High rates of anorectal chlamydia in women: a cross-sectional study in general practice.

Background: Genital and anorectal (CT) frequently present together in sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of co-occurrent genital and anorectal chlamydia infection, and to study whether sexual behaviour is associated with anorectal infection.

Design & Setting: A cross-sectional study in general practices in the north of the Netherlands.

Strengthening the diagnostic capacity to detect Bio Safety Level 3 organisms in unusual respiratory viral outbreaks.

Background: Experience with a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in the Netherlands (2003) illustrated that the diagnostic demand for respiratory viruses at different biosafety levels (including BSL3), can increase unexpectedly and dramatically.

Objectives: We describe the measures taken since, aimed at strengthening national laboratory surge capacity and improving preparedness for dealing with diagnostic demand during outbreaks of (emerging) respiratory virus infections, including pandemic influenza virus.

Study Design: Academic and peripheral medical-microbiological laboratories collaborated to determine minimal laboratory requirements for the identification of viruses in the early stages of a pandemic or a large outbreak of avian influenza virus.

Trichomonas vaginalis detection using real-time TaqMan PCR.

1978 women and 93 men, all suspected of having a Trichomonas vaginalis infection, were tested for the presence of T. vaginalis by real-time PCR using the T. vaginalis-specific 2-kb repeated sequence, and by direct microscopy and culture.

Comparison of COBAS AMPLICOR Neisseria gonorrhoeae PCR, including confirmation with N. gonorrhoeae-specific 16S rRNA PCR, with traditional culture.

A total of 3,023 clinical specimens were tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae by using COBAS AMPLICOR (CA) PCR and confirmation of positives by N. gonorrhoeae-specific 16S rRNA PCR. The sensitivity of CA plus 16S rRNA PCR was 98.