Improved accuracy of clinical HLA genotyping by next-generation DNA sequencing affects unrelated donor search results for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Matching of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes is critically important in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). HLA genes are highly polymorphic and HLA matching has historically been limited by technologies that are unable to unambiguously determine HLA genotypes. Next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) overcomes these limitations by enabling near full-gene sequences with phase determination for heterozygous alleles.

Utilization of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test in a two-step process with the tuberculin skin test to evaluate health care workers for latent tuberculosis.

A cost analysis of combining a tuberculin skin test (TST) and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT-GT) to detect latent tuberculosis in newly hired health care workers was performed. An approximately 50% reduction in the cost of additional care was realized when workers with positive TST results were subsequently screened using the QFT-GT.

An outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor).

Mycobacterium intracellulare (MIT) was diagnosed postmortem by culture and supporting histopathology in seven birds from a flock of little blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) at the Henry Doorly Zoo (HDZ). These birds represented 20% of the deaths in the population over a 4 yr period. Clinical signs in affected birds included severe respiratory distress characterized by open-mouth breathing with chronic debilitation.

Pharmacoeconomic analysis of microbiologic techniques for differentiating staphylococci directly from blood culture bottles.

Differentiating staphylococci in blood cultures is a critical issue, particularly when only one of two cultures is positive by Gram staining for staphylococci. New tests for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus allow faster results and definitive treatment compared to the tube coagulase test interpreted at 24 h (TCT24). These newer tests, peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR), offer improved sensitivity at higher cost.