Detailed Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of a Rare, Antibody-Dependent SLAM-Associated Protein Expression Pattern.

SLAM-associated protein (SAP) is an adaptor molecule that facilitates critical effector functions in immune cells, and its deficiency causes X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in which effector responses directed against EBV are severely compromised. The primary objective of this study was to phenotypically and functionally characterize a rare, CD8 T cell-restricted bimodal SAP expression pattern observed in healthy, human donors with the widely used 1C9-SAP mAb clone. We initially observed this pattern during the clinical validation of our flow cytometry-based assay to diagnose X-linked lymphoproliferative disease type 1 in our laboratory.

Utilizing the electronic health record to construct antibiograms for previously healthy children with urinary tract infections.

Traditional antibiograms can guide empiric antibiotic therapy, but they may miss differences in resistance across patient subpopulations. In this retrospective descriptive study, we constructed and validated antibiograms using International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes and other discrete data elements to define a cohort of previously healthy children with urinary tract infections. Our results demonstrate increased antibiotic susceptibility.

Ideal and Actual Impact of Rapid Diagnostic Testing and Antibiotic Stewardship on Antibiotic Prescribing and Clinical Outcomes in Children With Positive Blood Cultures.

Background: Implementing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight and multiplex polymerase chain reaction has been associated with decreased mortality and hospital length of stay in adults, but the impact in pediatrics is less understood.

Methods: This pre-post quasi-experimental study compared antibiotic prescribing for positive blood cultures in patients ≤21 years of age collected in 2012 (preintervention) and in 2015 (after matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/multiplex polymerase chain reaction). Time to effective and optimal antimicrobial therapy was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Caution Needed: Molecular Diagnosis of Pediatric Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis.

Among throat swabs processed in the microbiology laboratory as back-up for negative rapid antigen detection test results, we found a significant increase in the proportion that tested positive for group A streptococci after changing from throat culture to a molecular test.For group A streptococcus testing, our hospital laboratory replaced throat cultures with a stand-alone molecular diagnostic test that takes no more than 1 hour to perform. The prevalence of positive laboratory test results increased significantly (P < .

Differential recognition of the multiple banded antigen isoforms across Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum species by monoclonal antibodies.

Two separate species of Ureaplasma have been identified that infect humans: Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Most notably, these bacteria lack a cell wall and are the leading infectious organism associated with infection-related induction of preterm birth. Fourteen separate representative prototype bacterial strains, called serovars, are largely differentiated by the sequence of repeating units in the C-terminus of the major surface protein: multiple-banded antigen (MBA).

Longitudinal Characterization of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Isolates Acquired From Different Sites in an Immune-Compromised Child: A New HSV Thymidine Kinase Mutation Associated With Resistance.

Background: Herpes simplex virus resistance to acyclovir is well described in immune-compromised patients. Management of prolonged infection and recurrences in such patients may be problematic.

Methods: A patient with neuroblastoma developed likely primary herpes gingivostomatitis shortly after starting a course of chemotherapy, with spread to the eye during treatment with acyclovir.

Outbreak of life-threatening coxsackievirus B1 myocarditis in neonates.

In the summer and fall of 2007, we observed a unique cluster of cases of severe coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1) infection among Chicago area neonates. Eight neonates had closely related strains of CVB1 that were typed at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention; 2 other neonates had CVB infections, 1 of which was further identified as serotype CVB1. All had severe myocarditis; 1 neonate underwent heart transplantation, and 1 died of severe left ventricular dysfunction.

A day in the life of a nebulizer: surveillance for bacterial growth in nebulizer equipment of children with cystic fibrosis in the hospital setting.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic lung infection. Minimizing exposure to pathogens is important. Treating a CF pulmonary exacerbation includes nebulizer therapies, but little is known about pathogen exposure from nebulizer equipment in CF.

Pasteurella aerogenes hamster bite peritonitis.

Pasteurella multocida has been reported to cause peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis after a cat bite or scratch to the catheter. We report a teenager with hamster bite peritonitis caused by P. aerogenes, an organism predominantly isolated from swine.