Evaluation of two MALDI-TOF MS systems and extraction methods for identification of filamentous fungi recovered from clinical specimens.

Unlabelled: Rapid and accurate identification of cultured molds is important to determine clinical significance and therapeutic decision-making. Conventional mold identification uses phenotypic macroscopic and microscopic characterization; however, this can take days or weeks for colony maturity and definitive microscopic structure formation, be limited to genus-level identification, and be misidentified due to morphologic mimics or similarities between closely related species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revolutionized bacterial and yeast identification but remains uncommon for molds in part because of limited reference libraries.

Communicative and Methodological Challenges Related to Collecting Data with Older Adults with Dementia in Senior Living Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to researchers collecting data with older adults, particularly older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The goal of this article is to articulate the communicative and methodological challenges and lessons learned from collecting data with older adults in senior living communities with mild cognitive impairment and ADRD and their adult children (who were geographically separated) during the pandemic. Communication was much more than what we were studying; it was essential to the success and ethical implementation of our research.

SARS-CoV-2 anti-N antibodies among healthcare personnel without previous known COVID-19.

Objective: To measure SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) antibody seropositivity among healthcare personnel (HCP) without a history of COVID-19 and to identify HCP characteristics associated with seropositivity.

Design: Prospective cohort study from September 22, 2020, to March 3, 2022.

Setting: A tertiary care academic medical center.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry misidentification of Cutibacterium namnetense and Cutibacterium modestum: Implications for multiplex PCR phylotyping of Cutibacterium acnes.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) can misidentify Cutibacterium namnetense and Cutibacterium modestum as Cutibacterium acnes. We now describe how such MALDI-TOF MS misidentification explains previous reports of C. acnes isolates that could not be characterised using a multiplex PCR phylotyping assay.

Gut microbiome correlates of recurrent urinary tract infection: a longitudinal, multi-center study.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) affect approximately 250 million people annually worldwide. Patients often experience a cycle of antimicrobial treatment and recurrent UTI (rUTI) that is thought to be facilitated by a gut reservoir of uropathogenic (UPEC).

Methods: 125 patients with UTI caused by an antibiotic-resistant organism (ARO) were enrolled from July 2016 to May 2019 in a longitudinal, multi-center cohort study.

Genomic surveillance of transmission and virulence in a healthcare setting.

Unlabelled: infection (CDI) is a major cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea, despite the widespread implementation of contact precautions for patients with CDI. Here, we investigate strain contamination in a hospital setting and the genomic determinants of disease outcomes. Across two wards over 6 months, we selectively cultured from patients ( = 384) and their environments.

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor protects against severe urinary tract infection in mice.

Millions suffer from urinary tract infections (UTIs) worldwide every year with women accounting for the majority of cases. Uropathogenic (UPEC) causes most of these primary infections and leads to 25% becoming recurrent or chronic. To repel invading pathogens, the urinary tract mounts a vigorous innate immune response that includes the secretion of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), rapid recruitment of phagocytes, and exfoliation of superficial umbrella cells.

Comparison of nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) results using fresh and frozen stool specimens and rectal swabs.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are frequently used in research and diagnostic testing, but the effect of freezing specimens on NAAT performance is not well characterized. This study evaluated the concordance of NAAT results between fresh and frozen specimens (fecal and rectal swabs) and found it to be very good to excellent. The results indicate that frozen fecal and rectal swab specimens may be used for NAAT testing in research when fresh specimens are not available.