STAMP-Based Digital CRISPR-Cas13a for Amplification-Free Quantification of HIV-1 Plasma Viral Loads.

Quantification of HIV RNA in plasma is critical for identifying the disease progression and monitoring the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. While RT-qPCR has been the gold standard for HIV viral load quantification, digital assays could provide an alternative calibration-free absolute quantification method. Here, we reported a elf-digitization hrough utomated embrane-based artitioning (STAMP) method to digitalize the CRISPR-Cas13 assay (dCRISPR) for amplification-free and absolute quantification of HIV-1 viral RNAs.

Impact of a multipronged approach to reduce the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infections in hospitalized patients.

Background: Effective approaches to reduce Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) in hospitalized patients are needed. We report data from 3 years preceding and 3 years following interventions that proved successful, with detailed analysis of all cases the first year after implementation.

Methods: Interventions included a nursing protocol to identify cases present on admission by asking if the patient had 1 or more liquid stools in the last 24 hours, and a 2-step testing algorithm with samples positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the C.

Evaluation of the Onclarity HPV assay on the high-throughput COR system.

: Here we compare the performance of the high-throughput BD COR System (COR) to the Viper LT System (Viper) using the BD Onclarity HPV assay.: Remnant clinical specimens, contrived specimens in SurePath (BD) and PreservCyt (Hologic) media, and prospective clinical specimens in BD Cervical Brush Diluent (CBD) were tested. Outcomes included intra-laboratory agreement of Onclarity results on COR and inter-system agreement between COR and Viper.

Comparative Evaluation of AmpliVue HSV 1+2 Assay with ELVIS Culture for Detecting Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in Clinical Specimens.

The AmpliVue HSV 1+2 assay was compared to the ELVIS HSV ID and D(3) Typing Culture System for the qualitative detection and differentiation of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 DNA in 1,351 cutaneous and mucocutaneous specimens. Compared to ELVIS, AmpliVue had sensitivities of 95.7 and 97.

Multicenter clinical performance evaluation of BD Veritor™ system for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus.

Background: BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a new-generation lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for objective detection of RSV in respiratory specimens from children.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of RSV in respiratory specimens collected from pediatric patients.

Study Design: A prospective, multicenter clinical trial was undertaken at five study sites representing geographically diverse regions of the U.

Household risk factors for colonization with multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Antimicrobial resistance, particularly in pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), limits treatment options and increases healthcare costs. To understand patient risk factors, including household and animal contact, potentially associated with colonization with multidrug-resistant MRSA isolates, we performed a prospective study of case patients colonized with MRSA on admission to a rural tertiary care hospital. Patients were interviewed and antimicrobial resistance patterns were tested among isolates from admitted patients colonized with MRSA in 2009-10.

Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 limits the recurrence of Clostridium difficile-Induced colitis following vancomycin withdrawal in mice.

Background: Recently, we found that the probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (GanedenBC30) improved indices of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)-induced colitis in mice (Fitzpatrick et al., Gut Pathogens, 2011).

Molecular and phenotypic characteristics of healthcare- and community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a rural hospital.

Background: While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) originally was associated with healthcare, distinct strains later emerged in patients with no prior hospital contact. The epidemiology of MRSA continues to evolve.

Methods: To characterize the current epidemiology of MRSA-colonized patients entering a hospital serving both rural and urban communities, we interviewed patients with MRSA-positive admission nasal swabs between August 2009 and March 2010.

Bacillus Coagulans GBI-30 (BC30) improves indices of Clostridium difficile-Induced colitis in mice.

Background: Probiotics have beneficial effects in rodent models of Clostridium difficile (C. diffiicle)-induced colitis. The spore forming probiotic strain Bacillus Coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects in vitro.

Prevalent human coxsackie B-5 virus infects porcine islet cells primarily using the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that transplanting porcine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)-infected porcine islet cells (PICs) results in transmission of the virus to recipient mice, which is manifested by acute fatal infection within 5 to 8 days. Here, we determined PIC susceptibility to a related and highly prevalent human picornavirus, coxsackie B-5 virus (CVB-5).

Methods: PICs were inoculated with CVB-5 in vitro for up to 96 hours and infectivity, level of virus replication, and cellular function determined.