Evaluation of the NG-Test CARBA 5 Kit for Rapid Detection of Carbapenemase Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Objective: We evaluated NG-Test CARBA 5, a new phenotypic carbapenemase detection assay, and compared it to the routine Xpert CARBA-R polymerase chain reaction assay. Furthermore, we tested the kit's performance after bacterial growth on 4 different solid media.

Methods: Seventy carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates (60 were carbapenemase producers) were collected at the Poriya Baruch Padeh Medical Center.

The diagnostic performance and accuracy of 3 molecular assays for the detection of Clostridium difficile in stool samples, compared with the Xpert® C. difficile assay.

This research compares the performance and diagnostic accuracy of three molecular tests for the detection of Clostridium difficile in stool samples, with the Xpert® C. difficile assay. Fifty-nine positive and twenty-five stool negative samples were analyzed by the BDmax™ Cdiff, the Simplexa C.

High Rates of Fosfomycin Resistance in Gram-Negative Urinary Isolates from Israel.

Background: Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a major problem worldwide. Many urinary tract infection (UTI) isolates are resistant to all oral antimicrobial agents, necessitating intravenous treatment even for cystitis. Fosfomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that achieves high and prolonged urinary drug concentration and is considered first-line treatment for uncomplicated cystitis.

Cheap and rapid in-house method for direct identification of positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF MS technology.

Background: Rapid and accurate pathogen identification in blood cultures is very important for septic patients and has major consequences on morbidity and mortality rates. In recent years, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based technology has become useful for highly specific and sensitive identification of bacteria and yeasts from clinical samples including sterile body fluids. Additional in-house methods enabled direct identification from blood cultures following various preparation protocols.

Elevated serum immunoglobulin A levels in patients with Clostridium difficile infection are associated with mortality.

The current research investigated immunoglobulin A levels in serum of patients with Clostridium difficile infection. Our main aim was to test whether immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels at the early stage of infection can predict disease severity of C. difficile infection.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli: comparison between Etest and a broth dilution method.

Background: Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne gasteroenteritis worldwide. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Campylobacter spp. is not routinely performed by most clinical laboratories.

Role of Single Procalcitonin Test on Admission as a Biomarker for Predicting the Severity of Infection.

To evaluate whether serum Procalcitonin (PCT) at the early stage of infection can serve as a potential biomarker for determining infection (CDI) severity. Fifty-four patients diagnosed with CDI were enrolled in the study. Serum samples were obtained within a median time of 24-48 h of the lab result for presence of .

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium difficile isolates in Israel.

Objectives: An increase of Clostridium difficile isolates with reduced susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents has been observed, including isolates that are non-susceptible to antibiotics that are routinely used for treatment of C. difficile, such as vancomycin and metronidazole. We determined the susceptibility rates of C.

Correlation between fecal calprotectin levels, disease severity and the hypervirulent ribotype 027 strain in patients with Clostridium difficile infection.

Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common infectious etiology of nosocomial diarrhea. Fecal calprotectin (fc) is a sensitive marker of intestinal inflammation, found to be associated with enteric bacterial infections and inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: We evaluated fc levels using a Chemiluminescent immunoassay method, in hospitalized patients with C.