Towards an Early Clinical and Biological Resistance Detection in Dermatophytosis: About 2 Cases of .

causes resistant dermatophytosis to terbinafine. The global spread of terbinafine-resistant strains with mutations in the squalene epoxidase gene is a major issue. This emerging species is now more frequently isolated in Europe and we report here two cases of tinea corporis in Switzerland, one with in vitro resistance to terbinafine and a second with in vitro susceptibility but a clinical resistance.

Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of PCR Targeting the 47-Kilodalton Protein Membrane Gene of Treponema pallidum and PCR Targeting the DNA Polymerase I Gene: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Treponema pallidum PCR (Tp-PCR) testing now is recommended as a valid tool for the diagnosis of primary or secondary syphilis. The objectives were to systematically review and determine the optimal specific target gene to be used for Tp-PCR. Comparisons of the performance of the two main targets are tpp47 and polA genes were done using meta-analysis.

Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios of PCR in the diagnosis of syphilis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review and estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique compared to recommended reference tests in the diagnosis of suspected syphilis at various stages and in various biological materials.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Search of three electronic bibliographic databases from January 1990 to January 2012 and the abstract books of five congresses specialized in the infectious diseases' field (1999-2011).

Effect of mutation and genetic background on drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Bacterial factors may contribute to the global emergence and spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). Only a few studies have reported on the interactions between different bacterial factors. We studied drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from a nationwide study conducted from 2000 to 2008 in Switzerland.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in a country with low tuberculosis incidence: role of immigration and HIV infection.

Immigrants from high-burden countries and HIV-coinfected individuals are risk groups for tuberculosis (TB) in countries with low TB incidence. Therefore, we studied their role in transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Switzerland. We included all TB patients from the Swiss HIV Cohort and a sample of patients from the national TB registry.

"Pseudo-Beijing": evidence for convergent evolution in the direct repeat region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a global population structure consisting of six main phylogenetic lineages associated with specific geographic regions and human populations. One particular M. tuberculosis genotype known as "Beijing" has repeatedly been associated with drug resistance and has been emerging in some parts of the world.

False-negative PCR result due to gene polymorphism: the example of Neisseria meningitidis.

Early treatment of meningococcal meningitis is mandatory but may negate the cerebrospinal fluid culture. Etiological diagnosis then mainly relies on PCR. Here, we report a case of false-negative results for real-time PCR for a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B isolate with a polymorphism in the ctrA gene.

New Diagnostic Real-Time PCR for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma hominis DNA.

Mycoplasma hominis is a fastidious micro-organism causing genital and extragenital infections. We developed a specific real-time PCR that exhibits high sensitivity and low intrarun and interrun variabilities. When applied to clinical samples, this quantitative PCR allowed to confirm the role of M.

Optimising the management of vaginal discharge syndrome in Bulgaria: cost effectiveness of four clinical algorithms with risk assessment.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance and cost effectiveness of the WHO recommendations of incorporating risk-assessment scores and population prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) into vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS) algorithms.

Methods: Non-pregnant women presenting with VDS were recruited at a non-governmental sexual health clinic in Sofia, Bulgaria. NG and CT were diagnosed by PCR and vaginal infections by microscopy.

Prevalence and associated factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among undocumented immigrants in a primary care facility in Geneva, Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) is the most frequent sexually transmitted infection in western countries. Its prevalence in undocumented immigrants, a rapidly growing vulnerable population, remains unknown. We aimed to document the prevalence of CTI and associated factors at the primary health care level.

Value of a novel Neisseria meningitidis--specific polymerase chain reaction assay in skin biopsy specimens as a diagnostic tool in chronic meningococcemia.

Background: Chronic meningococcemia (CM) is a diagnostic challenge. Skin lesions are frequent but in most cases nonspecific. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnosis has been validated in blood and cerebrospinal fluid for acute Neisseria meningitidis infection, in patients in whom routine microbiologic tests have failed to isolate the bacteria.

Streptococcus sinensis endocarditis outside Hong Kong.

Streptococcus sinensis has been described as a causative organism for infective endocarditis in 3 Chinese patients from Hong Kong. We describe a closely related strain in an Italian patient with chronic rheumatic heart disease. The case illustrates that S.

A prospective hospital-based study of the clinical impact of non-severe acute respiratory syndrome (Non-SARS)-related human coronavirus infection.

Background: In addition to the human coronaviruses (HCoVs) OC43 and 229E, which have been known for decades to cause infection in humans, 2 new members of this genus have recently been identified: HCoVs NL63 and HKU1. Their impact as a cause of respiratory tract disease in adults at risk for complications needs to be established.

Methods: We prospectively assessed the clinical impact of coronavirus infection (excluding cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome) among hospitalized adults.

Recurrent bacteremia with Helicobacter cinaedi: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Helicobacter cinaedi is a rare pathogen in humans, occurring mostly in immuno-compromised patients, with a high potential for recurrence. We describe a case of a patient with lymphoma hospitalized for chemotherapy.

Case Presentation: At admission, the patient presented with an indolent and non-prurigenic macular rash around her implantable venous access device.

A kerion celsi caused by Microsporum gypseum: unusual direct mycological examination.

A case of kerion celsi caused by Microsporum gypseum is documented. The patient was a 6-year-old girl with a 2-cm purulent lesion on the scalp. Direct mycological examination of the hair showed hyphae with extremely numerous spindle-shaped macrospores.

Increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections in Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Focal outbreaks of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis and gonorrhoea have been reported in the large cities of Western Europe over the past few years. The aim of our study was to determine whether a similar trend is observed in Geneva and the situation with regard to HIV infection.

Methods: We review the incidence of syphilis, gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis and HIV in Geneva from 1999 to 2004.

[Detection and quantification of nucleic acids in infections diseases: utility and limitations].

The amplification of nucleic acids is often used for the diagnosis and the follow-up of infectious diseases. The interpretation of PCR results varies according to the pathogens detected, the site of infection and the clinical presentation. PCR tests might be the reference method or only an help for the diagnosis.

High-density DNA probe arrays for identification of staphylococci to the species level.

Rapid and accurate identification and speciation of staphylococci clinical isolates is important for predicting medical pathology. We evaluated the ability of a high-density DNA probe array based on 16S rDNA sequences to identify Staphylococcus species. Correct identification was observed for 185 out of the 201 strains (92%).

Molecular identification of Fusarium species in onychomycoses.

Background: Fusarium species are isolated from about 3% of onychomycoses in the Swiss native population. On the basis of macroscopic characters and microscopic examination of the cultures, identification of Fusarium often remains difficult or uncertain because of variations from one isolate to another and overlapping characteristics between species.

Objective: To obtain information about the prevailing species of Fusarium collected from onychomycoses.

Lower respiratory viral illnesses: improved diagnosis by molecular methods and clinical impact.

We assessed the frequency and the potential role of respiratory viruses on disease outcomes in hospitalized patients and lung transplant recipients who underwent a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for an acute respiratory infection. BAL specimens (148) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for the presence of 11 different viruses, as well as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. Respiratory viruses were identified in 34 of 117 BAL specimens (29%) obtained in patients with a suspected respiratory infection and in only 2 of 31 control subjects (7%) (p < 0.

First report of Arthroderma benhamiae in Switzerland.

Background: Dermatophytes are usually identified on the basis of macroscopic characteristics and microscopic examination of the cultures. Identification of dermatophytes often remains difficult or uncertain because there are variations from one isolate to another and overlapping characteristics between species.

Objective: To identify dermatophyte species producing numerous microconidia and resembling Trichophyton mentagrophytes by DNA sequence analysis.

Identification of dermatophyte species by 28S ribosomal DNA sequencing with a commercial kit.

We have shown that dermatophyte species can be easily identified on the basis of a DNA sequence encoding a part of the large-subunit (LSU) rRNA (28S rRNA) by using the MicroSeq D2 LSU rRNA Fungal Sequencing Kit. Two taxa causing distinct dermatophytoses were clearly distinguished among isolates of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex.

Postneurosurgical meningitis due to Proteus penneri with selection of a ceftriaxone-resistant isolate: analysis of chromosomal class A beta-lactamase HugA and its LysR-type regulatory protein HugR.

We report on a case of a postneurosurgical meningitis due to ceftriaxone-susceptible Proteus penneri, with selection of a ceftriaxone-resistant isolate following treatment with ceftriaxone. The isolates presented identical patterns by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and produced a single beta-lactamase named HugA with an isoelectric point of 6.7.