Evaluation of the Alexon-trend ProSpecT Campylobacter microplate assay.

We evaluated stool specimens known to contain or be free of Campylobacter by traditional culture, using the ProSpecT Campylobacter microplate assay (Alexon-Trend, Ramsey, Minn.). This rapid enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Campylobacter-specific antigens demonstrated 96% sensitivity and 99% specificity and is an acceptable alternative method of Campylobacter detection.

Reassessment of the routine anaerobic culture and incubation time in the BacT/Alert FAN blood culture bottles.

A total of 9,130 blood cultures were collected from adult patients with suspected bloodstream infections. The recommended 20 mL sample of blood was divided equally between the aerobic and anaerobic FAN bottles and monitored in the BacT/Alert Microbial Detection System for a total of 5 days. There were 757 clinically significant positive culture pairs from 291 patients.

Reassessment of the incubation time in a controlled clinical comparison of the BacT/Alert aerobic FAN bottle and standard anaerobic bottle used aerobically for the detection of bloodstream infections.

This study assessed the minimum incubation time required to detect bloodstream infections during a controlled clinical comparison of the performance characteristics of the BacT/Alert aerobic FAN bottle and the standard anaerobic bottle used aerobically except on a selective basis. Blood was collected from adults with suspected bloodstream infections and inoculated into each bottle, which was monitored in the BacT/Alert Microbial Detection System. The anaerobic bottle was vented before incubation except when cultures were obtained from patients on the colorectal and gynecologic surgical and emergency services.

The diagnostic usefulness of bone marrow cultures in patients with fever of unknown origin.

Bone marrow cultures (BMCs) and blood cultures (BCs) are frequently obtained in the evaluation of fever of unknown origin (FUO). However, the low yield of clinically significant isolates leads to questions about their cost-effectiveness. We retrospectively compared BMC with BC and studied the usefulness of bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMTB) histopathology in detecting infection in an unselected population of 61 patients with FUO, among whom 215 BMCs had been performed.

Self-efficacy as a predictor of dietary change in a low-socioeconomic-status southern adult population.

There is an increasing emphasis on designing health promotion interventions for low-socioeconomic-status (SES) individuals. However, many previously developed behavior change tools have not been tested in this population. Self-efficacy was measured at pre- and postintervention as part of a randomized clinical trial to reduce cholesterol levels in rural low-SES Southern adults.