Second-line drug susceptibilities of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis strains isolated in Thailand: an update.

The increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and the emergence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) globally hamper the successful treatment and effective control of TB. Information on second-line drug susceptibility, which is of utmost importance for patient care, is still limited. This study demonstrates the susceptibilities of 1447 strains of MDR-TB, including 58 XDR-TB strains, isolated from Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, ethionamide (ETH), para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and linezolid.

Eleven-year experience on anti-TB drugs direct susceptibility testing from Siriraj Hospital, Thailand.

The early detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) strains is of utmost importance for patient management and effective TB control programs. This study aimed to demonstrate the performance of direct drug susceptibility testing (DST) performed in our laboratory in the past 11 years. The direct DST was performed on Middlebrook 7H10 medium using isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), and the results were compared with those obtained from indirect DST (gold standard).

Evaluation of an in-house immunoperoxidase staining assay for histodiagnosis of human pythiosis.

Pythiosis, a life-threatening infectious disease of humans and animals in tropical and subtropical countries, is caused by the fungus-like organism Pythium insidiosum. As diagnosis of pythiosis is difficult, delayed diagnosis of pythiosis leads to poor prognosis. We developed an immunoperoxidase staining assay using rabbit anti-P.

Hemagglutination test for rapid serodiagnosis of human pythiosis.

Human pythiosis is an emerging, life-threatening infectious disease, caused by the oomycete Pythium insidiosum. Thailand is an area where human pythiosis is endemic and the genetic blood disorder thalassemia is a predisposing factor. Patients with pythiosis present with arterial occlusions of the lower extremities, corneal ulcers, or chronic cutaneous infections.

Transcriptome analyses extend understanding of Streptococcus pyogenes regulatory mechanisms and behavior toward immunomodulatory substances.

The recent genome sequencing of several Streptococcus pyogenes serotype strains allowed the design of corresponding DNA microarrays and their usage for specific transcriptome analyses. In the present study, we employed transcriptomics together with functional tests to investigate the impact of the CiaH sensor gene of the CiaRH two-component regulator on gene expression and virulence traits of serotype M49 S. pyogenes strains CS101 and 591.

One-tube multiplex PCR method for rapid identification of mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A rapid, inexpensive, simple, and accurate multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed in a single tube for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Assessment of sensitivity and specificity of simple PCR was performed with 116 strains of M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) and 144 strains of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) compared with the biochemical method.

Distribution of hsp65 PCR-restriction enzyme analysis patterns among Mycobacterium avium complex isolates in Thailand.

A total of 227 clinical Mycobacterium avium complex isolates from Thailand were differentiated into species and types by using PCR-restriction enzyme analysis of hsp65. The distribution of types showed the predominance of M. avium I (77%) in blood specimens, whereas M.

Evaluation of polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis for routine identification of mycobacteria: accuracy, rapidity, and cost analysis.

Polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis (PCR-REA) of the hsp65 gene was evaluated for use as a routine identification method for identifying mycobacteria. The accuracy, rapidity, and cost were assessed compared with the conventional biochemical method. Five hundred and forty-one mycobacterial clinical isolates obtained from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, were submitted for PCR-REA and biochemical identification.

Development and evaluation of a one-tube seminested PCR assay for the detection and identification of Penicillium marneffei.

A one-tube seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect and identify Penicillium marneffei DNA coding for 18S rRNA both from purified DNA and from clinical samples. DNA from 120 strains of organisms and 19 blood samples from AIDS patients was amplified with F3, CPL1 and PM primers. Under optimized conditions, these primers detected 100% specifically amplified products of 251 and 331 bp from all P.

An open, non comparative study of ofloxacin i.v. on the treatment of acute symptomatic urinary tract infection.

The clinical efficacy and the safety of ofloxacin i.v. in 35 acute symptomatic urinary tract patients were evaluated.

Antifungal drug combinations for Cryptococcus neoformans and Prototheca spp.

Seventy-one isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and 5 isolates of Prototheca spp. were tested for in vitro susceptibility against amphotericin B alone and against the combination of amphotericin B with each clinically relevant concentration of flucytosine (5-FC) and rifampin by broth dilution methods. The combinations of amphotericin B and rifampin produced greater effect on reduction of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B than did either drug used individually.

In vitro activity and clinical evaluation of cefixime in urinary tract infection.

Thirty-five women with uncomplicated acute lower urinary tract infections proven by significant pre-treatment bacteriuria (> or = 10(5)CFU/ml) were treated with an oral dose of 100 mg cefixime twice a day for seven days. Thirty five patients included in this study were checked for response to treatment on the last day of therapy, 7-14 days and 4 weeks post therapy. The clinical response and bacterial eradication rate for cefixime were 91.

Cefaclor therapy in uncomplicated cystitis.

Thirty patients with acute urinary tract infection were treated orally with 500 mg of cefaclor three times a day for 7 days. Urine cultures were made before treatment and after therapy. In 97 per cent (29/30) of these patients clinical success was achieved and in 90 per cent (27/30) of them, pathogens were eradicated.

Immunobiological diagnosis of tropical ocular diseases: Toxocara, Pythium insidiosum, Pseudomonas (Burkholderia) pseudomallei, Mycobacterium chelonei and Toxoplasma gondii.

Of the sera obtained from 18 patients with ocular diseases comprising ocular larva migrans (OLM), Toxoplasma gondii, Mycobacterium chelonei, Pythium insidiosum bacteria and tumour, 3 sera were positive for Toxocara antibody at the titre over 1/1600 ELISA. All 3 of these sera came from males with unilateral grayish fundi. We demonstrated the value of the direct immunofluorescent assay (DIFA) on vitreous specimens from 7 cases of Toxoplasma retinitis.

Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and conventional culture for the detection of legionellas in hospital water samples.

A detection system for Legionella spp. based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the diagnostic value of PCR for the surveillance of contamination of man-made water systems by legionellas. A previously-published primer system was chosen to amplify a fragment of the 5S-ribosomal gene of Legionella spp.

Immunodiffusion test for diagnosing basidiobolomycosis.

An immunodiffusion test was developed for the diagnosis of basidiobolomycosis. When culture filtrate antigen (CFA) from Basidiobolus ranarum was reacted against two human patient and two rabbit antisera, 2 precipitin bands, inner (N) and outer (Y), were revealed for both patient and rabbit antisera. A line of identity was also observed between precipitin bands obtained with patient and rabbit sera.

Diagnosis of systemic candidosis by immunodiffusion test with locally prepared antigen.

Locally-made C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C.

Immunodiffusion test for diagnosing human pythiosis.

An immunodiffusion test was developed for diagnosing subcutaneous and systemic pythiosis in humans. When culture filtrate antigen (CFA) from P. insidiosum was reacted against patient and rabbit antisera, 1-5 precipitin bands occurred both in patient and rabbit antisera, and a line of identity also occurred between patient and rabbit sera.