Point prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Isospora infections in patients being evaluated for diarrhea.

From March to September 2001, 315 specimens from "nonrepeat" patients that were submitted for ova and parasite examination were stained using the Kinyoun modified acid-fast stain to detect the intestinal coccidians. Four patients (1.3%) were infected with coccidians, 2 with Cryptosporidium parvum and 2 with Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Evaluation of methods to increase the sensitivity and timeliness of detection of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women.

Direct culture of rectovaginal specimens on Granada agar was compared to culture on sheep blood agar plate (SBAP) and AccuProbe detection of group B streptococcus from overnight LIM broth enhancement cultures (LIM-SBAP). Both broth-enhanced methods demonstrated excellent sensitivity (97.5% for LIM-SBAP and 93.

Performance characteristics of VIDAS and directigen respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen detection assays and culture for the identification of RSV in respiratory specimens.

In a comparison of the Directigen and VIDAS respiratory syncytial virus antigen detection assays with viral culture, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and testing efficiency were 86, 93.1, 82.7, 94.

A decade of antimicrobial susceptibilities at the University of Kentucky Hospital.

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility rates for key antimicrobial agents and selective bacterial pathogens in the decade of the 1990s.

Methods: Data from 1990 to 2000 from the University of Kentucky Clinical Microbiology Laboratory were analyzed by linear regression analysis to identify agents and pathogens that show a decline in susceptibility. For selected pathogens and antimicrobial agents, predictions were made for further declines in susceptibility for 2005 and 2010.