Use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis for rapid confirmation of Burkholderia pseudomallei in septicemic melioidosis.

Burkholderia pseudomallei was quickly identified from blood cultures collected from septicemic patients by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis using an in-house reference library. This procedure reduced the time to definitive identification by more than 24 hours. This analysis is a useful addition to laboratory methods for early recognition of septicemic melioidosis in non-endemic settings.

First Australian isolation of epidemic Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027.

We report the first isolation in Australia of a hypervirulent epidemic strain of Clostridium difficile, PCR ribotype 027. It was isolated from a 43-year-old woman with a permanent ileostomy, who appears to have been infected while travelling in the United States. The isolate was positive for toxin A, toxin B and binary toxin, and resistant to fluoroquinolone antimicrobials, and had characteristic deletions in the tcdC gene.

Respiratory infections and lung function in an Australian Aboriginal community.

Background And Objective: To investigate the association between serological evidence of past infections with common respiratory pathogens and lung function in members of an isolated community of Aborigines from tropical coastal north-western Australia.

Methods: FEV(1) and FVC were assessed by dry bellows spirometer. Serum IgG titres to 11 common respiratory pathogens were assayed.