Detection of Vancomycin-Resistant Endocarditis After Clearance of Vancomycin-Sensitive Bacteremia.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) bacteremia is associated with higher mortality rates and longer hospitalizations than vancomycin-sensitive enterococcal (VSE) bacteremia. A 67-year-old man with a right psoas abscess and pacemaker-associated tricuspid valve endocarditis in September 2020 grew VSE from blood cultures that cleared after administration of intravenous vancomycin and gentamicin. Subsequently, he underwent tricuspid valve repair, pacemaker removal, and partial lead extraction.

Genetic diversity of the pneumococcal capsule: implications for molecular-based serotyping.

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains an important pathogen despite licensure of a seven-valent pneumococcal protein conjugate vaccine. As a result, serotyping strains remains of paramount importance to both assess the effectiveness of current vaccines and closely monitor for the emergence of nonvaccine strains. Given the limitations of the quellung reaction, both molecular and immunology-based serotyping methods have been pursued.