This study provide an up-to-date overview of the epidemiology and risk factors for Candida bloodstream infection in Scotland in 2012/2013, and the antifungal susceptibility of isolates from blood cultures from 11 National Health Service boards within Scotland. Candida isolates were identified by chromogenic agar and confirmed by MALDI–TOF methods. Survival and associated risk factors for patients stratified as albicans and non-albicans cases were assessed. Information on the spectrum of antifungals used was collected and summarized. The isolates sensitivity to different antifungals was tested by broth microdilution method and interpreted according to CLSI/EUCAST guidelines. Forty one percent of candidaemia cases were associated with Candida albicans, followed by C. glabrata (35%), C. parapsilosis (11.5%), and remainder with other Candida spp. C. albicans and C. glabrata infections were associated with 20.9 and 16.3% mortality, respectively. Survival of patients with C. albicans was significantly lower compared to non-C. albicans and catheter line removal in C. albicans patients significantly increases the survival days. Predisposing factors such as total parenteral nutrition, and number of days on mechanical ventilation or in intensive care, were significantly associated with C. albicans infections. Fluconazole was used extensively (64.5%) for treating candidaemia cases followed by echinocandins (33.8%). Based on CLSI breakpoints, MIC test found no resistance to any antifungals tested except 5.26% fluconazole resistance among C. glabrata isolates. Moreover, by comparing to EUCAST breakpoints we found 3.95% of C. glabrata isolates were resistant to anidulafungin. We have observed a shift in Candida spp. with an increasing isolation of C. glabrata. Delay and choice of antifungal treatment are associated with poor clinical outcomes.

To our knowledge, we have demonstrated, using national capability at scale, the risk of MDR in community urine isolates for the first time and quantified the cumulative and sustained impact of antibiotic exposure. These data will inform the development of decision support tools for UTI treatment.

Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is one of the most prevalent protozoan pathogens responsible for inducing human and animal disease worldwide. In this study, the glycoprotein-60 (gp60) subtyping tool was employed to assess the molecular diversity of C. parvum from human feces throughout Scotland during potential outbreaks. Over a 24-month period, microscopy analysis revealed 1139 positive feces containing Cryptosporidium species with 256 identified by molecular methods specifically as C. parvum. Cryptosporidium parvum was shown to be more prevalent in rural areas of Scotland and subtyping of 87 isolates demonstrated the predominant family as IIa, which occurred in 94% (n=82) of isolates. The IIaA15G1R1 subtype was most common, being isolated from 47% (n=41) of Scottish human cases. Non-IIa strains constituted a total of 5 isolates and included subtypes from the IIc, IId and IIg families. This information contributes significantly to existing knowledge and understanding of C. parvum subtypes in Scotland which is vital in assisting with the management of future local and national outbreaks.

arms, 27% of patients had IL-6 levels ≥3 pg/mL and 13% had CRP levels ≥5 mg/L, at the end of the MONET trial. The risk of elevations in IL-6 was greater for patients with HCV coinfection. Therefore, new analyses correlating IL-6 and CRP levels with clinical disease progression or cardiovascular risk need to control for coinfection with HCV. FundingThe MONET trial was funded by Janssen. Transparency declarationsJ. A. has received payments from Janssen for speaker engagements and advisory boards. A. H. has received consultancy payments from Janssen. N. X., Y. van D. and C. M. are employees of Janssen.