Short Signature Gene Sequence to Differentiate Species in Mycobacterium abscessus Group.

Mycobacterium abscessus group (MAG) are rapidly growing acid-fast bacteria that consist of three closely related species: M. abscessus (), (), and (). Differentiation of these species can be difficult but is increasingly requested owing to recent infectious outbreaks and their differential drug resistance.

Recovery and Its Dynamics of Filamentous Fungi from Clinical Specimen Cultures: An Extensive Study.

The culture method remains vital in diagnosing fungal infections, but extensive data-based evaluation of the method, especially for filamentous fungi (molds), is minimal. The purpose of this study was to characterize mold recoveries from fungal cultures and the impact of media and incubation duration. Clinical specimens for fungal cultures were submitted primarily from the eastern and central United States, and mold isolation data were prospectively collected and analyzed.

Retrospective Performance Analyses of over Two Million U.S. QuantiFERON Blood Sample Results.

Both the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) tests are interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs) intended to detect cell-mediated immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed performance data for both the QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus test systems from over 2 million samples. QFT-Plus and QFT-GIT testing was performed as specified in the respective package inserts at 23 Quest Diagnostics sites.

Current significance of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus group.

Organisms of the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus group can be significant pathogens in humans. They produce a number of diseases including acute, invasive and chronic infections, which may be difficult to diagnose correctly. Identification among members of this group is complicated by differentiating at least eleven (11) known species and subspecies and complexity of identification methodologies.

Acid-fast bacterium detection and identification from paraffin-embedded tissues using a PCR-pyrosequencing method.

Aims: Acid-fast bacterium (AFB) identification from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues is challenging and may not be readily available to the clinical laboratory. A method to detect and identify AFB from FFPE tissues using PCR and pyrosequencing (PCR-Seq) was developed and evaluated.

Methods: The method was validated using spiked cell-clotted paraffin blocks before use with patients' specimens.

Antibiotic Resistance among Urinary Isolates from Female Outpatients in the United States in 2003 and 2012.

A retrospective analysis was performed using The Surveillance Network, USA, to examine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among urine isolates from U.S. female outpatients in 2012 and assessed trends in antibiotic resistance comparing data from 2003 and 2012.

Direct detection and identification of acid-fast bacteria from smear-positive broth cultures using a pyrosequencing method.

Broth culture is a standard method for detection of acid-fast bacteria (AFB) (e.g., Mycobacterium and Nocardia) from patient specimens.

Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance increased faster among geriatric outpatients compared with adult outpatients in the USA, 2000-10.

Objectives: Few studies have examined Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance across age groups over time. The objective of this study was to compare urinary E. coli antimicrobial resistance trends among adult and geriatric outpatients from 2000 to 2010.

Recent trends in resistance to cell envelope-active antibacterial agents among key bacterial pathogens.

Cell envelope-active agents, particularly β-lactams, play a pivotal role in the treatment of bacterial infections and the extent to which their activity is affected by the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms is of concern. We analyzed the Surveillance Network (TSN) database to evaluate resistant trends for key cell envelope-active drugs among ESKAPE pathogens. Analysis demonstrated that the activity of these drugs has been notably influenced by the emergence of multidrug resistance; this was especially evident for the β-lactam drugs.

Klebsiella pneumoniae antimicrobial drug resistance, United States, 1998-2010.

We studied antimicrobial-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae for 1998-2010 by using data from The Surveillance Network. Susceptibility results (n = 3,132,354) demonstrated significant increases in resistance to all antimicrobial drugs studied, except tetracycline. Cross-resistance among carbapenem-resistant K.

In vitro antimicrobial resistance of urinary Escherichia coli isolates among U.S. outpatients from 2000 to 2010.

This study examines in vitro antimicrobial resistance data from Escherichia coli isolates obtained from urine samples of U.S. outpatients between 2000 and 2010 using The Surveillance Network (TSN).

Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction/pyrosequencing to characterize neuraminidase H275 residue of influenza A 2009 H1N1 virus for rapid and specific detection of the viral oseltamivir resistance marker in a clinical laboratory.

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 is normally susceptible to oseltamivir, but variants harboring the H275Y (CAC → TAC) mutation exhibit resistance. We describe the use of a combined reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/pyrosequencing approach to identify the H275 residue. A total of 223 specimens were tested with this method: 216 randomly selected clinical specimens positive for 2009 H1N1 and 7 cell-culture supernatants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 4 resistant, 3 susceptible 2009 H1N1 strains).

Analysis of resistance, cross-resistance and antimicrobial combinations for Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from 1997 to 2009.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a nosocomial and community-acquired pathogen associated with considerable patient morbidity and mortality. Multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa is a concern owing to the limited therapeutic options available to treat infections due to this organism.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus resistance to non-beta-lactam antimicrobials in the United States from 1996 to 2008.

We report the resistance rates of Staphylococcus aureus to non-beta-lactam antimicrobials from The Surveillance Network Database-USA (Eurofins-Medinet, Chantilly, VA). Specimens studied were from lower respiratory tract, wounds, and blood. Patients were stratified by age group and patient setting.

Identification of acid-fast bacilli using pyrosequencing analysis.

Pyrosequence identification of 117 isolates of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was compared to both routine phenotypic methods and Sanger sequencing. Two (2) vendor-provided pyrosequencing primers specific for AFB were used for the study. Pyrosequence analysis correctly identified 114 (98%) of the tested 117 AFB isolates.

Tracking the implementation of NCCLS M100-S12 expanded-spectrum cephalosporin MIC breakpoints for nonmeningeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae by clinical laboratories in the United States during 2002 and 2003.

Background: The Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, Twelfth Informational Supplement, M100-S12, published by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) in January 2002 introduced distinct minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) interpretative breakpoints for ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and cefepime for nonmeningeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Previously, a single set of interpretative breakpoints was used for both meningeal and nonmeningeal isolates.

Methods: To estimate the rate of adoption of the M100-S12 interpretive breakpoints by clinical laboratories, antimicrobial susceptibility test results for ceftriaxone and cefotaxime from nonmeningeal S.

Low levels of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli. A five-year trend in Australia measured through the use of TSN Database Australia.

In many countries, fluoroquinolones are among the most commonly used antibacterial drugs. Concerns about bacterial resistance to these and other frequently used drugs have been raised by the medical and scientific communities. While fluoroquinolone resistance has not yet developed among many bacteria, emergence of resistance in Escherichia coli would be a problem as multiple resistances to other antibiotics is now a common problem.

TSN Database Australia, a new tool to monitor antimicrobial resistance in Australia.

An electronic network of Australian microbiology laboratories was established to monitor the emergence and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among clinically relevant bacteria. It is believed that the data network collected approximately 42 per cent of all antibacterial susceptibility test results generated by Australian laboratories. The network comprised 94 hospitals and 9 private commercial laboratories.