Investigating transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in the United Kingdom in 2005 to 2008.

Due to an increase in bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the United Kingdom, we investigated the characteristics of Mycobacterium bovis infection in humans and assessed whether extensive transmission of M. bovis between humans has occurred. A cross-sectional study linking demographic, clinical, and DNA fingerprinting (using 15-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable-number tandem-repeat [MIRU-VNTR] typing) data on cases reported between 2005 and 2008 was undertaken.

Evaluation of the Cepheid respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus A/B real-time PCR analyte specific reagent.

Two rapid real-time RT-PCR assays, specific for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A and B, were evaluated for the detection of these viruses in clinical respiratory samples. The RSV assay was applied to 100 samples and the Influenza A and B assay applied to 96 samples all of which had been tested previously by an "in-house" multiplex real-time PCR assay. Forty-three samples were negative for RSV by both methods and 56 samples were positive by both methods.

Increasing antituberculosis drug resistance in the United Kingdom: analysis of National Surveillance Data.

Objective: To identify recent trends in, and factors associated with, resistance to antituberculosis drugs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Design: Cohort of tuberculosis cases reported to the enhanced tuberculosis surveillance system matched to data on drug susceptibility and national strain typing data.

Setting: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland 1998-2005.

An evaluation of the BD ProbeTec ET system for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory samples.

In controlling the spread of tuberculosis, early detection of disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is vital. The BD ProbeTec ET system provides a method for the direct detection of MTBC by strand displacement amplification. Two hundred and five respiratory samples from patients with a high probability of tuberculosis were assessed by ProbeTec and by microscopy and culture for mycobacteria.