15 research outputs found
SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics in the virology laboratory of a University Hospital in Rome during the lockdown period
Italy was one of the most affected nations by coronavirus disease 2019 outside China. The infections, initially limited to Northern Italy, spread to all other Italian regions. This study aims to provide a snapshot of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemiology based on a single-center laboratory experience in Rome. The study retrospectively included 6565 subjects tested for SARS-CoV-2 at the Laboratory of Virology of Sapienza University Hospital in Rome from 6 March to 4 May. A total of 9995 clinical specimens were analyzed, including nasopharyngeal swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, gargle lavages, stools, pleural fluids, and cerebrospinal fluids. Positivity to SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 8% (527/6565) of individuals, increased with age, and was higher in male patients (P <.001). The number of new confirmed cases reached a peak on 18 March and then decreased. The virus was detected in respiratory samples, in stool and in pleural fluids, while none of gargle lavage or cerebrospinal fluid samples gave a positive result. This analysis allowed to gather comprehensive information on SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in our area, highlighting positivity variations over time and in different sex and age group and the need for a continuous surveillance of the infection, mostly because the pandemic evolution remains unknown
La feconditĂ degli stranieri in Italia: tra indizi e valutazioni presuntive
Fonti e strumenti n. 5, Dipartimento di Scienze Demografiche, UniversitĂ di Roma "La Sapienza
Nati da almeno un genitore straniero
collana Fonti e Strumenti del Dipartimento di Scienze Demografich
Colistin resistance beyond carbapenems: molecular epidemiology of multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from an Italian hospital
Purpose: Multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp)
is a worldwide concern worsened by colistin resistance emergence.
In this study, molecular epidemiology of clinical MDR Kp strains is described, assessing clonal relationships and resistance genes
profiles. Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)
blaCTX-M, blaTEM and blaSHV genes was evaluated, as well as that
associated to carbapenems (blaKPC, blaGES, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaNDM,
blaOXA-48) and colistin resistance (mcr-1,2,3,4 and mgrB).
Methods & Materials: Twenty-six Kp cultures were collected
from ĂąĆĆA.CardarelliĂąĆĆŸ hospital in Molise Region (Central Italy),
57.7% from Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was assessed by BD PhoenixĂąâÂą. Genotyping was
achieved through Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) withXbaI
and MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST). PCRs for resistance genes
detection and mgrB sequencing were performed.
Results: Most (n = 20, 77%) strains were carbapenems resistant
(imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem), and 53% (n = 14) to colistin.
A higher prevalence of blaKPC (100%) and blaSHV (96.2%) was found
compared with blaTEM (88.5%), blaVIM (69.0%) and blaCTX-M (7.7%).
While none colistin-resistant (col-R) strain carried mcr-1,2,3,4 variants, 42.8% (n = 6) had an Insertion Sequence (IS) in mgrB, identified
as IS5-like (5/14, 36%) and ISKpn14 (1/14, 7%). The prevalent
Sequence Type was ST512 (50%), followed by ST101 (38.5%) and
ST307 (11.5%). PFGE detected 12 clusters and 18 pulsotypes (95%
similarity), and was more discriminating than MLST (Simpsonâs
Index 95%vs 61%). An ICU outbreak, during November 2014-January
2015, included five ST512 strains, blaTEM/blaSHV/blaVIM/blaKPC positive, and col-R due to mgrB IS5-like.
Conclusion: Molecular epidemiology study identified an outbreak caused by poor compliance with hygienic standards because
of reduced personnel during Christmas holidays. Although ST258
is the most prevalent in Italy, half strains were typed as ST512
that represents its monoallelic variant. Our results confirm the
endemic blaKPC distribution and blaTEM/blaSHV as the prevalent
ESBLs in Kp hospital outbreaks. According to epidemiological data,
plasmid mcr variants were not found in col-R strains. Conversely,
IS elements prevalence in mgrB explain resistance in about half
col-R strains, and was in line with Italian data. Further investigations are needed to identify mgrB mutations in IS negative col-R
strains
Comparison of FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay and RealStar RT-PCR kit 1.0 for the detection of SARS-CoV-2
The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical performance of FTD SARS-CoV-2 compared to the RealStar RT-PCR kit 1.0. The analysis of 100 nasopharyngeal swabs showed an overall agreement of 88 %. The positive percentage agreement was 85.6 % and the negative percentage agreement was 91 %. In conclusion we observed a substantial agreement among the two methods, with discrepancies mainly observed in specimens with relatively low amount of viral RNA
KI and WU polyomavirus in respiratory samples of sarsâcovâ2 infected patients
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirusâ2 (SARSâCoVâ2) has been declared a global pandemic. Our goal was to determine whether coâinfections with respiratory polyomaviruses, such as Karolinska Institutet polyomavirus (KIPyV) and Washington University polyomavirus (WUPyV) occur in SARSâCoVâ2 infected patients. Oropharyngeal swabs from 150 individuals, 112 symptomatic COVIDâ19 patients and 38 healthcare workers not infected by SARSâ CoVâ2, were collected from March 2020 through May 2020 and tested for KIPyV and WUPyV DNA presence. Of the 112 SARSâCoVâ2 positive patients, 27 (24.1%) were coâinfected with KIPyV, 5 (4.5%) were positive for WUPyV, and 3 (2.7%) were infected simultaneously by KIPyV and WUPyV. Neither KIPyV nor WUPyV DNA was detected in samples of healthcare workers. Significant correlations were found in patients coâinfected with SARSâCoVâ2 and KIPyV (p < 0.05) and between SARSâCoVâ2 cycle threshold values and KIPyV, WUPyV and KIPyV and WUPyV concurrently detected (p < 0.05). These results suggest that KIPyV and WUPyV may behave as opportunistic respiratory pathogens. Additional investigations are needed to understand the epidemiology and the prevalence of respiratory polyomavirus in COVIDâ19 patients and whether KIPyV and WUPyV could potentially drive viral interference or influence disease outcomes by upregulating SARSâCoVâ 2 replicative potential