The Use of CHROMID Colistin R for the Detection of Colistin-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Positive Blood Cultures.

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of CHROMID Colistin R for direct detection of colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from positive blood cultures. A total of 390 blood cultures from hospitalised patients containing Gram-negative bacteria were included in this study. These blood cultures were referred to clinical laboratories in the United Kingdom and Türkiye.

Comparison of the Luminex NxTAG respiratory pathogen panel and a multiplex in-house real-time PCR panel for the detection of respiratory viruses in symptomatic patients.

To evaluate the Luminex NxTAG respiratory pathogen panel (NxTAG RPP) for the detection of respiratory viruses in clinical samples from patients with the symptoms of respiratory infection. The NxTAG RPP was compared to an in-house multiplex real-time PCR panel (LDT) for the detection of respiratory viruses in 314 clinical samples from patients with the symptoms of respiratory infection. Thirty-one samples were negative in both tests and 193 samples contained a single virus that was detected in both tests.

Aetiology of paediatric pneumonia after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

We describe the aetiology of community-acquired pneumonia in children before and after the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) programme in 2006. Prospective studies were conducted in 2001-2002 (pre-vaccine) and 2009-2011 (post-vaccine) of children aged 0-16 years with radiologically confirmed pneumonia seen in hospital. Investigations included culture, serology, immunofluorescence antibody and urine antigen testing, with an increased use of PCR assays and expanded panels of pathogens in the post-vaccine study.

Pneumococcal diagnosis and serotypes in childhood community-acquired pneumonia.

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced routinely in the UK from September 2006 and replaced by PCV13 in 2010. In a prospective study from 2009 to 2011 of 160 children aged ≤16 years with radiologically confirmed pneumonia, likely pneumococcal infections were identified in 26%. Detection of pneumococci was improved with polymerase chain reaction compared to culture (21.

Evaluation of the Cepheid respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus A/B real-time PCR analyte specific reagent.

Two rapid real-time RT-PCR assays, specific for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A and B, were evaluated for the detection of these viruses in clinical respiratory samples. The RSV assay was applied to 100 samples and the Influenza A and B assay applied to 96 samples all of which had been tested previously by an "in-house" multiplex real-time PCR assay. Forty-three samples were negative for RSV by both methods and 56 samples were positive by both methods.

Cavitatory lung disease complicating empyema in children.

Objective: The incidence of empyema has increased dramatically in children in the UK over the last decade. Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) serotype 1 is the dominant serotype.

Rapid detection and quantification of CMV DNA in urine using LightCycler-based real-time PCR.

A real-time quantitative PCR-hybridisation assay was developed for the detection of human cytomegalovirus DNA in clinical material. The assay is based on a LightCycler (LC) and provides both rapid results (<1 h) and quantification over a broad dynamic range (2 x 10(3)-5 x 10(8) CMV DNA copies/ml). Given that the assay showed a 3-fold increase in sensitivity compared to detection of early antigen fluorescent foci (DEAFF) testing of urine samples, we investigated the practicality of testing surveillance such specimens from immunocompromised patients at risk of CMV disease.

Detection of pneumolysin in sputum.

Western blot detection of the species-specific pneumococcal product, pneumolysin (SPN), was shown to be almost as sensitive as PCR for the non-cultural detection of pneumococci in 27 Streptococcus pneumoniae culture-positive sputa from patients stated to have chest infections. Both techniques were considerably more sensitive than counter-current immuno-electrophoresis for pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide antigens (CPS-CIE) on the same specimens. Sensitivities for PCR, SPN-immunoblotting and CPS-CIE were 100%, 85% and 67%, respectively.