Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk became the first high-ranking official to ask the question on everyone’s mind — Was convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein working with Russia? He added that Poland ...

BACKGROUND Aeromonas, Campylobacter and Salmonella species can cause gastrointestinal infections in humans. Information on the performance of detection methods is relevant to assess the impact of changes on surveillance. AIM We aimed to assess detection of Aeromonas, Campylobacter and Salmonella by culture and Seegene multiplex real-time PCR in faecal samples from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. METHODS In 2023, all faecal samples submitted to a clinical microbiology laboratory in Sydney, Australia, were tested for Aeromonas, Campylobacter and Salmonella species by culture and Seegene PCR, both detecting at the genus level. The results were analysed descriptively and with binomial generalised linear model, quantile regression, censored regression model and Wald tests. RESULTS Of the 90,291 samples tested, more samples were positive with PCR than with culture for Aeromonas (PCR: 2.9%; culture: 0.5%) and Campylobacter (PCR: 4.2%; culture: 3.1%), but fewer for Salmonella species (PCR: 0.7%; culture: 0.8%). Of the culture-positive samples, 19.2% were negative for Aeromonas by PCR, 3.6% for Campylobacter and 23.0% for Salmonella. Of the PCR-positive samples, 81.9% were negative for Aeromonas by culture, 25.6% for Campylobacter and 14.2% for Salmonella. Quantification cycle (Cq) values were negatively associated with patient age for Aeromonas, indicating higher bacterial loads in older patients and positively associated with age for Campylobacter, indicating lower bacterial loads in older patients (p < 0.001). Also, Cq values were negatively associated with detection by culture and faecal calprotectin levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION These findings highlight the importance of pathogen- and method-specific interpretation of PCR and culture results in diagnostic testing and surveillance.

For the first time in more than half a century, there are no limits on the world’s two largest atomic arsenals. The sole remaining nuclear arms treaty in the world, known as New START, is expiring bet...

Exclusive: Leaked documents show how universities will be assessed under new system, which was fast-tracked after Bondi terror attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he expects a US response to the Russian missile attack on Ukraine on the night of 2-3 February, recalling that Donald Trump had personally asked f...

Humor in science

The New Mexico Department of Health said officials believe the baby contracted listeria after their mother drank raw milk during pregnancy.

Donald Trump says he wants Republicans to "nationalise" US elections and has encouraged his party to "take over the voting" in at least some parts of the country.

The NSW Police commissioner announces restrictions on protests will be extended, ahead of planned demonstrations against the upcoming Sydney visit of Israel's president.

The NSW Police commissioner announces restrictions on protests will be extended, ahead of planned demonstrations against the upcoming Sydney visit of Israel's president.

The Department of Homeland Security has imposed a quarantine on a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, after two detainees contracted the disease.