scholarly journals European Survey on Campylobacter surveillance and diagnosis 2001

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Takkinen ◽  
A Ammon ◽  
O Robstad ◽  
T Breuer ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
National Level ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
European Network ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Laboratory Confirmation ◽  
Basic Infrastructure ◽  
Campylobacter Infections

Two surveys have been conducted on behalf of the Campylobacter Working Group with the aim of assessing the feasibility of a European network on human Campylobacter infections. The first survey, conducted in 18 countries, collected information about diagnostic methods used for surveillance purpose while the second one, conducted among 10 European countries, gathered data on diagnostic methods and procedures in primary laboratories. Seventeen of the 18 countries had a surveillance system for Campylobacter infections and 13 a national reference laboratory. The case definition used for the surveillance in all these countries included laboratory confirmation. No commonly applicable subtyping methods were applied. Concerning primary laboratories dealing with Campylobacter infections, only a few of them reported directly to the national level, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by about half of the laboratories. These surveys indicated that a basic infrastructure for a wide European Campylobacter surveillance exists.

scholarly journals Macrolide-resistant phenotypes of invasive streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Serbia

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1377-1382
Author(s):  
Ina Gajic ◽  
Natasa Opavski ◽  
Vera Mijac ◽  
L. Ranin
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
National Reference ◽  
The Past ◽  
Triple Test ◽  
Resistance To Penicillin ◽  
Resistant Strains ◽  
Resistance Rates ◽  
Susceptibility Patterns

Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has emerged as an important worldwide problem over the past decade. The aim of this study was to investigate macrolide-resistant phenotypes and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of invasive pneumococci in Serbia. A total of 68 invasive pneumococcal strains, collected from 2009 to 2011, were sent from regional laboratories to the National Reference Laboratory. Susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK2 system and phenotypes were determined by triple-test. Overall penicillin and erythromycin nonsusceptibility rates were 26% and 43%, respectively. Resistance rates were higher in children than in adults. Co-resistance to penicillin and erythromycin was detected in 18% strains. Resistance rates to the third generation of cephalosporins, TMP-SXT and tetracycline were 16%, 37% and 29%, respectively. All isolates were fully susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, fluoroquinolones, telithromycin and rifampicin. Twenty-two isolates (79%) an expressed macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance phenotype and M phenotype was found in 21% of macrolide resistant strains.

scholarly journals 1413. Surveillance of Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Based on the Non-confirmatory Diagnostic Criteria of the EU Case Definition, Greece, 2014–2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S515-S515
Author(s):  
Georgios Dougas ◽  
Kassiani Mellou ◽  
Konstantinos Mitrou ◽  
Flora Kontopidou ◽  
Theano Georgakopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
National Level ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Notification System ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Cerebral Mri ◽  
Jakob Disease ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD), is a form of CJD associated with consumption of tissues from cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Confirmation requires cerebral histopathologic examination, ascertaining spongiform change and extensive prion protein deposition with florid plaques. In Greece, the disease has been included in the Mandatory Notification System since 2004 however no reference laboratory has been available since 2009 due to low global occurrence. In 2014, the surveillance system was strengthened to also include possible and probable cases based on the non-confirmatory diagnostic criteria of the EU case definition. Hereby we present the results of the surveillance for 2014–2018. Methods A new reporting form for CJD was introduced at the national level, including fields aligned with EU case definition criteria for vCJD (preconditions, clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological). The non-confirmatory diagnostic criteria for the classification of probable and possible vCJD cases were based on examinations routinely available at hospitals, namely EEG and cerebral MRI. Reported CJD cases were assessed according to the fulfillment of required combinations of EU criteria for possible, probable, and confirmed vCJD cases. Results From 2014 to 2018, 37 CJD cases were reported, with a median age of 67 years (IQR: 58–73) concerning mostly females (71.3%, 95% CI: 56.7–85.9%). Among the reported cases, 6 (16.2%) fulfilled only the preconditions, 8 (21.6%) fulfilled the preconditions and the clinical criteria, 21 (56.8%) had a compatible EEG, and 7 (18.9%) had a compatible MRI brain scan. Confirmatory examination was not performed to any of the CJD cases; however, no case was classified as possible or probable vCJD based on the EU case definition. Conclusion Notification of CJD patients from 2014 to 2018 in Greece, yielded no vCJD cases. The possible re-emergence of vCJD renders continuous surveillance of the disease imperative. Current EU case definition can support the surveillance of vCJD, by screening CJD patients for possible and probable vCJD cases with the utilization of conventional diagnostic examinations, available in most hospitals. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals First Serbian external quality assessment to detect Trichinella larvae in meat by the Magnetic Stirrer Method

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-177
Author(s):  
Sasa Vasilev ◽  
Natasa Ilic ◽  
Ljiljana Sofronic-Milosavljevic
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
External Quality Assessment ◽  
Trichinella Spiralis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
National Reference Laboratory ◽  
External Quality ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Magnetic Stirrer

Introduction. Inter-laboratory comparative testing must be conducted under the direction of the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella in each Member State of the EU with the aim to ensure the quality of the approved digestion method and to evaluate the competence of laboratories in Trichinella detection. For the first time in Serbia, the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis (NRLT INEP) organized such external quality assessment (EQA) for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat by the Magnetic Stirrer Method (MSM). The aim of this study was to enable laboratories interested to take part in the EQA and to assess the quality of their MSM performance. Materials and Methods. The EQA was organized by NRLT INEP according to ISO/IEC 17043:2010. The EQA test panel, which was sent to eight laboratories within Veterinary Institutes, consisted of three 100?5 g minced pork meat balls with identical numbers of larvae. Two meat balls were spiked with five viable Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae (L1), and one meat ball was not spiked. Results and Conclusions. Evaluation made on the basis of qualitative results showed that 100% of participants successfully completed the testing. Quantitative evaluation showed that, on average, only 60% of Trichinella larvae were detected among all participants. The main importance of this study is that it enabled laboratories across the country to be compared. This should be efficient stimulus for improvement of analytical performance over time. Therefore, it will be of value if the participants and other official laboratories in Serbia take part annually in EQAs organized at national level. The results obtained in this study could provide useful information to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Veterinary Directorate and be of importance for promoting the one health concept in the country as a whole.

scholarly journals The added value of a European Union tuberculosis reference laboratory network – analysis of the national reference laboratory activities

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 9-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
F A Drobniewski ◽  
V Nikolayevskyy ◽  
S Hoffner ◽  
O Pogoryelova ◽  
D Manissero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Drug Susceptibility ◽  
Drug Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
The Eu

National reference laboratories (NRL) and other laboratories are the cornerstones of well-functioning tuberculosis programmes and surveillance activities. However, the scope and activity of NRL services for mycobacterial identification and drug susceptibility testing (DST) has not been examined in detail across the European Union (EU), nor has the added value of cooperation and networking at the European level been explored with regard to strengthening laboratory services. Therefore, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has commissioned a survey to explore these issues and to identify areas of work that could bring added value by supporting networking activities of tuberculosis (TB) reference laboratories in the EU. Structured questionnaires were sent to TB reference laboratory experts in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and in three additional countries selected on the basis of their networking activities with EU projects and other initiatives (Switzerland, Croatia and Israel). The compiled results describe the activities and structure of 32 NRLs (29 countries replied, a response rate of 91%). The analysis of the survey led to the following recommendations for strengthening TB laboratory services: (1) implementing of the published European standards for TB laboratory services with respect to infrastructure, national reference functions, biosafety, human resources, quality assurance, operational research (including evaluation of new medical diagnostics), accuracy and speed, appropriately trained staff; (2) ensuring that laboratories only perform activities for which they have demonstrated proficiency; (3) implement validated and standardised second-line drug susceptibility testing (DST), including drugs used to define extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB); (4) aiming to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance in over 90% of cultures and cases from smear-positive sputum directly within one to two working days. To realise some of the above recommendations and to strengthen links of TB surveillance and microbiology activities in the EU, a list of suggested generic areas of activities for an EU network of reference laboratories is presented. Such a network would build on and link to existing networks and initiatives at the European and global level.

Laboratory evaluation of the etiology of pathological vaginal dischurge

2019 ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
O.A. Burka ◽  
◽  
T.M. Tutchenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Inflammatory Process ◽  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Vulvovaginal Candidiasis ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
Aerobic Vaginitis ◽  
Laboratory Confirmation ◽  
Vaginal Secretions

Pathological vaginal discharge is one of the most common complaints in women of all ages. Today, gynecologists are increasingly faced with a problem when, in the absence of laboratory confirmation of vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and STIs, women complain of discomfort caused by vaginal secretions. Causes of pathological vaginal discharge can be infectious and non-infectious processes and their combinations. The article analyzes the causes of the difficulties of diagnosing the of pathological vaginal discharge ethiology, demonstrates how the application of adequate volume of modern laboratory diagnostic methods in combination with understanding the multifaceted components of the inflammatory process plays crucial role in finding out the etiology of pathological vaginal secretions and the choice of optimal therapeutic tactics. Key words: pathological vaginal dischurge, vaginal microbiota, vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, cytolytic vaginosis.

scholarly journals Complete ciprofloxacin resistance in gonococcal isolates in an urban Ugandan clinic: findings from a cross-sectional study

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Mabonga ◽  
Rosalind Parkes-Ratanshi ◽  
Stefan Riedel ◽  
Sheila Nabweyambo ◽  
Olive Mbabazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Workers ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Outpatient Service ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Disk Diffusion ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Agar Dilution

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to gonorrhoea is a threat to global health security. There have been concerns expressed that countries with high rates of disease have poor surveillance. The objectives of the study were to determine the AMR patterns of Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in patients with HIV or high risk of HIV acquisition, to compare the concordance of disk diffusion and agar dilution as methods for determining AMR to N. gonorrhoeae, and to describe methodological challenges to carrying out AMR testing. The study was conducted at an HIV outpatient service for at-risk populations and an outreach clinic for commercial sex workers in Kampala. Patients were offered a sexually transmitted infection screen using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay. Samples positive for gonorrhoea were cultured. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion and isolates were sent to a reference laboratory for agar dilution direct susceptibility testing. Five hundred and seventy-five patients were screened. There were 33 (5.7%) patients with gonorrhoea detected by PCR. Of the 16 viable N. gonorrhoeae isolates, 100% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline by disk diffusion and 31% exhibited reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime. By agar dilution, 100% of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and all isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime. There was concordance between disk diffusion and agar dilution for ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance and a significant discordance for third-generation cephalosporins. More than half the women with gonorrhoea were asymptomatic and represent a potential reservoir for ongoing transmission. AMR testing of N. gonorrhoeae isolates is needed to ensure optimal treatment and prevention of antibiotic resistance progression.

scholarly journals Laboratory capacity of Greek hospitals for diagnosis of salmonellosis and surveillance systems’ performance in the years of economic crisis, 2010–2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mellou ◽  
E. Saranti-Papasaranti ◽  
G. Mandilara ◽  
T. Georgakopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Geographical Region ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory System ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
National Reference Laboratory ◽  
Notification System ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Laboratory Capacity ◽  
Mandatory Notification

AbstractAusterity might have affected the capacity of public hospitals in Greece to diagnose salmonellosis (laboratory capacity) over the period 2010–2016, as well as the performance of the existing surveillance systems. The scope of this paper is to present data on laboratory capacity over these years, as well as the results of a two-source capture-recapture study (data from Mandatory Notification System and National Reference Laboratory System for Salmonella). The main findings were that: (a) laboratory capacity was high and steady besides the financial crisis, (b) the estimated number of laboratory-confirmed cases (n = 6017, 95% CI 5892–6142) resulted in an incidence rate (7.9 cases/100 000 population) almost twice than that reported by the two systems Mandatory Notification System (MNS); 4.1 and National Reference Laboratory System (NRLS); 4.5 cases/100 000 population, (c) underreporting was high for both systems (MNS; 47.5% and NRLS; 42.8%) and (d) differences by geographical region, size and type of hospital were identified. We suggest that (a) specific interventions are needed to increase completeness of the systems by type of hospital and geographical region, (b) record linkage can help in estimating the disease burden in a more valid way than each system separately and (c) a common electronic database in order to feed one system to the other could significantly increase completeness of both systems.

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