Evaluation of an immunochromatographic assay for rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in clinical isolates.

Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) remains slow. Over the years, several new technologies have been proposed to accelerate and simplify the detection of MTC. In this context, we evaluated an immunochromatographic assay (ICA) (BIO-LINE SD Ag MPT64 TB) for rapid identification of MTC, based on detection of a specific MPT64 antigen of MTC.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of measuring IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to mycobacterial A60 antigen in active tuberculosis.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of detection of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM antibodies raised against the mycobacterial A60 antigen for the diagnosis and discrimination of active tuberculosis (TB) from other pulmonary diseases. Three commercially available ELISA kits (IgA, IgG, and IgM) (ANDA Biologicals, Strasbourg, France) were evaluated simultaneously in 246 serum samples from 3 groups of patients: group I, 171 patients with active TB (128 pulmonary TB and 43 extrapulmonary TB); group II, 73 patients with pulmonary non-TB diseases; and group III, 2 leprosies patients. The sensitivities of tests ranged from 31.

Rapid detection of immunoglobulin G against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens by two commercial ELISA kits.

Setting: Tunisia.

Objective: To assess the clinical usefulness of the commercial Pathozyme-Myco G (Myco G) and Pathozyme TB complex plus (Patho) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) and to distinguish between active TB and non-TB pulmonary diseases in Tunisian patients.

Design: Immunoglobulin G mediated humoral immune response against mycobacterial antigens (38 kDa and lipoarabinomannan, Myco G; 16 and 38 kDa, Patho) was evaluated in a group of active TB patients (128 smear-positive pulmonary and 33 extra-pulmonary samples) and in a control group (107 patients with non-tuberculous lung disease and two with leprosy).

Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum by Patho-TB kit in comparison with direct microscopy and culture.

The usefulness of a new rapid diagnostic test (Patho-TB) using antibodies specific to mycobacterial antigens was evaluated for the rapid discrimination between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and non-TB pulmonary diseases on sputa. One hundred sputa collected from 79 active TB patients and from 21 patients with non-TB pulmonary diseases (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were enrolled into the study and tested for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Ziehl-Neelsen smear, Patho-TB kit, and Löwenstein-Jensen culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Patho-TB test were 95%, 100%, 100%, and 84%, respectively.

[Clinical, epidemiologic and bacteriological characteristics of urinary tract infections due to Staphylococcus saprophyticus in the central part of Tunisia].

Aim: We assess the clinical, epidemiologic and bacteriological aspects of urinary tract infections due to S. saprophyticus through a sample collected in the central part of Tunisia.

Methods: Retrospective study, related to 92 strains of S.

Evaluation of a simplified IS6110 PCR for the rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an area with high tuberculosis incidence.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic yield of a simplified IS6110-PCR in an area with high tuberculosis incidence.

Methods: Pulmonary (218) and extrapulmonary (121) samples were collected from 236 patients including smearpositive leprosy patients. All samples were processed to detect acidfast bacilli by microscopy, culture on solid media and PCR.

A three-year surveillance of nosocomial infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus in newborns reveals the disinfectant as a possible reservoir.

Objective: Study of the clonality of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus responsible of epidemic infections in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Patients And Methods: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates were collected during the period from March 2004 to November 2006, from newborns, the clean hands of nurses and from disinfectant bottles used in the unit. Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was achieved for all isolates.

Clonality of clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: Study of the clonality of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis responsible of epidemic infections in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Patients And Methods: All S. epidermidis isolates (mecA+) were collected during the epidemic period (December 2003-September 2004) from different pathological products of newborns.