Multicenter evaluation of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing by VITEK®2 directly from positive blood culture.

Study Objective: To compare the antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) performance of positive blood cultures (PBC) VITEK®2 off-label use (D0) and traditional VITEK®2 workflow using isolated colonies after overnight (D1).

Methods: Patient samples with monomicrobial Gram-negative rod or Gram-positive cocci in clusters bacteremia were tested on D0 and compared to D1 AST results in 7 laboratories in France.

Results: Overall, categorical and essential agreement rates were 98.

Staphylococcus capitis isolated from bloodstream infections: a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units.

To increase the knowledge about S. capitis in the neonatal setting, we conducted a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) covering 56.6% of French NICU beds.

Increased incidence of Campylobacter enteritis and their quinolone resistance between 2010 and 2015: Results of a French national observatory conducted in 21 general hospitals (CHG).

Introduction: In Europe, the number of cases of Campylobacter enteritis and their quinolone resistance is increasing. The aims of this work were to evaluate: (1) the hospital epidemiology of bacterial enteritis between 2010 and 2015. (2) The proportion of Campylobacter and Salmonella enteritis.

In vitro activity of temocillin against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from urinary tract infections in France.

Objectives: Temocillin was introduced in 2015 in the French guidelines for the treatment of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae urinary tract infections. Little susceptibility data is available. We investigated the in vitro activity of temocillin against ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from samples of cytobacteriological examinations of urine.

How to: accreditation of blood cultures' proceedings. A clinical microbiology approach for adding value to patient care.

Background: Quality assurance and quality management are driving forces for controlling blood culture best practices but should not be disconnected from the end-point target, i.e. patient value.

In vitro susceptibility to mecillinam of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the urine of pregnant women.

Objectives: Pivmecillinam is a safe beta-lactam for use in pregnancy. It has been widely used for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the Nordic countries where its efficacy, minor impact on the microbiota, and low level of resistance among the Escherichia coli strains have been proven. However, susceptibility data related to E.

Evaluating the management of 493 patients presenting with bacteremia in 23 northern French hospitals.

Objectives: We aimed to update the epidemiology of bacteremia and evaluate their management and short-term outcome.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter survey from October to November 2011. Consecutive patients with at least one positive blood culture (BC) were included in the study.

Spondylodiscitis and an aortic aneurysm due to Campylobacter coli.

Campylobacter coli is a rare cause of bacteremia. We report here the first case of C.coli spondylodiscitis complicated by an aortic aneurysm.

Evaluation of glycopeptide use in nine French hospitals.

Background: Adequate glycopeptide use is necessary to optimize efficacy and minimize adverse events and selection of drug resistant microorganisms.

Methods: We performed a multicenter prospective observational study of glycopeptides indications based on modified HICPAC criteria, and quality of prescription based on French consensus recommendations. We assessed the adequacy of indications, loading dose, maintenance dose, administration frequency, serum monitoring and its consequences.

[Evaluation of the performances of the iQ(®)200 ELITE automated urine microscopy analyser and comparison with manual microscopy method].

Microscopy urinalysis is one of the last manual analyses in laboratories and it is difficult to control. The automation of this analysis permits our laboratory to standardise this test. We performed an evaluation of the iQ(®)200 ELITE's performances and compare the data to the manual microscopy method which is considered as "the gold standard".

Investigation of a nosocomial outbreak of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase VEB-1-producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii in a hospital setting.

A nosocomial outbreak of epidemiologically related VEB-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii occurred in 33 patients in an intensive care unit. A case-control study identified previous treatment with third-generation cephalosporins as the only risk factor for A. baumannii acquisition.

Outbreak of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase VEB-1-producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii in a French hospital.

Twelve clonally related and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were recovered during a 4-month period from 12 patients hospitalized at the Valenciennes Hospital in France. Antibiograms determined by the double-disk diffusion technique on cloxacillin-containing plates detected a clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). PCR and sequencing identified the gene encoding the Ambler class A ESBL VEB-1.

Surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLE) in Northern France: a five-year multicentre incidence study.

In order to measure the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and of Enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLE), and to evaluate the impact of the national guidelines for multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) prevention in hospitals of Northern France, a multicentre study was conducted for three months every year starting in 1996, in volunteer hospital laboratories. All clinical specimens positive for MRSA and ESBLE were prospectively surveyed. During the five-year surveillance period, the overall proportion of MRSA was 38.

Susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae to beta-lactam agents and fluoroquinolones: a 3-year survey in France.

Objective: To assess trends in the susceptibility to beta-lactam agents and to fluoroquinolones of clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae isolated over a 3-year period in 14 French hospital laboratories.

Methods: During the second quarter of 1996, 1997 and 1998, 180 consecutive non-duplicate isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were collected in each center. Sixteen beta-lactams and four quinolones were tested by the disk diffusion method.

[Clostridium difficile bacteremia].

Background: Extra-digestive manifestations of Clostridium difficile infection are very uncommon. Exceptional cases of C. difficile bacteremia or severe sepsis have been described in intensive care patients, demonstrating the capacity of this agent to generate generalized infection.

[Lung infection by Mycobacterium szulgai].

Background: Mycobacterium szulgai is an uncommon atypical mycobacterium human pathogen.

Case Report: The clinical manifestations and radiographic findings in a 31-year-old woman were strongly suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. The mode of transmission could not be determined.

Candida albicans blastoconidia in peripheral blood smears from non-neutropenic surgical patients.

An 80 year old woman developed fever 11 days after volvulus surgery. A peripheral blood smear showed numerous yeast cells--both extraleucocytic and intraleucocytic--as well as leucoagglutination. The fungal elements included blastospores, pseudohyphae, and germ tubes.

[Evaluation of a dot-blot technique for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies (IgG anti-viral capsid antigen)].

Infectious mononucleosis syndrome is caused by several infectious agents, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Toxoplasma gondii. The ImmunoDot EBV VCA-IgG test (Biomedical Diagnostics) is a dot-blot enzyme-immunoassay, which determines the presence of heterophile antibodies and IgG antibodies directed against Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen (anti-VCA), CMV and T. gondii.