Evaluation of detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates by VITEK 2 AST-N029 compared to the agar dilution and disk diffusion methods.

A total of 123 clinical Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates were included in the study in order to evaluate VITEK 2 AST-NO29 (Nordic) card for detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and to compare the results with genotypic ESBL verification. The results were also compared to alternative phenotypic methods, i.

The dynamics of bacteria in the middle ear during the course of acute otitis media with tympanostomy tube otorrhea.

Background: Dynamics of bacteria during acute otitis media (AOM) has not been thoroughly studied because it requires repeated tympanocentesis. AOM with tympanostomy tube otorrhea provides a unique opportunity to study the appearance and disappearance of pathogens during the course of the disease without stressing the child.

Methods: Middle ear fluid (MEF) samples were taken before treatment (amoxicillin clavulanate or placebo) and then daily during follow-up from 75 children having AOM with otorrhea through a tympanostomy tube.

Aetiological diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia: utility of rapid microbiological methods with respect to disease severity.

The present study investigated the utility of rapid microbiological methods in the aetiological diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) according to the severity of CAP. Between 1999 and 2004, 384 adult patients with CAP were studied prospectively. In addition to standard microbiological methods, PCR and antigen detection techniques were used to identify pathogens.

In vitro susceptibility of viridans group streptococci isolated from blood in southwest Finland in 1993-2004.

We studied in vitro activity against invasive viridans group streptococci (VGS) of penicillin and 4 newer antibiotics, i.e. telithromycin, linezolid, levofloxacin and quinupristin-dalfopristin.

Bacteria and viruses in maxillary sinuses of patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia.

Objective: To study bacteria and viruses in maxillary sinuses of patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia receiving immunoglobulin therapy.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study during 6 months.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Occurrence of Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium in nails and keratinous skin. A 5-year retrospective multi-center study.

A 5-year retrospective multicenter study was performed for microascaceous moulds (Microascaceae, Ascomycetes) in Finnish clinical specimens. The files from 1993-1997 of six clinical mycology laboratories in Finland were searched for reports of these fungi, mainly Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium anamorphs in keratinous specimens. From the 521 primary findings, 165 cases were selected for further study based on direct microscopy, colony numbers and accompanying fungi.

Identification of alpha-hemolytic streptococci by pyrosequencing the 16S rRNA gene and by use of VITEK 2.

Alpha-hemolytic streptococci are very difficult to identify by phenotypic methods. In this study, a pyrosequencing method for the identification of streptococcal species based on two variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene is described. Almost all studied streptococcal species (n = 51) represented by their type strains could be differentiated except for some closely related species of the Streptococcus bovis or S.

Microbiology of acute otitis media in children with tympanostomy tubes: prevalences of bacteria and viruses.

Background: Bacteria are found in 50%-90% of cases of acute otitis media (AOM) with or without otorrhea, and viruses are found in 20%-49% of cases. However, for at least 15% of patients with AOM, the microbiological etiology is never determined. Our aim was to specify the full etiology of acute middle ear infection by using modern microbiological methods concomitantly for bacterial and viral detection.

Comparison of workflow and accuracy of identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci by Vitek 2 and routine methods.

Three hundred and fifty-three consecutive urine cultures growing Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or enterococci were subjected to parallel identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by Vitek 2 and routine methods, including simple screening tests or API 20 E for ID and standardized disc diffusion for AST. Accuracy of results, technician hands-on time required by both methods and time to results were compared. Vitek 2 correctly identified 322 (94.

Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in community-acquired pneumonia in a routine setting: a study on patients treated in a Finnish university hospital.

Only a few previous studies have focused on the use or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of BAL in CAP in a routine clinical setting. 71 disease episodes were retrospectively analysed.

Antibiotic treatment of acute otorrhea through tympanostomy tube: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with daily follow-up.

Objective: The role of routine antimicrobial treatment of acute middle-ear infections is under debate, because the efficacy of antimicrobials in the resolution of middle-ear fluid has not been unambiguously proven. Acute tube otorrhea is regarded as evidence of acute otitis media, and for methodologic reasons it was chosen to provide objectivity for diagnostics and outcome assessment. The objective of this study was to assess whether amoxicillin-clavulanate accelerates the resolution of acute tube otorrhea.

Elimination of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a university hospital and district institutions, Finland.

From August 1991 to October 1992, two successive outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred at a hospital in Finland. During and after these outbreaks, MRSA was diagnosed in 202 persons in our medical district; >100 cases involved epidemic MRSA. When control policies failed to stop the epidemic, more aggressive measures were taken, including continuous staff education, contact isolation for MRSA-positive patients, systematic screening for persons exposed to MRSA, cohort nursing of MRSA-positive and MRSA-exposed patients in epidemic situations, and perception of the 30 medical institutions in that district as one epidemiologic entity brought under surveillance and control of the infection control team of Turku University Hospital.