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.

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.

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.