Corynebacteria were isolated from breast tissue, pus, or deep wound swabs of 24 women; the most common species isolated was the newly described Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii, followed by Corynebacterium amycolatum and Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum. Gram-positive bacilli were seen in samples sent for culture or in histological specimens for 12 women, and 9 of the 12 women from whom adequate histological specimens were obtained had conditions that met the criteria for granulomatous lobular mastitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology.
Metronidazole, cefoxitin, piperacillin/tazobactam and amoxicillin/clavulanate remain good empirical choices when anaerobes are expected in our setting. No clinically relevant changes in susceptibility over time were found.
A national protocol for structured follow-up and texting of repeat newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) sample requests was introduced. Repeat samples are needed where the initial sample is inadequate or the result borderline-positive. This protocol aimed to improve the timeliness and completeness of receipt of repeat NBS samples. Under the structured protocol, all repeat sample requests were phoned or texted to the lead maternity carer (LMC), in addition to the standard written report issued. Weekly text reminders were sent until 4 weeks or the sample was received. National data were monitored following implementation of the protocol. The proportion of repeat samples received within 10 days of request improved after the introduction of the protocol, from 35.0% in 2013 to 81.4% in 2020 (p < 0.001). The proportion of requests lost to follow-up decreased, from 4.1% in 2013 to 1.3% in 2020 (p < 0.001). A structured NBS follow-up protocol that included SMS text messaging led to an earlier and more complete receipt of repeat samples. This is likely due to practitioners receiving the request more quickly, as well as the laboratory adopting a consistent approach to repeated reminders. SMS text messages are a useful adjunctive method for screening programmes to communicate with health care providers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.