A 15-month survey of 412 bloodstream yeast isolates from 54 Belgian hospitals was undertaken. Candida albicans was the most common species (47·3%) followed by C. glabrata (25·7%), C. parapsilosis (8·0%), C. tropicalis (6·8%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (5·1%). Common predisposing factors were antibacterial therapy (45%), hospitalization in intensive care units (34%), presence of in-dwelling catheters (32%), underlying cancer (23%) and major surgery (11%). Most patients had more than one predisposing factor. Fluconazole alone or in combination with another antifungal agent was the treatment of choice for 86·6% of the cases. Susceptibility testing revealed that 93·5% were susceptible to amphotericin B, 39·6% to itraconazole, 42·8% to fluconazole and 87% to voriconazole. Resistance to azoles was more common among C. glabrata isolates.

Squirrelpox virus (SQPV) causes a fatal disease in free-living red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) which has contributed to their decline in the United Kingdom. Given the difficulty of carrying out and funding experimental investigations on free-living wild mammals, data collected from closely monitored natural outbreaks of disease is crucial to our understanding of disease epidemiology. A conservation programme was initiated in the 1990s to bolster the population of red squirrels in the coniferous woodland of Thetford Chase, East Anglia. In 1996, 24 red squirrels were reintroduced to Thetford from Northumberland and Cumbria, while in 1999 a captive breeding and release programme commenced, but in both years the success of the projects was hampered by an outbreak of SQPV disease in which seven and four red squirrels died respectively. Valuable information on the host–pathogen dynamics of SQPV disease was gathered by telemetric and mark–recapture monitoring of the red squirrels. SQPV disease characteristics were comparable to other virulent poxviral infections: the incubation period was <15 days; the course of the disease an average of 10 days and younger animals were significantly more susceptible to disease. SQPV disease places the conservation of the red squirrel in jeopardy in the United Kingdom unless practical disease control methods can be identified.

We studied the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the Czech Republic by analysing two sources of data. The incidence of pneumococcal meningitis based on routine notification data varied between 0·4 and 0·6/100 000 population between 1997 and 2006. The incidence of IPD based on laboratory surveillance varied between 2·3 and 4·3/100 000 population between 2000 and 2006. The annual IPD incidence remained stable during the study period. Estimates of absolute IPD case-load in the entire country varied from 235 to 437 per year. The age-specific incidence was highest in the <1 year age group, reaching 4·3/100 000 for pneumococcal meningitis in routine notification and 15·7/100 000 for IPD in laboratory-based surveillance data, respectively. A total of 1236 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from cerebrospinal fluid and sterile body sites were investigated. The most frequent serotypes causing IPD in all ages were 3, 4, 14, 8 and 19F, accounting for 41·5% of all isolates. The most frequent serotypes by age group were: <1 year (6B and 19F); 1–4 years (14, 6B and 23F); 40–64 years (3, 8 and 4), and ⩾65 years (3, 4, 9N and 14). The coverage of serotypes in all age groups by pneumococcal vaccines ranged from 41·5% for 7-valent conjugate vaccine to 67·9% for 13-valent conjugate vaccine. The coverage of serotypes causing IPD is significantly different between infants/children and adults/elderly. PCV-7 coverage by age group was: <1 year (66·0%), 1–4 years (65·1%), 40–64 years (34·4%) and ⩾65 years (39·3%). Similar age differences between infants/children and adults/elderly were found in coverage by PCV-9, PCV-11 and PCV-13. The distribution of serotypes in the total population and individual age groups was stable during the period 2000–2006.

Classical swine fever (CSF) is a disease of pigs that imposes major hardship on the industry of infected regions. The recent history of CSF epidemics suggests that animal movements remain the main source of CSF virus (CSFV) infection for susceptible populations in Europe. This study presents an assessment of the risk of introducing CSFV into Spain through the importation of live susceptible animals. Results suggest that, if prevailing conditions persist, introduction of CSFV into Spain is likely to occur on average every 9 years and that introduction is almost three times more likely to occur via domestic pigs than through wild boars. The highest risk was concentrated in March and in the Northeastern provinces of Spain. Results were consistent with the time and location of previous CSFV introductions into the country. The methodology and the results presented here will contribute to improve the CSF prevention programme in Spain.

Two hundred and four Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S. Typhi) isolates were collected from seven Asian countries during 2002–2004. Multidrug-resistant S. Typhi (resistant to ⩾3 antibiotics) was detected in 84 (41·2%) isolates and 142 (69·6%) showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentration=0·125–1·0 mg/l). This study highlights the worsening situation of antimicrobial resistance of S. Typhi in Asia.

An open-label, prospective cohort, active healthcare-associated infection surveillance sequential study was conducted in four Italian intensive-care units. The aim was to determine the effect of switching from open (glass) to closed fully collapsible plastic intravenous (i.v.) infusion containers (Viaflo®) on rate and time to onset of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI). A total of 1173 adult patients were enrolled. The CVC-BSI rate during the open container period was significantly higher than during the closed container period (8·2 vs. 3·5 BSI/1000 CVC days, relative risk 0·43, 95% confidence interval 0·22–0·84, P=0·01). The probability of developing a CVC-BSI was assessed over time comparing open and closed i.v. infusion containers. In the closed container period, it remained fairly constant (0·8% at days 1–3 to 1·4% at days 7–9) whereas during the open container period it increased (2% at days 1–3 to 5·8% at days 7–9). Overall, the chance of acquiring a CVC-BSI significantly decreased by 61% in the closed container period (Cox proportional hazard ratio 0·39, P=0·004).

We investigated two sequential outbreaks of severe diarrhoea in two neighbouring villages of Orissa, in 2005. We conducted descriptive and matched case-control studies. The attack rates were 5·6% (n=62) and 5·2% (n=51), respectively, in the first and second villages. One death was reported in the second village (case fatality 2%). We identified that consumption of milk products prepared in the household of the index case [matched odds ratio (mOR) 5·7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·7–30] in the first village, and drinking well water in the second village were associated with the illness (mOR 4·7, 95% CI 1·6–19). We isolated Vibrio cholerae El Tor O1 Ogawa from stool samples from both the villages. Mishandling of milk products led to a cholera outbreak in the first village, which led to sewerage contamination of a well and another outbreak in the second village. Environmental contamination should be expected and prevented during cholera outbreaks.

In March 2007, an outbreak of gastroenteritis was identified at a school camp in rural Victoria, Australia, affecting about half of a group of 55 students. A comprehensive investigation was initiated to identify the source. Twenty-seven attendees were found to have abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea (attack rate 49%). Of 11 faecal specimens tested all were positive for Salmonella Typhimurium definitive phage type 9 (DT9). Of four samples taken from the untreated private water supply, two were positive for DT9. Drinking water from containers filled from rainwater tanks [relative risk (RR) 3·2, P=0·039] and participation in two recreational activities – flying fox (RR 5·3, P=0·011), and beam-balance (RR 3·9, P=0·050) – were indicative of a link with illness. Environmental and epidemiological investigations suggested rainwater collection tanks contaminated with DT9 as being the cause of the outbreak. Increased use of rainwater tanks may heighten the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks unless appropriate preventative measures are undertaken.

Two independent studies were conducted to describe symptoms and potential risk factors associated with Blastocystis infection. Isolates were subtyped by molecular analysis. In the NORMAT study (126 individuals randomly sampled from the general population) 24 (19%) were positive for Blastocystis. Blastocystis was associated with irritable bowel syndrome (P=0·04), contact with pigs (P<0·01) and poultry (P=0·03). In the Follow-up (FU) study (follow-up of 92 Blastocystis-positive patients), reports on bloating were associated with subtype (ST) 2 (P<0·01), and blood in stool to mixed subtype infection (P=0·06). ST1 was more common in FU individuals (32%) than in NORMAT individuals (8%), whereas single subtype infections due to ST3 or ST4 were seen in 63% of the NORMAT cases and 28% of the FU cases. Only FU individuals hosted ST7, and ST6/7 infections due to ST7 or ST9 were characterized by multiple intestinal symptoms. The data indicate subtype-dependent differences in the clinical significance of Blastocystis.

Cryptosporidium species have emerged as a major cause of outbreaks of diarrhoea and have been associated with consumption of contaminated recreational and drinking water and food as well as contact with infected attendees of child-care programmes. In August 2007, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment detected an increase in cryptosporidiosis cases over baseline values. We conducted a case-control study to assess risk factors for infection and collected stool specimens from ill persons for microscopy and molecular analysis. Laboratory-confirmed cases (n=47) were more likely to have swallowed untreated water from a lake, river, or stream [adjusted matched odds ratio (aOR) 8·0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·3–48·1], have had exposure to recreational water (aOR 4·6, 95% CI 1·4–14·6), or have had contact with a child in a child-care programme or in diapers (aOR 3·8, 95% CI 1·5–9·6). Although exposure to recreational water is commonly implicated in summertime cryptosporidiosis outbreaks, this study demonstrates that investigations of increased incidence of cases in summer should also examine other potential risk factors. This study emphasizes the need for public health education efforts that address the multiple transmission routes for Cryptosporidium and appropriate prevention measures to avoid future transmission.

The first of several cases of meningococcal meningitis was reported in April 2005, in New Delhi, India. Subsequent to this the Government declared an outbreak, which persisted for two periods, from April–July 2005 and January–March 2006. The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) recommended using WHO criteria for diagnosis of disease. During the outbreak 380 clinically suspected cases were investigated. Of 55 cases diagnosed as confirmed/probable the mortality rate was 14·6%. Meningitis was reported in 60% of cases and meningococcaemia in 40%. Microscopy of petechial rash was positive in 87·5%, CSF Gram stain positive in 68·3%, and latex agglutination test of CSF positive in 64·9% of samples. Neisseria meningitidis (serogroup A) was isolated from 37·7% of cases, 57·7% from CSF. Blood culture was positive in 10·4% of cases. CrgA polymerase chain reaction for N. meningitidis confirmed the isolates. All isolates were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, azithromycin and rifampicin, with increasing resistance to ceftriaxone. Penicillin resistance was encountered in 15·4% of strains. Resistance to quinolones was very high at 100% for levofloxacin, 84·6% for ofloxacin and 65·4% for ciprofloxacin. All patients with penicillin-resistant organisms (4) or intermediate sensitivity (4) succumbed to the disease. These patients also had a higher minimum inhibitory concentration to ceftriaxone.

Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the elderly population of England and Wales during the winter of 2003/2004 (1 November 2003 to 30 April 2004) were characterized by serotyping and genotyping in order to determine their population structure in the elderly. Serotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were carried out on 542 invasive isolates referred to the Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory. Pneumococci were distributed among 32 serotypes and 144 MLST sequence types. A high genetic diversity was observed within the major serotypes. Genetic relatedness varied with regard to serotype. Isolates within serotypes 3, 7F and 8 were the most genetically related whereas serotypes 6A and 19F comprised isolates originating from unrelated ancestors. There was indirect evidence that some pneumococci were derived from clones that had undergone capsular switching in the past. Interestingly one case of IPD was caused by a pneumococcus originating from a clone that had undergone capsular switching from serotype 18C, a serotype included in 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to serotype 1 (serotype not included in PCV) suggesting that virulent clones with the potential ability to evade PCV existed in the pneumococcal population prior to the routine introduction of this vaccine. Isolates from 28 cases of apparent 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) failure were included but there was no evidence of the emergence of particular clones associated with vaccine failures. Longitudinal studies based on serotypic and genetic characterization of pneumococci are fundamental to understanding the impact of both PPV and PCV on the genetic structure of pneumococcal populations.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by various species of Leishmania is a significant zoonotic disease in many parts of the world. We describe the first cases of Australian cutaneous leishmaniasis in eight northern wallaroos, one black wallaroo and two agile wallabies from the Northern Territory of Australia. Diagnosis was made through a combination of gross appearance of lesions, cytology, histology, direct culture, serology and a species-specific real-time PCR. The causative organism was found to be the same unique species of Leishmania previously identified in red kangaroos. These clinical findings provide further evidence for the continuous transmission of the Australian Leishmania species and its presence highlights the importance of continued monitoring and research into the life-cycle of this parasite.

An in-flight incident of vomiting in the cabin and toilet on a trans-Pacific aircraft flight resulted in an outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness among passengers, some of whom subsequently joined a 14-day cruise in New Zealand and Australia. A retrospective cohort analysis of illness occurring in aircraft passengers was undertaken using routine GI illness surveillance data collected by medical staff on a cruise vessel. This was supplemented with data collected from some other passengers and crew on the aircraft. Information was gathered on 224 of the 413 (54·2%) people on the flight (222 passengers and 2 crew members). GI illness within 60 h of arrival in Auckland was reported by 41 of the 122 (33·6%, Fisher's 95% confidence interval 25·3–42·7) passengers seated in the two zones adjacent to the vomiting incident. The pattern of illness suggests a viral infection and highlights the potential of aerosol transmission as well as surface contamination in a closed environment. The spread of infection may have been enhanced by cross-contamination in the toilet cubicle. The significance of the vomiting event was not recognized by the aircraft cabin crew and no pre-arrival information about on-board illness was given to airport health authorities. Isolation of vomiting passengers, where possible, and promotion of appropriate hand hygiene on aircraft has the potential to reduce the spread of infection in passengers on long-haul flights.