Loop-mediated isothermal amplification as a diagnostic tool for rapid identification of enteric bacterial pathogens from stool samples.

Molecular assays, which are commonly based on multiplex PCR techniques, are increasingly being used to diagnose bacterial gastroenteritis due to faster results and more straightforward workflows compared to conventional culture. Many culture-dependent methods and semi-automated PCR assays, are labour-intensive and require technical expertise. Therefore, assays that are easy to perform and allow for the timely identification of the most common enteric bacterial pathogens may be of interest.

Evaluation of the Eazyplex ID LAMP Assay for the Rapid Diagnosis of Positive Blood Cultures.

Rapid molecular assays can be used to identify pathogens directly from positive blood cultures (BCs) in a timely manner compared to standard methods using subcultures. In this study, the eazyplex ID assay, which is based on loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) and is currently for research use only, was evaluated for the identification of the most common fungal species. A total of 190 BCs were analysed.

Experience with PCR Testing for Enteric Bacteria and Viruses of Emergency Department Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis: Are There Implications for the Early Treatment of Infection?

Early identification of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) pathogens via PCR may improve the management of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). In this study, we evaluated the implementation of a testing algorithm for ED patients with AGE using the BD MAX automated PCR system. Data from 133 patients were analyzed.

SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Emergency Department Patients Using cobas Liat and eazyplex Rapid Molecular Assays.

Rapid testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) of patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) facilitates the decision for isolation on admission to hospital wards. Differences in the sensitivity of molecular assays have implications for diagnostic workflows. This study evaluated the performance of the cobas Liat RT-PCR, which is routinely used as the initial test for ED patients in our hospitals, compared with the eazyplex RT-LAMP.

Screening of Isolates for Carbapenemase and Hypervirulence-Associated Genes by Combining the Eazyplex Superbug CRE and hvKp Assays.

The acquisition of hypervirulence-associated genes by carbapenemase-producing is being increasingly observed, and easy-to-use diagnostic tests are needed for the surveillance of the hypervirulent (hvKp). In this pilot study, 87 isolates from invasive infections collected in 2022 and 2023 were analysed using the LAMP-based eazyplex Superbug CRE and hvKp assays for the simultaneous identification of carbapenemases and virulence genes (, , , , ). Nine isolates showed a Kleborate virulence score of 4 or 5 (10.

Development of a rapid diagnostic test based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification to identify the most frequent non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars from culture.

Identification of Salmonella serovars is performed by conventional seroagglutination or sequencing. These methods are labor-intensive and require technical experience. An easy-to-perform assay allowing the timely identification of the most common non-typhoidal serovars (NTS) is needed.

Influence of the Incubator as Direct Patient Environment on Bacterial Colonization of Neonates.

Background: Preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in neonatal intensive care units is a challenge of highest priority. For further insight into the incubator as direct patient environment and potential source for contamination, we present data correlating microbiological samples of very low birthweight infants in the form of colonization results of surveillance screenings with samples of their associated incubator in this study.

Methods: Samples were taken via rectal and throat swabs of neonates as well as Polywipe sponges for the incubator.

Performance of the eazyplex® BloodScreen GN as a simple and rapid molecular test for identification of Gram-negative bacteria from positive blood cultures.

The LAMP-based eazyplex® BloodScreen GN was evaluated for the detection of frequent Gram-negatives directly from positive blood culture (BC) bottles. A total of 449 BCs were analyzed. Sensitivities and specificities were 100% and 100% for Escherichia coli, 95.

Do closed waste containers lead to less air contamination than opened? A clinical case study at Jena University Hospital, Germany.

Nosocomial infections are a growing challenge at hospitals. This clinical study aimed to investigate the influence of waste container construction ((open (O), closed (C), and hands-free opening (HF)) on microbial air contamination in a hospital setting. The results are intended to help develop guidelines for waste containers for the collection of non-infectious waste at hospitals and medical facilities.

Heater-Cooler Devices and Risk of Contamination during Cardiac Surgery.

Background:  Heater-cooler devices (HCD) have been implicated in a cardiosurgical contamination scenario causing prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Aim:  We characterized contamination of new HCDs and assessed the risk of intraoperative microorganism transmission from the HCD to the operating field.

Methods:  We initially acquired four new FlexTherm and then four new Maquet HCU40 HCDs and assessed occurrence and speed of microbial contamination (including mycobacteria) assessing swab and water samples from the device.

Performance of the RT-LAMP-based eazyplex® SARS-CoV-2 as a novel rapid diagnostic test.

Background: Diagnostic assays for severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that are easy to perform and produce fast results are essential for timely decision making regarding the isolation of contagious individuals.

Objective: We evaluated the CE-approved eazyplex® SARS-CoV-2, a ready-to-use real time RT-LAMP assay for identification of the SARS-CoV-2 N and ORF8 genes from swabs in less than 30 min without RNA extraction.

Study Design: Oropharyngeal and nasal swabs from 100 positive and 50 negative patients were inoculated into 0.

Use of the variplex™ SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP as a rapid molecular assay to complement RT-PCR for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Background: Molecular assays based on reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) may be useful for rapid diagnosis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of the easy performance and the option to bypass RNA extraction.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical performance of the CE-labeled variplexTM real time SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP assay in comparison to commercial RT-PCRs.

Study Design: RNA extracted from pharyngeal swabs was tested by variplex™ RT-LAMP and Corman's LightMix™ E gene RT-PCR as reference.

Simple differentiation of Typhi, Paratyphi and Choleraesuis from species using the eazyplex TyphiTyper LAMP assay.

. Identification of typhoidal (TS) serovars and their discrimination from non-typhoidal (NTS) is conventionally performed by seroagglutination. This method is labour-intensive, requires technical experience and can be inconclusive in some cases.

Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to detect nosocomial outbreaks of Serratia marcescens and Citrobacter freundii.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) may be used as a rapid typing method for nosocomial pathogens. Here, we evaluated MALDI-TOF MS for discrimination of hospital outbreak-related clusters of Serratia marcescens and carbapenemase-producing Citrobacter freundii. Thirty-three S.

A Nosocomial Foodborne Outbreak of a VIM Carbapenemase-Expressing Citrobacter freundii.

Background: A foodborne outbreak of VIM carbapenemase-expressing Citrobacter freundii (CPC) occurred between February 2016 and June 2016 at a major university hospital in Germany.

Methods: An explosive increase in CPC isolated from rectal swabs of patients during weekly routine screening led to the declaration of an outbreak. A hospital-wide prevalence screening was initiated as well as screening of all patients on admission and before transfer to another ward, canteen staff, patient rooms, medical and kitchen inventory, and food.

Acute diarrhoea due to a Shiga toxin 2e-producing O8 : H19.

Identification of non-O157 Shiga-toxin-producing (STEC) infections may be underestimated in microbiological diagnosis. A 58-year-old woman developed diarrhoea with watery and subsequently mucous stool. Initial multiplex PCR testing revealed a positive result for .

Antibiotic treatment algorithm development based on a microarray nucleic acid assay for rapid bacterial identification and resistance determination from positive blood cultures.

Rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections remains a challenge for the early targeting of an antibiotic therapy in sepsis patients. In recent studies, the reliability of the Nanosphere Verigene Gram-positive and Gram-negative blood culture (BC-GP and BC-GN) assays for the rapid identification of bacteria and resistance genes directly from positive BCs has been demonstrated. In this work, we have developed a model to define treatment recommendations by combining Verigene test results with knowledge on local antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens.

Comparison of multilocus sequence typing, RAPD, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for typing of β-lactam-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.

Extended spectrum of β-lactam (ESBL) resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae has become an increasing problem in hospital infections. Typing of isolates is important to establish the intrahospital surveillance of resistant clones. In this study, the discriminatory potential of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analyses were compared with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) by using 17 β-lactam-resistant K.