The Lyra SARS-CoV-2 assay was the primary method for molecular testing performed at Barnes-Jewish Healthcare System in St. Louis, Missouri during the initial COVID-19 surge from mid-March to ...late-April 2020. We performed a retrospective analysis of 1,043 positive Lyra SARS-CoV-2 results during these 36 days to investigate associations between cycle threshold (CT) value and patient characteristics. Total RNA were extracted from NP or OP swabs using either the EasyMag or KingFisher automated extraction systems and quantified with RotorGene Q (Qiagen) or Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx thermocyclers respectively. Notably, we found lower a significant median lower CT for samples tested on the KingFisher-ABI 7500 fastDX (KF/ABI) system compared to the EasyMag/RotorGene (EM/RGQ) platform. Since 77.5% of our tests were ran on the EM/RGQ pipeline we then perform additional analysis on these values and found that C T values in outpatient care settings compared to samples obtained in the emergency department or inpatient had significantly lower C T values. These collective findings suggests a difference in viral load amongst various patient populations.
Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated high morbidity and mortality for adult patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We performed a retrospective, multicenter, two-year chart ...review of all patients (n = 334) testing positive for RSV by the ProFlu +® Influenza A/B and RSV assay (Hologic, Bedford, MA). We analyzed indicators of morbidity and mortality in children <6 years old, immunocompetent and immunosuppressed adults, and transplant patients. Significant morbidity and mortality was observed among hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (7.3%, 60-day mortality), solid organ transplant patients (13.3%, 60-day mortality), and COPD patients (12.8%, 60-day mortality). Of the patients positive for RSV, 144 (43.1%) of 334 received antibacterials or antifungals following diagnosis. Of these patients, a bacterial or fungal pathogen was not recovered from 60% of cases. Despite advances in RSV treatment, certain populations appear to be inadequately treated, while others appear to be inappropriately treated with unnecessary antimicrobials.
Due to the limited sensitivities of stool-based microscopy and/or culture techniques for Strongyloides stercoralis, the detection of antibodies to this intestinal nematode is relied upon as a ...surrogate for determining exposure status or making a diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection. Here, we evaluated three immunoassays, including the recently released InBios Strongy Detect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (InBios International, Inc., Seattle, WA), the SciMedx Strongyloides serology microwell ELISA (SciMedx Corporation, Denville, NJ), and the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay performed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for their detection of IgG antibodies to S. stercoralis. A total of 101 retrospective serum samples, previously submitted for routine S. stercoralis antibody detection using the SciMedx assay, were also evaluated by the InBios and LIPS assays. The qualitative results from each assay were compared using a Venn diagram analysis, to the consensus result among the three assays, and each ELISA was also evaluated using the LIPS assay as the reference standard. By Venn diagram analysis, 65% (66/101) of the samples demonstrated perfect agreement by all three assays. Also, the numbers of samples considered positive or negative by a single method were similar. Compared to the consensus result, the overall percent agreement of the InBios, SciMedx, and LIPS assays were comparable at 87.1%, 84.2%, and 89.1%, respectively. Finally, the two ELISAs performed analogously but demonstrated only moderate agreement (kappa coefficient for the two assays, 0.53) with the LIPS assay. Collectively, while the two commercially available ELISAs perform equivalently, neither should be used independently of clinical evaluation to diagnose strongyloidiasis.
We report a case of a 62-year-old female with seizures and encephalitis. Molecular testing of the patient's cerebrospinal fluid was positive for both herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). ...To our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneous detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in cerebrospinal fluid.
Uncommon fungi can cause opportunistic infections and are often unidentifiable using phenotypic methods. Molecular techniques, like DNA sequencing, may permit species-level identification but results ...may be challenging to interpret. To determine the clinical impact of molecular identification in this setting, we performed a retrospective review of fungal isolates referred for molecular identification. Seventy-five distinct fungal species were identified from 93 referred isolates, 31 (41%) of which are not known to be human pathogens. DNA sequencing prompted change in anti-infective therapy in only 3 (3.5%) cases but significantly delayed culture turnaround time (40 ± 31 vs. 30 ± 13 days, P < 0.001). Patient immune status and concurrent histologic or serologic testing significantly correlated with the proportion of pathogenic isolates recovered and patients treated (χ2, P < 0.05). Molecular identification of uncommon fungal isolates should be limited to specialized clinical settings such as patients with immunosuppression and/or concurrent positive histology or fungal serology.
There is limited knowledge on the yield of performing multiplex nucleic acid testing (NAT) on multiple lower respiratory tract specimens from a single patient with a single instance of infection. We ...evaluated the performance characteristics of multiplex NAT assays performed concurrently on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial wash (BW) specimens to detect respiratory pathogens. A retrospective study of admitted patients from March 2013 through December 2016 was performed. Individual performance characteristics of BAL and BW specimens were compared to positive results from either set of specimens. Only contemporaneous BAL and BW specimens (received by the laboratory within 4 h of each other) were included. The final cohort included 170 patients, with 184 contemporaneous BAL and BW specimens submitted for multiplex NAT (median age, 58 years; 62% male). Of the patients with positive NAT results, 38 of 40 BW specimens tested positive (overall percent agreement with combined testing, 98.9%; 95% confidence interval CI, 95.5 to 98.9%), and 34 of 40 BAL specimens tested positive (overall percent agreement with combined testing, 96.7%; 95% CI, 93.0 to 96.7%). Assays performed on BW specimens identified 4 additional specimens and had a higher positive percent agreement (95.0%) with combined testing results compared to those performed on BAL specimens (85.0%). There was exact concordance in 174 specimens (94.6%; negative and positive for respiratory pathogens, 144 and 34 specimens, respectively). We observed high concordance (95%) between multiplex NAT results from contemporaneous BAL and BW specimens. Performance characteristics of BW specimen testing were equivalent to those of BAL specimen testing. The benefit of performing additional testing should be carefully considered against the potential complications and health care costs.
Aims/hypothesis
Type 1 diabetes complicated by hypoglycaemia is prevalent in socioeconomically deprived populations. Islet transplantation is of proven efficacy in type 1 diabetes complicated by ...hypoglycaemia, but it is not known if nationally funded programmes reach the socioeconomically deprived. Our aim was to determine: (1) socioeconomic indices in participants referred to our nationally funded programme; and (2) if metabolic outcomes in our transplant recipients were improved.
Methods
Participants referred (
n
= 106) and receiving transplants (
n
= 18; 32 infusions) were examined with respect to socioeconomic status (deprivation category score) and their ability to work and drive. In participants followed for ≥12 months after transplantation, metabolic and anthropometric measurements (
n
= 14) were recorded pre- and post-transplant (assessed ~1, ~3, ~6 and ~12 months with mixed-meal tolerance tests and 6 day continuous glucose monitoring assessments). Donor data was also examined.
Results
There was a greater prevalence of socioeconomic deprivation in referred and transplant recipients than the general population (
p
< 0.05). Of the transplant recipients, 73% were socioeconomically deprived, 88% did not hold a driver’s license and 94% had reduced ability to work (all
p
< 0.01 vs referred participants). Donors were predominantly obese and included circulatory death donors. At 12 months, 93% of participants who had received transplants had graft function, diminished frequency of hypoglycaemia (10 4–11 vs 0 0–2 hypoglycaemic episodes/week), improved awareness of hypoglycaemia (Gold score 7 5–7 vs 1 1–2) and glycaemic control (HbA
1c
: 7.9% 7.2–8.5%; 63 55–69 mmol/mol vs 7.2% 6.8–7.5%; 55 51–58 mmol/mol), diminished glycaemic lability and decreased central adiposity (all
p
< 0.05).
Conclusions/interpretation
A nationally funded islet transplant programme reaches the socioeconomically deprived and outcomes are significantly improved in this group.
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