Papers by Britt Van Meensel
Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2016
Enterobacteriaceae causing community-acquired urinary tract infections were examined in selected ... more Enterobacteriaceae causing community-acquired urinary tract infections were examined in selected outpatient clinics and hospitals in Belgium, Germany and Spain using EUCAST breakpoints for susceptibility. A total of 1190 isolates were collected. Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (28.1%), ciprofloxacin (23.4%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (21.4%) compared with fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin (each, <1.5%). Ceftibuten (MIC 50/90 0.25/0.5 mg/L) and ceftriaxone activity (MIC 50/90 0.25 mg/L) was comparable. Ceftibuten (MIC 90 0.25 mg/L) was also active against Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spp. Extendedspectrum β-lactamase phenotypes were 7.1% for E. coli, 5.6% for Klebsiella pneumoniae and 0.4% for P. mirabilis. Resistance was common among men and elderly women.
Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde, 2015
Published Ahead of Print 21 October 2009. 10.1128/JCM.01756-09. 2009, 47(12):3871. DOI: J. Clin. ... more Published Ahead of Print 21 October 2009. 10.1128/JCM.01756-09. 2009, 47(12):3871. DOI: J. Clin. Microbiol. Katrien Lagrou Meersseman, Britt Van Meensel, Johan Van Eldere and Jan Verhaegen, Eric Verbeken, Paul De Munter, Wouter Stefanie Desmet, Eric Van Wijngaerden, Johan Maertens, Hematological Malignancy Immunodeficiency Virus Infection or Pneumonia in Patients with Human Pneumocystis jirovecii Diagnosis of -d-Glucan as a Tool for β Serum (1-3)-
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 2016
W e read with interest the publication by Trenchs et al 1 'Blood Cultures are not Useful in the E... more W e read with interest the publication by Trenchs et al 1 'Blood Cultures are not Useful in the Evaluation of Children with Uncomplicated Superficial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections'. This retrospective study showed that although 79% of patients had a blood culture, only 2 (0.6%) patients had a significant pathogen isolated. The crucial information that is not clearly stated is whether these patients were clinically different from the other patients in the study. Without this, the question remains what risk physicians are prepared to take by not taking a blood culture. The authors also did not detail whether these positive culture results affected subsequent management such as other investigations or antibiotic duration, which may be because of difficulties inherent in retrospective data collection. We prospectively collected clinical and microbiological data on 162 patients with uncomplicated moderate/severe cellulitis (excluding complicated wounds, such as bites or containing foreign bodies, varicella and immunosuppression) receiving intravenous antibiotics. The majority-138 (85%) patients-had a blood culture. Only one (0.6%) patient had a positive culture, growing Staphylococcus aureus. He presented with 5 days of fever (38.5°C), lethargy and anorexia and 1 day of erythema and swelling over his left ankle. Difficulty with weight-bearing precipitated his hospital presentation. As data collection was prospective this culture result was deemed unusual. After 36 hours of antibiotics, he was afebrile with improving erythema, but the swelling remained. He therefore
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2004
TABLE 1. Epidemiological and clinical data for species of the genus Bartonella Bartonella species... more TABLE 1. Epidemiological and clinical data for species of the genus Bartonella Bartonella species Reservoir host Disease in humans a First cultivation (yr) Reference(s) B. bacilliformis Human Carrion's disease 1919 68 B. talpae Mole Unknown 14 B. peromysci Unknown 1942 14 B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii Rodents Unknown 1946 7 B. quintana Human TF, BA, BAC, END 1961 61 B. henselae Cats CSD, BA, BAC, END 1990 96 B. elizabethae Rats END (one case) 1993 27 B. grahamii RET (one case) 1995 14 B. taylorii Unknown 1995 14 B. doshiae Unknown 1995 14 B. clarridgeiae Cats Unknown 1995 59 B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii Dogs END (one case) 1995 17 B. tribocorum Rats Unknown 1998 43 B. koehlerae Cats Unknown 1999 33 B. alsatica Rabbit Unknown 1999 42 B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis Rodents BAC (one case) 1999 107 B. bovis (weissii) Cows Unknown 2002 (1999) 12, 22 B. washoensis Rodents MYOC (one case) 2000 16 B. birtlesii Rats Unknown 2000 13 B. schoenbuchensis Ruminant Unknown 2001 29 B. capreoli Ruminant Unknown 2002 12
Medical Mycology, 2007
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an emerging infectious disease in different groups of immunocompro... more Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an emerging infectious disease in different groups of immunocompromised patients. In transplant recipients, intensification of immunosuppressive therapy to treat allograft rejection poses a major risk factor for IA. We present the clinical features, diagnostic findings and outcome of a kidney transplant recipient who developed pulmonary aspergillosis complicated by endocarditis of his native tricuspid valve. Despite replacement of the valve and treatment with combined antifungal therapy, the patient died of an acute pulmonary bleeding.
Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 2007
Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde
A horse rider with lesions on hands and ankles. The medical history of a 21-year-old female horse... more A horse rider with lesions on hands and ankles. The medical history of a 21-year-old female horse rider with dermatophytosis due to Microsporum praecox is reported. The patient presented with pruritic, papular lesions on the hands, feet and ankles. Antifungal therapy with oral terbinafine during 28 days resulted in a complete remission of the fungal lesions. M. praecox is a geophilic dermatophyte which is rarely reported as a cause of human lesions. It is present in soil and often in equine environments (saddles, straw, stables, etc.). Therefore, most human cases are linked to contact with horses. In patients presenting these lesions on the upper or lower limbs and with direct or indirect contact with horses, a skin scraping should be executed for a mycological examination.
Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde
As many as 75 percent of the women report having at least one episode of vulvovaginal candidosis ... more As many as 75 percent of the women report having at least one episode of vulvovaginal candidosis during their lifetime. The diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidosis requires clinical data as well as a positive microscopic examination and/or a positive culture. A vaginal culture is indicated only if the microscopic examination is negative during an acute vulvovaginal candidiasis episode. During a recurrent vulvovaginitis a vaginal culture has to be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to identify the specific Candida species involved. It is important to detect if a recurrent infection is caused by Candida glabrata. The physician may inform the patient that this species remains difficult to treat and select a treatment with an other antifungal agent than fluconazole (e.g. boric acid capsules). Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is defined as four or more proven Candida vaginitis episodes yearly, and is actually treated with a maintenance therapy. Optimally this therapy is executed on de...
Acta clinica Belgica
We describe a case of a 52-year-old man presenting with bilateral adrenal masses. A Histoplasma c... more We describe a case of a 52-year-old man presenting with bilateral adrenal masses. A Histoplasma capsulatum infection was diagnosed on the basis of culture, pathological findings, Histoplasma antigen detection and molecular testing. The patient was treated with itraconazole and initially showed a good response. However, after discontinuation of one year of therapy, a relapse was seen and therapy was restarted. This case illustrates that histoplasmosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with bilateral adrenal enlargement. Of all the diagnostic tests that are available, serology and antigen detection are the only rapid and non-invasive tests. Antigen detection can also be used for further follow-up of the disease.
Acta Clinica Belgica, 2014
The gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis is the presence of typical eggs in ... more The gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis is the presence of typical eggs in stool or urine. The laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis and Katayama syndrome in returning travellers is difficult because the number of excreted eggs is often very limited. In early infections and in patients with only a few contacts with contaminated water, the total number of parasites, migrating larvae or schistosomulae, and adult worms, is very low. Eggs can only be found in faeces or urine when there is at least one pair of adult worms at the final location. The number of parasites increases as a function of the number of contacts with infected water. The exact latency between contamination and egg production is unknown. It is estimated that excretion of eggs starts after 40-50 days. The specific diagnosis of early schistosomiasis and Katayama fever relies essentially on serologic tests or preferably on PCR (if available). These assays are much more sensitive (up to four times) in the early phase of schistosomiasis than microscopic examination for typical eggs. Eosinophilia (sometimes exceeding 50%) is often present in patients with acute schistosomiasis (Katayama fever), but may be limited or absent in late fibrotic manifestations of the disease.
Microbial Drug Resistance, 2010
This study aims to determine the presence of extended-spectrum (ESBL) in Klebsiella pneumoniae is... more This study aims to determine the presence of extended-spectrum (ESBL) in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from raw vegetables by genotypic and phenotypic method. Fifty-three K. pneumoniae isolates that were obtained by plating method were confirmed by PCR.
Journal of Travel Medicine, 2014
We report three laboratory-confirmed dengue virus (DENV) infections imported to Belgium by travel... more We report three laboratory-confirmed dengue virus (DENV) infections imported to Belgium by travelers returning from Madeira (Portugal). Despite the use of a mosquito-repellent spray as reported by two patients, the infection could not be prevented. Diagnosis was made by antigen detection and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in two cases and by serology 1 month after onset of symptoms in a third one. The responsible virus was identified as DENV serotype 1, American/African genotype (genotype V). The close relationship to isolates from Colombia supports the previous findings that a South American strain originated the outbreak in Madeira in 2012.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and 28 control patients. The sensitivity and specificity o... more Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and 28 control patients. The sensitivity and specificity of BG detection with the Fungitell assay for PCP were 100 and 96.4%, respectively, using a cutoff value of 100 pg/ml. Serum BG testing looks promising for the noninvasive diagnosis of PCP. Our data suggest that a higher cutoff value for the diagnosis of PCP than for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis or candidiasis could be used safely and will improve the specificity of the test.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic reliability and prognostic significance of t... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic reliability and prognostic significance of the quantification of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in amniotic fluid (AF). We retrospectively reviewed the results for 282 amniotic fluid samples that had been tested for CMV by a quantitative real-time PCR. We observed three cases in which no CMV genomes were detected in the AF but in which the children were nevertheless congenitally infected. Hence, we conclude that a negative result by PCR for CMV in AF cannot rule out the possibility of congenital infection. No false-positive PCR results were observed. A correlation between the CMV viral load in AF and the fetal and neonatal outcomes could not be demonstrated in our study. Instead, a correlation was found between the CMV viral load and the gestational age at the time of amniocentesis.
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2007
S539 N-terminal of the protein, respectively. E. coli BL21-AI harbouring constructs were induced ... more S539 N-terminal of the protein, respectively. E. coli BL21-AI harbouring constructs were induced by addition of L-Arabinose. HCVcp was purified in both native and denatured condition by NI-NTA agarose and characterised by SDS-PAGE, Immunoblotting and SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antigenic and immunogenic properties of HCVcp were evaluated with HCV-infected human and immunised mice sera by ELISA respectively. Ability of particulate formation of proteins was examined by immuno-gold electron microscopy. Results: The yields of protein expression were 25 and 16 mg/L in denatured versus 7 and 4 mg/L in native purification for N-versus C-HCVcp, respectively. N-terminal fragmented products of 9 and 11 Kd, which were not due to proteolytic activity but apparently result of ribosomal release were identified. However, these fragmented products were not purified with C-HCVcp. Diagnostic properties of natively purified proteins were predominant and still better for C-HCVcp, However N-HCVcp reacted with C-HCVcp-Immunised mice sera in lower titers. Only natively purified proteins were capable of particulate formation and assembling to generate VLPs. Conclusion: Purification in denatured/refolding condition may not result to proper conformation of HCVcp, thereby native purification may be undertaken for any kind of applications. C-HCVcp which can be purified as a homogenous product is predominant for diagnostic and pathogenic studies while N-HCVcp that is purified as both fragmented and complete products may be used for generation of antibodies because of better presentation of linear epitopes which are mostly located on the Nterminal of HCVcp.
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Papers by Britt Van Meensel