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BacteriologyComparison of the Novel Immunocatch Legionella Test with Sofia Legionella FIA Assay and with BinaxNOW Legionella Card Assay for Detection of Legionella pneumophila (Serogroup 1) Antigen in Urine SamplesLegionnaires’ disease (LD) refers to a serious form of acute pneumonia caused by Legionella species. LD can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific, and therefore a rapid laboratory diagnosis is of paramount importance.
ImmunoassaysCalibration and Evaluation of Quantitative Antibody Titers for Varicella-Zoster Virus by Use of the BioPlex 2200Most commercially available enzyme immunoassay-based methods have limited sensitivity to detect antibody responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in vaccinated individuals, who produce lower antibody levels than those with natural infection. However, more sensitive methods are either not commercially available or less amenable to high-throughput testing.
BacteriologyDetailed Analysis of the Characteristics of Sample Volume in Blood Culture BottlesBlood volume is the most important variable for the detection of microorganisms in blood cultures (BCs). Most standards recommend 40 to 60 ml blood, collected in several BC bottles filled up to 10 ml. We measured blood volume in individual BC bottles and analyzed the associations of hospital, bottle type, day of the week, daily sampling time, and age and sex of the patient with sampling volume and BC result.
BacteriologyDesign and Validation of Transcription-Mediated-Amplification Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for Mycoplasma genitaliumMycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted bacterium linked to adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes in women and men. M. genitalium is difficult to culture, and in the absence of validated amplified molecular methods for diagnosis of infection, there is no reference standard...
MinireviewPractical Guidance to Implementing Quality Management Systems in Public Health Laboratories Performing Next-Generation Sequencing: Personnel, Equipment, and Process Management (Phase 1)Quality standards as part of an effective quality management system (QMS) are the cornerstone for generating high-quality test results. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to improve both clinical diagnostics and public health surveillance efforts in multiple areas, including infectious diseases. However, the laboratories adopting NGS methods face significant challenges due to the complex and modular process design.
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MinireviewImplications of Bacteriophage- and Bacteriophage Component-Based Therapies for the Clinical Microbiology LaboratoryTreatment of bacterial infections is increasingly challenged by resistance to currently available antibacterial agents. Not only are such agents less likely to be active today than they were in the past, but their very use has selected for and continues to select for further resistance. Additional strategies for the management of bacterial illnesses must be identified. In this review, bacteriophage-based therapies are presented as one...
Bacteriology“Switching Partners”: Piperacillin-Avibactam Is a Highly Potent Combination against Multidrug-Resistant Burkholderia cepacia Complex and Burkholderia gladioli Cystic Fibrosis IsolatesIn persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), airway infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) species or Burkholderia gladioli presents a significant challenge due to inherent resistance to multiple antibiotics. Two chromosomally encoded inducible β-lactamases, a Pen-like class A and AmpC are...
BacteriologyReal-Time PCR Assay for Differentiation of Typhoidal and Nontyphoidal SalmonellaRapid and accurate differentiation of Salmonella spp. causing enteric fever from nontyphoidal Salmonella is essential for clinical management of cases, laboratory risk management, and implementation of public health measures. Current methods used for confirmation of identification, including biochemistry and serotyping as well as whole-genome sequencing analyses, take several days.
Mycobacteriology and Aerobic ActinomycetesDirect Detection of Pyrazinamide Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Use of pncA PCR SequencingAn in-house-developed pncA sequencing assay for analysis of pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance was evaluated using 162 archived Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates with phenotypic PZA susceptibility profiles that were well defined by analysis of Bactec MGIT 960 PZA kit and PZase activity data. Preliminary results showed 100% concordance between ...
VirologyCharacterization and Clinical Significance of Natural Variability in Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcriptase in Treatment-Naive Chinese Patients by Sanger Sequencing and Next-Generation Sequencing...Mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase (RT) are associated with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) resistance during long-term antiviral treatment. However, the characterization of mutations in HBV RT in untreated patients has not yet been well illustrated. The objective of this study was to investigate the characterization and clinical significance of natural variability in HBV RT in treatment-naive patients.