Acquisition, Divergence, and Personalization of the Female Perineal Microbiomes Are Driven by Developmental Milestones and Disrupted by Urinary Tract Infection: A Pilot Study.

The pediatric perineal microbiomes inhabit a dynamic environment with changes related to diet, toileting habits, and hormonal development. We hypothesized that next-generation sequencing would reveal different perineal bacterial signatures associated with developmental milestones in premenstrual females. Furthermore, we predicted that these microbial changes would be disrupted in premenstrual females with a history of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Broad-range PCR Application in a Large Academic Pediatric Center: Clinical Value and Challenges in Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases.

Background: Broad-range polymerase chain reaction (BR-PCR) detects infectious pathogens from clinical specimens using targets for bacteria (16S rRNA), fungi (28S rDNA), and mycobacteria (fluorescence resonance energy transfer and heat shock protein 65 gene) with reported diagnostic sensitivity and specificity ranging from 43% to 100% and 100%, respectively. We describe our experience when applying BR-PCR to clinical samples submitted for conventional infectious disease testing [conventional testing (CT)] from pediatric patients with concern for infection.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical samples obtained from Nationwide Children's Hospital microbiology laboratory from January 2011 to December 2014 and sent for BR-PCR.

Comparison of the microbiological milieu of patients randomized to either hydrophilic or conventional PVC catheters for clean intermittent catheterization.

Introduction: Control of bacteriuria is problematic in patients who perform clean intermittent catheterization for management of neurogenic bladder. This population is often burdened with multiple urinary tract infections (UTIs), placing them at increased risk of end-stage renal disease. Hydrophilic catheters are a potential way to improve smooth and clean insertion, reduce disruption of the urothelium, and reduce bacterial colonization.