$item =~ s/( \d+-\d+)/\\$1/g;

$cmd = "blah blah fred blat $item blah blah blah";

$logger->info("Request data for $item");

 ( $output, $errput ) = $ssh->capture2( $cmd )
       or $logger->logdie( "Export failed: " . $ssh->error );

$logger->debug("\n$output");