Prolonged silent carriage, genomic virulence potential and transmission between staff and patients characterize a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) outbreak of methicillin-resistant (MRSA).

Background: Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is an important pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) that confers significant morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Improving our understanding of MRSA transmission dynamics, especially among high-risk patients, is an infection prevention priority.

Methods: We investigated a cluster of clinical MRSA cases in the NICU using a combination of epidemiologic review and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates from clinical and surveillance cultures obtained from patients and healthcare personnel (HCP).

Navigating Clinical Utilization of Direct-from-Specimen Metagenomic Pathogen Detection: Clinical Applications, Limitations, and Testing Recommendations.

Background: Metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) is becoming increasingly available for pathogen detection directly from clinical specimens. These tests use target-independent, shotgun sequencing to detect potentially unlimited organisms. The promise of this methodology to aid infection diagnosis is demonstrated through early case reports and clinical studies.

The spectrum of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation: US survey assessing symptoms, care seeking, and disease burden.

Introduction: The irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) are associated with substantial symptom and disease burden. Although typically classified as distinct diseases, symptoms frequently overlap.

Aim: The objective of this study was to characterize symptom and disease burden in IBS-C and CIC sufferers and examine a subset of CIC sufferers with abdominal symptoms.

The relationship between wisdom and abstinence behaviors in women in recovery from substance abuse.

Background And Aims: Wisdom is theorized to be an important construct in recovery from substance abuse. In order to explore the role of wisdom in substance abuse recovery behaviors, the present study had two goals. First, it sought to examine the factor structure of a wisdom scale, the Foundational Value Scale (FVS) in a community sample of women in recovery from substance abuse.

Using a pan-viral microarray assay (Virochip) to screen clinical samples for viral pathogens.

The diagnosis of viral causes of many infectious diseases is difficult due to the inherent sequence diversity of viruses as well as the ongoing emergence of novel viral pathogens, such as SARS coronavirus and 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, that are not detectable by traditional methods. To address these challenges, we have previously developed and validated a pan-viral microarray platform called the Virochip with the capacity to detect all known viruses as well as novel variants on the basis of conserved sequence homology. Using the Virochip, we have identified the full spectrum of viruses associated with respiratory infections, including cases of unexplained critical illness in hospitalized patients, with a sensitivity equivalent to or superior to conventional clinical testing.

12-Step involvement among a U.S. national sample of Oxford House residents.

A longitudinal analysis was conducted among a U.S. national sample of persons affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous living in self-run recovery homes (Oxford Houses).

Cytologic evaluation can predict microbial culture results for infectious causes of pulmonary nodules in patients undergoing fine needle aspiration biopsy.

We retrospectively compared cytopathology and microbial culture results for pulmonary fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens over a 10-year period. Eighty samples were submitted for culture, yielding 24 positive cultures with 17 pathogenic organisms. Cytology predicted positive cultures in all cases where organisms were visualized, and it was associated with negative cultures in 24 of 25 cases where inflammatory changes and necrosis were absent.

Thoracic CT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in immunocompromised patients.

The goal of this study is to describe the spectrum of initial and follow-up CT findings of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in a series of immunocompromised patients. Eight immunocompromised patients with documented novel influenza A (H1N1) had CT imaging at our institution between May 2009 and August 2009. A total of 20 CTs (initial and follow-up) were reviewed for the presence, severity, and distribution of the following: ground glass opacity, consolidation, interlobular septal thickening, mosaic perfusion, airway wall thickening, airway dilatation, nodules, cysts, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, lymphadenopathy, and air trapping.