Manual versus automated streaking system in clinical microbiology laboratory: Performance evaluation of Previ Isola for blood culture and body fluid samples

Identification of bloodstream infections is among the most critical tasks performed by the clinical microbiology laboratory. While the criteria for achieving an adequate blood culture specimen in adults have been well described, there is much more ambiguity in pediatric populations. This minireview focuses on the available pediatric literature pertaining to the collection of an optimal blood culture specimen, including timing, volume, and bottle selection, as well as rapid diagnostic approaches and their role in the management of pediatric bloodstream infections.

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Practical Guidance for Clinical Microbiology Laboratories: A Comprehensive Update on the Problem of Blood Culture Contamination and a Discussion of Methods for Addressing the Problem

Clinical Microbiology Reviews ◽

10.1128/cmr.00009-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gary V. Doern ◽

Karen C. Carroll ◽

Daniel J. Diekema ◽

Kevin W. Garey ◽

Mark E. Rupp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Practical Guidance ◽

The Impact ◽

Comprehensive Discussion

In this review, we present a comprehensive discussion of matters related to the problem of blood culture contamination. Issues addressed include the scope and magnitude of the problem, the bacteria most often recognized as contaminants, the impact of blood culture contamination on clinical microbiology laboratory function, the economic and clinical ramifications of contamination, and, perhaps most importantly, a systematic discussion of solutions to the problem.

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Off-site versus on-site clinical microbiology laboratory: a 2-year comparison study of blood culture result reporting

Clinical Microbiology and Infection ◽

10.1016/j.cmi.2019.06.021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (11) ◽

pp. 1441-1442

Author(s):

P. Posteraro ◽

C. Gasparoli ◽

F.M. Errico ◽

G. Massaria ◽

M. Sanguinetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Comparison Study ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Culture Result ◽

Blood Culture Result ◽

Site Versus

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Waltzing around Sacred Cows on the Way to the Future

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01779-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephen M. Brecher

Keyword(s):

Blood Culture ◽

Positive Blood Culture ◽

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Trained Personnel ◽

The Future ◽

Medical Technologists ◽

The Way

ABSTRACT Our mostly manual, agar-based clinical microbiology laboratory is slowly but steadily being redefined by automation and innovation. Ironically, the oldest test, the Gram stain test, is still manually read and interpreted by trained personnel. In a proof-of-concept study, Smith et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol. 56:e01521-17, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01521-17 ) used computer imaging with a deep convolutional neural network to examine and interpret Gram-stained slides from positive blood culture bottles. In light of the shortage of medical technologists/microbiologists and the need for results from positive blood culture bottles 24/7, this paper paves the way for the next innovations for the clinical microbiology laboratory of the future.

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Decrease in Enteroviral Meningitis - An Unexpected Benefit of COVID-19 Mitigation?

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciaa1881 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kami D Kies ◽

Amber S Thomas ◽

Matthew J Binnicker ◽

Kelli L Bashynski ◽

Robin Patel

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Laboratory Testing ◽

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Late Summer ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Testing Data ◽

Early Fall ◽

Enteroviral Meningitis

Abstract Enteroviral meningitis is seasonal, typically exhibiting a rise in prevalence in late summer/early fall. Based on clinical microbiology laboratory testing data of cerebrospinal fluid, the expected August/September/October peak in enteroviral meningitis did not occur in 2020, possibly related to COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

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Implementation and evaluation of a novel real-time multiplex assay for SARS-CoV-2: in-field learnings from a clinical microbiology laboratory

Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.pathol.2020.08.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

pp. 754-759 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eloise Williams ◽

Katherine Bond ◽

Brian Chong ◽

Dawn Giltrap ◽

Malcolm Eaton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Multiplex Assay ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Microbiology Laboratory

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One Small Step for the Gram Stain, One Giant Leap for Clinical Microbiology

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.00303-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 1416-1417 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Richard B. Thomson

Keyword(s):

Clinical Microbiology ◽

Rapid Test ◽

Error Rates ◽

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Microbiology Laboratory ◽

Gram Stain ◽

Small Step ◽

Link Type ◽

Giant Leap

The Gram stain is one of the most commonly performed tests in the clinical microbiology laboratory, yet it is poorly controlled and lacks standardization. It was once the best rapid test in microbiology, but it is no longer trusted by many clinicians. The publication by Samuel et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol. 54:1442–1447, 2016,http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.03066-15) is a start for those who want to evaluate and improve Gram stain performance. In an age of emerging rapid molecular results, is the Gram stain still relevant? How should clinical microbiologists respond to the call to reduce Gram stain error rates?

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