Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
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Clin. Microbiol. Infect. · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyThe sensitivity of direct identification from positive BacT/ALERT™ (bioMérieux) blood culture bottles by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry is low.
Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been presented as a novel method for the direct identification of bacteria from positive blood culture bottles. The rate of the MALDI TOF MS-based identification in the present study from positive BacT/ALERT (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) blood culture bottles was 30%, which is far below the previously reported sensitivities using the BACTEC (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) system. We also found evidence that the Biotyper algorithm did not identify a second pathogen in cases of positive BacT/ALERT blood culture bottles containing two different species.
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Clin. Microbiol. Infect. · Feb 2011
Catheter-related bacteraemia and infective endocarditis caused by Kocuria species.
We describe five patients with positive blood culture for Kocuria species. Three patients had catheter-related bacteraemia and one had infective endocarditis caused by Kocuria kristinae, and one had a K. marina isolate, which was considered to be a contaminant. ⋯ In conclusion, Kocuria species are an unusual cause of infection in immunocompromised patients. Accurate identification with molecular methods is imperative for the diagnosis of these unusual pathogens.
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Clin. Microbiol. Infect. · Feb 2011
Effect of time to onset on clinical features and prognosis of post-sternotomy mediastinitis.
Incubation time affects the clinical features and outcome of many nosocomial infections. However, its role in the setting of post-sternotomy mediastinitis (PSM) has not been specifically studied. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of time to onset of PSM on the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients. ⋯ Multiple regression procedures identified early-onset PSM as a significant and independent risk factor for both 1-year (OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.12-5.11) and overall (OR 2.11; 95% 1.26-3.53) mortality. In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study support the distinction between early- and late-onset PSM with different clinical and pathophysiological features. Early-onset PSM is associated with a significantly higher morbidity and mortality compared to late-onset PSM.