Molecular diagnosis of Zika virus infections
The association between Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and serious complications, such as microcephaly in infants and Guillain–Barre syndrome in adults, necessitates the availability of accurate diagnostic tests. Molecular testing for ZIKV RNA provides the most definitive diagnosis of infection. Since the onset of the ZIKV outbreak in the Americas, numerous commercially available assays and laboratory developed tests have been established for Zika RNA. Laboratories now have a wide variety of options available, and choices depend on their resources and patient needs. Molecular detection of Zika RNA however is complicated by ...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - January 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Tags: Virology Source Type: research
The role of serologic testing for Zika virus infection
Direct detection of Zika virus (ZIKV) nucleic acid with nucleic acid tests is definitive laboratory evidence of infection. Initial studies suggest that the ZIKV viremic period is limited, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that nucleic acid tests be utilized only up to 14 days postsymptom onset in serum and urine. The host immune response to flaviviruses, including to ZIKV, primarily targets the viral envelope (E) protein, which has three main domains (ED I–III). Recent studies suggest that neutralizing antibodies against the EDIII domain are relatively specific and potentially able to di...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - January 1, 2018 Category: Microbiology Tags: Virology Source Type: research
New Publications in Medical Microbiology
No abstract available (Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology)
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Book Review Source Type: research
Innate immunity against Zika virus
Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted by the mosquito bite, through blood transfusion, organ transplantation and potentially urine or saliva. From its inoculation site, the virus will spread to various organs such as the central nervous system leading to neurological complications, particularly Guillain–Barré syndrome, or the fetus causing microcephaly. During the infection, ZIKV will have to cross multiple barriers according to the route of transmission and the infection site such as the skin, male and female genital mucosa or blood–brain and placental barriers. At these sites, ZIKV will establish an infection that th...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Virology Source Type: research
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Brazil: a snapshot from the National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis and other Mycobacterioses
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide. In 2015, there were approximately 10.4 million new cases of the disease, with 1.4 million deaths. Another major issue regarding TB is the worldwide emergence of drug-resistant strains. The National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis and other Mycobacterioses assists the entire network of the Tuberculosis Control Program in Brazil by performing complex diagnostic procedures for the entire country. Here we report the drug susceptibility testing activities of the laboratory between 2013 and 2015. Our numbers highlight the importance of vigilant control programme...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Detection of newly defined superantigenic toxin genes and coagulase gene polymorphism in Staphylococcus aureus isolates
The current study aims to use coagulase (coa) polymorphism gene to identify Staphylococcus aureus isolated from stool samples, evaluate the efficiency of these methods in discriminating variable strains, and compare these subtypes with antibiotypes. A total of 100 specimens were collected from patients in Babylon province, Iraq, between July 2016 and September 2016. Twenty S. aureus strains were isolated and identified using standard laboratory microbiological tests. The bacterial isolates were then examined by coa gene restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping. Out of 20 isolates, coa gene types were classified,...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Rise of Clostridium difficile infections: an overview
Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, spore forming, obligate anaerobe, which is part of the gastrointestinal flora of man and animals. Some strains of C. difficile produce toxins and are capable of causing mild-to-severe diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Further, C. difficile has been found to be a common cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is the most frequent cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and long-term care facilities globally. It is the only nosocomially significant anaerobic bacterium that forms spores (which are hard to destroy), though C. difficile may also...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Laboratory methods for identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been emerged with significant morbidity and mortality in the worldwide. A variety of methods have been implemented to optimize MRSA detection, but yet, the optimal approach remains controversial. In the current review, we summarize both phenotypic and genotypic laboratory methods for detection of MRSA isolates. In summary, phenotypic methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive and suffer from inadequate sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, these methods are clearly affected by test conditions. Genotypic methods are advantageous for high sensitivity, specificity an...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Detection of prevalent mechanism of extended spectrum β-lactamases, metallo β-lactamases, and AmpC β lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the tertiary care hospital
The objective of this study was to understand the prevalent mechanisms of resistance among the clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumonia from inpatients of a tertiary care hospital at Baghdad, Iraq. Among the 97 MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, 47.4% (n = 46) isolates showed ESBL production, 38.7% (n = 38) showed metallo β-lactamase (MBL) production, and 22.7% (n = 22) showed both ESBL and MBLs production. Out of 97 MDR K. pneumoniae, 94.3% were found to be biofilm producers. ESBL production was the predominant mechanism of resistance followed by MBL production. Since very limited therapeutic opti...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
In-vitro comparison of tigecycline as an alternative to the classical therapy in brucellosis treatment
Brucellosis is an important zoonosis because of its difficult and prolonged treatment regimen; at the same time, it sometimes involves serious complications. The aim of the study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, rifampicin, streptomycin, and tigecycline using the E-test method on brucellosis, and the distribution of Brucella species. Forty-four patients (24 men, 20 women) who were admitted to our laboratory between 2014 and 2016 and for whom Brucella bacteria were found to be grown in their blood cultures were included in the study. Blood samples from pa...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - September 27, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research
Coley's toxin and BCG vaccine in prevention and treatment of malignant melanoma in humans
Malignant melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancers in humans. Incidence of this malignancy is still increasing worldwide. The highest incidence is mentioned in Australia (50–60/100,000 of cases). Success of malignant melanoma therapy depends on the stage of disease revelation. Localized cutaneous melanoma is generally well curable. The main problem is the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma with distant metastases. Therapy of this malignancy is based on surgical resection of lesion, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biochemotherapy, and so on. The current results of malignant melanoma treatment are unfortunately ...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - June 30, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology and Cancer Source Type: research
Current advances in urban leptospirosis diagnosis
Leptospirosis is generally significant zoonotic disease and an important public health problem in developing countries. Because of primary antibiotic treatment importance in this disease, early diagnosis is essential for appropriate managing. Laboratory tests for the early diagnosis of disease are necessary. PCR is not sole useful for diagnosis, as it is unavailable in most developing countries. Microscopic agglutination test and the ELISA are not suitable leptospirosis tests for early diagnosis, but they can be taken as gold standard methods for leptospirosis diagnosis, especially as complementary tests in a corelation wi...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - June 30, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research
First report of hidradenitis suppurativa and chronic gastritis caused by antibiotic resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Brandenburg
Conclusion: According to our best knowledge, this is the first article to report the case of Salmonella Brandenburg-associated chronic gastroenteritis, rosacea and axillar hidradenitis suppurativa. (Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology)
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - June 30, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research
Carbapenemase inhibitors
play a critically important role in prevention of carbapenem resistance. In the current review, based on studied articles from PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, we summarize the current state of carbapenemase inhibitors and their importance in clinical use. Clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam are traditional β-lactam\class A carbapenemase inhibitors. Avibactam; relebactam and boronic acid-based inhibitors including PRX7009, β-lactamase inhibitory protein II, Zinc01807204 and Zinc02318494 compounds are also novel and non-β-lactam\class A carbapenemase inhibitors. In the case of metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors, ED...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - June 30, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research
Current opinions in the infection control of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some of the species of Enterobacteriaceae are Gram-negative hospital-acquired pathogens that are mostly difficult to treat. Carbapenem drugs are a group of β-lactams class that affect cell wall and are administered in the treatment of infections caused by these organisms. These organisms can be resistant to carbapenem drugs via mechanisms such as carbapenemase enzymes and multidrug efflux systems. Detection methods for carbapenem-resistant isolates are the modified Hodge test, Carba NP test, and PCR. This review will describe the current opinion in the treatment of multidrug-resistant and carbap...
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - June 30, 2017 Category: Microbiology Tags: Microbiology Source Type: research
