708. Evaluation of Fungal Culture versus Bacterial Culture for the Identification of Various Mold Species

Background Invasive mold infections are challenging to diagnose and in part relies on fungal cultures. A large proportion of mold isolates are recovered on routine bacterial cultures in our medical center, thus we sought to define the utility of bacterial versus fungal cultures for isolation of mold from clinical specimens. Methods Routine bacterial and fungal culture results from wound, tissue, body fluid, and respiratory specimens from Jan 2019-Dec 2020 from Keck Medical Center of USC (Los Angeles, CA) were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were excluded if specimens were collected specifically for dermatophyte recovery or for blood culture. Cultures in which mold, including dimorphic fungi, were isolated were included in the evaluation. Results Mold was isolated from 612 specimens from 408 patients, with recovery from 329 bacterial and 450 fungal cultures. Among the 329 bacterial cultures, fungal cultures were not requested in 119 (36.2%) while the remaining 210 had concurrent fungal cultures which recovered mold in 167 cases (79.5%). Of 450 fungal cultures recovering mold, a corresponding bacterial culture was performed in 445, isolating mold in 181 (38.8%) of these cases. Two or more molds were found in 28 fungal cultures and in 5 bacterial cultures. Of positive specimens with both fungal and bacterial cultures performed (n=488), mold was isolated in fungal cultures in 446 (91.4%) and in bacterial cultures in 209 (42.9%) (Table). Yield of molds in 488 specimens with concomitant bacterial and fungal cultures Conclusion Although a significant number of molds are recovered in routine bacterial cultures, over half would be missed without concomitant fungal cultures. Conversely, recovery of clinically relevant mold species was optimal when both bacterial and fungal cultures were requested on a specimen. This may be related to increased specimen sampling and incubation conditions allowing for broader organism recovery. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Modul Laboratorium Observasi

Alhamdulillah, puji syukur kehadirat Allah SWT. Karena dengan rahmatnya, modul laboratorium observasi ini bisa terselesaikan. Penyusunan modul ini bertujuan sebagai media mahasiswa untuk berlatih meningkatkan keterampilan melakukan observasi. Modul ini disusun untuk melengkapi bahan ajar dosen dalam mengampu mata kuliah observasi. Modul ini berisi tiga bab, yaitu pendahuluan, kurikulum, dan materi modul. Dalam bab pendahuluan terdapat informasi terkait profil laboratorium, manejemen laboratorium, pengggnaan laboratorium, dan peralatan yang digunakan dalam laboratorium psikologi. Bab dua berisi tentang analisis instruksional, silabus praktik, dan satuan acara perkuliahan praktik. Dalam modul ini, dirancang enam jenis praktik untuk menerapkan enam teknik dasar melakukan observasi. Bab tiga modul ini merupakan penyajian dan prosedur untuk menerapkan enam teknik observasi, mulai dari pengantar observasi dasar, teknik deskripsi specimen, sampling waktu, sampling peristiwa, checklist, dan rating scale. Tidak bisa dipungkiri bahwa kami memerlukan masukan dan kritik dari berbagai pihak untuk melengkapi modul ini hingga bisa mencapai kesempurnaan. Kami merasa bahwa modul ini masih ada yang kurang. Dengan masukan dan kritik tersebut kami juga berharap pelaksanaan praktikum di laboratorium observasi berjalan dengan lebih baik dan memudahkan mahasiswa untuk terbiasa menggunakan observasi sebagai metode asesmen psikologi.

Use of washing cytology from removed self-expandable metal stents for biliary strictures: a novel cytology method

Removability is one of the important features of biliary covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS). In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic ability of washing cytology of removed CSEMS. For 14 removed CSEMS that had been placed for the biliary strictures (12 malignant, 2 benign), the surface of CSEMS was washed with saline, and pathological examination of the washing liquid as cytology (CSEMS washing cytology) was performed. The specimen sampling rates and sensitivity for malignancy of CSEMS washing cytology were 92.9 % and 41.7 %, respectively. Sensitivity according to the primary disease was 60.0 % for bile duct cancer and 20 % for pancreatic cancer. Sensitivities based on the methods of stent removal were 16.7 % and 66.7 % for removal through the channel of the scope and with the scope, respectively. Therefore, it is possible that sensitivity of CSEMS washing cytology is higher in bile duct cancer and for removal with the scope. In conclusion, CSEMS washing cytology may have potential as a pathological diagnostic method.

Bio-logging Data in Darwin Core: Use Cases

Animal-borne sensor data, along with other types of sensor-based observations, provide a growing volume and proportion of documentation about biodiversity. These data differ from the traditional specimen, sampling and human observation records for which the Taxonomic Database Working Group (TDWG) originally designed the Darwin Core standard. The original intention of the new TDWG Machine Observations Interest Group is to facilitate a body of work combining the informatics expertise of TDWG with that of subject matter experts to document best practice guidelines for applying Darwin Core to bio-logging datasets. This session offers the opportunity to walk through some of the use cases developed so far, including a terrestrial GPS tracking and acceleration dataset from Movebank and a marine acoustic telemetry dataset from the Ocean Tracking Network using stationary as well as mobile acoustic receivers. Through these examples, we will describe the strategy and rationale for the approaches taken to the application of Darwin Core using typical animal tracking scenarios laced with some of the common complexities in bio-logging and other types of machine-based biodiversity observations.

Partial versus complete prostatectomy specimen sampling: prospective non-inferiority study for pT3a tumours and surgical margin involvement

AimsThe importance of additional information gained by complete versus partial sampling or prostatectomy specimens is uncertain. There is sparse data on the value of complete versus partial sampling and numbers of inclusions in studies are small and retrospective. We present the results of a prospective non-inferiority study to examine if partial sampling is inferior to complete sampling in terms of pathology outcomes and clinical relevance.Methods564 robot-assisted prostatectomy (RARP) specimens with prospective registration and analysis were collected over a 2-year period. All patients underwent RARP between January 2014 and February 2016 in our hospital after a diagnosis of clinically localised prostate cancer. For each patient, tumour stage and surgical margin status was recorded after partial and after complete sampling. Upstaging from pT2 to pT3a and upgrading from a negative-to-positive surgical margin was analysed.ResultsIn 12 of 564 patients (2.1%), complete sampling yielded new information. In eight patients (1.4%), the surgical margin converted to positive after complete sampling. Upstaging from initial pT2 tumour in partial sampling to pT3a tumour after complete sampling was documented in five patients (0.9%). In the follow-up period (mean 35 months), a biochemical recurrence occurred in one patient.ConclusionsComplete sampling provides new information in only 2.1% of cases, compared with partial sampling. We conclude that the additional information gained by complete sampling in terms of stage and surgical margin detection is statistically insignificant compared with partial sampling. Furthermore, partial sampling compared with complete sampling does not change postoperative clinical management.

Nasal Cytology: A Comparative Study of Two Different Techniques of Processing—Smeared versus Cytocentrifuged Slides

Nasal cytology is a precious tool to study nasal disorders, but in current literature, there is no consensus on the standardization of the processing procedure of the obtained samples. Therefore, we decided to test on specimens obtained by nasal scraping, a common way of nasal specimen sampling, two different processing techniques, smear and cytocentrifugation, and compare them in terms of inflammatory cell content, quality of slides, and validity on clinical assessment. We analyzed 105 patients with suspected sinonasal diseases, and in each patient, we performed nasal cytology with both techniques. Our analysis showed a good correlation between the two techniques for neutrophil and eosinophil percentages, both returned well-preserved cells, and showed higher neutrophil percentage in males and in smokers and higher eosinophil percentage in patients with polyposis, with a good concordance with clinical symptoms, as measured by a specific disease-related questionnaire (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22). Technically speaking, smeared slides were easier to prepare, with no need of dedicated equipment, but cell distribution was better in cytocentrifuged slides allowing shorter reading time. In conclusion, both techniques can be considered superimposable and worthy to be used.

Engineering Application of Miniature Specimen Sampling Method on FFS Assessment of Corrosive Pits of In-Service Pressure Pipeline

This paper aims at in-service inspection of a petrochemical companies’ process pipeline which was found to have corrosive pits during a regular periodic inspection. By adopting miniature specimen sampling method, some (size of 12 × 12 × 1.3mm) sheets were obtained in the pipeline. Yield strength and tensile strength of the material can be obtained by small punch test method. Fitness-For-Service (FFS) procedures based on different standards are performed on the corrosive pits and the sampling areas to assess their safety. The research shows that it is feasible to obtain the actual mechanical properties of the material in the field by using the miniature specimen sampling method. The method mentioned in this paper is of guiding significance for FFS assessment on in-service pressure pipelines.