Evaluation of a semi-automated Seegene PCR workflow with MTB, MDR, and NTM detection for rapid screening of tuberculosis in a low-prevalence setting.

In areas of low tuberculosis (TB) prevalence, laboratory diagnosis of TB may essentially cover non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in addition to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). In this study, a semi-automated PCR workflow distinguishing MTB and NTM (Anyplex™ MTB/NTMe, Seegene) and subsequently detecting MTB isoniazid/rifampicin resistance (Allplex™ MTB/MDRe, Seegene) was evaluated for replacing smear microscopy of acid-fast bacilli as the rapid screening method for TB. With 279 clinical samples, 47 cultures positive for MTB and 76 for NTM, the Anyplex™ MTB/NTMe assay and smear microscopy showed equal sensitivities (49.

Evaluation of two tuberculosis PCR assays for routine use in a clinical setting of low population and low tuberculosis prevalence.

Today, there are numerous different molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of tuberculosis (TB), allowing the optimization of rapid detection of TB according to the clinical need. In this study, two high-throughput TB PCR assays with combined antimicrobial resistance detection, Anyplex™ II MTB/MDR (Seegene) and RealTime MTB + RealTime MTB RIF/INH Resistance (Abbott Molecular), were evaluated for routine use in a clinical setting of low population and low TB prevalence in Finland. The RealTime MTB assay was 100% concordant (22/22 positive, n = 169) with the reference methods (culture and Xpert MTB/RIF PCR assay, Cepheid).

Comparison of three multiplex real-time PCR assays for detection of enteric viruses in patients with diarrhea.

In this study, the usability and performance of three commercially available multiplex real-time RT-PCR assays for the detection of major enteric viruses were investigated. In total, 481 fecal specimens were analyzed using the Allplex™ GI Virus Assay, the Rida®Gene Viral Stool Panel I, and the FTD Viral Gastroenteritis. The overall agreement between the assays was 99.

Use of an automated PCR assay, the GenomEra S. pneumoniae, for rapid detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in blood cultures.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is recognized as a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. Since the mortality rate for pneumococcal bacteremia remains high, the reliable detection of the bacterium in blood samples is important. In this study, the performance of a new automated PCR assay, the GenomEra(™) S.

The use of molecular methods for the detection and identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen in many hospitals and long-term care facilities as well as in the community. To limit the spread of MRSA, early detection and proper treatment are essential. Because conventional culture as gold standard is time consuming, new techniques such as PCR-based and hybridization assays have emerged for the rapid detection of MRSA.

Comparison of FecalSwab and ESwab devices for storage and transportation of Diarrheagenic bacteria.

Using a collection (n = 12) of ATCC and known stock isolates, as well as 328 clinical stool specimens, we evaluated the ESwab and the new FecalSwab liquid-based microbiology (LBM) devices for storing and transporting diarrheagenic bacteria. The stock isolates were stored in these swab devices up to 48 h at refrigeration (4°C) or room (∼25°C) temperature and up to 3 months at -20°C or -70°C. With the clinical stool specimens, the performances of the ESwab and FecalSwab were compared to those of routinely used transport systems (Amies gel swabs and dry containers).

Performance of SaSelect, a chromogenic medium for detection of staphylococci in clinical specimens.

In a preliminary study, known staphylococcus (n = 86) and other microbial (n = 12) isolates were plated on three chromogenic media, SaSelect (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA), CHROMagar Staph. aureus (CHROMagar Microbiology, Paris, France), and S. aureus ID (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France).

GenomEra MRSA/SA, a fully automated homogeneous PCR assay for rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus and the marker of methicillin resistance in various sample matrixes.

The GenomEra MRSA/SA assay (Abacus Diagnostica, Turku, Finland) is the first commercial homogeneous PCR assay using thermally stable, intrinsically fluorescent time-resolved fluorometric (TRF) labels resistant to autofluorescence and other background effects. This fully automated closed tube PCR assay simultaneously detects Staphylococcus aureus specific DNA and the mecA gene within 50 min. It can be used for both screening and confirmation of methicillin-resistant and -sensitive S.

Evaluation of a new automated homogeneous PCR assay, GenomEra C. difficile, for rapid detection of Toxigenic Clostridium difficile in fecal specimens.

We evaluated a new automated homogeneous PCR assay to detect toxigenic Clostridium difficile, the GenomEra C. difficile assay (Abacus Diagnostica, Finland), with 310 diarrheal stool specimens and with a collection of 33 known clostridial and nonclostridial isolates. Results were compared with toxigenic culture results, with discrepancies being resolved by the GeneXpert C.

First isolation of Dietzia cinnamea from a dog bite wound in an adult patient.

We report the first case of deep-wound colonization by Dietzia cinnamea in a patient who had been bitten by a dog.

Usability and performance of CHROMagar STEC medium in detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains.

The performance and usability of CHROMagar STEC medium (CHROMagar Microbiology, Paris, France) for routine detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains were examined. The ability of the medium to selectively propagate STEC strains differing by their serotypes and virulence genes was studied with a collection of diarrheagenic E. coli isolates (n = 365) consisting of 49 different serotypes and with non-STEC and other bacterial isolates (n = 264).

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O78:H(-) in family, Finland, 2009.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and bloody diarrhea but can lead to severe disease, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC serotype O78:H(-) is rare among humans, and infections are often asymptomatic. We detected a sorbitol-fermenting STEC O78:H(-):stx(1c):hlyA in blood and fecal samples of a 2-week-old boy who had bacteremia and HUS and in fecal samples of his asymptomatic family members.

Bacteriophage ϕ6 nucleocapsid surface protein 8 interacts with virus-specific membrane vesicles containing major envelope protein 9.

Enveloped double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) bacterial virus Pseudomonas phage ϕ6 has been developed into an advanced assembly system where purified virion proteins and genome segments self-assemble into infectious viral particles, inferring the assembly pathway. The most intriguing step is the membrane assembly occurring inside the bacterial cell. Here, we demonstrate that the middle virion shell, made of protein 8, associates with the expanded viral core particle and the virus-specific membrane vesicle.