Acute central nervous system (CNS) infections, such as meningitis and encephalitis, represent medical emergencies that require rapid identification of the causative pathogen to guide appropriate therapeutic interventions. The QIAstat-Dx^® Meningitis/Encephalitis (QIA/ME) is a molecular syndromic panel that enables the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens and provides the visualization of cycle threshold (Ct) values, offering rapid results for prompt clinical management. This study retrospectively tested, with the QIA/ME panel, 170 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with CNS infections, confirmed through routine diagnostic workflows. The results were compared with those obtained from bacterial culture and singleplex PCR for viral detection. The QIA/ME demonstrated 100% concordance with reference methods for bacterial and yeast infections. For viral infections, the overall detection rate was 85.9%. Specifically, when singleplex PCR results exceeded 250 copies/mL for DNA viruses and 500 copies/mL for the RNA virus, the concordance rate with the QIA/ME was 96.8%. In contrast, when PCR values were below these thresholds, the concordance rate dropped to 43.8%. A strong overall correlation was observed between the viral load measured by singleplex PCR and Ct values from the QIA/ME (ρ = −0.83, p < 0.001). Only for enterovirus a weak correlation was found (ρ = −0.40, p = 0.056). The QIA/ME panel is an effective diagnostic tool for viral CNS infections, allowing for the visualization of Ct values that reflect pathogen load in samples and which could be useful in guiding clinical decision-making and patient management.

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and total joint replacement (TJR) are effective treatments for end-stage osteoarthritis, but prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) remain a significant complication. These infections are often associated with bacteria that form biofilms, which contribute to their persistence and resistance to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the biofilm-forming ability, cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) production, and the presence of biofilm-associated genes in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) isolates obtained from synovial fluid samples of patients with PJIs following TJA and TJR. A total of 198 samples were analyzed, with bacterial growth detected in 33 samples (16.7%). Among these, 10 strains of S. aureus and 22 strains of CoNS were identified. Biofilm formation was evaluated using the crystal violet assay, and c-di-GMP levels were measured. A statistically significant linear regression was found between biofilm formation and c-di-GMP production (p = 0.016, R² = 0.18). Genetic analysis revealed the presence of biofilm-associated genes, including icaA, clfA, fnbA in S. aureus, and atlE, fbe in CoNS. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in c-di-GMP production between strains harboring the icaA gene and strains without icaA (p = 0.016), while oxacillin resistance was detected more frequently in strains carrying fbe gene (p = 0.031). The study emphasizes the variability in antibiotic resistance profiles among staphylococcal isolates, underscoring the complexity of managing these infections.

Background/Objectives: Since 2023, a significant increase in measles cases has been reported worldwide, and Italy has been among the most affected European countries. In this context, the integration of laboratory and epidemiological data enables timely case classification and helps distinguish between imported and indigenous cases, supporting disease control. However, most studies address only selected aspects of surveillance. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an integrated analysis of virological and epidemiological surveillance activities conducted between November 2023 and December 2025 by the Regional Reference Laboratory in the Emilia-Romagna Region (ERR). Methods: A total of 806 clinical samples (269 urine, 267 oral fluids—saliva or oropharyngeal swabs—and 270 sera) from 291 suspected measles cases were tested by molecular and/or serological methods, and MV genotyping was performed. Samples from discarded cases were also analysed for parvovirus B19 (B19V), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), enterovirus (EV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV). Results: Of 291 suspected cases, 176 (60.5%) were confirmed. Median age was 33 years, with 46% in the 15–39 year group. Vaccination status was available for 165: 90.3% were unvaccinated, 5.4% had one dose, and 4.2% had two doses. Notably, over half of confirmed cases occurred in areas with vaccine-hesitant communities. MV strain characterisation was performed in 99.4% of MV-RNA positive cases, with 84.3% genotype D8 and 15.6% genotype B3; 83% of strains were of indigenous origin, suggesting an ongoing endemic circulation. Clinical data showed complications in 19.3%, mainly pneumonia and diarrhoea. Additionally, differential diagnosis enabled the identification of the etiological agent in 37.5% of measles/rubella discarded cases, and 37.6% (29/77) tested positive for B19V. Conclusions: The study results highlight that effective measles surveillance must be supported by integrating timely virological diagnosis, molecular and epidemiological investigations, and differential diagnosis, to achieve the WHO goals of eliminating measles transmission.