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Background Post-vaccination infections challenge the control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We matched 119 cases of post-vaccination severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection with BNT162b2 mRNA or ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 to 476 unvaccinated patients with COVID-19 (September 2020–March 2021) according to age and sex. Differences in 60-day all-cause mortality, hospital admission, and hospital length of stay were evaluated. Phylogenetic, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and minority variant allele (MVA) full-genome sequencing analysis was performed. Results Overall, 116 of 119 cases developed COVID-19 post–first vaccination dose (median, 14 days). Thirteen of 119 (10.9%) cases and 158 of 476 (33.2%) controls died (P Conclusions Previous vaccination reduces mortality when B.1.1.7 is the predominant lineage. No significant lineage-specific genomic changes during phylogenetic, SNP, and MVA analysis were detected.

Background: \ud The SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant was first detected in England in March, 2021. It has since rapidly become the predominant lineage, owing to high transmissibility. It is suspected that the delta variant is associated with more severe disease than the previously dominant alpha (B.1.1.7) variant. We aimed to characterise the severity of the delta variant compared with the alpha variant by determining the relative risk of hospital attendance outcomes.\ud \ud Methods: \ud This cohort study was done among all patients with COVID-19 in England between March 29 and May 23, 2021, who were identified as being infected with either the alpha or delta SARS-CoV-2 variant through whole-genome sequencing. Individual-level data on these patients were linked to routine health-care datasets on vaccination, emergency care attendance, hospital admission, and mortality (data from Public Health England's Second Generation Surveillance System and COVID-19-associated deaths dataset; the National Immunisation Management System; and NHS Digital Secondary Uses Services and Emergency Care Data Set). The risk for hospital admission and emergency care attendance were compared between patients with sequencing-confirmed delta and alpha variants for the whole cohort and by vaccination status subgroups. Stratified Cox regression was used to adjust for age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, recent international travel, area of residence, calendar week, and vaccination status.\ud \ud Findings: \ud Individual-level data on 43 338 COVID-19-positive patients (8682 with the delta variant, 34 656 with the alpha variant; median age 31 years [IQR 17–43]) were included in our analysis. 196 (2·3%) patients with the delta variant versus 764 (2·2%) patients with the alpha variant were admitted to hospital within 14 days after the specimen was taken (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2·26 [95% CI 1·32–3·89]). 498 (5·7%) patients with the delta variant versus 1448 (4·2%) patients with the alpha variant were admitted to hospital or attended emergency care within 14 days (adjusted HR 1·45 [1·08–1·95]). Most patients were unvaccinated (32 078 [74·0%] across both groups). The HRs for vaccinated patients with the delta variant versus the alpha variant (adjusted HR for hospital admission 1·94 [95% CI 0·47–8·05] and for hospital admission or emergency care attendance 1·58 [0·69–3·61]) were similar to the HRs for unvaccinated patients (2·32 [1·29–4·16] and 1·43 [1·04–1·97]; p=0·82 for both) but the precision for the vaccinated subgroup was low.\ud \ud Interpretation: \ud This large national study found a higher hospital admission or emergency care attendance risk for patients with COVID-19 infected with the delta variant compared with the alpha variant. Results suggest that outbreaks of the delta variant in unvaccinated populations might lead to a greater burden on health-care services than the alpha variant.\ud \ud Funding: \ud Medical Research Council; UK Research and Innovation; Department of Health and Social Care; and National Institute for Health Research.

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 has been associated with an increased rate of transmission and disease severity among subjects testing positive in the community. Its impact on hospitalised patients is less well documented.MethodsWe collected viral sequences and clinical data of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 and hospital-onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs), sampled 16 November 2020 to 10 January 2021, from eight hospitals participating in the COG-UK-HOCI study. Associations between the variant and the outcomes of all-cause mortality and intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission were evaluated using mixed effects Cox models adjusted by age, sex, comorbidities, care home residence, pregnancy and ethnicity.FindingsSequences were obtained from 2341 inpatients (HOCI cases=786) and analysis of clinical outcomes was carried out in 2147 inpatients with all data available. The HR for mortality of B.1.1.7 compared with other lineages was 1.01 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.28, p=0.94) and for ITU admission was 1.01 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.37, p=0.96). Analysis of sex-specific effects of B.1.1.7 identified increased risk of mortality (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.78, p=0.096) and ITU admission (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.90, p=0.011) in females infected with the variant but not males (mortality HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.10, p=0.177; ITU HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.04, p=0.086).InterpretationIn common with smaller studies of patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2, we did not find an overall increase in mortality or ITU admission associated with B.1.1.7 compared with other lineages. However, women with B.1.1.7 may be at an increased risk of admission to intensive care and at modestly increased risk of mortality.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 was first identified in December, 2020, in England. We aimed to investigate whether increases in the proportion of infections with this variant are associated with differences in symptoms or disease course, reinfection rates, or transmissibility. Methods: We did an ecological study to examine the association between the regional proportion of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and reported symptoms, disease course, rates of reinfection, and transmissibility. Data on types and duration of symptoms were obtained from longitudinal reports from users of the COVID Symptom Study app who reported a positive test for COVID-19 between Sept 28 and Dec 27, 2020 (during which the prevalence of B.1.1.7 increased most notably in parts of the UK). From this dataset, we also estimated the frequency of possible reinfection, defined as the presence of two reported positive tests separated by more than 90 days with a period of reporting no symptoms for more than 7 days before the second positive test. The proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections with the B.1.1.7 variant across the UK was estimated with use of genomic data from the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium and data from Public Health England on spike-gene target failure (a non-specific indicator of the B.1.1.7 variant) in community cases in England. We used linear regression to examine the association between reported symptoms and proportion of B.1.1.7. We assessed the Spearman correlation between the proportion of B.1.1.7 cases and number of reinfections over time, and between the number of positive tests and reinfections. We estimated incidence for B.1.1.7 and previous variants, and compared the effective reproduction number, R t, for the two incidence estimates. Findings: From Sept 28 to Dec 27, 2020, positive COVID-19 tests were reported by 36 920 COVID Symptom Study app users whose region was known and who reported as healthy on app sign-up. We found no changes in reported symptoms or disease duration associated with B.1.1.7. For the same period, possible reinfections were identified in 249 (0·7% [95% CI 0·6–0·8]) of 36 509 app users who reported a positive swab test before Oct 1, 2020, but there was no evidence that the frequency of reinfections was higher for the B.1.1.7 variant than for pre-existing variants. Reinfection occurrences were more positively correlated with the overall regional rise in cases (Spearman correlation 0·56–0·69 for South East, London, and East of England) than with the regional increase in the proportion of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant (Spearman correlation 0·38–0·56 in the same regions), suggesting B.1.1.7 does not substantially alter the risk of reinfection. We found a multiplicative increase in the R t of B.1.1.7 by a factor of 1·35 (95% CI 1·02–1·69) relative to pre-existing variants. However, R t fell below 1 during regional and national lockdowns, even in regions with high proportions of infections with the B.1.1.7 variant. Interpretation: The lack of change in symptoms identified in this study indicates that existing testing and surveillance infrastructure do not need to change specifically for the B.1.1.7 variant. In addition, given that there was no apparent increase in the reinfection rate, vaccines are likely to remain effective against the B.1.1.7 variant. Funding: Zoe Global, Department of Health (UK), Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK), National Institute for Health Research (UK), Medical Research Council (UK), Alzheimer's Society.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Typically associated with a self-limiting illness, infection may persist in immunosuppressed populations with significant morbidity and mortality. Based on clinical data published world-wide, UK blood safety guidance recommends the universal screening for HEV RNA of blood donors and donors of tissue, organs and stem cells. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the point prevalence of HEV viraemia and clinical course of viraemic patients in the peri-transplant period in solid organ transplant (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients transplanted over a 3-year period (2013–2015). STUDY DESIGN: Nucleic acid extracts of whole blood from patients undergoing SOT or HSCT were tested by an in-house real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay for HEV RNA. Samples were tested at baseline (time of transplant), 30, 60 and 90 days post-transplant. RESULTS: 870 patients (259 HSCT, 262 liver and 349 kidney transplant) were included with 2554 samples meeting the inclusion criteria. No kidney transplant patients had HEV viraemia at time of testing. One HSCT and three liver transplant patients were found to be HEV RNA positive. Overall this represented 0.46% of the patients testing positive for HEV viraemia. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of HEV viraemia in SOT and HSCT patients in U.K. although higher than in the general population is low at baseline and remains low throughout the early post-transplant phase. Clearance of viraemia can be maintained despite ongoing immunosuppression. Prospective U.K. studies are necessary to inform screening policies in this population.

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important infectious agent causing acute and chronic disease. Chronic hepatitis E affects immunocompromised people and serological testing is neither reliable nor sufficient to infer whether a patient has infection; therefore HEV RNA testing is the only reliable diagnostic test presently available. An HEV antigen-specific ELISA test is commercially available but is not yet in clinical use. Objectives 1) determine the prevalence of HEV infection in the Royal Free Hospital (RFH) liver transplant cohort; 2) compare the diagnostic utility of HEV antigen-detection against the current gold standard; 3) consider screening strategies for HEV infection in immunocompromised groups. Study design The serum samples of 490 post liver transplant patients visiting the outpatient clinic at the RFH over an eight-month period were tested for HEV with both an HEV antigen-specific ELISA and HEV RNA test. Results The prevalence of HEV infection was 0.20% (95% CI 0.0%–1.1%). The specificity of the ELISA was 98.2% with a positive predictive value of 10.0%. There was one true positive HEV case, which was picked up correctly by the antigen-specific ELISA. These results were improved by incorporating a neutralisation step into further ELISA tests. Conclusions The antigen-specific ELISA test gave no false negative results, supporting its utility as a screening tool. There was one true antigen positive result. Further investigation including cost analysis is indicated to determine the efficacy of HEV antigen-specific ELISA testing in a screening context and in the clinical investigation of HEV infection in immunocompromised patients.

Background Respiratory illness contributes significantly to higher ED attendance during winter months. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) for respiratory viruses is a key investigation, with positive influenza results having both clinical and infection control implications. In response to ED colleagues requesting clear and concise guidance, we undertook a QIP to improve management of seasonal influenza. Methods A survey of 10 questions was sent to all Doctors and Advanced Care Practitioners (ACPs) working in the ED, and the results collated. Results There were 21 survey respondents, the majority were registrars. 81% correctly identified how to request influenza testing and 95% knew the symptoms. 90% identified which risk groups should be treated, which personal protective equipment (PPE) should be donned, and suggested Oseltamavir as their treatment of choice. However only 29% of respondents knew where to find the trust guidelines and only 10% correctly prescribed prophylaxis to contacts. 95% would review a discharged case found to have influenza on testing and 67% would treat this case if they were in an at risk group. Discussion and Conclusions The results show that the majority of staff surveyed correctly identified the symptoms of flu, infection control precautions and those requiring treatment. However, knowledge regarding the location of guidelines, management of contacts and the use of agents other than oseltamivir was low. Based on these results we developed a single-page influenza testing algorithm aiming to improve management in A&E, and will reassess staff knowledge following the introduction of this.

Background Adenovirus infection is a recognized complication following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We present a review of our experience of these infections in our transplant cohort over 10 years including 3 patients treated with the novel antiviral brincidofovir. Objectives We aimed to describe the presentation, response to treatment and outcomes of adult stem cell transplant patients with disseminated adenovirus infection. Study design All adult cases of disseminated adenovirus infection following haematopoietic stem cell transplant in our unit between 2005 and 2015 were identified. Transplant details and data on timing of diagnosis, course of infection, viral co-infection and treatment were collected. Results Of 733 patients transplanted, 10 patients had disseminated infection, including 4 male and 6 female patients with median age of 36.5 (range 19–59) years. 6/10 received an allograft from an unrelated donor. Median post-transplant time to detection of viraemia was 67 days (range 20–1140 days). Median peak viral load was 3133 copies/ml (352–11,000,000) in survivors received cidofovir alone, one cidofovir then brincidofovir and two brincidofovir alone. 8/10 p and 1,580,000 copies/ml (41,999–3,000.000) in those who died. Five patientsatients had a decrease in viral load following antivirals and/or reduction in immunosuppression including all on brincidofovir. Three died on treatment. Conclusions Disseminated adenovirus infection is uncommon in adult transplant patients and uncertainties remain surrounding effective treatment. In our cohort, brincidofovir has shown promise in treatment of adenoviral infection. However, randomized controlled studies are required to confirm this impression.

Background 2018 to 2019 has seen a global resurgence in measles cases, with the UK seeing an over 3-fold increase in cases in 2018 compared with 2017. In this context, our center saw a cluster of geographically linked measles cases presenting in the first quarter of 2019. We present this with comparative data of confirmed measles cases from our center over the preceding 10 years. Given the growing recognition of measles “re-infection” in fully vaccinated individuals, we also present our first confirmed cases of reinfection within this cohort. Methods Retrospective analysis of confirmed measles cases (positive Measles IgM or detectable Measles RNA) between 2009 and 2019. Laboratory and demographic data were obtained from electronic patient records. Results 18 cases (of which 14 were adults) of measles (all genotype D8 of those tested) were confirmed in the first 4 months of 2019. 12 presented within a 14 day period from a geographically linked part of North London. There were 4 confirmed measles re-infections (detectable measles RNA on a buccal swab with either a high Measles IgG avidity or previous documented measles immunity). From the 10 year data, cases peaked in 2011 and 2016 consistent with national trends. Of the 89 cases identified, 60 (67%) were adults, who were over twice as likely to be admitted as children, had a longer median length of stay in hospital (2 days vs. 1.5 days) and were more likely to develop a hepatitis (1/10 pediatric cases vs. 26/48 adults, p ≤ 0.01)or other complications. The majority of adults (68%) were unsure of their vaccination status. Conclusion 4 cases of 18 in the first 4 months of 2019 were confirmed re-infections. Re-infections in fully vaccinated individuals are described in the literature, typically presenting with a milder course; however, these are the first cases we have identified at our center. Overall, adult cases were more likely to be admitted to hospital and to have a complicated course compared with children. Vaccination history in adults was of limited clinical utility due to lack of reliable documentation and the potential for reinfection. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Acute hepatitis E is becoming increasingly recognised in Europe with up to 40% of the population in Southern France being exposed to the virus, which is harboured in pigs. Patients with known liver disease may present with acute hepatitis E and present a diagnostic challenge. For example patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who are immunosuppressed and contract hepatitis E may be at increased risk of developing chronicity due to concurrent immunosuppression. Importantly, the diagnosis may be missed with the infection misdiagnosed as an autoimmune flare, and immunosuppression increased by the attending physician, thus enhancing the risk of chronicity of infection leading to progressive liver injury in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of acute hepatitis E in a patient with AIH and discuss the features that helped us differentiating it from an autoimmune flare.

Correctly identifying Koplik’s spots is not an easy feat, as noted in Spitzer’s excellent letter.12 Koplik’s spots are still thought to be pathognomonic for measles, but oral lesions, similar in appearance to Koplik’s spots, can be found in other illnesses, such as parvovirus B12 infection.3 Zenner and Nacul’s study included reporting of “Koplik’s spots” by clinicians with variable levels of experience and did not include independent assessment …

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion was detected by routine screening in a haemodialysis patient, Patient 1. Serological investigations were undertaken over the following 3 months to determine if further transmission to other patients on the unit had occurred. No additional cases were identified. Twenty-two haemodialysis patients known to have HCV infection were investigated using molecular epidemiological methods to determine if transmission between patients had occurred. HCV viraemia was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction in 19 of 22 patients (86%). Genotyping showed that eight patients were infected with genotype 1, three with genotype 3 and eight, including Patient 1, with genotype 2. Phylogenetic analysis of viral sequences from the eight patients with genotype 2 revealed three, including Patient 1,with a novel subtype of HCV type 2, and revealed close similarity between viral sequences from patient 1 and those from one other patient, suggesting transmission. This was consistent with haemodialysis histories. Among other patients with genotype 2, there were two with subtype 2a and three others with three separate novel subtypes, as yet undesignated. With the exception of patient 1, all patients infected with novel subtypes were of Afro-Caribbean origin. The HCV prevalence among patients on the haemodialysis unit was high (14%), which may reflect the ethnicity of our haemodialysis population. This case emphasises the risk of nosocomial transmission and the importance of infection control procedures on haemodialysis units, and highlights the usefulness of molecular epidemiological techniques for the investigation of outbreaks of HCV infection.

No: 1752 Presentation at ESCV 2015: Oral 38 Salivirus Type 1 and Type 2 in patients with acute gastroenteritis, Germany S. Aldabbagh1,∗, I. Eckerle1, A. Muller2, E.L. Delwart3, A.M. Eis-Hubinger1 1 Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Germany 2 Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Childrens Hospital, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Germany 3 Blood Systems Research Institute, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, USA Background: Salivirus (SaV-A) is a novel member of the family Picornaviridae and the only species within the novel picornaviral genus Salivirus. The virus was found in up to 9% of fecal samples from patients, mostly children, with gastroenteritis, with highest prevalences in Asian countries. Thus, the virus was suspected to cause acute gastroenteritis. Recently, a second type of SaV-A (SaVA2) was identified in a sewage sample from Thailand. Because no information is available on SaV-A infection in Western Europe, we analysed stool samples from patients with symptoms suspicious of acute viral gastroenteritis for SaV-A and evaluated the clinical course of SaV-A-positive individuals. Methods: A total of 3019 fecal samples from 1941 hospitalised patients with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis were analysed. Samples were collected during 2012–2013 at the University Hospital Bonn and were routinely screened by (RT-)PCR for human norovirus, sapovirus, astrovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus. A SaVA real-time RT-PCR was designed targeting a conserved nucleotide sequence in the 5′-untranslated region. Positive results were verified by sequencing the viral capsid protein 1 gene allowing also typing of the virus andwhole genome sequencing. Medical records of SaV-A-infected patients were reviewed for clinical features and laboratory data. Results: SaV-A was detected in five unrelated patients, with viral concentrations ranging between 7.1×106 and 7.2×108 copies/g feces, in the absence of common gastroenteritis viruses. The viruses from four patients were classified as SaV-A1 while in one patient SaV-A2 was present. In none of the five patients SaV-A infection was considered as the major cause of the gastroenteritis symptoms. Conclusion: SaV-A infection can be detected in Germany,Western Europe, albeit at low levels. The detection of SaV-A2 in Europe suggests global spread of SaV-A2. Presence of SaV-A, even at high concentration, in a stool sample provides no conclusive evidence that SaV is the major cause of the patient’s gastroenteritis symptoms. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2015.07.048 Abstract No: 1526 Presentation at ESCV 2015: Oral 39 Disseminated adenovirus infection following allogeneic haemopoetic stem cell transplantation – A report on the use of brincidofovir and 10 year retrospective review of an adult transplant cohort I. Ramsay1,∗, C. Attwood2, D. Irish1, D. Lowe3, P.D. Griffiths1, Kyriacou Charalampia2 1 Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital, London UK 2 Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital, London UK 3 Department of Immunology, Royal Free Hospital

The use of triple-therapy, pegylated-interferon, ribavirin and either of the first generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors telaprevir or boceprevir, is the new standard of care for treating genotype 1 chronic HCV. Clinical trials have shown response rates of around 70–80%, but there is limited data from the use of this combination outside this setting. Through an expanded access programme, we treated 59 patients, treatment naive and experienced, with triple therapy. Baseline factors predicting treatment response or failure during triple therapy phase were identified in 58 patients. Thirty seven (63.8%) of 58 patients had undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Genotype 1a (p = 0.053), null-response to previous treatment (p = 0.034), the rate of viral load decline after 12 weeks of previous interferon-based treatment (p = 0.033) were all associated with triple-therapy failure. The most common cause of on-treatment failure for telaprevir-based regimens was the development of resistance-associated variants (RAVs) at amino acids 36 and/or 155 of HCV protease (p = 0.027) whereas in boceprevir-based regimens mutations at amino acid 54 were significant (p = 0.015). SVR12 rates approaching 64% were achieved using triple therapy outside the clinical trial setting, in a patient cohort that included cirrhotics.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can transmit the infection to their infants, screening of patients and appropriate interventions reduce vertical transmission. This audit was conducted to assess adherence to the national guidelines for management of HBV infection in pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective audit was conducted on pregnant women diagnosed with hepatitis B on screening in antenatal clinics, across four hospitals in London over 2 years (2009-2010). Data was collected from antenatal records and discharge summaries using a standard audit form. The outcomes measured included HBV serological markers, HBV DNA, detection of other blood borne viruses and referral to hepatology services, administration of active and passive prophylaxis to infants at birth. Descriptive statistics are presented. Proportions were compared using the χ2 test and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for prevalence estimates. Analyses were conducted using STATA 12. RESULTS: HBsAg was detected in 1.05% (n = 401, 95% CI 0.95-1.16) of women attending an antenatal appointment, 12% (n = 48) of the women were at a high risk of vertical transmission (HBe Ag positive or antiHBe and HBeAg negative or HBV DNA >106 IU/ml). Only 62% (n = 248) women were referred to hepatology or specialist clinics and 29% (n = 13) of women of high infectivity were on antiviral agents. Testing for hepatitis C and delta virus was suboptimal. 75% (n = 36) of the infants at a high risk of acquisition of HBV received both active and passive prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: In certain sectors of London, implementation of the pathway for management of women with hepatitis B and their infants is suboptimal. National guidelines should be followed and improved intersectorial sharing of information is needed to reduce the risk of women of high infectivity being lost to follow up.

What you need to know A 23 year old woman has fever, flu-like symptoms, diarrhoea, and a rash that has spread from her face to her body. She cannot recall being in contact with anyone unwell and has not recently travelled or taken any drugs. She reports missing vaccinations as a child because her parents were concerned about safety. On examination she has a maculopapular blanching rash on her face and chest. Measles was suspected and confirmed with serology that was positive for immunoglobulin M antibodies to the measles virus. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on a throat swab detected measles virus RNA. Measles is widely perceived as a disease of early childhood, despite almost two thirds of recent cases in the United Kingdom being in those aged 15 and older.1 Patients typically present with fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, followed two to four days later by a characteristic erythematous maculopapular rash that spreads downwards from the face (figs 1⇓ and 2⇓).2 Patients are infectious from four days before to four days after the onset of rash. Koplik’s spots—whitish lesions …

Introduction: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is one of the leading causes of acute infectious hepatitis worldwide; while usually a self-limiting, sub-clinical illness, genotype 3 HEV infection may become chronic in immunosuppressed patients such as solid organ transplant (SOT) or haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and rapid progression to cirrhosis may occur. Recent seroprevalence from screening of English blood donors shows antibody prevalence of ~13%. RNA prevalence in donors has increased in the UK from 1:2850 to 1:1460 over the past 3 years. This study examines the point-prevalence of HEV in SOT and HSCT recipients transplanted between January 2013 - December 2015 at a major UK transplant centre. Data on HEV clearance rates and risk factors for infection were collected in the patient cohort. Methods: Stored extracts of blood from patients undergoing liver transplant (OLT), renal transplant (RT) or HSCT were tested by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for HEV RNA. Samples were tested at baseline, 30, 60 and 90 days post-transplant +/- 7 days. Time points were chosen to give good coverage of the early post-transplant period whilst avoiding a patient becoming viraemic and clearing the infection between sample time points. All positive samples were sent to the Public Health England reference laboratory for verification, viral RNA genotyping and quantification. Patients with confirmed positive samples underwent further testing and evaluation of clinical parameters to determine chronology of infection, blood product exposure, organ function and histopathology results. Results: 259 HSCT, 262 OLT and 349 RT patients met the inclusion criteria. Of the HSCTs there were 111 allogeneic stem cell transplants, 145 autologous transplants and 3 CD34 "top ups". The OLTs comprised 259 deceased donor, 2 live donor and 2 domino liver transplant patients. The RTs comprised 241 deceased donor, 38 live unrelated, 63 live related transplants and 1 live transplant where the relationship of the donor was unrecorded. In total 4 patients (1 HSCT and 3 OLT) were found to have HEV viraemiain our study period. This represents 0.39% of the HSCT and 1.15% of the OLT patients. All were positive with HEV genotype 3. Virologicaland clinical data regarding these patients are presented in tables below. Conclusion: Chronic HEV, genotype 3 in transplant patients is associated with significant morbidity. With the increasing incidence of HEV, immunosuppressed patients with high transfusion burden have an infection risk equivalent to 7-9 years' dietary exposure. Our results show that prevalence of HEV viraemia in OLT, RT and HSCT patients is higher than expectedbased on comparison from UK blood donors. Secondly, infection is not cleared as would be expected in the general population with 3 of the 4 patients requiring treatment to clear the virus. The source of infection for these patients is unclear; on a population wide basis HEV is usually a dietary acquired infection, with pork products carrying the greatest risk. In the transplant patient population, the risk of iatrogenic infection via infected blood products or an infected transplanted organ is an important consideration and UK guidance has recently changed so that transplant recipients receive dietary advice and HEV-negative blood to avoid infection (SaBTO2016). In this study 2 patients were found to be positive for HEV RNA in the baseline sample. One, the recipient of HSCT, did not acquire it through transfusion as testing of the transfused products that the patient had received were negative for the virus. It is not clear how the two OLT patients who tested positive acquired the virus. The absence of any positive results in the renal transplant recipients may reflect the lower transfusion burden in this patient group. Given the multiple routes of possible infection with HEV, a strategy if screening recipients for the virus in addition to screening blood and organ donors would be an effective way of detecting viral transmission via all routes. Table 1 Virology results for HEV positive patients Table 1. Virology results for HEV positive patients Table 2 Clinical data regarding HEV positive patients Table 2. Clinical data regarding HEV positive patients Disclosures Sekhar: Novartis: Research Funding.

Pustular rash in a neonate is very common and is usually associated with staphylococcal infection. The present report describes the case of a 12-day-old neonate with a pustular rash, secondary to herpes simplex infection. A high index of suspicion is necessary in neonates presenting with suggestive signs, especially with negative bacterial cultures. Prompt initiation of aciclovir treatment after obtaining diagnostic samples may be life-saving.

A review of a large number of HIV-1 tropism test requests ( n = 1148) performed at a London tertiary referral centre was carried out. The aim was to establish whether these were being performed in line with recommendations from published guidelines and whether this represented the most cost-effective use of these tests in informing prescribing decisions of the CCR5 antagonist drug, maraviroc. The cost of these assays within the UK was covered by commercial funding until April 2013 which has subsequently been withdrawn. Furthermore, all healthcare settings are under increasing cost constraints and hence establishing the real utility and appropriate use of these tests is of vital importance.

Introduction We report the impact of host and viral factors on treatment outcome in the first 53 patients who have completed therapy for CHC with either telaprevir or boceprevir, in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin (PEG/R) at our centre. Methods Patients were treatment naive or experienced with F3 or F4 fibrosis, CHC genotype1 and HCV RNA > 10,000 IU/ml. Data were collected on host and viral factors including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL28B gene noncoding region at sites rs12979860 and rs8099917. Results 53 patients (42 Caucasian, 32 F4) were treated with TVR (n = 41) and BOC (n = 12). Seven patients were treatment naive. Subtyping was unattainable in 2 patients. Thus far, 18 patients (34%) have failed treatment and the remainder are being evaluated for SVR (24 patients with SVR-4 to date). HCV viral negativity at triple therapy week 4 was associated with treatment success in patients with rs12979860CC and rs8099917TT and rs12979860non-CC and rs8099917non-TT (OR 20.2 P-value Conclusion In our prospective cohort of CHC patients with advanced fibrosis treated with PIs, HCV RNA negativity at triple therapy week 4 and both IL28B genotypes were independent predictors of treatment outcome. Despite similar rates of early viral suppression, our preliminary data indicate more favourable end of treatment results for rs12979860CC and rs8099917TT versus rs12979860non-CC and rs8099917TT. Disclosure of Interest None Declared.

Introduction: We report the prevalence and characteristics of DRMs associated with virological failure (VF) in a prospective cohort of 59 patients with chronic HCV infection treated with telaprevir (TVR) or boceprevir (BOC) combined with pegylated interferon-alfa and ribavirin (PEG/R). Methods: All patients had baseline HCV RNA levels >10,000 IU/ml and evidence of at least bridging fibrosis. VF was defined as HCV RNA >1000 IU/ml at week 4 or 12 for TVR, or HCV RNA >100IU/ml at week 12 for BOC, or an increase of >1log10 VL from nadir. Genotypic resistance was detected using nested RT-PCR to amplify viral RNA and the first 181 amino acids of the NS3 protease were sequenced by population sequencing. Results: Forty seven patients (80%) were treated with TVR and 12 (20%) with BOC. Nineteen patients (32%) had VF (18 TVR, 1 BOC) of which DRMs were detected in 16 (84%). All patients who developed VF with DRMs had HCV genotype 1a and were treated with TVR. Mutations evolved at NS3 positions 155 and 36; Arginine to Lysine at 155 and/or Valine to Methionine, Leucine, Alanine or Valine/Methionine at 36, none of which were detected at baseline. Eight of fifteen DRMs were detected during TVR therapy, the remainder during PEG/R ‘tail’ of therapy (4 at week 4; 2 at week 8; 2 at week 12; 1 at week 15; 3 at week 24; 1 at week 36; 1 at week 48 and 1 at week 60). Those patients with VF without identifiable DRMs had breakthrough after week 12 with TVR (1 at week 22; 1 at week 24) and at week 8 with BOC. Of the VF/no DRM patients, all TVR patients had subtype 1b and severe fibrosis. The BOC treated patient had subtype 1a with moderate fibrosis. Conclusion: In this cohort treated with TVR, VF was associated with development of DRMs which were identified both before and during the PEG/R tail of therapy. Given the potential impact of DRMs on success of future therapy with protease inhibitors we suggest HCV protease sequencing for DRMs for all patients presenting with VF.

Background Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) testing is recommended for all patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HDV infection is associated with severe liver disease and interferon is the only available treatment. Objectives To determine the rate of anti-HDV antibody testing in HBV patients; and to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and management of HDV-infected patients at four hospitals in London. Study design The anti-HDV testing rate was estimated by reviewing clinical and laboratory data. Cross-sectional data collection identified HDV-infected patients who had attended the study centres between 2005 and 2012. Results At a centre with clinic-led anti-HDV testing, 40% (67/168) of HBV patients were tested. Recently diagnosed HBV patients were more likely to be screened than those under long-term follow-up (62% vs 36%, P = 0.01). At a centre with reflex laboratory testing, 99.4% (3543/3563) of first hepatitis B surface antigen positive samples were tested for anti-HDV. Across the four study centres there were 55 HDV-infected patients, of whom 50 (91%) had immigrated to the UK and 27 (49%) had evidence of cirrhosis. 31 patients received interferon therapy for HDV with an end of treatment virological response observed in 10 (32%). Conclusions The anti-HDV testing rate was low in a centre with clinic-led testing, but could not be evaluated in all centres. The HDV-infected patients were of diverse ethnicity, with extensive histological evidence of liver disease and poor therapeutic responses. Future recommendations include reflex laboratory testing algorithms and a prospective cohort study to optimise the investigation and management of these patients.