64 for KCIT and 0.51 for AA (p=0.077), and the median increase in citrate from baseline was 231 mg for KCIT and 171 mg for AA (p=0.109). When switching alkali therapy, median pH and citrate did not significantly change. Hyperkalemia (24%), GI upset (19%), and cost (17%) were the most common reasons cited for switching to an AA. AA represented a savings of 86-92% compared to KCIT. CONCLUSIONS Alternative alkalinizing agents appear to offer comparable improvements in 24-hour urine parameters and significant cost-savings compared to KCIT. A 62-year-old man with history of uncontrolled diabetes and heroin abuse presented with lower urinary tract symptoms and innumerable uniformly sized intravesical spherical objects on computed tomography. Although foreign body insertion was initially suspected, the patient denied any such history. Removal of the objects during cystoscopy revealed the objects to be Candida tropicalis bezoars. OBJECTIVES To identify new potential host biomarkers in blood to discriminate between active TB patients, uninfected (NoTBI) and latently infected contacts (LTBI). METHODS A blood cell count was performed to study parent leukocyte populations. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and a multi-parameter flow cytometry assay was conducted to study the distribution of basal and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-stimulated lymphocytes. Differences between groups and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were investigated to assess the diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS Active TB patients presented higher Monocyte-to-lymphocyte and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios than LTBI and NoTBI contacts (p0.7) between active TB and both contact groups include the basal distribution of Th1/Th2 ratio, Th1-Th17, CD4+ Central Memory (TCM) or MAIT cells. Expression of CD154 is increased in Mtb-activated CD4+ TCM and Effector Memory T cells in active TB and LTBI compared to NoTBI. In CD4+T cells, expression of CD154 showed a higher accuracy than IFNγ to discriminate Mtb-specific activation. CONCLUSIONS We identified different cell subsets with potential use in tuberculosis diagnosis. Among them, distribution of CD4 TCM cells and their expression of CD154 after Mtb-activation are the most promising candidates. BACKGROUND/AIM From 2007 through 2010, the Netherlands experienced the largest recorded Q fever outbreak to date. People living closer to Coxiella burnetii infected goat farms were at increased risk for acute Q fever. BGB 15025 Time spent outdoors near infected farms may have contributed to exposure to C. burnetii. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate whether hours/week spent outdoors, in the vicinity of previously C. burnetii infected goat farms, was associated with presence of antibodies against C. burnetii in residents of a rural area in the Netherlands. METHODS Between 2014-2015, we collected C. burnetii antibody serology and self-reported data about habitual hours/week spent outdoors near the home from 2494 adults. From a subgroup we collected 941 GPS tracks, enabling analyses of active mobility in the outbreak region. Participants were categorised as exposed if they spent time within specified distances (500m, 1000m, 2000m, or 4000m) of C. burnetii infected goat farms. We evaluated whether time spent near these farms was associated with positive C. burnetii serology using spline analyses and logistic regression. RESULTS People that spent more hours/week outdoors near infected farms had a significantly increased risk for positive C. burnetii serology (time spent within 2000m of a C. burnetii abortion-wave positive farm, OR 3.6 (1.2-10.6)), compared to people spending less hours/week outdoors. CONCLUSIONS Outdoor exposure contributed to the risk of becoming C. burnetii serology positive. These associations were stronger if people spent more time near C. burnetii infected farms. Outdoor exposure should, if feasible, be included in outbreak investigations. OBJECTIVES To summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic performance for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in non-hematological, non-solid organ transplantation critically ill patients of the following (i) existing definitions of IA (developed either for classical immunocompromised populations or for non-immunocompromised critically ill patients); (ii) laboratory tests; (iii) radiology tests. METHODS A systematic review was performed by evaluating studies assessing the diagnostic performance for IA of a definition/s and/or laboratory/radiology test/s vs. a reference standard (histology) or a reference definition. RESULTS Sufficient data for evaluating the performance of existing definitions and laboratory tests for the diagnosis of IA in critically ill patients is available only for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Against histology/autopsy as reference, the AspICU definition showed a promising diagnostic performance but based on small samples and applicable only to patients with positive respiratory cultures. Studies on laboratory tests consistently indicated a better diagnostic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) galactomannan (GM) than serum GM, and a suboptimal specificity of BALF and serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan. CONCLUSIONS Evidence stemming from this systematic review will guide the discussion for defining invasive aspergillosis within the FUNDICU project. The project aims to develop a standard set of definitions for invasive fungal diseases in critically ill, adult patients. OBJECTIVES Global tuberculosis (TB) control is restricted by the failure to detect an estimated 3.3 million TB cases annually. In the majority of TB endemic settings, sputum smear microscopy is used to diagnose TB, but this test is insensitive for TB in its early stages. The objective of this study is to establish a concise gene signature that discriminates between individuals with early TB disease, latent TB infection (LTBI) and those without infection. METHODS This is a case control study nested within a cluster-randomised trial of population screening for active TB using Xpert MTB/RIF. Whole blood samples from 303 participants with active TB (97), LTBI (92) and uninfected individuals (114) were subject to transcriptomic analysis of selected target genes based on a systematic review of previous studies. RESULTS Analysis of 82 genes identified a pattern of differentially expressed genes in TB disease. A seven gene signature was identified that distinguished between TB disease and no TB disease with an AUC of 0.