Search

Mycobacteriosis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a rising concern in human medicine both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. In cats, mycobacteriosis caused by NTM is considered mostly to be a focal or dermal infection, with disseminated disease mostly caused by Mycobacterium avium. We describe three cases of disseminated mycobacteriosis in cats, caused by Mycobacterium malmoense, Mycobacterium branderi/shimoidei and M. avium, with no identified underlying immunosuppression. In all cases, extracellular mycobacteria were seen in the pulmonary epithelium, intestinal lumen and glomerular tufts, which could affect the shedding of the organism. The present study highlights the importance of mycobacteriosis as a differential even in immunocompetent animals. Considering the close relationship of owners and pets and the potential presence of free mycobacteria in secretions, cats should be considered as a possible environmental reservoir for mycobacteria. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complicated urinary tract infections, such as pyelonephritis, may lead to sepsis. Rapid diagnosis is needed to identify the causative urinary pathogen and to verify the appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy. We describe here a rapid identification method for urinary pathogens: urine is incubated on chocolate agar for 3 h at 35 degrees C with 5%CO2 and subjected to MALDI-TOF MS analysis by VITEK MS. Overall 207 screened clinical urine samples were tested in parallel with conventional urine culture. The method, called U-si-MALDI-TOF (urine short incubation MALDI-TOF), showed correct identification for 86% of Gram-negative urinary tract pathogens (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and other Enterobacteriaceae), when present at >10(5) cfu/ml in culture (n = 107), compared with conventional culture method. However, Gram-positive bacteria (n = 28) were not successfully identified by U-si-MALDI-TOF. This method is especially suitable for rapid identification of E. coli, the most common cause of urinary tract infections and urosepsis. Turnaround time for identification using U-si-MALDI-TOF compared with conventional urine culture was improved from 24 h to 4-6 h. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Summary Background New DNA-based microarray platforms enable rapid detection and species identification of many pathogens, including bacteria. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround time of a new molecular sepsis assay. Methods 2107 positive blood-culture samples of 3318 blood samples from patients with clinically suspected sepsis were investigated for bacterial species by both conventional culture and Prove-it sepsis assay (Mobidiag, Helsinki, Finland) in two centres (UK and Finland). The assay is a novel PCR and microarray method that is based on amplification and detection of gyrB, parE , and mecA genes of 50 bacterial species. Operators of the test assay were not aware of culture results. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround time according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations. Findings 1807 of 2107 (86%) positive blood-culture samples included a pathogen covered by the assay. The assay had a clinical sensitivity of 94·7% (95% CI 93·6–95·7) and a specificity of 98·8% (98·1–99·2), and 100% for both measures for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. The assay was a mean 18 h faster than was the conventional culture-based method, which takes an additional 1–2 working days. 34 of 3284 (1·0%) samples were excluded because of technical and operator errors. Interpretation Definitive identification of bacterial species with this microarray platform was highly sensitive, specific, and faster than was the gold-standard culture-based method. This assay could enable fast and earlier evidence-based management for clinical sepsis. Funding None.

BackgroundSince protective efficacy of the current typhoid vaccines—oral whole-cell Salmonella Typhi Ty21a and parenteral Vi-capsular polysaccharide preparation—is not optimal, and no vaccines are available against paratyphoid or non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serotypes, new approaches deserve to be explored. The immunological mechanisms elicited by the two typhoid vaccines are mainly targeted against different structures. We studied whether these vaccines would enhance S. Typhi-specific immune response and cross-reactivity against other Salmonellae, if administered concomitantly.Materials and methodsVolunteers were immunized simultaneously with Ty21a and Vi vaccines (Ty21a+Vi group) or with either of the two singly (Ty21a and Vi groups). All volunteers were investigated for circulating specific and cross-reactive plasmablasts, identified by ELISPOT as IgA, IgG or IgM antibody-secreting cells (ASC) reactive with S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi A/B/C, or selected NTS serotypes (S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium).ResultsIn the Ty21a+Vi group, no specific or cross-reactive plasmablasts were detected before vaccination. After vaccination, the number of S. Typhi-specific plasmablasts (878 ASC/106 PBMC, 95%CI 554–1201) proved higher than in the Ty21a (339 ASC/106 PBMC; p

The Prove-it™ Sepsis assay is a rapid, broad-range PCR and microarray-based assay designed to identify the majority of sepsis-causing bacteria from positive blood cultures. The pathogen panel covers 50 Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species (Table ​(Table1).1). It also reports methicillin resistance by detecting the mecA gene. The assay time is 3 hours. Our objective was to conduct a performance evaluation study for Prove-it™ Sepsis according to the EN 13612-standard (Performance evaluation of in vitro diagnostic medical devices) and to compare obtained results with those of current culture-based diagnostics. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and time to result of Prove-it™ Sepsis in two major teaching hospitals in Helsinki and London. Table 1 Bacteria and an antibacterial resistance marker identified by the Prove-it™ Sepsis assay