1,721,214 research outputs found
Primary and secondary prevention of human papillomavirus-associated cancer: it's not all about women
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How Can the Microbiologist Help in Diagnosing Neonatal Sepsis?
Full text linkNeonatal sepsis can be classified into two subtypes depending upon whether the onset of symptoms is before 72 hours of life (early-onset neonatal sepsis—EONS) or later (late-onset neonatal sepsis—LONS). These definitions have contributed greatly to diagnosis and treatment by identifying which microorganisms are likely to be responsible for sepsis during these periods and the expected outcomes of infection. This paper focuses on the tools that microbiologist can offer to diagnose and eventually prevent neonatal sepsis. Here, we discuss the advantages and limitation of the blood culture, the actual gold standard for sepsis diagnosis. In addition, we examine the utility of molecular techniques in the diagnosis and management of neonatal sepsis
Epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women living in the Greater Romagna Area, Italy
No full textBackground. Aim of this study was to assess the incidence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pregnant women living in Romagna area, in North East Italy to implement the best management of this infection. Materials and Methods. In 2012, 23,727 serological tests for CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were performed in the Microbiology Unit, the Hub Laboratory of the Greater Romagna Area: 6931 were pregnant women. Results and Conclusions. 179 subjects were positive for CMV IgM antibodies: 82 were not pregnant; 97 were IgM positive during pregnancy or in the course of a pre-conception evaluation. The detected incidence of the CMV infection in pregnancy (calculated at 1.40%) actually validates the literature data. This study’s findings clearly underline the usefulness of testing the CMV specific immune response in the pre-conception period or as early as possible during pregnancy
Evolution and epidemiology of chikungunya virus
No full textChikungunya is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus that is spreading worldwide in the tropical areas and that has a 11.8 kb RNA genome. The most relevant vectors belong to the genus Aedes and contribute to the diffusion of the three different genotypes of the virus from the original site of first identification in East Africa. Recently, an additional site of origin has been identified in Asia. The epidemiology of Chikungunya has been extensively evaluated from 2004 when the virus initiated its travel eastbound from the coast of Africa to the Indian Ocean. It is noteworthy that this diffusion has been mainly sustained by Ae. albopictus, a new vector to which the virus become adapted due to the mutation E1-Ala226Val. This mutation was also identified during the first, even small, outbreaks of Chikungunya-related disease outside the tropics that occurred in Northern Italy in 2007 and in Southern France in 2010. Three years later the virus appeared for the first time in the Western hemisphere and since then, in less than 24 months spread to North and South America
Rapid and Affordable High Throughput Screening of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Using Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis
Full text linkMutations in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 alter the infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmissibility of new variants of concern (VOCs). In addition, those mutations cause immune escape, undermining the population immunity induced by ongoing mass vaccination programs. There is an urgent need for novel strategies and techniques aimed at the surveillance of the active emergence and spread of the VOCs. The aim of this study was to provide a quick, cheap and straightforward denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) method for the prompt identification of the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Two PCRs were designed to target the RBD region, spanning residues N417 through N501 of the Spike protein. Furthermore, a DHPLC screening analysis was set up. The screening consisted of mixing the unknown sample with a standard sample of a known variant, denaturing at high temperature, renaturing at room temperature followed by a 2-minute run using the WAVE DHPLC system to detect the heteroduplexes which invariably form whenever the unknown sample has a nucleotide difference with respect to the standard used. The workflow was able to readily detect all the variants including B.1.1.7, P.1, B.1.585 B.1. 617.2 and lineages at a very affordable cost. The DHPLC analysis was robust being able to identify variants, even in the case of samples with very unbalanced target concentrations including those samples at the limit of detection. This approach has the potential of greatly expediting surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 variants
Clinical application of a molecular method based on real time RT-PCR for detection od influenza A(H1N1)v
No full textGiven the new diagnostic need following the pandemic caused by the A(H1N1)v virus, we evaluated the performance
characteristics of
Xpert
®
Flu
assay (Cepheid). The overall sensitivity and specificity were 65.6% and 92.8%, respectively.
Sensitivity and specificity for A(H1N1)v virus were 85.7% and 94.9%, respectively, and therefore the
Xpert
®
Flu
assay
is suitable for a rapid diagnosis in critically ill patients where diagnosis is crucial for clinical management and for an
appropriate public health response.Given the new diagnostic need following the pandemic caused by the A(H1N1)v virus, we evaluated the performance characteristics of Xpert® Flu assay (Cepheid). The overall sensitivity and specificity were 65.6% and 92.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for A(H1N1)v virus were 85.7% and 94.9%, respectively, and therefore the Xpert® Flu assay is suitable for a rapid diagnosis in critically ill patients where diagnosis is crucial for clinical management and for an appropriate public health response
Complete genome sequence of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 11A causing meningitis in an adult patient, Italy 2022
No full textStreptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health concern, being a common cause of meningitis in both children and adults. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of P10_PNE_LCR, a S. pneumoniae 11A strain isolated in Northern Italy from an adult patient diagnosed with meningitis
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with reduced susceptibiliy to carbapenems
No full textReduced susceptibility to carbapenems in Gram-negative pathogens is an emerging feature of the antibiotic-resistance phenomenom Reports
about strains resistant to this class of antibiotics among Enterobacteriaceae, particularly in Klebsiella pneumoniae, are increasing.The aims of
this study were to assess the incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems in Bologna area and to carry
out the characterization of these strains.The study included isolates of K. pneumoniae that showed reduced susceptibility to carbapenems,
as detected by an automated system (Vitek2, bioMérieux). Between January and May 2009, 26 strains were collected (mainly isolated from
urinary samples).These isolates were tested for susceptibility to carbapenems by E-test, to define MIC values for meropenem and ertapenem.
Moreover, to detect the production of metallo-beta lactamases (MBL) and carbapenemases (KPC) were respectively performed the Etest
with imipenem and imipenem/EDTA (IPM-IPM/EDTA) and the modified Hodge test. Susceptibility assays performed by E-test showed
that 25/26 strains were susceptible to meropenem, while for ertapenem 20/26 strains resulted resistant.The modified Hodge test was positive
for 1 strain, while all the isolates were negative to the IPM-IPM/EDTA E-test.These results show that, as recently reported, the majority
of strains of K. pneumoniae exhibiting reduced susceptibility to carbapenems, especially to ertapenem, are characterized by the production
of ESBLs, which likely is associated with the loss of porins. On the other side, one strain was found to produce KPC and this finding
confirms that the diffusion of carbapenemases producing K. pneumoniae has also to be considered in this geographic area
Diagnostic methods for CHIKV based on serological tools
Full text linkThis chapter presents the most commonly used serological methods for the diagnosis of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in humans. CHIKV is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and America. CHIKV infection in human causes acute febrile illness frequently accompanied by severe joint pain. Most of the infected patients may develop chronic arthralgia that may persist for several months or years. Laboratory diagnosis of CHIKV infection is mainly based on molecular and serological tests. The serological tests represent a valuable tool for diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) are simple, rapid, and sensitive techniques widely used for the diagnosis of CHIKV infection. However, these methods represent a screening tool and often require confirmation by a secondline assays. Serum virus neutralization assay is more specific than ELISA and IFA tests and is considered a confirmatory test. Neutralization assay is employed to determine the titer of virus neutralizing antibodies against CHIKV in patients’ sera. The basis of microneutralization assay (MNA), results interpretation, and procedures will be illustrated in this chapter
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