Rapid identification of pathogens with the hemoFISH test applying a novel beacon-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (bbFISH) technology in positive blood culture bottles.

Rapid and accurate identification of pathogens responsible for sepsis is essential for early and targeted antimicrobial therapy. Blood cultures are the current reference standard for detection of pathogens in blood, but culture-based identification methods are time consuming. We evaluated the hemoFISH assay by using the novel bbFISH technology for rapid and accurate identification of a broad range of microorganisms in positive blood cultures.

Effect of hospitalization and antimicrobial therapy on antimicrobial resistance of colonizing Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Endogenous infections with multi-resistant S. epidermidis are among the leading causes of nosocomial infections. The effect of hospitalization and antimicrobial therapy on antimicrobial resistance of colonizing staphylococci was determined from swabs of the nose, hand, axilla and groin from 157 patients on one day.

Intestinal Candida phospholipase is not elevated in patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

In order to assess the role of Candida-secreted phospholipase in antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), 43 fecal Candida isolates from patients with AAD and from controls were tested on egg yolk agar for production of phospholipase. Phospholipase zones did not differ between the isolates from patients with AAD and from controls. The data indicate that the fungal virulence factor phospholipase may not be responsible for AAD in adults.