Can humidifier reservoir bacteria colonize the circuit during mechanical ventilation: An in vitro study.

Background: Although the circuit condensate, an ideal bacterial reservoir during mechanical ventilation, may flow into the humidifier reservoir, no studies have investigated if humidifier reservoir colonized bacteria colonize other circuit locations with airflow.

Aim: We aimed to prove whether the humidifier reservoir colonized bacteria colonize other circuit locations with airflow and provide some advice on the disposal of condensate in the clinical setting.

Study Design: An in vitro experiment was conducted.

Clinical characteristics, rapid identification, molecular epidemiology and antifungal susceptibilities of Talaromyces marneffei infections in Shenzhen, China.

Although case series of talaromycosis have been reported in China, their detailed clinical and microbiological characteristics have never been systematically profiled. In this study, we report the clinical characteristics, molecular epidemiology, rapid identification and antifungal susceptibilities of talaromycosis in The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in Shenzhen. Seven cases of talaromycosis were observed since commencement of hospital service in 2012.

Mutations outside the rifampicin resistance-determining region associated with rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objectives: Ninety-six percent of rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis was shown to be associated with mutations inside the 81 bp rifampicin resistance-determining region (RRDR) located in the centre of the rpoB gene. The detection of rifampicin resistance by targeting the RRDR failed to match with a resistant phenotype in 4% of all cases. Our study aims to identify the mutations outside the RRDR that are associated with rifampicin resistance in M.

Molecular characterization of fluoroquinolone resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: functional analysis of gyrA mutation at position 74.

A PCR-sequencing assay was evaluated for direct detection of mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrase A (gyrA) gene in fluoroquinolone-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens. As determined by gyrA QRDR analysis, complete concordance of genotypic and phenotypic fluoroquinolone resistance was demonstrated. Our results indicate that the assay is a rapid and reliable method for the diagnosis of fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis, facilitating timely clinical management and public health control.