11 research outputs found
DELPHI results on the measurement of the partial hadronic widths of the Z0 using neural networks
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Botulism: An overlooked cause of bulbar weakness in intensive care: A case report
No full textIntroduction: Botulism is a rare but potentially life-threatening syndrome caused by botulinum neurotoxin. The classic presentation of botulism is the acute onset of bilateral cranial neuropathies associated with symmetric descending weakness. The antitoxin is the main therapeutic option for botulism, in addition to supportive care with intubation and mechanical ventilation when necessary. The outcome is usually favorable, with a slow but full neurological recovery. This case presents a difficult diagnosis of the sporadic form of adult intestinal toxemia, with a delayed diagnosis. Case Presentation: We report a 64-year-old patient who presented in a confused state with weakness in the limbs, bilateral ptosis, and dysarthria. Because of disease progression with respiratory compromise, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. The diagnosis of botulism was eventually confirmed in the stool 46 days after presentation. By the end of follow-up, the patient still received rehabilitation. The outcome was good, except for the concomitant neurodegenerative disorder with the need for institutionalization at a residential care center. Conclusion: This case report illustrates the difficulties in diagnosing a patient with botulism in the ICU, especially if associated with comorbidities. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common because of the rarity of the disease and overlapping signs and symptoms with other neurological diseases. Increasing the awareness of this disease is important to prevent mortality and morbidity
Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance : yearly report 2024
No full textAbstract: This report presents the activities performed in 2024 within the framework of the national wastewater- based epidemiology surveillance project. The project is funded by the federal and regional (Agence pour une Vie de Qualit\ue9 (AVIQ), Vivalis and Departement Zorg) health autorities. The activities described in this report are divided in three main categories: routine surveillances, research projects and other miscellaneous activities. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an innovative One Health approach for the testing of various issues relevant to public health. Although WBE is well documented for the monitoring of illicit drugs and poliomyelitis, the interest in its utilisation to assess broader public health issues has recently exploded as countries assessed WBE for monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, researchers and public health institutes have been researching how WBE can be actionable for broader topics within the domains of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biomarkers. In Belgium, Sciensano coordinates the wastewater surveillance in collaboration with the regional wastewater agencies (Aquafin, Hydria, SPGE with the Organismes d\u2019Assainissement Agr\ue9\ue9s AIDE, IDEA, IDELUX Eau, in BW, INASEP, IGRETEC, IPALLE) for the sampling and their expertise within the wastewater sector. Additionally, collaborations have been established with Aquiris, Veolia and Brussels Airport Company for the sampling of the treatment plants of Brussels-North and Brussels Airport. Several other collaborations exist with Belgian regional and academic institutions (ISSeP, University of Antwerp, University of Namur, KU Leuven and Ghent University). These collaborations aim to strengthen and share knowledge to support the project developments and advance research on wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance. At the European level, Sciensano serves as the focal point in Belgium for wastewater related health topics. Sciensano is a partner of the EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health, the EU-Wastewater Integrated Surveillance for Public Health (EU-WISH) and the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON). EU-WISH is supported by co-funding from the European Union\u2019s EU4Health programme under Grant Agreement Nr 101140460. Sciensano is involved in work packages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. GLOWACON was launched in collaboration between the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). The Belgian wastewater surveillance project started by monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in September 2020 as an innovative and complementary tool to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. This surveillance proved to be efficient and of added value to the existing patient case-based surveillance systems at the level of clinical laboratories, general physicians and hospitals. In January 2024, the surveillance was therefore extended to two other major respiratory pathogens impacting healthcare systems: influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Also, wastewater surveillance of poliomyelitis was initiated in January 2024, as Belgium was classified as at an intermediate risk of re-emergence of poliovirus by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Similarly, a surveillance of mpox virus (MPXV) was launched in June 2024 to monitor a possible introduction in Belgium following a recent outbreak of the new clade Ib in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its spread to neighbouring African countries. Altogether, 1 721 samples were collected and 13 091 laboratory analyses were performed in 2024 for the routine surveillance of respiratory viruses, poliomyelitis and mpox. The report also present several research projects carried out by Sciensano in 2024, using samples collected in the framework of the national wastewater surveillance project. These research projects focus on antimicrobial resistance, acute gastroenteritis viruses, Neisseria gonorrhoea and flaviviruses 8 such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis virus, Usutu virus, West Nile virus and Tickborne encephalitis virus. The laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene of the University of Antwerp also carried out research on the detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV). A project on the detection of ketamine, an increasing misused drug has been performed by the Toxicological Centre of the University of Antwerp. A wastewater repository has been set up from January 2024 onwards with the aim to store samples collected weekly from 31 WWTPs. This tool will create new opportunities by enabling retrospective analyses and supporting public health research and development in wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance. A support committee was organised in June and December 2024 with the stakeholders (wastewater regional agencies, Belgian institutes, universities and health authorities) during which an update on the last epidemiological situation in wastewater was given as well as on the last technical developments. Research projects were also presented and future developments and strategies discussed
