Detection of chlamydia trachomatis in endocervical specimens by an enzyme- linked polymerase chain reaction assay

Chlamydia trachomatis [CT] is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections [STI] worldwide and its early detection and treatment can reduces the high morbidity associated with this infection. In this study a sensitive diagnostic polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-based enzyme immunoassay [PCR-EIA] method was developed which detects CT in women with cervicitis. Endocervical swabs collected from 123 women [20-55 years] with cervicitis were tested by both conventional PCR, and PCR-EIA assays, using identical sets of primers to amplify a CT-specific plasmid. For the conventional PCR, amplicons were detected by agarose gel electrophoretic analysis and the PCR-EIA assay used biotin-labeled primers, strepavidin-coated plates, a digoxigenin-labeled probe, and a final enzyme-linked colorometric analysis [405 nm] was used to measure the CT amplicon. The frequency of positive CT infection by conventional PCR and PCR-EIA assay was 7% and 17%, respectively. The highest frequencies of CT infection were among women of 31-40 years old group [25%]. The PCR-EIA limit of detection, calculated by linear regression analysis, was10 pg of CT DNA [r[2]=0.9642]. The degree of agreement [Kappa] between the conventional PCR and PCR-EIA method was 0.556 [p<0.0001]

Determination of antimicrobial resistance pattern of staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens

Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. The emergence of antibiotic resistance, especially in methicillin-resistant SA [MRSA] strains, has caused difficulties in treatment of such infections. The determination of antibiotic resistance patterns, particularly domestic patterns of Iran, is essential for appropriate treatment of MRSA infections and proper infection control measures in our country. The antibiotic resistance of 338 SA isolates from various clinical specimens was determined by disk agar diffusion [DAD], minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] methods. Using the DAD method, 47% [160/338] of the SA isolates were resistant to oxacillin, and only 6% [20/338] were resistant to vancomycin. By PCR, 48% [162/338] of the isolates had the mecA gene. The MIC of oxacillin in 93% of isolates was higher than 256 micro g/mL. The MRSA isolates, showed a high resistant to gentamicin [40.5%], erythromycin [40%], and ciprofloxacin [38%]. However, only a few of the SA isolates showed a high resistance to vancomycin [5%] or erythromycin [3.5%]. The results of this study can provide guidance for physicians toward a more appropriate treatment of SA infections in Iran, thereby preventing the emergence of further antibiotic resistance among SA. Our results also revealed the need for further investigations using a higher number of specimens representing a wider variety of locations to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns in our state more precisely

Study of antibiotics resistance in pediatric acute bacterial meningitis with E test method

Appropriate treatment of bacterial meningitis especially in children is a important problem due to multiple drug resistance. The determination MIC of conventional antibiotics for bacterial meningitis with quantitative E. test is exactly practical and essential. We studied MIC of conventional antibiotics in pediatric acute bacterial meningitis older than two months, center children hospital, 1382-1384. In this prospective and cross sectional process research we measured MIC of antibiotics in 30 positive bacterial culture in CSF or blood with quantitative E. test and compared with qualitative disk diffusion test. Antibiotic resistance of 10 Haemophilus influenzae type b patient was: ampicillin resistance in 90%, co- Amoxiclave R. in 10%, chlorampheicol R. in 40%, third gerenation cephlosporins R.[ceftriaxone and cefotaxime] in 0% and cotrimoxazole R. in 100% and antibiotic resistance of 20 streptococcous pneumoniae patient was: penicillin R. in 35%, chloramphenical R. in 10%, third generation cephalosporins R. in 5%,rifampin R. in 10% and cotrimoxazole R. in 60% .In comparison of two methods E-Test and Disk Diffusion we found insignificant difference. Antibiotic Resistance of our study is compatible with other studies. Therefore it seems that composition of ampicillin and chloramphenicol as empiric therapy for bacterial meningitis for many years ago,aren't appropriate today and third generation cephalosporins alone or with vancomycin is a suitable therapy

Direct urease test and acridine orange staining on bactec blood culture for rapid presumptive diagnosis of brucellosis

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in Iran and human brucellosis is endemic in all parts of the country. Growth of Brucella is slow and blood culture of these bacteria by use of classical methods is time-consuming. Furthermore, in endemic area culture is required for definitive diagnosis. In the present study, direct urease test and acridine orange staining were tried on the BACTEC blood culture broths for early presumptive identification of Brucella growth. Blood cultures were attempted in 102 seropositive patients. In the forty one blood cultures positive for Brucella, coccobacilli were seen in broth smears stained with acridine orange stain, and also were urease test positive, thus providing presumptive identification of Brucella growth. Urease test was negative and bacteria were not seen in the broth smears of the remaining 61 broths negative for Brucella growth. Because of simplicity, reliability and reproducibility, these tests can be routinely incorporated in the laboratory for diagnosis of brucellosis