Detection and characterization of Shigella species isolated from food and human stool samples in Nabeul, Tunisia, by molecular methods and culture techniques.

Aims:   This study was designed to isolate Shigella spp. strains from food and stool samples by a combination of PCR and culture methods and characterize their serotypes, antibiotic resistance profiles, virulence genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns to investigate possible clonal relationships amongst strains circulating.

Methods And Results:   Six Shigella spp.

[Comparison of phenotypic methods with PCR to screening methicillin resistance in coagulase negative staphylococci].

The Aim Of Study: Appreciation of the frequency, the level and the genetic support of methicillin resistance.

Material And Methods: Seventy-three strains of coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from various specimens, from January to June 2004, were studied. The phenotypic detection was carried out by disk diffusion test using oxacillin and cefoxitin disks, by the determination of oxacillin Minimal Inhibitor Concentration (E-test), by the oxacillin screening test at a concentration of 4 mug/ml and by the search of the penicillin binding protein PBP2a using the slide latex agglutination test.