Clinical Microbiology Newsletter最新文献

{"title":"Challenges in the phenotypic detection of streptococcus Pneumoniae from clinical samples in low resource settings","authors":"Hafeez Aderinsayo Adekola ,&nbsp;Tajudeen Bamidele ,&nbsp;Emelda Chukwu ,&nbsp;Muinah Fowora ,&nbsp;Sola Ajibaye ,&nbsp;Abideen Salako ,&nbsp;Zaidat Musa ,&nbsp;Oliver Ezechi","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The phenotypic detection of <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> in clinical samples, particularly those collected from infants, is vital for understanding its epidemiology and improving disease management. However, despite advancements in laboratory techniques, achieving optimal yield of <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> remains a significant challenge. This paper explores the primary obstacles that compromise the effective recovery of <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> from clinical samples and suggests potential strategies for improvement. One of the key issues identified are the effect of various sampling, transportation and storage techniques on the overall bacteria yield. Factors such as improper sample collection methods, inappropriate use or lack of use of transport media, and delays in processing can significantly diminish the viability of <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em>. In addition, the choice of culture media and conditions, while critical, may not always support the optimal growth of the bacterium, leading to false-negative results or underestimation of bacterial load. There is a need for a re-evaluation of current protocols, emphasizing the need for standardized procedures that are tailored to the specific requirements of pneumococcal detection. Further research into developing more resilient and specific culture media and better training for healthcare professionals involved in sample collection and processing should be encouraged. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding effective treatment strategies, and ultimately reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 37-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922234","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":"Chikungunya: The silent threat in the shadows","authors":"Ambreen Talib ,&nbsp;Rabbya Rayan Shah ,&nbsp;Rameen Atique ,&nbsp;Hafiza Arshi Saeed ,&nbsp;Ayesha Haidar ,&nbsp;Ayesha Nadeem ,&nbsp;Areesha Naveed ,&nbsp;Javeria Sharif ,&nbsp;Ayesha Muazzam ,&nbsp;Abdul Samad","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is mostly related to arboviruses that cause serious public health threats. CHIKV belongs to the family <em>Togaviridae</em> and genus <em>Alphavirus, the cause of chikungunya</em> fever (CHIKF), an arthritogenic disease. Its distinguishing feature is intense arthralgia that lasts for months and even years in susceptible persons. CHIKF is a re-emerging disease that has occurred as an epidemic in Africa across Asia and America in recent decades and has caused global health threats, leading to outbreaks that impact millions of people. Pathogenesis of CHIKV has been researched for &gt;50 years, but no evidence has led to the development of vaccines or drugs. Current management involves reliving symptoms by supportive care to improve the quality of patients’ lives. The ongoing outbreaks of CHIKV show that there is a crying need to understand the pathogenesis of CHIKV. It is important to comprehend CHKIV to develop prevention and control measures for the spread of the disease. This review aims to provide comprehensive knowledge about CHIKV, shedding light on its host-related factors, vector-related factors, and complicated interactions of viral genetics. By following these complex interactions, this review aims to communicate the studies and research about CHIKV, offering strategies that lead to more effective prevention and control measures for this re-emerging global health threat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577783","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 Orientia Tsutsugamushi (Scrub Typhus): Essential information on causes, symptoms, and care","authors":"Neetesh Jindal ,&nbsp;Kumar Abhishek ,&nbsp;Ashish Kumar ,&nbsp;Manas Ranjan Dikhit ,&nbsp;Roshan Kamal Topno ,&nbsp;Krishna Pandey ,&nbsp;Ganesh Chandra Sahoo","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scrub typhus is a disease caused by the bacteria <em>Orientia tsutsugamushi</em>, spread primarily by chiggers, which are larval mites. These mites are commonly found in Southeast Asia, including countries like India, Indonesia, and Thailand. The disease is often hard to diagnose because its symptoms—fever, headache, muscle pain, and stomach issues—are similar to other illnesses. A key sign of scrub typhus is an “eschar,” a sore that appears at the bite site. Without treatment, which typically involves antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin, the disease can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, shock, and multi-organ failure, with a high mortality rate. Scrub typhus has been documented in various regions, with historical records dating back to the 19th century in China. Despite advances in treatment regimen since World War II, no vaccine is available. Diagnostic methods include serological tests and PCR techniques to detect the bacteria. Preventive measures focus on avoiding areas where chiggers are prevalent and using insect repellent. Even if the scrub typhus fever has been reported from regions such as Japan to northern Australia and the Arabian Peninsula, Indian people from different parts are suffering from this endemic disease and doxycycline has become the drug of choice for the treatment of scrub typhus fever. Clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus and research related to this endemic disease must be assorted as the scrub typhus may become resistant to the current treatment regimen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 34-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095475","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":"Soft tissue infection with multidrug-resistant Kluyvera ascorbata of extended-spectrum bêta-lactamase type (CTX-M): Case report and literature review","authors":"Samir Kaddouri ,&nbsp;Abderrazak Saddari ,&nbsp;Said Ezrari ,&nbsp;Ouahiba Hafhaf ,&nbsp;Ismail Faiz ,&nbsp;Amjad Idrissi ,&nbsp;Omar El Mahi ,&nbsp;Elmostapha Benaissa ,&nbsp;Yassine Ben Lahlou ,&nbsp;Mostafa Elouennass ,&nbsp;Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Kluyvera ascorbata</em>, which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is a commensal bacterium that is very rarely described in human infections. In this report, we describe a case of soft tissue infection due to <em>Kluyvera ascorbata</em> in a 72-year-old man with comorbidities. He was admitted to the vascular surgery department for the treatment of a gas gangrene of the left foot. The patient received probabilistic antibiotic therapy with metronidazole, ceftriaxone and gentamicin by parenteral route with an amputation of the left leg following critical ischemia of the left lower limb (LLL). Due to the superinfection of the left leg amputation stump, the patient underwent an amputation of the left thigh, followed by multiple debridements of the left thigh amputation stump and drainage of an abscess on the anterior surface of the left thigh in the operating room. A sample of superficial pus was collected intraoperatively for microbiological examination to identify the pathogen and guide therapeutic adjustments. This examination revealed the exclusive presence of <em>Kluyvera ascorbata</em>. The isolate was resistant to the majority of β-lactams, aminoglycosides and sulfonamides. However, it was susceptible at standard dosage to carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin-trometamol and nitrofurantoin. The antibiogram highlighted the potential for multi-resistance type ESBL (extended spectrum B-lactamases) which characterizes this bacterium. In addition, <em>Kluyvera spp</em>. have an innate antibiotic resistance mechanism, and it is now accepted that CTX-M are derived from chromosomal beta lactamases of species of the genus <em>Kluyvera</em>. They are part of the extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). Given the above, the treatment regimen has been adapted according to the results of the antibiogram. The patient received parenteral antibiotic therapy with levofloxacin, and the clinical evolution was favorable. This leads us to discuss the pathogenicity of this germ and its multi-resistant potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 41-47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095477","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":"Phage therapy to treat unresponsive infections: A primer for the clinical microbiology laboratory staff","authors":"Josephine M. Davey-Young ,&nbsp;Dinuri D. Punchihewa ,&nbsp;Bernadette Ng ,&nbsp;Jenna Wong ,&nbsp;Greg J. German","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increase in antimicrobial resistance and subsequent need for alternatives to traditional antibiotics, phage therapy (PT) has gained a renewed interest. Much like antibiotics, bacteriophages or simply phages, have shown promise in eradicating bacterial infections; however, their fundamental differences require specific laboratory protocols and practices. As bacterial-specific viruses, they must be detected, replicated, and purified for safety and efficacy. The narrow spectrum of activity of phages provides a targeted approach to infection but also necessitates expansive libraries and susceptibility testing to match phages to bacteria. Such testing is not standardized, complicating both research and clinical efforts. This review then provides a background on PT in the clinical microbiology laboratory and an overview of such protocols and practices specific to PT, such as classic susceptibility testing methods and updated approaches. Also covered are the challenges and future directions for the field, as well as resources for clinical and research laboratory personnel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 48-59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maximizing the diagnostic potential of 1,3 beta-D-glucan assays for invasive fungal infections","authors":"Sejal Morjaria ,&nbsp;N. Esther Babady","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.01.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) pose a serious threat to patients, particularly those who are immunocompromised. Timely and accurate diagnosis of IFIs is critical to improving outcomes, and conventional diagnostic methods often fall short. The 1,3 Beta-D-Glucan <strong>(</strong>BDG) assay has become a significant test in the early diagnosis and management of IFIs when used in the appropriate clinical context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 24-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095474","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":"Acute appendicitis caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum","authors":"Ismail Faiz ,&nbsp;Abderrazak Saddari ,&nbsp;Said Ezrari ,&nbsp;Samir Kaddouri ,&nbsp;Elmostafa Benaissa ,&nbsp;Yassine BenLahlou ,&nbsp;Mostafa Elouennass ,&nbsp;Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Arcanobacterium haemolyticum</em> is known for causing pharyngitis in young adults and skin/soft tissue infections in older and immunocompromised people. We report here the case of a 25-year-old patient admitted to the emergency room for pain in the right iliac fossa. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed acute uncomplicated appendicitis. The biological assessment revealed an inflammatory syndrome with CRP at 124 mg/L. The patient underwent an appendectomy by laparotomy. The cytobacteriological analysis of deep pus revealed an important leukocyte reaction to neutrophils, and the growth of <em>Arcanobacterium haemolyticum</em> in culture. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that the bacterium was susceptible to clindamycin, tetracycline, linezolid, and rifampicin, and resistant to penicillin G, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin. Most studies have shown that this bacterium is susceptible to all classes of antibiotics except sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, however, in our case and like certain recent studies, other resistances are emerging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 19-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095473","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 fatal case of community-acquired Acinetobacter pittii necrotising fasciitis, and a review of the literature","authors":"Maja Johanne Søndergaard Knudsen,&nbsp;Peder Worning,&nbsp;Sarah Juel Paulsen,&nbsp;Anne Line Engsbro","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We report a fatal case of a comorbid male in his 70s admitted for erysipelas on the right lower leg. The condition developed rapidly and during debridement, the patient was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis (NF). <em>A. pittii</em> was isolated from both blood and tissue samples. Despite broad-spectrum antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen treatment and surgical intervention, the patient died from multiple organ failure. A review was conducted with a PubMed search for case reports/cohort studies with cases of <em>Acinetobacter</em> NF. Twenty-three articles were identified reporting on 30 cases with NF caused by <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. (<em>Acinetobacter baumanii</em> 83 %, <em>A. pittii</em> 0). Infections were polymicrobial in 57 % of cases and fatal in 47 % of cases. For cases unrelated to war, most identified patients suffered from one or more comorbidities. <em>A. pittii</em> should be considered an important finding in a patient with a soft skin infection, and the risk of NF should be assessed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 13-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbe snapshots: Dengue virus","authors":"Samuel M. Goodfellow ,&nbsp;Esther Vaugon","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 11-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095471","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":"Peritoneal Tuberculosis: Navigating diagnostic challenges","authors":"Reanay Berezovskiy ,&nbsp;Meher Sultana ,&nbsp;Jason Guyotte ,&nbsp;Daria Yunina-Distefano ,&nbsp;Niyati Goradia ,&nbsp;Irene E. Rossmer","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2024.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peritoneal Tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon manifestation of a mycobacterial infection, typically observed in immunocompromised individuals and/or those residing in endemic regions. Usually, patients will contract pulmonary TB, which results in dissemination or reactivation of latent infection months to years following the initial infection. Here, we present a case of peritoneal TB diagnosed in an immunocompetent patient devoid of recent travel history and with negative pulmonary findings. This case highlights the importance of considering peritoneal TB in the differential diagnosis, even in immunocompetent individuals with no apparent risk factors, highlighting the complexity and variability of TB presentations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 7-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095470","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}