Development of a workflow for the detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis from rectal swabs using the spectra VRE medium.

Background: Spectra™ VRE agar (Remel, Lenexa, KS) is a chromogenic agar that is FDA approved for screening patients for VRE colonization. The package insert recommends confirming isolates with identification and susceptibility testing, but confirming every culture delays time to result. Given the agar's historic high specificity for E.

Development of a protocol for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in sputum and endotracheal aspirates using Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2.

Sputum and endotracheal aspirates (ETs) are not among the vendor-approved specimens for the Cepheid Xpert SARS-CoV-2 assay. However, they are the common lower respiratory tract specimens submitted for laboratory diagnosis. Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in lower respiratory tract samples is required for the discharge of patients from coronavirus disease (COVID) units at some institutions.

Optimizing a real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of in nasal and axillary/groin samples.

. is an emerging fungal pathogen. The organism can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality, has been implicated in outbreaks in healthcare settings and is frequently resistant to multiple antifungal agents, making it a significant challenge to infection prevention and patient treatment.