Brain Abscess Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 3 in an Adult Patient
In this report, we describe a case of abscess of the left temporal lobe with left transverse sinus thrombophlebitis in an adult male. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - July 24, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Laura Llorca Otero, Juan Carlos Sanz Moreno, Diego Domingo García, Juan Ramón Penanes Cuesta, Manuel López-Brea Calvo Source Type: news
Fecal Bacteriotherapy for Clostridium difficile Infections — Its Time Has Come
Abstract:
Clostridium difficile treatment failures and recurrences occur at rates of 22.3% and 22.1%, respectively. For patients who have refractory/recurrent disease, there are limited treatment options. The use of a fecal suspension from a healthy donor instilled via a nasogastric tube, during colonoscopy, or by enema in a patient with recurrent or refractory C. difficile infection has shown a response rate of 75 to 100% with minimal adverse effects. There are multiple published case series that provide variations in administration procedures. The main barrier is the need for institutions and clinics to develop prot...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - July 24, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Lisa Avery, Muhammad Hasan Source Type: news
The Write Touch: Technical Writing for Microbiologists
Abstract:
Writing can be a difficult assignment, one that many approach with fear or trepidation. Scientists write for many different reasons, creating a variety of documents, each with its own purpose and set of rules or guidelines for document creation. Examples include peer-reviewed manuscripts, standard operating procedures, and business proposals. No matter the purpose, all clinical laboratory documents require a keen eye for detail, a grasp of the document audience and preferred language, either scientific or business, to correctly relay the message and intent. Writing is not an easy task, yet with a simple outl...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - July 10, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Linda D. Hilbert Source Type: news
Fatal Pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus Infection in an Immunosuppressed Patient
We present a case of M. abscessus pulmonary infection in a patient with a history of glomerulonephritis, hepatitis B infection, cystic fibrosis, type II diabetes, and obesity as underlying compromising conditions. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - June 22, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Matilde María Palanca Giménez, Esther López Pérez, Pilar Sanz Poveda, Elena Abarca Cidón Source Type: news
Verification of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Methods: a Practical Approach
This article provides some general guidelines for developing and conducting a verification study of an AST system. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - June 22, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jean B. Patel, Susan Sharp, Susan Novak-Weekley Source Type: news
A special invitation to authors
The editors of Clinical Microbiology Newsletter welcome proposals for review articles on topics relevant to clinical microbiologists and infectious disease physicians. If you would like to prepare a brief manuscript on such a topic, please contact Paul Granato with your proposal (see contact information and general guidelines below) to discuss the details of the potential submission. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - June 13, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news
Update on the HACEK Group of Fastidious Gram-Negative Bacilli, Part II
This article describes the taxonomic status of the HACEK group, the types of infections and clinical specimens that may yield such organisms on culture, the phenotypic characteristics that are useful for species identification, and the susceptibility of these organisms to antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of HACEK group infections. Part I of this article addressed the clinical significance of the HACEK group and specifically addressed Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, and Cardiobacterium. In Part II of this article, Eikenella, Suttonella, and Kingella are discussed as will the susceptibility patterns for all of these...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - June 13, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: William M. Janda Source Type: news
A special invitation to authors
The editors of Clinical Microbiology Newsletter welcome proposals for review articles on topics relevant to clinical microbiologists and infectious disease physicians. If you would like to prepare a brief manuscript on such a topic, please contact Paul Granato with your proposal (see contact information and general guidelines below) to discuss the details of the potential submission. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 26, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news
Molecular diagnosis of psoas abscess secondary to Pott's spine
Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's leading infectious cause of mortality after acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (). The incidence of extrapulmonary and atypical manifestations of TB is increasing. In 10 to 25% of cases, TB presents as an extrapulmonary infection. The skeletal form of the disease is responsible for 3% of the total number of cases, with 50% of these being spinal TB, often called Pott's disease (). One of the complications of spinal TB is an abscess of the psoas muscle; however, reports of tuberculous psoas abscess (PA) remain rare. The exact incidence of PA is unknown, but it probably has increased in the la...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 26, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Abhishek Mewara, Kusum Sharma, M.S. Dhillon, Meera Sharma Source Type: news
Update on the HACEK group of fastidious gram-negative bacilli, Part I
This article describes the taxonomic status of the HACEK group, the types of infections and clinical specimens that may yield such organisms on culture, the phenotypic characteristics that are useful for species identification, and the susceptibility of these organisms to antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of HACEK group infections. Part I of this article will addresses the clinical significance of the HACEK group and specifically addresses Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, and Cardiobacterium. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 26, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: William M. Janda Source Type: news
Call for Submissions
The editors would like to receive interesting case reports from our readers for possible publication in the Newsletter. Submitted case reports should contain (i) a brief clinical history summarizing the symptoms and course of the illness, (ii) a description of how the organism(s) was cultured and differentiated from closely associated organisms, and (iii) the results of susceptibility tests for the isolate(s). (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 4, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news
Oligella urethralis as a Cause of Urosepsis
This report describes a case of O. urethralis urosepsis in an elderly male with urinary tract obstruction, illustrating the invasive potential of the the organism as a pathogen in patients with urinary tract obstruction. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 4, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Amanda Wilmer, Patrick Wong, Natasha Press, Victor Leung, Marc Romney, Sylvie Champagne Source Type: news
Ten Years of Experience with Peptide Nucleic Acid Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Abstract:
In the 10 years since peptide nucleic acid fluorescent in situ hybridization (PNA FISH) was introduced to the clinical microbiology laboratory for the rapid identification of select pathogens in positive blood cultures, a renewed interest in antimicrobial stewardship and an increased desire to decrease hospital costs made the appropriate use of PNA FISH stains a desirable and cost-efficient alternative to slower standard identification methods. This review discusses the merits of using PNA FISH in the microbiology laboratory to effectively and rapidly identify blood culture pathogens, improve patient care, a...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - May 4, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Margie A. Morgan Source Type: news
Charting Uncharted Territory: a Review of the Verification and Implementation Process for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for Organism Identification
Abstract:
The advent of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for organism identification is changing the paradigm for laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases. As a result of the improved speed, quality, and affordability provided by MALDI-TOF, laboratories have begun transitioning to this method for routine organism identifications. Currently, there are two manufacturers that produce MALDI-TOF MS systems for organism identification and that are actively pursuing Food and Drug Administration clearance, and both databases are currently labeled research use onl...
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - April 25, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Christopher D. Doern Source Type: news
A Special Invitation to Authors
The editors of Clinical Microbiology Newsletter extend an invitation to authors who may wish to contribute an article or editorial for publication in CMN. Of special interest are timely topics of interest to clinical microbiologists and infectious disease physicians. Persons with suggestions for articles or editorials should contact the Editor listed to the right to discuss the details of their potential submission. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - April 11, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news
