Subtyping and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. in the intensive care unit of a Greek general hospital

This study identified the Candida spp., susceptibility to antifungal agents and the prevailing Candida albicans subtypes responsible for infections or colonization of 42 patients in the ICU over a 6-month period. Most isolates were C. albicans (66.1%) and Candida tropicalis (28.3%) all of which were susceptible in vitro to antifungal agents. Subtypes of the C. albicans isolates were identified by pulsed field gel electrophoresis Sfi I chromosomal digests. Two major C. albicans subtypes were identified, whereas subtype heterogeneity was found among strains of Candida glabrata and C. tropicalis. Sfi I PFGE restriction patterns were able to discriminate between sub-populations of C. albicans isolates, clustering them into distinct, epidemiologically congruous groups. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

Prevalence of emm types 1 and 12 from invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Greece-results of enhanced surveillance

Among a total of 101 isolates from the first systematic multicentre surveillance effort concerning invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Greece, conducted between 2003 and 2005 and covering 38% of the population, emm types.1 and 12 were prevalent, being responsible for 27 and nine cases, respectively. The isolates from the remaining 65 cases were assigned to 26 other emm types. Erythromycin resistance (12 isolates) was primarily mef (A)-mediated, although all emm type 1 strains were susceptible. Tetracycline resistance, due mostly to tet (M), was detected in 26 isolates. Subtyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis yielded 50 chromosomal fingerprints, thus discriminating further among ten of the 28 observed emm types. © 2008 The Authors Journal Compilation © 2008 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases