Aureimonas altamirensis masquerading as Brucella spp. in a blood culture from a 68-year-old male with cancer.

Staphylococcus epidermidis and a Gram negative bacillus (GNB) were isolated in blood cultures from a 68-year-old male with cancer. The GNB was suspicious for Brucella spp., but was identified using 16S rDNA sequencing as Aureimonas altamirensis.

Are Rapid Influenza Antigen Tests Still Clinically Useful in Today's Molecular Diagnostics World?

Influenza virus infection and disease historically contribute to widespread cases of seasonal morbidity and in some cases mortality. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial for optimal patient management. Rapid influenza direct antigen testing (RIDT) offers a faster turn-around-time for results but test performance (ie, sensitivity and specificity) varies widely.

Increasing Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Respiratory Specimens from US-Affiliated Pacific Island Jurisdictions.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) respiratory infections represent a growing public health problem in many countries. However, there are limited published epidemiologic studies for the Western Pacific region. We reviewed respiratory specimens submitted to Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Hawaii, USA, for culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during August 2007-December 2011 to determine the NTM isolation rate.

Correction: Environmental Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in the Hawaiian Islands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.

Complete Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium chimaera Strain AH16.

Mycobacterium chimaera is a nontuberculous mycobacterial species that causes cardiovascular, pulmonary, and postsurgical infections. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence of M. chimaera This genome is 6.

Environmental Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in the Hawaiian Islands.

Lung disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is an emerging infectious disease of global significance. Epidemiologic studies have shown the Hawaiian Islands have the highest prevalence of NTM lung infections in the United States. However, potential environmental reservoirs and species diversity have not been characterized.

Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Using Forward Laser Light Scatter Technology.

The delayed reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility testing remains a limiting factor in clinical decision-making in the treatment of bacterial infection. This study evaluates the use of forward laser light scatter (FLLS) to measure bacterial growth for the early determination of antimicrobial susceptibility. Three isolates each (two clinical isolates and one reference strain) of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested in triplicate using two commercial antimicrobial testing systems, the Vitek2 and the MicroScan MIC panel, to challenge the BacterioScan FLLS.

Bordetella trematum sepsis with shock in a diabetic patient with rapidly developing soft tissue infection.

Bordetella is a gram-negative, glucose non-fermenting bacillus, consisting of many host-associated species. B. trematum has previously been identified in wound infections, but rarely known to be a source of bacteremia.

Multicenter Evaluation of BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel for Detection of Bacteria, Viruses, and Yeast in Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment of infectious meningitis and encephalitis are critical to minimize morbidity and mortality. Comprehensive testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) often includes Gram stain, culture, antigen detection, and molecular methods, paired with chemical and cellular analyses. These methods may lack sensitivity or specificity, can take several days, and require significant volume for complete analysis.

Multicenter evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray gastrointestinal panel for etiologic diagnosis of infectious gastroenteritis.

The appropriate treatment and control of infectious gastroenteritis depend on the ability to rapidly detect the wide range of etiologic agents associated with the disease. Clinical laboratories currently utilize an array of different methodologies to test for bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of gastroenteritis, a strategy that suffers from poor sensitivity, potentially long turnaround times, and complicated ordering practices and workflows. Additionally, there are limited or no testing methods routinely available for most diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains, astroviruses, and sapoviruses.

Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis due to Bordetella petrii.

A case of Bordetella petrii septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in an elbow resulted from a dirt bike accident in Hawaii. Two months of intravenous antibiotics and repeated surgeries were required to cure this infection. Our case, and literature review, suggests that extended-spectrum penicillins, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are good treatment options.

Culture-negative prosthetic valve endocarditis with concomitant septicemia due to a nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae biotype gravis isolate in a patient with multiple risk factors.

A 54-year-old female with a prosthetic mitral valve presented with a 3-day history of dizziness, subjective fever, and chills. Blood cultures were positive for a pleomorphic Gram-positive rod. Initial phenotypic testing could only support the identification of a Corynebacterium species.

Comparison of two multiplexed PCR assays for the detection of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV with extracted and unextracted cutaneous and mucosal specimens.

Background: Several analyte specific reagents (ASRs) are available for the detection and differentiation of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV in clinical specimens. However, there is limited data on the test performance of these reagents used in multiplexed PCR assays.

Objective: This study compared the performance of two multiplexed ASR sets for detection of HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV in dermal specimens.

A Lethal Case of Bacteremia Due to Soft Tissue Infection.

is an uncommon cause of skin and soft tissue infections. It is often associated with trauma or immunocompromised state. We present the first lethal case of bacteremia due to skin and soft tissue infections, which had malnutrition, immobility, and peripheral vascular disease as risk factors.

Comparison of two broadly multiplexed PCR systems for viral detection in clinical respiratory tract specimens from immunocompromised children.

Background: The detection of viral respiratory tract infections has evolved greatly with the development of PCR based commercial systems capable of simultaneously detecting a wide variety of pathogens.

Objectives: Evaluate the relative performance of two commercial broad range systems for the detection of viral agents in clinical respiratory tract specimens from immunocompromised children.

Study Design: A total of 176 patient samples were included in the analysis, representing only the first sample collected for each patient, and excluding failed reactions.

A report on the first case of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) in Hawai'i.

The state of Hawai'i has the highest prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in the United States. Since vancomycin is the most frequently-prescribed antibiotic for healthcare-associated MRSA infection, there is concern for development of vancomycin resistance. We report on a 61 year-old woman with history of previous successful treatments of MRSA bacteremia with vancomycin.

Native valve Bacillus cereus endocarditis in a non-intravenous-drug-abusing patient.

Bacillus cereus is a rare cause of endocarditis, typically associated with intravenous drug abuse, rheumatic heart disease, prosthetic heart valves, pacemakers, or immunodeficiency. We present the first case of native valve Bacillus cereus endocarditis with no apparent risk factors. The patient had a fulminant course requiring emergent valve replacement.

A probe-based method for confirmation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin and tst virulence genes.

Probe-based detection of mecA, lukS/F-PV (Panton-Valentine leukocidin), and tst virulence genes in 435 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus had comparable sensitivity and specificity to end-point polymerase chain reaction as a reference standard.

Increasing prevalence of nasal and rectal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children with cancer.

Background: Infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in community-settings, especially with strains carrying the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes, have increased markedly in recent years. Colonization with S. aureus is a risk factor for infection.

Pandemic preparedness in Hawaii: a multicenter verification of real-time RT-PCR for the direct detection of influenza virus types A and B.

Objective: We integrated multicenter, real-time (RTi) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) screening into a statewide laboratory algorithm for influenza surveillance and response.

Methods: Each of three sites developed its own testing strategy and was challenged with one randomized and blinded panel of 50 specimens previously tested for respiratory viruses. Following testing, each participating laboratory reported its results to the Hawaii State Department of Health, State Laboratories Division for evaluation and possible discrepant analysis.

A "silent culture-negative" abdominal aortic mycotic aneurysm: Rapid detection of Bartonella species using PCR and high-throughput mass spectrometry.

A gram-negative, rod-shaped microorganism was detected in a 69-year-old man suffering from chronic back pain but otherwise exhibiting no signs of infection. The bacterium could not be identified using any routine diagnostic modality. A research use only application utilizing PCR and Mass Spectrometry was performed on nucleic acid extracted from the tissue sample.

A case of septic arthritis from rat-bite fever in Hawai'i.

Background: Infection associated with a rat bite has been known for centuries. Streptobacillus moniliformis is a zoonotic organism identified in the 20th century as the causative agent of most cases of rat bite fever outside of mainland Asia. There are no previously published cases of this pathogen in Hawai'i.

Quantitation of Staphylococcus aureus in seawater using CHROMagar SA.

A microbiological algorithm has been developed to analyze beach water samples for the determination of viable colony forming units (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Membrane filtration enumeration of S.