Rapid screening method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Background: Comprehensive and up-to-date monitoring of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOC) is crucial as these are characterized by their increased transmissibility, immune evasion and virulence.

Objectives: To describe the wide-scale implementation of a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) multiple variants assay with melting curve analysis as a routine procedure.

Study Design: We prospectively performed multiple variants RT-PCR on consecutive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive samples from patients, healthcare workers and nursing home residents from our hospital catchment area.

Comparison of the GeneFinder COVID-19 Plus RealAmp Kit on the sample-to-result Platform ELITe InGenius to the national reference method: An added value of N gene target detection?

Background: Due to the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic there is an urgent need for rapid and accurate testing on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the GeneFinderCOVID-19 Plus RealAmp Kit on the ELITe InGenius sample-to-result platform, which is a commercial nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) targeting genes of SARS-CoV-2.

Study Design: Patients were eligible between March 18 and May 27, 2020, when they had respiratory symptoms that were suspected for COVID-19.

Association of eumycetoma and schistosomiasis.

Eumycetoma is a morbid chronic granulomatous subcutaneous fungal disease. Despite high environmental exposure to this fungus in certain regions of the world, only few develop eumycetoma for yet unknown reasons. Animal studies suggest that co-infections skewing the immune system to a Th2-type response enhance eumycetoma susceptibility.

Good performance of the SpectraCellRA system for typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains necessary in order to assess whether transmission of MRSA occurred and to what extent infection prevention measures need to be taken. Raman spectroscopy (SpectraCellRA [SCRA]; RiverD International, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) is a recently developed tool for bacterial typing. In this study, the performance (typeability, discriminatory power, reproducibility, workflow, and costs) of the SCRA system was evaluated for typing of MRSA strains isolated from patients and patients' household members who were infected with or colonized by MRSA.