Real-time PCR surveillance of vanA for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

In Korea, the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection has recently been increasing, with a clinical isolation rate of up to 25%. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of real-time PCR for the detection of the vanA gene over conventional culture in patients confirmed as being VRE-colonized. During the evaluation stage, 100 consecutive clinical specimens were analyzed for the presence of the vanA gene via real-time PCR, for which 4 specimen preparations were used.

[A case of ABO*Ael02/O04 genotype with typical phenotype O].

Ael is a rare blood type which has the least amount of A antigen among A subgroups. It can be detected by special tests performed to resolve the discrepancy between red cell and serum typing in routine serological typing. The presence of A antigen on Ael red cell is demonstrable only by adsorption and elution tests.