Nada Ouahabi , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Safae Ouahabi , Chaimaa Boujloud , Wissam Azizi , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb
{"title":"Cerebral abscess caused by Citrobacter koseri: A case report and review of the literature","authors":"Nada Ouahabi , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Safae Ouahabi , Chaimaa Boujloud , Wissam Azizi , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Citrobacter koseri is a Gram-negative bacillus of the Enterobacteriaceae family, formerly known as Citrobacter diversus. While this pathogen is known to cause severe infections in neonates, cerebral abscesses due to C. koseri in adults are exceptionally uncommon. We present a rare case of a brain abscess in an elderly man caused by C. koseri, successfully treated with ceftriaxone, resulting in a favorable clinical outcome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"53 ","pages":"Pages 1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comparative analysis of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) in Asia: patterns of transmission, clinical diagnosis, and control strategies","authors":"Neetesh Jindal , Bipin Bihari Mishra , Kanak Raj Kanak , Ashish Kumar , Krishna Pandey , Ganesh Chandra Sahoo","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes and one of the foremost causes of viral encephalitis infection in Asia, predominantly occurring in children in rural areas. Initially isolated in Japan in 1924, JEV is largely spread by <em>Culex</em> mosquitoes, notably <em>Culex tritaeniorhynchus</em> and <em>Culex gelidus</em>, breeding in paddy fields. The virus has a zoonotic cycle with pigs as amplifying hosts and ardeid birds as reservoirs. JEV outbreaks reach their peak during the monsoon months (July–September). Severe encephalitis may occur with manifestations such as fever, vomiting, seizures, paralysis, and coma. The case fatality rate is approximately 30 %, and survivors can have long-term neurological complications. JEV invades the central nervous system by crossing the blood-brain barrier, causing neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. Diagnosis is made with serological tests and molecular tests. JEV is endemic in India, Nepal, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other Asian nations. In India, 1000–2500 cases occur each year, with underreporting suspected. Bihar is a focused area, with Muzaffarpur district having a high incidence. Control is based on vaccination and vector control. Four vaccines are available, but limited coverage underscores the necessity for increased immunization and surveillance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"53 ","pages":"Pages 14-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145332265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clostridium botulinum disorders associated with speech processes and verbal communication: a comprehensive and documented review","authors":"Parham Salmani , Masoud Keikha , Mohsen Karbalaei","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridium botulinum</em> is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium which produces eight different antigenic exotoxins (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, and G) and among them A, B, E and F are special for humans. This toxin has heavy (H) and light (L) chains, the light chain acts on Snap-25 protein in neuromuscular junction and cause paralysis in skeletal muscles by disabling SNARE proteins and then inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, then, causing diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia. Among all clinical signs, dysarthria is characterized by difficulty in speech which is caused by paralysis of muscles of larynx, pharynx and oral cavity which are related to phonation and then speech. Dysarthria is a sign of botulism that appears in different kinds of botulism, but especially in wound botulism. Early administration of antitoxin play a vital role in the treatment, but the efficacy of antibiotic therapy has not been completely understood, because it can either improve or worsen the situation, also supportive treatments such as mechanical ventilation, physiotherapy and gastric lavage may help to reduce the incubation period.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 44-49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rare discrepancy in the result of enzyme immunoassay in a patient infected by Clostridioides difficile","authors":"Tatsuya Hioki , Hiroyuki Takenaka , Takumi Umemura , Yoshimi Ishihara , Masayoshi Ajioka , Yoshikazu Mutoh","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridioides</em> (<em>Clostridium</em>) <em>difficile</em> produces glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in large amounts, which is frequently used to screen <em>C. difficile</em> infection (CDI). Generally, the sensitivity of GDH–enzyme immunoassay (GDH–EIA) is significantly higher than that of the toxin EIA. In this report, we describe an extremely rare case of discrepancy in EIA with GDH-negative and toxin-positive results. Nucleic acid amplification revealed toxin B gene, binary toxin gene, and <em>tcdC</em> deletion. Additionally, the growth of <em>C. difficile</em> was monitored by culture method, which showed positive result for GDH. These findings indicate that laboratory diagnosis of CDI is challenging. Therefore, the results should be carefully interpreted considering the patient’s clinical course.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144211997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trueperella pyogenes bacteremia in a patient with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: A case report","authors":"Sinem Özdemir , Okan Aydoğan , Umut Yılmaz , Ahmet Emre Eşkazan , Fatma Köksal Çakırlar","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trueperella pyogenes</em> is a well-known pathogen that causes opportunistic infections in farm animals, especially cattle and pigs. However, human infections are extremely rare and typically linked to occupational exposure. In this report, we present a case of sepsis due to <em>T. pyogenes</em> in an immunocompromised patient. A 75-year-old male patient, with a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a history of livestock farming, was admitted with headache, nasal congestion, dyspnea, and hypotension. He was hypoxic, pancytopenic, and severely hyponatremic, with elevated inflammatory markers. A biopsy from a maxillary sinus mass revealed nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma. Two sets of blood cultures (each consisting of two aerobic and one anaerobic bottle) were collected from separate venipuncture sites 24 h apart. A growth signal was detected on day two, and <em>T. pyogenes</em> was isolated from all bottles across both sets. Beta-hemolytic colonies grew on sheep blood agar; Gram staining revealed pleomorphic Gram-positive rods. The isolate was catalase and oxidase negative and identified as <em>T. pyogenes</em> via VITEK-MS. Susceptibility testing showed resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and susceptibility to penicillin, tetracycline, clindamycin, rifampin, linezolid, and vancomycin. Empirical treatment with meropenem, vancomycin, and levofloxacin was initiated; dexamethasone was added due to suspected lymphoma infiltration. By the fifth day, respiratory symptoms and fever had resolved, and inflammatory markers normalized. The patient was discharged with oral methylprednisolone for lymphoma and levofloxacin for antimicrobial therapy. This case highlights the importance of recognizing <em>T. pyogenes</em> as a rare but significant human pathogen, especially in immunocompromised individuals with animal exposure, and underlines the need for advanced identification methods in clinical microbiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 10-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dínimo Bolivar-Saénz , Nohora Patricia Bonilla Solano , Georgina González Tarazona , José Antonio Villamizar Silva , Yohana Alfonso Guerra , Juan Camilo Arango Brand , Andrea Torres Contreras
{"title":"Intestinal tuberculosis diagnosed by clinical presentation, imaging, and endoscopy, associated with pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report and narrative literature review","authors":"Dínimo Bolivar-Saénz , Nohora Patricia Bonilla Solano , Georgina González Tarazona , José Antonio Villamizar Silva , Yohana Alfonso Guerra , Juan Camilo Arango Brand , Andrea Torres Contreras","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) represents an atypical clinical manifestation of tuberculosis, constituting a significant proportion of extrapulmonary cases. This study, combining a case report and a narrative literature review, aims to deepen the understanding of ITB and its clinical characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div>We present a clinical case of a young patient with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Imaging studies revealed intestinal wall thickening in the ileum and cecum, findings corroborated by colonoscopy, which showed multiple ulcers and an inflammatory response on biopsy, albeit without direct identification of the bacillus. The patient responded favorably to standard anti-tuberculosis treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Our findings, coupled with the literature review, suggest that ITB can present with nonspecific clinical features, hindering early diagnosis. Coexistence with pulmonary tuberculosis is common, and complications such as intestinal obstruction may necessitate surgical intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Intestinal tuberculosis poses a diagnostic challenge due to the variability of its clinical manifestations and the lack of specific diagnostic tests. A high index of clinical suspicion, particularly in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or risk factors, is crucial for early diagnosis, appropriate management, and consequently enhance the prognosis of the disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 4-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144230342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barbara A. Brown-Elliott , Joseph O. Falkinham 3rd , Jennifer L. Furlong , David E. Griffith , Kimberlee A. Musser , Nicole M. Parrish , Max Salfinger , Janet E. Stout , Nancy L. Wengenack , Adrian M. Zelazny
{"title":"Laboratory diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria – an update – Part 1★: Epidemiology, environment sources, and guidance for the provider","authors":"Barbara A. Brown-Elliott , Joseph O. Falkinham 3rd , Jennifer L. Furlong , David E. Griffith , Kimberlee A. Musser , Nicole M. Parrish , Max Salfinger , Janet E. Stout , Nancy L. Wengenack , Adrian M. Zelazny","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are now more frequently encountered in the laboratory compared to 20–30 years ago. New media and molecular assays have been introduced for the accurate detection and identification of an increased number of new NTM species. Furthermore, antimicrobial drug resistance genes have been characterized for the detection of macrolide and aminoglycoside resistance. NTM are often involved in nosocomial outbreaks where water sources are often the culprit. The authors of this 3-part publication aimed to provide an update on current clinical diagnostics for NTM as well as information about testing water or environmental samples for NTM, since this is often requested of the clinical laboratory. For an NTM disease to develop, a trifecta of elements/forces are in play: host characteristics, the NTM, and the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 31-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}