Journal of clinical microbiology
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 2011
Comparative StudyEvaluation of the impact of direct plating, broth enrichment, and specimen source on recovery and diversity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates among HIV-infected outpatients.
We compared recovery of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from nasal and groin swab specimens of 600 HIV-infected outpatients by selective and nonselective direct plating and broth enrichment. Swabs were collected at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month visits and cultured by direct plating to mannitol salt agar (MSA) and CHROMagar MRSA (CM) and overnight broth enrichment with subculture to MSA (broth). MRSA isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, and PCR for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin. ⋯ Broth enrichment had a greater impact on recovery of MRSA from the groin than from the nose compared to both CM (P ≤ 0.001) and MSA (P ≤ 0.001). Overall, 19% of MRSA-colonized patients would have been missed with nasal swab specimen culture only. USA500/Iberian and USA300 were the most common MRSA strains recovered, and USA300 was more likely than other strain types to be recovered from the groin than from the nose (P = 0.05).
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 2011
Galactomannan antigenemia after infusion of gluconate-containing Plasma-Lyte.
We demonstrated that sodium gluconate was the factor causing false-positive galactomannan (GM) antigenemia of Plasma-Lyte hydration solution. Infusion of sodium gluconate-containing solution but not gluconate-free Plasma-Lyte resulted in positive serum GM antigenemia. Serum GM concentrations also correlated with the volume and in vitro concentrations of GM within gluconate-containing solutions of infused Plasma-Lyte.
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 2011
Case ReportsCase of secondary syphilis presenting with unusual complications: syphilitic proctitis, gastritis, and hepatitis.
We report the first known case of syphilis with simultaneous manifestations of proctitis, gastritis, and hepatitis. The diagnosis of syphilitic proctitis and gastritis was established by the demonstration of spirochetes with anti-Treponema pallidum antibody staining in biopsy specimens. Unusual manifestations of secondary syphilis completely resolved after 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy.
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J. Clin. Microbiol. · Dec 2011
Epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections in France in 2007.
Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections cause significant morbidity and mortality. A national survey was initiated to assess the burden of invasive GAS infections in France, describe their clinical characteristics, and assess the molecular characteristics of GAS strains responsible for these infections. The survey was conducted in 194 hospitals, accounting for 51% of acute care hospital admissions in France. ⋯ Six clusters of cases were identified, with each cluster involving 2 invasive cases due to GAS strains which shared identical GAS emm sequence types. Four clusters of cases involved eight postpartum infections, one family cluster involved a mother and child, and one cluster involved two patients in a nursing home. Invasive GAS infection is one of the most severe bacterial diseases in France, particularly in persons aged ≥ 50 years or when associated with toxic shock syndrome.