A case for implementing an HSV1/2, VZV, and syphilis lesion panel in Manitoba, Canada.

Syphilis, caused by subsp. (TPA), is becoming a significant public health concern, with rising incidence in Manitoba exceeding the national average. The province has also seen a demographic shift leading to women representing 51.

Physician perspectives of Helicobacter pylori diagnostic and treatment practices in Canada: results of a Canadian survey.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is prevalent worldwide and can lead to peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer. Effective diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection by gastroenterologists and family physicians is crucial.

Post-market surveillance of six COVID-19 point-of-care tests using pre-Omicron and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Post-market surveillance of test performance is a critical function of public health agencies and clinical researchers that ensures tests maintaining diagnostic characteristics following their regulatory approval. Changes in product quality, manufacturing processes over time, or the evolution of new variants may impact product performance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a plethora of point-of-care tests (POCTs) was released onto the Canadian market.

Emergence of Inducible Macrolide Resistance in Mycobacterium chelonae Due to Broad-Host-Range Plasmid and Chromosomal Variants of the Novel 23S rRNA Methylase Gene, (55).

Macrolides are a mainstay of therapy for infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Among rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM), inducible macrolide resistance is associated with four chromosomal 23S rRNA methylase () genes. Beginning in 2018, we detected high-level inducible clarithromycin resistance (MICs of ≥16μg/mL) in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium chelonae, an RGM species not previously known to contain genes.

A Complete Whole-Genome Sequence of Ignavigranum ruoffiae Strain CPL 242382-20, an Opportunistic Human Pathogen Recovered from a Breast Cyst.

Ignavigranum ruoffiae is a rare human pathogen. Strain CPL 242382-20 was isolated in Manitoba, Canada, from a breast cyst. Whole-genome sequencing was performed with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION and Illumina MiSeq platforms.

Characteristics of polymerase chain reaction-positive syphilis cases in Manitoba, Canada, 2017 to 2020: Demographic analysis, specimen types, and gene targets.

Background: A resurgence of syphilis infections has been described in a number of countries including Canada in the last decade.

Methods: This study identified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive syphilis cases based on detection of genes (, , and ) in 3,350 clinical specimens obtained from patients in the province of Manitoba, Canada between 2017 and 2020. Patient demographics were obtained from specimen requisition forms.

One Health Genomic Analysis of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase‒Producing Salmonella enterica, Canada, 2012‒2016.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) confer resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, a major class of clinical antimicrobial drugs. We used genomic analysis to investigate whether domestic food animals, retail meat, and pets were reservoirs of ESBL-producing Salmonella for human infection in Canada. Of 30,303 Salmonella isolates tested during 2012-2016, we detected 95 ESBL producers.

Evaluation of the Hologic Aptima Combo 2 Assay for Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Joint Fluid Specimens.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nucleic acid amplification testing is the preferred method for routine diagnosis of gonorrhea from urogenital specimens, but culture is commonly used for diagnosis of disseminated infections, including gonococcal arthritis. The Hologic Aptima Combo 2 (AC2), a transcription-mediated amplification assay, is FDA and Health Canada licensed for detection of N.

Correlation between Phenotypic and In Silico Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance in in Canada Using Staramr.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of supports both molecular typing and detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we evaluated the correlation between phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and in silico prediction of AMR from WGS in ( = 1321) isolated from human infections in Canada. Phenotypic AMR results from broth microdilution testing were used as the gold standard.

Absence of transmission of NDM and OXA-48 carbapenemase genes in a chronic care unit of a long-term care facility.

Infection prevention and control measures are used to contain outbreaks of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. We report the absence of transmission of carrying New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase and oxacillinase-48 genes among 19 screened contacts of an index case after 14 months of routine practices in a long-term care facility.

Four genomic clades of Candida auris identified in Canada, 2012-2019.

Unlabelled: Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is associated with antifungal resistance and healthcare-associated outbreaks. From 2012 to 2019, there were 24 known cases of C. auris colonization or infection in Canada.

A One-Health Genomic Investigation of Gentamicin Resistance in Salmonella from Human and Chicken Sources in Canada, 2014 to 2017.

We investigated whether the increased prevalence of gentamicin resistance in Salmonella from human infections was related to a similar increased prevalence in isolates from broiler chickens and whether this increase may have been due to coselection from use of lincomycin-spectinomycin in chickens on farms. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on gentamicin-resistant (Gen) Salmonella isolates from human and chicken sources collected from 2014 to 2017 by the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS). We determined the genomic relatedness of strains and characterized resistance genes and plasmids.

Comparison of commercial assays and laboratory developed tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid development of tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2. Studies are required to assess the relative performance of different assays. Here, we compared the performance of two commercial assays, the cobas® SARS-CoV-2 (Roche Diagnostics) and Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 (Cepheid®) tests, and a laboratory developed RT-PCR test adapted for use on the Hologic® Panther Fusion® (Hologic®) instrument as well as Bio-Rad and QIAGEN real-time PCR detection systems.

Unexpected: Managing Oral Health in a Complicated Pregnancy.

While most pregnancies are healthy and uncomplicated, adverse pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy complications do occur and may frequently present in the dental office. Management of patients with high-risk pregnancies and/or established pregnancy complications within the dental office should be undertaken to establish and maintain optimal oral health and an integrated approach to overall health. The dental team's understanding of potential pregnancy complications, their implications for oral health, and standards for management of patients with a complicated pregnancy within the dental office is critical to the overall well-being of all pregnant patients.

Mycobacterium avium in Community and Household Water, Suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 2010-2012.

Attention to environmental sources of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is a vital component of disease prevention and control. We investigated MAC colonization of household plumbing in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. We used variable-number tandem-repeat genotyping and whole-genome sequencing with core genome single-nucleotide variant analysis to compare M.

Dental Team's Role in Maternal and Child Oral Health During and After Pregnancy.

For a mother-to-be, pregnancy presents an opportunity to improve not only her health and well being but also that of the immediate family, particularly the newborn infant. The National Consensus Statement of the Oral Health Care During Pregnancy Expert Group together with both governmental and non-governmental guidelines indicate that dental care is both safe and effective during pregnancy. These statements and guidelines may not be widely understood across all healthcare providers that form the perinatal care team, and confusion seems to exist among the general public regarding the safety of and necessity for dental care during pregnancy.

Collaborating With the Perinatal Team for Optimal Oral Health Before, During, and After a Healthy Pregnancy.

Collaboration with other health professionals can be challenging when attempting to coordinate healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy. However, advantages of interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaborative approaches include facilitation of accurate and timely diagnosis and optimally sequenced treatment for improved health outcomes. This article reviews the current guidelines fostering collaboration between dental professionals and members of the perinatal team and identifies the roles of healthcare providers to support the care of women around the time of pregnancy.

Failure of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to detect IMP-27 in a clinical isolate of Morganella morganii.

A case of an IMP-27-positive Morganella morganii isolate is reported, where the carbapenemase enzyme was demonstrated by whole genome sequencing. Carbapenemase detection using a multiplex PCR assay was negative due to mutations in the primer binding site. This case serves to illustrate the limitations of multiplex PCR for carbapenemase detection.

Laboratory testing and phylogenetic analysis during a mumps outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

Background: In September 2009, a mumps outbreak originated in New York and spread to Northeastern USA and Canada. This study compares the performance of different diagnostic testing methods used in Ontario and describes molecular characteristics of the outbreak strain.

Methods: Between September 2009 and February 2010, specimens from suspect cases were submitted to Public Health Ontario Laboratory for mumps serology, culture and/or real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) testing.

Healthy Pregnancy: A Patient-Centered Approach to Counseling and Behavioral Change.

Many current myths and outdated practices exist regarding dental care for pregnant women. Additionally, many medical care providers fail to check pregnant patients for dental problems and refer them for dental care. Therefore, it is critical that dental healthcare providers and their medical colleagues are well-informed of the risks and benefits of dental care throughout pregnancy and are equipped with the tools to discuss the importance of dental health with patients.

Dental Care as a Safe and Essential Part of a Healthy Pregnancy.

Oral health is essential for general health and well-being, and this is especially so during pregnancy. Pregnancy may present challenges to the oral health of the mother, mainly because of adaptations in basic physiology. However, many mothers-to-be and their health professionals, both prenatal and dental, are unsure as to the safety of providing dental care during pregnancy.