First antimicrobial resistance data and genetic characteristics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Estonia, 2009-2013.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection with major public health implications and Neisseria gonorrhoeae has developed resistance to all antimicrobials introduced for treatment. Enhanced surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae is crucial globally.

In vitro synergy of oxacillin and gentamicin against coagulase-negative staphylococci from blood cultures of neonates with late-onset sepsis.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the leading cause of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in neonates. Increasing resistance of CoNS to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides has led to widespread use of vancomycin, which in turn may lead to resistance to vancomycin. Thus, combination therapy of LOS has been advocated.

Survey of diagnostic services for genital herpes in fourteen countries in Eastern Europe.

This paper reports survey-based data on the diagnosis and management of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in 14 countries of the Eastern European Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health (EE SRH). Only 43% of the countries could provide the number of genital HSV cases recorded at national level. Eighty-six percent of countries employed syndromic management in cases of genital ulcer disease.

Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in East European countries.

The present guidelines aim to provide comprehensive information regarding the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in East European countries. These recommendations contain important information for laboratory staff working with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or STI-related issues. Individual East European countries may be required to make minor national adjustments to these guidelines as a result of lack of accessibility to some reagents or equipment, or laws in a specific country.

A new probiotic cheese with antioxidative and antimicrobial activity.

The aim of our study was to develop an original probiotic cheese based on the Estonian open-texture, smear-ripened, semisoft cheese "Pikantne." Cheese was produced by two methods using cheese starter cultures (Probat 505) in combination with 0.04% of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum strain ME-3 (10(9) cfu/mL) with high antimicrobial activity and antioxidative properties.