from nurses’ locker rooms. These strains were analysed by WGS (Illumina) alongside other Bacillus species. G1 and G2 corresponded to B. cereus species whereas strains of G3 and G4 were closely related to B. pacificus and B. paranthracis , respectively. Conclusion We determined that severe B. cereus infections cases in 10 preterm neonates were not linked to each other, but rather to multiple potential environmental reservoirs within the NICU, often located farther from clinical wards than expected. These areas are not subject to same hygienic standards as medical units. Our findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of hand hygiene practices along with close surveillance and systematic biocleaning that targets not only direct patient care areas but also the broader hospital environment.

Abstract Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy is uncommon. Consequently, there are no randomized controlled studies that address treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy, and the efficacy and safety of medical management with cinacalcet in this setting is unknown. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia that worsened during her third trimester of pregnancy. Cinacalcet led to achievement of normocalcemia, allowing the delay of parathyroidectomy until after delivery of the baby. We also review the published literature on cinacalcet use in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. Cinacalcet is typically reserved for pregnant patients with severe and symptomatic hypercalcemia, primarily serving as a last resort to delay parathyroidectomy until either the second trimester or the postpartum period.

Objectives We aim to investigate the association between cognitive profiles of children and adolescents, classified using latent class analysis and emotional, behavioral and sociodemographic factors in a community-based sample of children and adolescents. Methods The sample consists of 161 participants recruited from a nationally representative household sample of 1517 children and adolescents who participated in a national mental health survey. Participants and their parents completed the following scales: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders. Participants were then administered a battery of cognitive tests from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Battery as well as the Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability. Results Latent class analysis showed a 2-class model that was stable and had good entropy (0.837). Class 1 included 58 participants (36.0%), and Class 2 included 103 participants (64.0%). Participants belonging to Class 1 performed better than those in Class 2 on all cognitive tasks. Chances for belonging to a specific Class varied based on different sociodemographic, behavioral and emotional factors: older participants with higher Intellectual Quotient, higher parental educational level, lower reported hyperactivity and better-reported mood were more likely to belong to Class 1. Conclusion Our results show a tight correlation between different emotional, behavioral and sociodemographic variables on one hand and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents on the other hand. This supports the continuous need for an integrative approach when building norms for cognitive tests that account at the least for all these variables.

Background: The World Health Organization has often reiterated its recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19, however, the success of these measures largely depends on public knowledge and attitudes. Aims: This study assessed the relationship between knowledge, attitude, behaviour and preventive measures for COVID-19 infection in a Lebanese population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2020 using the snowball sampling technique and an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire had 4 parts targeting sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; knowledge, attitude and practices (preventive measures and behaviours related to COVID-19); and mental health variables such as psychological distress. Two models were derived using multivariable binomial logistic regression to optimize the picture of COVID-19 correlates. Results: Our sample comprised 1119 adults. Being older, female, a regular alcohol consumer, waterpipe smoker, having low level of education, low family income, and having contact with a COVID-19 patient correlated with increased odds of ever having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Participants who had ever been diagnosed with COVID-19 had a significantly better knowledge and a higher risky practice scale [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.49; 95% CI 1.27–1.74; P < 0.001; and ORa = 1.04; 95% CI 1.01–1.08; P = 0.024, respectively]. Conclusion: The most important predictors of COVID-19 infection appear to be generally well-known among the general population, however, their knowledge and adherence to preventive measures should be continuously re-evaluated. This study highlights the need for greater awareness to improve precautionary behaviours among the public.

Méthodes : Cette étude transversale a été menée entre septembre et octobre 2020 à l'aide de la technique d'échantillonnage en boule de neige et d'un questionnaire auto-administré en ligne. Le questionnaire comprenait quatre parties ciblant les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les antécédents médicaux, les connaissances, l'attitude et les pratiques (mesures de prévention et comportements liés à la COVID-19) ainsi que des variables de la santé mentale telles que la détresse psychologique. Deux modèles ont été dérivés à l'aide de la régression logistique multivariable binomiale afin d'optimiser le tableau des corrélats de la COVID-19.

Background: The World Health Organization has often reiterated its recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19, however, the success of these measures largely depends on public knowledge and attitudes. Aims: This study assessed the relationship between knowledge, attitude, behaviour and preventive measures for COVID-19 infection in a Lebanese population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2020 using the snowball sampling technique and an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire had 4 parts targeting sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; knowledge, attitude and practices (preventive measures and behaviours related to COVID-19); and mental health variables such as psychological distress. Two models were derived using multivariable binomial logistic regression to optimize the picture of COVID-19 correlates. Results: Our sample comprised 1119 adults. Being older, female, a regular alcohol consumer, waterpipe smoker, having low level of education, low family income, and having contact with a COVID-19 patient correlated with increased odds of ever having been diagnosed with COVID-19. Participants who had ever been diagnosed with COVID-19 had a significantly better knowledge and a higher risky practice scale [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.49; 95% CI 1.27-1.74; P < 0.001; and ORa = 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.08; P = 0.024, respectively]. Conclusion: The most important predictors of COVID-19 infection appear to be generally well-known among the general population, however, their knowledge and adherence to preventive measures should be continuously re-evaluated. This study highlights the need for greater awareness to improve precautionary behaviours among the public. Keywords: COVID-19, risky behaviours, knowledge, attitude, preventive measures, Lebanon Contexte : L'Organisation mondiale de la Santé a souvent réitéré ses recommandations pour la prévention de la COVID-19, mais le succès de ces mesures dépend en grande partie des connaissances et des attitudes du public. Objectifs : La présente étude évaluait le lien entre les connaissances, l'attitude, le comportement et les mesures de prévention de l'infection par la COVID-19 au sein d'une population libanaise. Méthodes : Cette étude transversale a été menée entre septembre et octobre 2020 à l'aide de la technique d'échantillonnage en boule de neige et d'un questionnaire auto-administré en ligne. Le questionnaire comprenait quatre parties ciblant les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les antécédents médicaux, les connaissances, l'attitude et les pratiques (mesures de prévention et comportements liés à la COVID-19) ainsi que des variables de la santé mentale telles que la détresse psychologique. Deux modèles ont été dérivés à l'aide de la régression logistique multivariable binomiale afin d'optimiser le tableau des corrélats de la COVID-19. Résultats : Notre échantillon comprenait 1119 adultes. Le fait d'être plus âgé, d'être une femme, un consommateur régulier d'alcool, un fumeur de pipe à eau, d'avoir un faible niveau d'éducation, un faible revenu familial et d'avoir un contact avec un patient atteint de COVID-19 était corrélé à une probabilité accrue d'avoir déjà reçu un diagnostic de COVID-19. Les participants ayant déjà reçu un diagnostic de COVID-19 avaient une connaissance significativement meilleure et une échelle de pratique à risque plus élevé [odds ratio ajusté (ORa) = 1,49 ; IC à 95% 1,27-1,74 ; p < 0,001 ; et ORa = 1,04 ; IC à 95% 1,01-1,08 ; p = 0,024, respectivement]. Conclusion : Les facteurs prédictifs les plus importants de l'infection COVID-19 semblent généralement bien connus par la population générale, mais leurs connaissances et leur respect des mesures de prévention devraient être réévalués en permanence. La présente étude souligne la nécessité d'une plus grande sensibilisation afin d'améliorer les comportements de précaution au sein du public.