Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Pathogen surveillance”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Epidemiology of clinically diagnosed community-acquired pneumonia in the primary care setting: results from the 1999-2000 respiratory surveillance program.

To evaluate the prevalence of typical pathogens, level of resistance, and risk factors associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the outpatient primary care setting and define current antibiotic treatment for office-based CAP, the Respiratory Surveillance Program (RESP) recruited 1,200 primary care clinics during the 1999-2000 respiratory infection season. Participating community-based physicians submitted sputum samples from patients presenting with a community-acquired respiratory infection including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). All patients were aged > or =18 years. Patient demographics and risk factors were collected. Physicians express-mailed the specimens to a central laboratory for identification and susceptibility testing. All isolates were tested against a select panel of antimicrobial agents that are used to treat CAP. Patients with CAP were diagnosed by the treating physicians. Chest radiographs were not required as part of the study. A total of 610 specimens were submitted from patients with CAP. A smoking history or reported history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were present in >50% of those diagnosed with CAP. The most common pathogens were, in order of prevalence, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. During the study period, a variety of antibiotics were prescribed for the treatment of outpatient CAP. The top 3 prescribed antibiotics include levofloxacin (23%), clarithromycin (19%), and azithromycin (10%). Gatifloxacin, which was approved in December 1999 and therefore available for only part of the study, accounted for 4% of the prescriptions. Of S pneumoniae isolates, 8% demonstrated high-level resistance to penicillin (> or =2 microg/mL) and 33% were found resistant to macrolides and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. All S pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to gatifloxacin, vancomycin, and levofloxacin. Other less common organisms isolated were staphylococci, streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp, and Acinetobacter spp. The choice of antibiotic to treat outpatient CAP varies from practice to practice and does not appear to be influenced by the patient's age, the patient's history of smoking, or comorbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Role of non-capsulated Haemophilus influenzae as a respiratory pathogen in children.

During a 12-month surveillance period from 1981-1982, non-capsulated Haemophilus influenzae was detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates from 64 (14%) of the 449 children hospitalized for middle or lower respiratory infection. An antibody response to H. influenzae was indicated in 15(23%) of the 64 patients with H. influenzae present in nasopharyngeal aspirate and in 10 (3%) of the 385 patients with a negative finding. Thus, serological evidence of H. influenzae infection was demonstrated in 25 (6%) of all the 449 children with respiratory infection. Of 13 patients with cultures positive for H. influenzae acute otitis media, an antibody response was seen in only 4 (30%) patients. H. influenzae infection was associated with infections caused by other microbes in 20 children (80%), with viral infections in 60% and with pneumococcal infections in 24% of cases. An infection focus was present in 15 (79%) of the 25 patients with H. influenzae infection; pneumonia was present in 10 cases and acute otitis media in 9 cases. Non-specific laboratory evidence of bacterial infection was seen in 11 patients (58%); C-reactive protein was increased in 7 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 9 patients. It is concluded that non-capsulated H. influenzae is a genuine respiratory pathogen in children. H. influenzae infections appear to be secondary to preceding viral or other bacterial infections in children who are carriers of this strain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2024

Antimicrobial resistance landscape in a metropolitan city context using open drain wastewater-based metagenomic analysis.

One Health concept recognizes the inextricable interactions of diverse ecosystems and their subsequent effect on human, animal and plant health. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major One Health concern and is predicted to cause catastrophes if appropriate measures are not implemented. To understand the AMR landscape in a south Indian metropolitan city, metagenomic analysis of open drains was performed. The data suggests that in January 2022, macrolide class of antibiotics contributed the highest resistance of 40.1% in the city, followed by aminoglycoside- 24.4%, tetracycline- 11.3% and lincosamide- 6.7%. The 'mutations in the 23S rRNA gene conferring resistance to macrolide antibiotics' were the major contributor of resistance with a prevalence of 39.7%, followed by '16s rRNA with mutation conferring resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics'- 22.2%, '16S rRNA with mutation conferring resistance to tetracycline derivatives'- 9.2%, and '23S rRNA with mutation conferring resistance to lincosamide antibiotics'- 6.7%. The most prevalent antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) 'mutations in the 23S rRNA gene conferring resistance to macrolide antibiotics' was present in multiple pathogens including Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori. Most of the geographical locations in the city showed a similar landscape for AMR. Considering human mobility and anthropogenic activities, such an AMR landscape could be common across other regions too. The data indicates that pathogens are evolving and acquiring antibiotic resistance genes to evade antibiotics of multiple major drug classes in diverse hosts. The outcomes of the study are relevant not only in understanding the resistance landscape at a broader level but are also important for identifying the resistant drug classes, the mechanisms of gaining resistance and for developing new drugs that target specific pathways. This kind of surveillance protocol can be extended to regions in other developing countries to assess and combat the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Cities↗
PubMed2003

Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of foodborne illnesses--selected sites, United States, 2002.

In the United States, an estimated 76 million persons contract foodborne illnesses each year. CDC's Emerging Infections Program Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) collects data on 10 foodborne diseases in nine U.S. sites. FoodNet follows trends in foodborne infections by using laboratory-based surveillance for culture-confirmed illness caused by several enteric pathogens commonly transmitted through food. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2002 and compares them with 1996-2001 data. The data indicate a sustained decrease in major bacterial foodborne illnesses such as Campylobacter and Listeria, indicating progress toward meeting the national health objectives of reducing the incidence of foodborne infections by 2010 (objectives 10-1a to 10-1d). However, the data do not indicate a sustained decline in other major foodborne infections such as Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella, indicating that increased efforts are needed to reduce further the incidence of foodborne illnesses.

Foodborne Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Antimicrobial susceptibility of lower respiratory tract pathogens in Great Britain and Ireland 1999-2001 related to demographic and geographical factors: the BSAC Respiratory Resistance Surveillance Programme.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of community-acquired lower respiratory pathogens in Great Britain and Ireland, and investigate its relationship with demographic and geographical factors using multiple logistic regression analysis. METHODS: A total of 1328 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1894 Haemophilus influenzae and 845 Moraxella catarrhalis were collected from lower respiratory clinical specimens (primarily sputum) by 20 laboratories in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Ireland (Northern Ireland and Eire) between 1999 and 2001. RESULTS: Of 1154 S. pneumoniae from Great Britain, 92-100% were susceptible to beta-lactams (only 0.2% having penicillin MICs > or =2 mg/L), 89% were susceptible to erythromycin, 93% susceptible to tetracycline, and 94-100% intermediate or susceptible to fluoroquinolones. Susceptibility to agents other than fluoroquinolones was less frequent in the 174 isolates from Ireland: beta-lactam susceptibility was 68-99% (3.4% having penicillin MICs > or =2 mg/L), erythromycin susceptibility was 78% and tetracycline susceptibility was 82%. In multivariate analysis, susceptibility in S. pneumoniae was associated with country and patient age, being most common overall in the 20-49 years age group. Of 1894 H. influenzae, 15% produced beta-lactamase and 79-100% were susceptible to beta-lactams other than cefaclor. Ninety-six per cent were intermediate and 1% susceptible to erythromycin, 97% susceptible to tetracycline, and 89% susceptible to trimethoprim. Only one isolate showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. H. influenzae from sputum were more likely to be susceptible than isolates from other sources. Of 845 M. catarrhalis, 92% produced beta-lactamase and 9% were susceptible to ampicillin, >99% were susceptible to co-amoxiclav, cefotaxime, erythromycin and fluoroquinolones. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant demographic factors predictive of susceptibility were country and patient age in S. pneumoniae, and specimen type (sputum/non-sputum) in H. influenzae. Susceptibility to most antimicrobials remains high in Ireland and very high in Great Britain.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nosocomial infections in neutropenic cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Identification of overall and site-specific rates of nosocomial infection in neutropenic patients with cancer and associated pathogens. DESIGN: Cumulative continuous prospective surveillance over a 42-month period. Criteria and definitions of infection in neutropenic patients (absolute neutrophil counts < 1,000/mm3) were developed, and surveillance was carried out by a certified infection control nurse and a senior oncology research fellow. SETTING: A cancer research center with two designated oncology nursing units. PATIENTS: Neutropenic patients with hematological and solid malignancies undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with and without autologous bone marrow transplantation. All patients admitted to both of the units during the study period were surveyed. Those who developed neutropenia are included in this report. RESULTS: A total of 444 nosocomial infections were identified in 920 neutropenic patients during 9,582 days of neutropenia for an overall rate of 48.3 per 100 neutropenic patients, or 46.3 per 1,000 days at risk. The rate of bloodstream infection per 100 neutropenic patients was 13.5 (gram-positive, 9.2; gram-negative, 4.8; and Candida 1.2). Other site-specific rates were: urinary tract, 5.7; respiratory tract, 5.5; thrush, 6.6; skin, 3.4; and gastrointestinal tract, 3.4. Among 392 pathogens identified, there were 137 (35%) gram-positive cocci, 105 (27%) gram-negative rods, 70 (18%) Candida, 37 (9%) gram-positive rods, 22 (6%) viruses, and 15 (4%) Aspergillus. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of both overall and site-specific nosocomial infections in neutropenic patients is high. Neutropenia is a significant intrinsic risk factor that should be addressed in surveillance programs. Infection control and infectious diseases practitioners may need to modify techniques for surveillance, control, and management of infection in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens among healthcare workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) frequently face the risk of occupational infection from bloodborne pathogens following exposure to blood and body fluids. This study describes the results of a surveillance system of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens among HCWs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during an eight-year period. A total of 15 035 exposures reported from 537 health units were reviewed. Six circumstances comprised nearly 70% of the reported exposures: recapping needles (14%), performing surgical procedures or handling surgical equipment (14%), handling trash (13%), during disposal into sharps containers (13%), performing percutaneous venepuncture (10%) and during blood drawing (5%). Easily preventable exposures, such as incidents related to recapping needles, handling trash, and sharps left in an inappropriate place, represented 30% of the exposures reported. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was initiated for 46% of exposed HCWs. Although Brazilian guidelines indicate that PEP is usually not recommended for exposures with insignificant or very low risk of HIV infection, PEP was prescribed to a large proportion of exposed HCWs under these circumstances. The prevention of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens among HCWs and their safety must be considered as a public health issue. Although infection-preventative measures such as antiretroviral drugs and rapid tests are available, this study shows that there are still a high number of easily preventable exposures. The implementation of more effective prevention strategies is urgently required in this country.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Autoreactive T cells from normal mice recognize mycobacterial 65 kd heat-shock protein from Mycobacterium bovis.

We established a TCR V beta 6+ CD4+ autoreactive T cell line from lymph node cells of unprimed BALB/c mice bred in a specific pathogen-free condition. The T cell line proliferated in the presence of irradiated spleen cells expressing MHC class II I-Ad and/or I-Ed molecules. The proliferative response of the autoreactive T cell line was significantly enhanced in response to 65 kd heat-shock protein (hsp) from Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the hsp60 family, which is highly conserved in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Our results suggest that the autoreactive T cells in normal mice may recognize endogenous peptides of self-hsp60 bound to MHC class II gene products and are cross-reactive to mycobacterial 65 kd hsp. The autoreactive hsp-specific T cells may therefore play an important role in the immune surveillance against invasion of various pathogens and tumors by recognizing infected and transformed autologous cells that express high levels of endogenous hsp60.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Surgeons' perspectives on surgical wound infection rate data in Queensland, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The results of the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC) project demonstrated that hospitals with active infection control programs had lower rates of nosocomial infection than those without such programs. A key component of these programs was the inclusion of a systematic method for monitoring nosocomial infection and reporting these infections to clinicians. OBJECTIVES: To identify the perspectives of surgeons in Queensland, Australia, regarding infection rate data in terms of its accuracy and usefulness as well as their perceptions regarding acceptable infection rates for surgical procedures classified as "clean" or "contaminated." METHODS: A postal survey was conducted, with a convenience sample of 510 surgeons. RESULTS: More than 40% (n = 88) of respondents believed that the acceptable infection rate associated with clean surgical procedures should be less than 1%, a rate much lower than the threshold of 1.4% to 4.1% set by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). Almost 30% (n = 55) of respondents reported that they would accept infection rates of 10% or higher for contaminated surgical procedures, which is higher than the ACHS threshold of 1.4% to 7.9%. Respondents identified failure to include postdischarge infections in the data and difficulties standardizing criteria for diagnosis of infection as the major impediments to the accuracy and usefulness of data provided. CONCLUSION: The results of this study have significant implications in relation to the preparation of surgical site infection reports, especially in relation to the inclusion of postdischarge surveillance data and information regarding pathogens, antibiotic sensitivities, and comorbidities of patients developing surgical site infection. Surgeons also identified the need to include information regarding the use of standardized definitions in the diagnosis of wound infection and parameters that allow comparison of infection rates to improve their perceptions regarding data accuracy and usefulness.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

Meeting the challenge of emerging pathogens: the role of the United States Air Force in global influenza surveillance.

Influenza virus is one of the most ubiquitous organisms on the planet, causing illness in much of the population each year. The dynamic nature of the influenza virus requires similarly dynamic surveillance and prevention initiatives. The efforts of national surveillance programs, overseen by the World Health Organization and administered by institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. armed forces, and 60 to 70 collaborating laboratories, annually culminate in the development of effective influenza vaccines. The U.S. Air Force's contribution is via Project Gargle, through which bases in various locations worldwide conduct active surveillance and submit throat swab specimens for virus isolation and characterization; the results of these laboratory analyses help determine the composition of the following year's influenza vaccine. These collaborative efforts have resulted in an identical or close antigenic match between vaccine and epidemic strains in 8 of the last 9 influenza seasons.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.↗
PubMed1981

Non-group D alpha-hemolytic streptococci: new neonatal pathogens.

Review of the bacteriologic records of a large city-county hospital from 1970 through 1980 has indicated a substantial increase in the frequency of isolation of non-group D alpha-hemolytic streptococci from blood and cerebrospinal fluid of neonates since 1978. These organisms accounted for 23% of all cases of neonatal septicemia and meningitis in 1980, and as a group were exceeded only by group B streptococci (28%) in prevalence. Most neonates (91.2%) had early-onset infection (mean age = 1.4 days); approximately one-third were premature (less than 36 weeks' gestation). Maternal obstetrical complications were common. Nearly 80% of the infants had signs or symptoms suggesting bacterial sepsis. Findings such as concomitant meningitis, shock, chest roentgenogram abnormalities, leukopenia, abnormal numbers of immature neutrophils, and death were infrequent when compared to those accompanying other invasive neonatal bacterial infections, suggesting that non-group D alpha-hemolytic streptococci may be less virulent for the neonate or that neonatal host defense mechanisms are more effective in containing the infection. Careful surveillance for these potential neonatal pathogens seems warranted.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Whole-genome prediction of bacterial pathogenic capacity on novel bacteria using protein language models with PathogenFinder2.

MOTIVATION: Infectious diseases continue to be a leading cause of mortality and pose a significant global health threat. Thus, the development of tools for surveillance and early detection of emerging pathogens is needed. RESULTS: We introduce PathogenFinder2, a novel, alignment-free, taxonomy-agnostic model for predicting bacterial pathogenic capacity in humans using protein language models. It outperforms previous methods, particularly for novel taxa, and provides interpretable outputs by highlighting proteins most relevant to pathogenic potential. These insights aid the identification of virulence factors, vaccine targets, and infection-related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, we introduce the Bacterial Pathogenic Capacity Landscape, which reveals patterns linked to host condition, infection site, microbial antagonism, and environmental origin. AVAILABILITY: The model is freely available online at https://genepi.dk/pathogenfinder2, or as a standalone program (https://github.com/genomicepidemiology/PathogenFinder2).

Genome, Bacterial↗
PubMed2026

Molecular Diagnostics for WHO Priority Bacterial Pathogens: A Bibliometric Mapping of Diagnostic Platforms, Resistance Markers, and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Trends.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constrains effective treatment and carries implications for infection control, surveillance, and public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) priority bacterial pathogen framework has intensified the need for diagnostic innovation by redefining research priorities around organisms combining high disease burden with complex resistance profiles. Molecular diagnostics have accordingly moved beyond culture-based workflows, integrating rapid pathogen identification, resistance-marker detection, genomic surveillance, and clinical decision support. The present study conducted a bibliometric mapping of the literature on WHO priority pathogens. Rather than addressing resistance at a general level or a single pathogen or technology, it integrates priority pathogens, molecular platforms, and resistance markers within a single framework, tracing their joint thematic and temporal evolution along an explicit pathogen-platform-marker axis. Scopus-indexed articles and reviews (2000-2025) were retrieved, yielding 1746 publications after screening adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Analyses used Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny, R, and VOSviewer. The literature expanded markedly after 2018, led by China and the United States. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Enterococcus faecium, and the Enterobacterales-carbapenemase axis constituted the principal thematic cores, whereas conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and whole-genome sequencing were the dominant platforms. Overall, the field has evolved from pathogen detection into an AMR-centered translational domain encompassing resistance prediction, genomic epidemiology, surveillance, and clinical decision support. Diagnostic development, stewardship, and surveillance depend on hybrid workflows coupling rapid marker-targeted assays with genome-based characterization, delivering actionable resistance within clinically meaningful timeframes, and extending coverage to underrepresented pathogens and platforms.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Clinical resistance encountered in the respiratory surveillance program (RESP) study: a review of the implications for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections.

The Respiratory Surveillance Program (RESP) is a large-scale surveillance study of potential bacterial pathogens from respiratory tract infections that was performed over a 10-month period (July to April) during the 1999-2000 respiratory infection season. It is also the first study of its kind to derive its information entirely from community-based medical practices. This study, therefore, provides insight into the identity, frequency, and susceptibility of the possible pathogens isolated from patients encountered by primary care physicians. Reduction of antibiotic susceptibility in various bacterial pathogens may be of academic interest. However, it is only the emergence of clinical resistance (strains exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentrations above the resistance breakpoint) to commonly used antibacterial agents in the most prevalent species that has significant impact on empiric therapy choices. A review of data from RESP indicated that the most prevalent species were Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. As expected, the prevalence of these bacterial isolates varied by disease state. The prevalence of clinical resistance to various antibiotics ranged, within these 4 species, between 0% and 92%. Resistance to the greatest number of drugs was expressed by S pneumoniae, followed by S aureus, H influenzae, and M catarrhalis. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance found among these community-isolated pathogens was surprisingly similar to that reported in hospital-based studies, suggesting that resistance is as important an issue in the community as it is in hospitals. With few exceptions, the prevalence of resistance was fairly uniform across disease states. The antibiotics most likely to encounter clinically resistant isolates during the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections were penicillins, macrolides, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The antibiotics least likely to encounter resistance were quinolones, followed by ceftriaxone and amoxicillin/clavulanate.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2025

Determining genotype and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella Typhi in environmental samples by amplicon sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of the burden of typhoid fever due to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) rely on data from clinical surveillance, which is rarely done in low income settings and is also limited by the poor sensitivity of the assays used and the reliance on health seeking by patients. Environmental surveillance for S. Typhi shed by symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in wastewater offers a sensitive surveillance tool that could help to inform burden estimates. Sequencing S. Typhi direct from wastewater concentrates has the potential to identify circulating genotypes and associated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, supporting public health interventions such as vaccination and antimicrobial usage. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We designed a multiplex targeted amplicon sequencing protocol for genotyping and determining AMR in S. Typhi from wastewater samples, targeting SNPs that identify genotypes of interest and both chromosomal and plasmid-borne AMR. PCR products were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION, and genotypes and AMR identified using the GenoTyphi program. We tested this approach on samples from south India from both hospital outflow and wastewater collected from the community. All samples tested were suspected to be positive for S. Typhi following quantitative PCR for ttr, tviB, and staG gene targets. Out of 110 samples tested we were able to determine a genotype and/or AMR for 8. All samples that gave a genotype call suggested a genotype consistent with those found in clinical cases in India during the same time period and produced consensus sequences that clustered with S. Typhi when included in a phylogenetic tree. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we provide proof of concept data for amplicon sequencing of S. Typhi in wastewater which with further optimisation could be used to complement clinical surveillance data or provide data on S. Typhi presence in the absence of clinical surveillance. This information can inform public health interventions, and the concept could be applied to other pathogens of interest for genotyping from environmental surveillance samples.

Salmonella typhi↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of pathogen occurrences and resistance profiles among infected patients in the intensive care unit: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (North America, 2001).

Originating from 25 selected intensive care units (ICUs) in North America, a total of 1,321 bacterial strains from blood, respiratory tract, urine and wound sites were processed at a central laboratory as part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (2001) to assess their occurrence rates and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. The rank order of pathogens recovered was Staphylococcus aureus (24.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.2%), Escherichia coli (10.1%), Klebsiella spp. (8.9%), Enterococcus spp. (7.2%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (7.0%) and Enterobacter spp. (7.0%). Although oxacillin resistance among S. aureus was 51.4%, no resistance was detected to vancomycin, linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin. The most active agents tested against P. aeruginosa were amikacin, cefepime, tobramycin, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam (3.1-13.0% resistance). Among agents tested against the Enterobacteriaceae, amikacin, cefepime, imipenem and meropenem showed greatest in vitro activity (0.0-3.4% resistance). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing phenotype rates were 11.2 and 16.2% in E. coli and Klebsiella spp., respectively. Linezolid was most active against enterococci (1.1% resistance; G2576U ribosomal mutation) whereas 28.4% of isolates were resistant to vancomycin. Cefepime and the carbapenems (imipenem or meropenem) for Gram-negative isolates and linezolid for Gram-positive isolates, provided the broadest spectrum of in vitro activity against contemporary ICU pathogens in North America.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Validation of salmonellosis and shigellosis diagnostic test kits at a provincial hospital in Thailand.

Rapid Diagnosis of salmonellosis and shigellosis was performed using six different diagnostic test kits which recently have been made available commercially. They were Salmo-Dot, Typhi-Dot, Shigel Dot A, B, C, and D test kits for detection of Salmonella spp., group D salmonellae, and groups A, B, C, and D Shigella spp., respectively. The principle of all test kits is a membrane (dot) ELISA using specific monoclonal antibodies to the respective pathogens as the detection reagents. The present study was designed to validate the accuracy of the test kits, at a laboratory in a provincial hospital in Thailand, in comparison with the conventional bacterial culture method alone or with the combined results of the culture and the Western blot analysis (WB) for detecting the respective bacterial lipopolysacchharides (LPS) in specimens. Five hundred rectal swab samples of patients with diarrhea who seeked treatment at the hospital, were evaluated. The diagnostic accuracy of the Salmo-Dot was 91.0% when compared with the conventional bacterial culture method alone but was 100.0% in comparison with the combined results of the culture and the WB. The Typhi-Dot and the Shigel-Dot A, B, C, and D showed 100%, 99.2%, 95.0%, 94.0% and 96.4%, respectively when compared with the culture alone and all were 100% in comparison with the combination of the results of the bacterial culture and the WB. The Shigel-Dot A revealed antigen of type 1 Shigella dysenteriae in several specimens in which the bacteria could not be recovered by the culture method. This difference is important as type 1 Shigella dysenteriae have high epidemic potential and often cause severe morbidity. Unawareness of their presence by the conventional culture may have great impact on disease surveillance for public health. The pathogen detection using the six diagnostic test kits is sensitive, specific, rapid, and relatively simple and less expensive. Several specimens can be tested at the same time without much increase in turn around time. Moreover, these kits produce no contaminated waste as compared with the bacterial culture method. The test kits should be used for rapid screening of specimens of patients with diarrhea especially in areas where culture facilities are inadequate.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1992

Role of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis as a respiratory pathogen in children.

During a 12-month surveillance period in 1981-1982, Moraxella catarrhalis was detected in cultures from nasopharyngeal aspirates from 76 (17%) of 449 children hospitalized with middle or lower respiratory tract infection. Seroconversion to M. catarrhalis was positive in 4 (5%) of the 76 patients with M. catarrhalis present in nasopharyngeal aspirates and in 4 (1%) of 373 patients with a negative finding. Although children with respiratory tract infections were often colonized by the organism, this was rarely the infective agent of the middle or lower airways. Four of 8 patients with seroconversion to M. catarrhalis exhibited a concomitant RSV infection. The carriage of this species was more closely associated with parainfluenza virus infections. Serological responses to M. catarrhalis were not associated with acute otitis media, and were also rare in children with pneumonia. It is concluded that bronchopulmonary infections caused by M. catarrhalis are rare in children, and that M. catarrhalis aetiology need not be considered in the selection of antibiotics in cases of community-acquired pneumonia or other infections of the middle or lower respiratory tract affecting primarily healthy children.

Adolescent↗