Whole genome sequencing in clinical and public health microbiology
Summary: Genomics and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have the capacity to greatly enhance knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology.
The growth and availability of bench-top WGS analysers has facilitated the feasibility of genomics in clinical and public health microbiology.
Given current resource and infrastructure limitations, WGS is most applicable to use in public health laboratories, reference laboratories, and hospital infection control-affiliated laboratories.
As WGS represents the pinnacle for strain characterisation and epidemiological analyses, it is likely to replace traditional...
Source: Pathology - March 13, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Molecular Diagnostics in Microbiology Source Type: research
Rapid identification of pathogens using molecular techniques
Summary: Real-time PCR is the traditional face of nucleic acid detection in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory and is now generally regarded as robust enough to be widely adopted. Methods based on nucleic acid detection of this type are bringing increased accuracy to diagnosis in areas where culture is difficult and/or expensive, and these methods are often effective partners to other rapid molecular diagnostic tools such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). This change in practice has particularly affected the recognition of viruses and fastidious or antibioti...
Source: Pathology - March 13, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Molecular Diagnostics in Microbiology Source Type: research
Contemporary molecular approaches in the clinical microbiology laboratory: progress and pitfalls
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - March 13, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Hazards of a floating separator gel: a case study
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase testing of community Enterobacteriaceae in the west of Australia: poor performance of phenotypic methods
Summary: Expanded spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms have long been recognised in institutions worldwide. Recently, community isolates producing ESBL have been reported overseas and in eastern Australia. We tested 571 consecutive Enterobacteriaceae urinary isolates from Western Australia and the Northern Territory phenotypically by calibrated dichotomous sensitivity (CDS) methods in two periods (2007 and 2012). Eleven ESBL-producing isolates from 2012 and 39 banked strains were genotyped by PCR. Twenty-six (4.6%) strains produced ESBL by CDS. Only 57.7% of CDS-confirmed ESBL strains had an initial reduced cep...
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research
Prevalence of maternal red cell alloimmunisation: a population study from Queensland, Australia
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the current prevalence of red cell antigen alloimmunisation in Australia. Blood group (ABO and RhD) and red cell antibody screen results of pregnant women who presented at public hospitals in Queensland between the period of January 2011 and June 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. Antibody prevalence in pregnancy was compared to other published studies. A total of 482 positive antibody screens from 66,354 samples (0.73%) were identified. The prevalence of antibodies was: anti-E 27.6%; anti-D 10.4%; anti-Kell 9.5%; anti-c 8.7%; anti-Duffy 3.1%, including Fya and Fyb; anti-MN...
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Haematology Source Type: research
‘Aussie normals’: an a priori study to develop clinical chemistry reference intervals in a healthy Australian population
We report on our findings for 40 of these analytes and two calculated parameters performed on the Abbott ARCHITECTci8200/ci16200 analysers. Not all samples were analysed for all assays due to volume requirements or assay/instrument availability. Results with elevated interference indices and those deemed unsuitable after clinical evaluation were removed from the database. Reference intervals were partitioned based on the method of Harris and Boyd into three scenarios, combined gender, males and females and age and gender. We have performed a detailed reference interval study on a healthy Australian population considering t...
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Chemical Pathology Source Type: research
Diagnostic performance of CD66c in lung adenocarcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusion: comparison with CEA, CA 19-9, and CYFRA 21-1
This study evaluated the diagnostic ability of CD66c in lung adenocarcinoma-associated malignant pleural effusions (LA-MPEs) and compared it with other known tumour markers. Forty-seven cases of LA-MPE and 52 cases of benign pleural effusions were collected. The levels of CD66c, CEA, CA 19-9, and CYFRA 21-1 were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The expression of CD66c, CEA, and CA 19-9 in cell blocks was measured by immunocytochemistry. CEA had the best diagnostic values, with a sensitivity of 87.2% and specificity of 92.3%. Both CD66c and CA 19-9 showed the highest specificity of 98.1%, with sensitivities of 63.8% and 55.3...
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Anatomical Pathology Source Type: research
p16 immunoreactivity in endometrial stromal cells: stromal p16 expression characterises but is not specific for endometrial polyps
In conclusion, stromal p16 immunoreactivity is characteristic of EPs and this may reflect the pathogenesis of polyp formation. Immunohistochemistry can help to distinguish polypoid and non-polypoid mucosa, particularly in small or disrupted biopsy specimens. However, stromal p16 expression is not completely specific since focal staining may be present in normal endometrium. (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Anatomical Pathology Source Type: research
Hepatitis E virus: do locally acquired infections in Australia necessitate laboratory testing in acute hepatitis patients with no overseas travel history?
Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is emerging as a global public health threat. Water-borne HEV outbreaks are common in developing countries and are associated with genotypes 1 and 2. In industrialised countries, sporadic cases of zoonotic transmission associated with genotypes 3 and 4 are increasingly being reported. Transfusion- and transplantation-transmitted HEV have been documented, although ingestion of contaminated food is thought to be the major transmission route. Severe disease is possible and chronic hepatitis infection occurs in solid-organ-transplant recipients and in patients with immunosuppressive disorders. ...
Source: Pathology - January 23, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Review Source Type: research
Hazards of a floating separator gel: a case study
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 8, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
Oxyntic gland polyposis
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 8, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
Metastatic colon adenocarcinoma to the placenta
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 8, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
A concurrent primary hepatic MALT lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 8, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
Do primary nasopharyngeal atypical carcinoid tumours really exist?
No abstract available (Source: Pathology)
Source: Pathology - January 8, 2015 Category: Pathology Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
