Microbiological and Clinical Significance of a New Property of Defective Lysis in Clinical Strains of Pneumococci

A pneumococcal isolate that caused relapsing meningitis in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was found to display an unusual response to penicillin - rapid death but a striking lack of cellular lysis. This lytic defect was also detected in all four pneumococcal isolates from three additional HIV-infected patients and in more than half of the clinical isolates from patients with bacteremia. In a rabbit model of meningitis, the lysis-defective strain remained cryptic, with a delay of 5 h in the onset of leukocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid. A marked burst of leukocytosis was associated with ampicillin-induced lysis of a lysis-sensitive strain but not of a lysis-defective strain. Pneumococcal clinical isolates have different lytic responses to penicillin; defective lysis may adversely affect the course of meningitis, an observation suggesting that autolysins play a role in modulating infectious disease

Recovery of resistant enterococci during vancomycin prophylaxis.

We report a case of a patient undergoing hemodialysis who developed a wound infection and subsequently bacteremia with a strain of vancomycin-resistantent erococcus identified as Enterococcus gallinarum. He had been receiving vancomycin prophylaxis before developing these infections. Both isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, rifampin, teicoplanin, and daptomycin (LY146032)

Heißwasserextrahierbarer Kohlenstoff und Bodenatmung als Parameter zur Abschätzung der potentiellen Kohlenstofffreisetzung aus organischen Böden

Durch Ihre hohen Gehalte an Kohlenstoff (C) und organischer Bodensubstanz (OBS) und besitzen Moorböden eine herausragende Rolle im globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf. Bei unsachgemäßer Nutzung setzen diese organischen Böden besonders hohe Mengen an C, z.B in Form von CO2 frei. Der labile und aktive Anteil der OBS, der potentiell besonders leicht freigesetzt werden kann, lässt sich allgemein mit dem Parameter heißwasserextrahierbarer Kohlenstoff (Chwe) abschätzen, da diese Fraktion große Mengen leicht umsetzbarer Bestandteile wie etwa hohe Anteile an mikrobieller Biomasse, Einfachzucker oder Ligninmonomere enthält. Bis jetzt ist aber unklar, wie gut sich dieser Parameter zur Ableitung der potentiellen C-Freisetzung aus Moorböden eignet. Für verschiedene Mineralböden konnten bereits enge Korrelationen zwischen dem Chwe und der jeweiligen Bodentamung aufgezeigt werden. Studien zur Beziehung der CO2-Freisetzung und dem Parameter Chwe speziell für organische Böden fehlen bisher. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es deshalb, diese möglichen Korrelationen für organische Böden zu untersuchen. Dazu wurde der Chwe an über 50 unterschiedlichen Moorbodensubstraten ermittelt. Hier wurde eine Extraktionsmethode angewandt, welche speziell an die hohen Anteile an OBS angepasst wurde. Daneben wurde die jeweilige Bodenatmung mittels Inkubationsversuchen im Labor gemessen und mit dem Gehalt an Chwe verglichen. Die bisherigen Ergebnisse zeigen mittlere bis hohe Korrelationen zwischen der Bodenatmung und dem Chwe, so dass davon auszugehen ist, dass der Chwe zur Abschätzung einer potentiellen C-Freisetzung auch für organische Böden herangezogen werden kann, um damit die Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Kohlenstoffverlusten beschreiben zu können. Die gewonnenen Daten sollten allerdings durch zusätzliche Untersuchungen, vor allem an bisher nicht genügend berücksichtigten Moorbodensubstraten, weiter überprüft werden

Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Invasive Group B Streptococcal Isolates

Antibiotics are used for both group B streptococcal (GBS) prevention and treatment. Active population-based surveillance for invasive GBS disease was conducted in four states during 1996–2003. Of 3813 case-isolates, 91.0% (3471) were serotyped, 77.1% (2937) had susceptibility testing, and 46.6% (3471) had both. All were sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin. Clindamycin and erythromycin resistance was 12.7% and 25.6%, respectively, and associated with serotype V (P < .001). Clindamycin resistance increased from 10.5% to 15.0% (X2 for trend 12.70; P < .001); inducible clindamycin resistance was associated with the erm genotype. Erythromycin resistance increased from 15.8% to 32.8% (X2 for trend 55.46; P < .001). While GBS remains susceptible to beta-lactams, resistance to alternative agents such as erythromycin and clindamycin is an increasing concern

emm typing and validation of provisional M types for group A streptococci.

This report discusses the following issues related to typing of group A streptococci (GAS): The development and use of the 5' emm variable region sequencing (emm typing) in relation to the existing serologic typing system; the designation of emm types in relation to M types; a system for validation of new emm types; criteria for validation of provisional M types to new M-types; a list of reference type cultures for each of the M-type or emm-type strains of GAS; the results of the first culture exchange program for a quality control testing system among the national and World Health Organization collaborating centers for streptococci; and dissemination of new approaches to typing of GAS to the international streptococcal community

Erythromycin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in Children, 1999–2001

After increasing from 1995 to 1999, invasive erythromycin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae rates per 100,000 decreased 53.6% in children from Baltimore, Maryland (US), from 1999 to 2001, which was partially attributed to strains related to the mefE-carrying England14-9 clone. The decline in infection rates was likely due to the pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine

Deep neck infection complicating lymphadenitis caused by Streptococcus intermedius in an immunocompetent child

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus intermedius belongs to the Streptococcus anginosus group. It is part of the normal flora of the human mouth, but it can be etiologically associated with deep-site infections. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of deep neck infection complicating Streptococcus intermedius lymphadenitis, which developed in an immunocompetent 14-year-old boy with a history of recent dental work. The infection was ultimately eradicated by a combined medical and surgical approach. CONCLUSION: Our report suggests that combined medical and surgical therapy is essential for the complete resolution of deep infections caused by Streptococcus intermedius. Molecular biological techniques can be useful in guiding the diagnostic investigation and providing insight into the possibility of occult abscesses, which are particularly common with Streptococcus intermedius infections

Evaluation of genotypic and phenotypic methods for differentiation of the members of the Anginosus group streptococci

The terminology and classification of the Anginosus group streptococci has been inconsistent. We tested the utility of 16S rRNA gene and tuf gene sequencing and conventional biochemical tests for the reliable differentiation of the Anginosus group streptococci. Biochemical testing included Rapid ID 32 Strep, API Strep, Fluo-Card Milleri, Wee-tabs, and Lancefield antigen typing. Altogether, 61 Anginosus group isolates from skin and soft tissue infections and four reference strains were included. Our results showed a good agreement between 16S rRNA gene and tuf gene sequencing. Using the full sequence was less discriminatory than using the first part of the 16S rRNA gene. The three species could not be separated with the API 20 Strep test. Streptococcus intermedius could be differentiated from the other two species by β-galactosidase (ONPG) and β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase reactions. Rapid ID 32 Strep β-glucosidase reaction was useful in separating S. anginosus strains from S. constellatus. In conclusion, both 16S rRNA gene and tuf gene sequencing can be used for the reliable identification of the Anginosus group streptococci. S. intermedius can be readily differentiated from the other two species by phenotypic tests; however, 16S rRNA gene or tuf gene sequencing may be needed for separating some strains of S. constellatus from S. anginosus