MALDI-ToF MS has become a cornerstone of the clinical microbiology laboratory. The reliability and ease-of-use of these instruments make them a popular choice of study to expand their applications ...and increase efficiency. The use of artificial intelligence has rapidly expanded in recent years and efforts are underway to integrate this technology into the clinical microbiology laboratory to expand the applications of MALDI-ToF MS and advance beyond current limitations in the identification of clinical isolates. At the same time as the rise of AI, clinical laboratories are facing pressure to increase efficiency due to the critical shortage of qualified laboratory personnel. Studies examining the performance of simplified testing workflows seek to help laboratorians do more with less. The improvement and creation of additional databases is also improving the rate of successful identifications. This review seeks to provide an update on recent developments around these topics.
Paediatric patients with cancer and those undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation have an increased susceptibility to invasive fungal diseases. In addition to differences in ...underlying conditions and comorbidities relative to adults, invasive fungal diseases in infants, children, and adolescents are unique in terms of their epidemiology, the validity of current diagnostic methods, the pharmacology and dosing of antifungal agents, and the absence of phase 3 clinical trials to provide data to guide evidence-based interventions. To re-examine the state of knowledge and to further improve invasive fungal disease diagnosis, prevention, and management, the 8th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-8) reconvened a Paediatric Group to review the literature and to formulate updated recommendations according to the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) grading system, which are summarised in this Review.
Rapid and accurate identification of microorganisms, a prerequisite for appropriate patient care and infection control, is a critical function of any clinical microbiology laboratory. Matrix-assisted ...laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a quick and reliable method for identification of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, molds, and mycobacteria. Indeed, there has been a revolutionary shift in clinical diagnostic microbiology. In the present review, the state of the art and advantages of MALDI-TOF MS-based bacterial identification are described. The potential of this innovative technology for use in strain typing and detection of antibiotic resistance is also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Medical Proteomics.
•MALDI-TOF MS has made a revolutionary change in clinical microbiology.•MALDI-TOF MS is a quick and reliable method for identification of bacteria and fungi.•This technology has the potential to be used for detection of antibiotics resistance.
The Laboratory Diagnosis of Syphilis Satyaputra, Ferris; Hendry, Stephanie; Braddick, Maxwell ...
Journal of clinical microbiology,
09/2021, Volume:
59, Issue:
10
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Syphilis is a multisystem infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Currently, cases of possible syphilis are commonly investigated using the treponemal serological tests T. pallidum IgG ...chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and the T. pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA). The nontreponemal rapid plasma reagin (RPR) flocculation test is used to assess disease activity. There has been a resurgence of syphilis diagnoses in Australia. Large foci of infection have been identified in isolated communities. The remoteness of these locations, in conjunction with the particular sociocultural characteristics of the population, pose unique challenges to the traditional diagnostic and treatment paradigms for syphilis. As a consequence of this increased incidence of syphilis, there has been interest in the utility of point-of-care tests (POCTs), nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), the role of IgM testing in suspected congenital syphilis, and the laboratory investigation of possible neurosyphilis. This review looks at the current status of traditional serological assays and provides an update on more recent methods. It assesses the published literature in this area and makes recommendations for the rational use of pathology testing to aid in the diagnosis of the many facets of syphilis.
Agnostic metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has emerged as a promising single, universal pathogen detection method for infectious disease diagnostics. This methodology allows for ...identification and genomic characterization of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses without the need for a priori knowledge of a specific pathogen directly from clinical specimens. Although there are increasing reports of mNGS successes, several hurdles need to be addressed, such as differentiation of colonization from infection, extraneous sources of nucleic acid, method standardization, and data storage, protection, analysis, and interpretation. As more commercial and clinical microbiology laboratories develop mNGS assays, it is important for treating practitioners to understand both the power and limitations of this method as a diagnostic tool for infectious diseases.
Raoultella ornithinolytica has become increasingly important in human diseases. Here, we report the nearly complete genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant strain, R. ornithinolytica MQB_Silv_108, ...which was isolated from the effluent from a domestic wastewater treatment plant in Spain. Therefore, its release into the environment poses a possible exposure risk for humans and animals.
Medical microbiology laboratories play an essential role in patient care—appertaining to infectious diseases diagnostics and treatment, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. ...Collaboration between clinicians and the microbiology laboratory can promote and enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of patient care. We review practical, evidence-informed core concepts to explicate how effective partnership between clinicians and the microbiology laboratory improves patient outcomes.
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