Characteristics of Isolates from Stool Samples of Patients with Liver Abscess Caused by Hypervirulent .

Background: Hypervirulent (hvKP) has been the most significant pathogen for liver abscesses in East Asia including the Republic of Korea (ROK). Although gastrointestinal colonization of may cross the intestinal barrier to invade the liver, characteristics of gastrointestinal carriage of hvKP liver abscess patients in the ROK are not well known.

Methods: Characteristics of isolated from stool samples and liver aspirate samples of patients with hvKP liver abscess at a tertiary care hospital in the ROK between 2017 and 2018 were evaluated.

Multiplex real-time PCR assay for Legionella species.

Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (sg1) accounts for the majority of infections in humans, but other Legionella species are also associated with human disease. In this study, a new SYBR Green I-based multiplex real-time PCR assay in a single reaction was developed to allow the rapid detection and differentiation of Legionella species by targeting specific gene sequences. Candidate target genes were selected, and primer sets were designed by referring to comparative genomic hybridization data of Legionella species.