A Single Negative Result for Quantitative PCR on Enrichment Broth Can Replace Five Rectal Swab Cultures in Screening for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci.

The increased incidence of infections by vancomycin-resistant (VRE) causes an accumulation of patients who are either colonized with VRE or flagged as potentially colonized with VRE. Since such patients require precautionary isolation upon admission to a hospital, rapid methods to establish VRE colonization status would improve patient care and optimize hospital operation. We evaluated quantitative PCR (qPCR) on one enrichment broth as a VRE-screening approach.

Multidrug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium infections in Europe.

In Japan and Australia, multidrug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium infections are reported with increasing frequency. Although macrolide-resistant M. genitalium strains are common in Europe and North America, fluoroquinolone-resistant strains are still exceptional.

Large two-centre study into the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis in the Netherlands.

Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis are common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In the Netherlands, testing for M. genitalium and T.

Antimicrobial resistance and spread of multi drug resistant Escherichia coli isolates collected from nine urology services in the Euregion Meuse-Rhine.

We determined the prevalence and spread of antibiotic resistance and the characteristics of ESBL producing and/or multi drug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates collected from urine samples from urology services in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, the border region of the Netherlands (n=176), Belgium (n=126) and Germany (n=119). Significant differences in resistance between the three regions were observed. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resistance ranged from 24% in the Netherlands to 39% in Belgium (p=0.

Evaluation of the Siemens VERSANT® CT/GC DNA 1.0 assay (kPCR) for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The Siemens VERSANT kPCR system is an automated system which combines extraction of nucleic acids from 96 samples with subsequent real-time PCR. The VERSANT CT/GC DNA 1.0 (kPCR) assay detects Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) in a multiplex real-time PCR on this system.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori affects all major secretory cell populations in the human antrum.

We have investigated how gastric H. pylori infection affects antrum secretory cell types by studying the expression of secretory proteins in antrum epithelium. Antrum biopsy specimens were prospectively collected from 102 individuals (49 H.

The MUC5AC glycoprotein is the primary receptor for Helicobacter pylori in the human stomach.

Background And Objectives: Helicobacter pylori shows a characteristic tropism for the mucus-producing gastric epithelium. In infected patients, H. pylori colocalizes in situ with the gastric secretory mucin MUC5AC.

Gastric-type mucin and TFF-peptide expression in Barrett's oesophagus is disturbed during increased expression of MUC2.

Aims: Barrett's oesophagus constitutes metaplastic epithelium, often diagnosed by mucin histochemistry. We determined the mucins and trefoil factor family (TFF)-peptides that were expressed in Barrett's oesophagus, in order to study changes in protein expression in early stages of Barrett's oesophagus development.

Methods And Results: Biopsy specimens of 71 Barrett's oesophagus patients were collected, and sections were stained for secretory mucins by histochemistry.

Metaplasia of the duodenum shows a Helicobacter pylori-correlated differentiation into gastric-type protein expression.

The origin of gastric metaplasia of the duodenum (GMD) remains enigmatic. We studied expression of mucins and trefoil peptides in GMD to gain insight into its phenotype and origin. We examined duodenal tissue of 95 patients (0 to 83 years old, 26 with gastric Helicobacter pylori infection) for the presence of GMD.

Barrett's esophagus is characterized by expression of gastric-type mucins (MUC5AC, MUC6) and TFF peptides (TFF1 and TFF2), but the risk of carcinoma development may be indicated by the intestinal-type mucin, MUC2.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) consists of metaplastic epithelium of the esophagus, generally diagnosed by mucin histochemistry. We aimed to determine which mucins were expressed in BE, and to relate their expression to BE pathology. Archival biopsies of 4 patient groups were selected, based on standard histochemistry: BE without inflammation, BE with inflammation, ulcerating BE, and BE with dysplasia.