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Brucella suis infection in the United States is typically from feral swine exposure. We describe a case of B. suis cardiac implantable device infection in a man exposed to meat and blood from feral swine in Florida, USA. The infection was diagnosed using culture, molecular diagnostics, and whole-genome sequencing.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), although frequently reported in pediatric populations, is also associated with significant morbidity and mortality in vulnerable adults. From an Infection Control perspective, it is therefore of particular concern in hospital and long-term care settings. We report an RSV outbreak that occurred in the memory care unit of a Veterans Affairs-affiliated long-term care facility where the characteristics of the resident population posed unique challenges to halting transmission. The outbreak occurred in a 30-bed unit within a 230-bed Veterans Affairs-affiliated long-term care facility in Florida. An investigation was performed in coordination with the local Department of Health. All residents on the affected unit had dementia with resulting difficulty participating in infection prevention measures, including isolation, masking, and hand hygiene. Interventions implemented included twice weekly RSV testing, enhanced cleaning protocols, staggered mealtimes/outdoor dining, and cancellation of group activities, visitations, and new admissions. A retrospective case-control study was performed to assess for potential risk factors for acquiring RSV. Over a 21-day period in 2022, 20 out of 29 residents tested positive for RSV within the affected unit. No other units were involved. Univariate analysis did not find any statistically significant risk factors for acquiring RSV infection, although small sample size may have impacted the results. A multifaceted approach was ultimately successful in preventing ongoing transmission of RSV within and beyond the unit. The infection control techniques utilized in this unique patient population could potentially be applicable to challenging outbreak situations at other facilities.

To investigate a cluster of surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures, identify risk factors for infection, and implement measures to prevent new cases. The investigation comprised a retrospective case-control study and an observational review of infection control practices between the fall of 2018 and 2019 (study period). Tertiary care medical center in Florida, USA. Patients who acquired an SSI following CABG during the study period were defined as case-patients. Control-patients were randomly selected patients who did not acquire a post-CABG SSI. We recorded clinical and epidemiologic details on a standardized form and analyzed data with SAS statistical software. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Seven patients met the case definition and 21 control-patients were identified. While multiple variables were significant on univariate analysis, after controlling for confounding using multivariate analysis/logistic regression, only lower age ( < 0.0001) and meeting the requirements for appropriate perioperative temperature management (SCIP measure 10) ( = 0.01) were identified as independent risk factors for SSI. Per observational review, measures to reduce operating room traffic and limit door opening/closing were implemented and wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) use was phased out. Our institutional SSI rate returned to baseline and no additional clusters were seen in the following three years. Multiple potential risk factors exist for SSI after coronary artery bypass grafting. At our institution, minimizing operating room traffic and reducing wound VAC use may have successfully addressed these healthcare-associated infections.

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) and depression or anxiety in the rural South may have suboptimal HIV outcomes. We sought to examine the proportion of PLWH from rural Florida with symptoms of depression or anxiety, the proportion who received depression or anxiety treatment, and the relationship between untreated and treated symptoms of depression or anxiety and HIV outcomes. Cross-sectional survey data collected between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed. Among 187 PLWH residing in rural Florida (median age 49 years, 61.5%, male 45.5% Black), 127 (67.9%) met criteria for symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Among these 127 participants, 60 (47.2%) were not on depression or anxiety treatment. Participants with untreated symptoms of depression and anxiety (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–9.2, p = 0.03) and treated depression and anxiety with uncontrolled symptoms (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.5–4.0, p = 0.52) were more likely to have viral non-suppression compared to those without depression or anxiety in an unadjusted bivariate analysis. Only the association between untreated symptoms of depression and anxiety and viral non-suppression was statistically significant, and when adjusting for social and structural confounders the association was attenuated and was no longer statistically significant. This suggests that social and structural barriers impact both mental health and HIV outcomes. Our findings support the need for increased mental health services and resources that address the social and structural barriers to care for PLWH in the rural South.

is known to cause a wide variety of infectious processes in animals and is well described in the veterinary literature. However, the incidence of human infections from this organism has increased in recent years, which highlights the zoonotic potential of this pathogen. Here, we present a case of a prosthetic joint infection potentially resulting from exposure to a pet dog.

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne infection that has become increasingly more common in the United States in recent years. We present a case of a patient who was found to have confusion, hyponatremia, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after contracting Ehrlichia chaffeensis following a tick exposure. This unusual presentation emphasizes the need for increased awareness of the varied symptoms of this infection and the importance of obtaining a complete history from patients at risk of vector-borne diseases.

Cholera is a severe dehydrating illness of humans caused by Vibrio cholerae . V. cholerae is a highly motile bacterium that has a single flagellum covered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) displaying O-specific polysaccharide (OSP), and V. cholerae motility correlates with its ability to cause disease. The mechanisms of protection against cholera are not well understood; however, since V. cholerae is a noninvasive intestinal pathogen, it is likely that antibodies that bind the pathogen or its products in the intestinal lumen contribute to protection from infection. Here, we demonstrate that OSP-specific antibodies isolated from humans surviving cholera in Bangladesh inhibit V. cholerae motility and are associated with protection against challenge in a motility-dependent manner. The mechanism of protection against cholera afforded by previous illness or vaccination is currently unknown. We have recently shown that antibodies targeting O-specific polysaccharide (OSP) of Vibrio cholerae correlate highly with protection against cholera. V. cholerae is highly motile and possesses a flagellum sheathed in OSP, and motility of V. cholerae correlates with virulence. Using high-speed video microscopy and building upon previous animal-related work, we demonstrate that sera, polyclonal antibody fractions, and OSP-specific monoclonal antibodies recovered from humans surviving cholera block V. cholerae motility at both subagglutinating and agglutinating concentrations. This antimotility effect is reversed by preadsorbing sera and polyclonal antibody fractions with purified OSP and is associated with OSP-specific but not flagellin-specific monoclonal antibodies. Fab fragments of OSP-specific polyclonal antibodies do not inhibit motility, suggesting a requirement for antibody-mediated cross-linking in motility inhibition. We show that OSP-specific antibodies do not directly affect V. cholerae viability, but that OSP-specific monoclonal antibody highly protects against death in the murine cholera model. We used in vivo competitive index studies to demonstrate that OSP-specific antibodies impede colonization and survival of V. cholerae in intestinal tissues and that this impact is motility dependent. Our findings suggest that the impedance of motility by antibodies targeting V. cholerae OSP contributes to protection against cholera. IMPORTANCE Cholera is a severe dehydrating illness of humans caused by Vibrio cholerae . V. cholerae is a highly motile bacterium that has a single flagellum covered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) displaying O-specific polysaccharide (OSP), and V. cholerae motility correlates with its ability to cause disease. The mechanisms of protection against cholera are not well understood; however, since V. cholerae is a noninvasive intestinal pathogen, it is likely that antibodies that bind the pathogen or its products in the intestinal lumen contribute to protection from infection. Here, we demonstrate that OSP-specific antibodies isolated from humans surviving cholera in Bangladesh inhibit V. cholerae motility and are associated with protection against challenge in a motility-dependent manner.

We report a case of a complex skin and soft tissue infection caused by complex and following a dog bite. While Neisseria skin and soft tissue infections after dog bites have been reported, only one case of subsequent infection caused by has been noted in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of coinfection of these particular organisms following a dog bite.

infection is a major public health concern worldwide. While non-typhoidal serovars typically present with gastroenteritis, a disseminated infection may occur in high-risk individuals. After the initial invasion of the gastrointestinal mucosa, spp. are capable of hematogenous dissemination throughout the body, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. We present a case of an immunocompromised patient with lower extremity abscesses, septic arthritis, and necrotizing fasciitis to highlight an uncommon presentation of disseminated infection.

The optimal duration and choice of antibiotic for fracture-related infection (FRI) is not well defined. This study aimed to determine whether antibiotic duration (≤6 vs >6 weeks) is associated with infection- and surgery-free survival. The secondary aim was to ascertain risk factors associated with surgery- and infection-free survival. We performed a multicenter retrospective study of patients diagnosed with FRI between 2013 and 2022. The association between antibiotic duration and surgery- and infection-free survival was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Models were weighted by the inverse of the propensity score, calculated with a priori variables of hardware removal; infection due to , , or species; and flap coverage. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were run with additional covariates including initial pathogen, need for flap, and hardware removal. Of 96 patients, 54 (56.3%) received ≤6 weeks of antibiotics and 42 (43.7%) received >6 weeks. There was no association between longer antibiotic duration and surgery-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% CI, .65-1.38; = .78) or infection-free survival (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, .30-1.96; = .58). Negative culture was associated with increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.99-6.20; < .001) and reinfection or death (HR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.24-11.09; < .001). Need for flap coverage had an increased hazard of reoperation or death (HR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.61-6.54; = .001). The ideal duration of antibiotics to treat FRI is unclear. In this multicenter study, there was no association between antibiotic treatment duration and surgery- or infection-free survival.