High Prevalence and Frequent Acquisition of Clostridium difficile Ribotype 002 Among Nursing Home Residents in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence and risk factors associated with Clostridium difficile colonization among residents of nursing homes and to identify the ribotypes of circulating C. difficile strains.DESIGNA prospective cohort study with a follow-up duration of 22 months.

Prevalence, prediction, and clonality of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage at admission to medical units in Hong Kong, China.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization at the time of admission to acute medical units and to develop a cost-effective screening strategy.

Methods: Nasal and groin screening cultures were performed for patients at admission to 15 acute medical units in all 7 catchment regions in Hong Kong. All MRSA isolates were subjected to spa typing.

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Strains of Sequence Type ST92 and ST96.

The global epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is dominated by a limited number of clones. Here, we announce the draft genome sequences of two multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains, 1H8 and 4A3, representing the major epidemic clones, sequence type 92 (ST92) and ST96, respectively.

Clonality and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates from food animals and other animals.

Out of 3,081 animals studied, 24.9% of pigs, 4.7% of chickens, 6.

Occurrence and molecular analysis of extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase-producing Proteus mirabilis in Hong Kong, 1999-2002.

Objectives: A study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence and characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) among blood isolates of Proteus mirabilis collected over a 4 year period in Hong Kong.

Methods: Production of ESBLs among 99 consecutive and non-duplicate isolates was evaluated by the double-disc synergy test. The ESBLs were characterized by isoelectric focusing and PCR sequencing using specific primers.