Susceptibility of community Gram-negative urinary tract isolates to mecillinam and other oral agents.

Objective: To determine the susceptibility of community outpatient Gram-negative urinary tract isolates to mecillinam and other commonly used oral agents.

Design And Setting: The study was a laboratory-based study of consecutive Gram-negative urinary tract isolates. Only those isolates considered to be significant pathogens were included in the study.

Use of the Vitek-1 and Vitek-2 systems for detection of constitutive and inducible macrolide resistance in group B streptococci.

A prospective study of erythromycin and clindamycin resistance was performed with 304 consecutive group B streptococci (GBS) isolates. According to two automated susceptibility testing systems, Vitek-1 and Vitek-2, and double-disk agar diffusion, 79.9% were susceptible to both erythromycin and clindamycin.

Evaluation of accuracy and reproducibility of E test for susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone.

We evaluated the reproducibility with which technologists perform and interpret the E test (AB Biodisk, North America, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.

Evaluation of the automated vitek immunodiagnostic assay system (VIDAS) for the detection of measles (rubeola) IgG antibodies.

Background: The VIDAS MSG assay is a rapid, automated assay system for the detection of measles antibodies which has not yet been fully evaluated.

Objectives: To compare the VIDAS MSG assay with hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of measles immune status.

Study Design: Four hundred and seventy-seven serum samples collected from hospital employees for pre-employment screening were tested for measles antibodies using the VIDAS MSG assay and the results compared with those obtained by HAI and EIA.

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from endocervical and urine specimens in an asymptomatic low-prevalence population of women.

The Amplicor Chlamydia trachomatis test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methodology used for the detection of a cryptic plasmid found in C. trachomatis. It was evaluated in comparison with cell culture and the Microtrak II Chlamydia enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of C.

Community-acquired pneumonia: the future of the microbiology laboratory: focused diagnosis or syndromic management?

The traditional classification of community-acquired pneumonia into typical and atypical pneumonia to facilitate successful empirical treatment is no longer optimal. An accurate prediction of cause and adequate empirical therapy cannot be provided with this approach in severely ill patients. There is an increasing spectrum of recognized treatable pathogens presenting as community-acquired pneumonia including Legionella species, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Pneumocystis carinii in addition to the traditional community pathogens.

Evaluation of three methods for the rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures.

A total of 445 blood cultures containing Gram-positive cocci in clusters were tested for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus with the Accuprobe, heat-stable thermonuclease, and latex agglutination using Staphaurex. The results show that the Accuprobe, thermonuclease, and Staphaurex correctly identified 95, 96, and 62 of the 100 specimens containing S. aureus.

Utilization review of the use of BACTEC PLUS high-volume blood culture bottles.

The BACTEC PLUS 26 (NR26) (Becton Dickinson, Towson, Md.) high-volume blood culture bottle replaced the less expensive smaller-volume NR6A bottle in our hospital. An audit carried out several months after their introduction revealed that only 17.

Rapid detection of infectious mononucleosis-associated heterophile antibodies by a novel immunochromatographic assay and a latex agglutination test.

A novel immunochromatographic assay, the CARDS O.S. MONO test (Pacific Biotech, San Diego, Calif.

Evaluation of commercial and standard methodology for determination of oxacillin susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus.

Agar dilution with and without 4% NaCl, broth microdilution with 2% NaCl, the dried MicroScan Rapid Positive MIC 1 panel (Baxter Health Care Corp., West Sacramento, Calif.), the Vitek GPS-SA card (Vitek Systems, Hazelwood, Mo.

Comparative evaluation of seven commercial tests for detection of heterophile antibody in infectious mononucleosis.

Detection of heterophile antibodies in infectious mononucleosis is the most rapid and cost-effective method for confirming the clinical diagnosis of the disease. This study compared seven commercial test kits (the Oxoid Infectious Mononucleosis Kit [Oxoid Ltd], Immunoscan Im-Latex [Baxter Travenol], Mono-Latex [Wampole Laboratories], Monospot and Im Screen Test [Ortho Diagnostics], Immunoscan Im-RBC Test [Baxter Travenol], and Infectious Mononucleosis Test [NCS Diagnostics]) to the Davidsohn differential test. All of the kits were shown to be acceptable for use, with specificities and sensitivities greater than 96.

Comparison of the Clearview Chlamydia test, Chlamydiazyme, and cell culture for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in women with a low prevalence of infection.

Two antigen detection systems, Clearview Chlamydia (Unipath Ltd., Bedford, United Kingdom) and Chlamydiazyme (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.), were compared with culture for the diagnosis of chlamydia infection in women attending gynecological clinics.

Evaluation of five commercial systems for identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci to species level.

Five commercially available systems for identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci to the species level were evaluated using 163 clinical staphylococcal isolates. The conventional method of Kloos and Schleifer served as reference method. The API20GP system showed the highest rate of agreement with the reference method, correctly identifying 98.

Problems with rapid agglutination methods for identification of Staphylococcus aureus when Staphylococcus saprophyticus is being tested.

Six rapid agglutination tests for identification of Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated by using 62 strains of S. aureus, 63 strains of S. saprophyticus, and 67 strains of other coagulase-negative staphylococci.

In-vitro activity of enoxacin against aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacilli and other clinical isolates.

The in-vitro activity of enoxacin was tested against 500 clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacilli that were resistant to one or more of gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin, and against 1060 recent consecutive clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci. Enoxacin was active against staphylococci (MICs less than or equal to 4 mg/l) but less active against Streptococcus faecalis (MICs mostly 8 mg/l). It was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs 0.