Broad-Spectrum Biosensor Capable of Detecting and Identifying Diverse Bacterial and Candida Species in Blood

Strain Enterococcus faecalis BGPT1-10P was isolated from artisanal semi-hard homemade cheese from Stara Planina, Serbia. Results showed that BGPT1-10P synthesized a heat labile bacteriocin with a broad spectrum of activity, including Listeria and Candida species. Further analysis revealed that synthesized bacteriocin is enterolysin A. Moreover, the entL gene encoding enterolysin A was found to be located on the chromosome. The entL gene was cloned and sequenced. Analysis of nucleotide sequence showed that the entL gene in natural isolate En. faecalis BGPT1-10P is identical to that of the entL gene described previously in En. faecalis LMG 2333. Within the cloned DNA fragment containing the entL gene, four ORFs were detected. One of them was identified as the scpE gene, which encodes a virulent factor staphopain peptidase. Functional analysis of the entL gene showed that the complete genetic information necessary for the synthesis of enterolysin A were directly linked solely to it. Strain BGPT1-10P also synthesized gelatinase and citolysin, and contained a set of virulent factors. In addition, BGPT1-10P carries the ermB and tetM genes conferring the resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline, respectively.

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Fungal peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in Qatar

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.1519 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 5 (09) ◽

pp. 646-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fahmi Yousef Khan ◽

Mohammed Elsayed ◽

Deshmukh Anand ◽

Mohammed Abu Khattab ◽

Doiphode Sanjay

Keyword(s):

Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Candida Species ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Fungal Peritonitis ◽

Bacterial Peritonitis ◽

Broad Spectrum Antibiotics ◽

Appropriate Therapy

Introduction: This study was conducted at Hamad General Hospital to determine the incidence of fungal peritonitis and to describe its clinical and microbiological findings in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in Qatar. Methodology: The medical records of these patients between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed and the collected data were analysed. Results: During the study period, 141 episodes of peritonitis were observed among 294 patients. In 14 of these episodes (9.9%), fungal peritonitis was reported in 14 patients with a rate of 0.05 episodes per patient year, while the bacterial peritonitis rate was 0.63 per patient year. Thirteen (93%) patients had one or more previous episodes of bacterial peritonitis that was treated with multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics, 11 (85%) had received broad-spectrum antibiotics within the preceding month, 12 (92%) within three months, and 8 (62%) within six months. Candida species were the only fungal species isolated from the dialysate with predominance of non-albicans Candida species (especially Candida parapsilosis). Therapeutic approach was immediate catheter removal, followed by systemic antifungal therapy and temporary haemodialysis. Nine patients (64.3%) were continued on haemodialysis, whereas five patients (35.7%) died. Conclusions: Prior antibiotic use was an important risk factor predisposing patients to the development of fungal peritonitis. Early detection of fungal peritonitis would lead to early institution of appropriate therapy and prevention of complications.

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248. Thirty-Day Mortality Among Patients with Candidemia Diagnosed by T2Candida Assay Alone: Influence of Risk Factors and Candida Species

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.323 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S140-S140

Author(s):

Cameron White ◽

Todd McCarty ◽

Rachael A Lee ◽

Sixto M Leal ◽

Peter Pappas

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Antifungal Therapy ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Candida Species ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Medical Center ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Mortality Data ◽

Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

Abstract Background Candidemia is a common cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infection with high mortality rates despite antifungal therapy. Risk factors include prolonged ICU stay, immunosuppression, and exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Blood cultures (BC) remain the gold standard for diagnosis but lack sensitivity and can take days to result. T2Candida (T2C) is a rapid diagnostic test utilizing PCR and magnetic resonance technology to detect five Candida species in whole blood in less than 6 hours. In this study we examined characteristics of patients with positive T2C assays in the absence of positive BC including risk factors and 30-day mortality rates. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of positive T2C cases at UAB Medical Center from 2016 to 2018 with either negative or no BC. For each patient we determined if clinical signs (e.g., hypotension, leukocytosis) and risk factors for candidemia were present at the time of collection. Our primary outcome of interest was 30-day mortality. Data were compared by multivariate analysis. Results A total of 173 patients with T2C positivity alone were included in the analysis. The most common risk factor was the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics followed by CVC (Table 1). The mean number of risk factors per patient was 3.6 (Figure 1). Overall 30-day mortality was 41%. Patients with a T2C result of C. albicans/C. tropicalis were almost 2.5 times more likely to die at 30 days (aOR 2.401, CI 1.159–4.974) compared with those with other positive results. Increasing number of risk factors (aOR 1.457, CI 1.126–1.886) and increasing age (aOR 1.052, CI 1.026–1.079) were significantly associated with increased odds of death at 30 days (Table 2). Conclusion In this study we demonstrate a significant association between increasing number of risk factors, older age, and A/T result with higher odds of 30-day mortality among patients with T2C positivity alone. While concern for false-positives exists when using T2C, our data suggest that this is an acutely ill population which warrants early and aggressive antifungal therapy. The lower limit of detection of T2C (1 cfu/mL) as compared with BC may explain lack of paired positive cultures in these patients despite clinical signs of and risk factors for candidemia. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism: Neurodiversity and Partnering With the Autism Community

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp2.sig1.56 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 56-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Amy L. Donaldson ◽

Karen Krejcha ◽

Andy McMillin

Keyword(s):

Broad Spectrum ◽

First Language ◽

Family Members ◽

Community Identity ◽

Speech Language Pathologists

The autism community represents a broad spectrum of individuals, including those experiencing autism, their parents and/or caregivers, friends and family members, professionals serving these individuals, and other allies and advocates. Beliefs, experiences, and values across the community can be quite varied. As such, it is important for the professionals serving the autism community to be well-informed about current discussions occurring within the community related to neurodiversity, a strengths-based approach to partnering with autism community, identity-first language, and concepts such as presumed competence. Given the frequency with which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve the autism community, the aim of this article is to introduce and briefly discuss these topics.

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