Identification of Candida auris and related species by multiplex PCR based on unique GPI protein-encoding genes.

BACKGROUND: The pathogen Candida auris is rapidly gaining clinical importance because of its resistance to antifungal treatments and its persistence in hospital environments. Early and accurate diagnosis of C. auris infections is crucial, and however, the fungus has often been misidentified by commercial systems. OBJECTIVES: To develop conventional and real-time PCR methods for accurate and rapid identification of C. auris and its discrimination from closely related species by exploiting the uniqueness of certain glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-modified protein-encoding genes. METHODS: Species-specific primers for two unique putative GPI protein-encoding genes per species were designed for C. auris, C. haemulonii, C. pseudohaemulonii, C. duobushaemulonii, C. lusitaniae and C. albicans. Primers were blind tested for their specificity and efficiency in conventional and real-time multiplex PCR set-up. RESULTS: All primers combinations showed excellent species specificity. In multiplex mode, correct identification was aided by different-sized amplicons for each species. Efficiency of the C. auris primers was validated using a panel of 155 C. auris isolates, including all known genetically diverse clades. In real-time multiplex PCR, different melting points of the amplicons allowed the distinction of C. auris from four related species. C. auris limit of detection was 5 CFU/reaction with a threshold value of 32. The method was also able to detect C. auris in spiked blood and serum. CONCLUSIONS: PCR identification based on unique GPI protein-encoding genes allows for accurate and rapid species identification of C. auris and related species without need for expensive equipment when applied in conventional PCR set-up.

Microbiology of breast abscesses.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of breast abscesses is based on drainage and antibiotic therapy directed at the bacteria causing the infection. The aim of this study was to know the etiological agents of breast abscesses. METHODS: Patients who had a culture-positive breast abscess between September 2015 and January 2020 were included in the study. Culture results were consulted in the laboratory database. It was collected from medical records if the patients presented the following risk factors: breastfeeding, diabetes or smoking. Abscesses secondary to surgical wound infection were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included, 58 women and 2 men. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent agent in lactating women. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 28 (61%) of 46 abscesses in non-lactating patients. In non-lactating patients, the frequency of anaerobes in abscesses was lower in diabetics than in the rest (0/5 vs 26/38; P = .013). In non-lactating and non-diabetic patients, the proportion of abscesses with anaerobes was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (21/24 vs 5/14; P = .003). Aerobic gram-positive cocci were the most frequent agents in diabetics. CONCLUSION: Anaerobes were the most frequent agents, followed by S. aureus. The etiology of breast abscesses varied with the risk factors studied.

Microbiology of breast abscesses. / Microbiología de los abscesos mamarios.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of breast abscesses is based on drainage and antibiotic therapy directed at the bacteria causing the infection. The aim of this study was to know the etiological agents of breast abscesses. METHODS: Patients who had a culture-positive breast abscess between September 2015 and January 2020 were included in the study. Culture results were consulted in the laboratory database. It was collected from medical records if the patients presented the following risk factors: breastfeeding, diabetes or smoking. Abscesses secondary to surgical wound infection were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included: 58 women and 2 men. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent agent in lactating women. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 28 (61%) of 46 abscesses in non-lactating patients. In non-lactating patients, the frequency of anaerobes in abscesses was lower in diabetics than in the rest (0/5 vs 26/38; P=.013). In non-lactating and non-diabetic patients, the proportion of abscesses with anaerobes was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (21/24 vs 5/14; P=.003). Aerobic gram-positive cocci were the most frequent agents in diabetics. CONCLUSION: Anaerobes were the most frequent agents, followed by S.aureus. The etiology of breast abscesses varied with the risk factors studied.

[Prevalence and incidence in Albacete, Spain, of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women of childbearing age: differences between immigrant and non-immigrant (2001-2007)]. / Prevalencia e incidencia de la infección por Toxoplasma gondii en mujeres en edad fértil en Albacete (2001-2007).

BACKGROUND: Strategies to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis must be adapted to the local epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection. The objective of this study was to know the prevalence and the incidence of T. gondii infection in women of childbearing age in Albacete. METHODS: The source of information was the database of the Microbiology Laboratory of the Albacete General Hospital. To know the prevalence we reviewed the results of T. gondii IgG determinations from pregnant women living in the Albacete area who gave birth in 2006. To estimate the incidence we performed a longitudinal retrospective study of seronegative women with repeated T. gondii IgG determinations over at least one year. RESULTS: Prevalence study: We studied 2,623 pregnant women, of whom 21% were seropositive. Seroprevalence in Spain-born women was 16% (95% CI = 14%-17%) and it increased with age from 9% in women under 25 to 22% in women over 34 years old. Fifty-one per cent (95% CI=46%-56%) of the immigrant women were seropositive. Incidence study: We studied 2,416 women. The median time at risk was 35 months. There were 5 confirmed and 3 possible seroconversions. The incidence was 0.7-1.1 seroconversions per 1,000 women-year. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of T. gondii infection among Spain-born women is the lowest one of those published so far. The incidence of infection among women of childbearing age was low.

First Draft Genome Sequence of a Clinical Strain of Nocardia cerradoensis.

This paper reports the first draft genome sequence for a strain of Nocardia cerradoensis obtained from an immunocompetent patient with a knee infection. The 8.2-Mb genome has 8,329 coding sequences, including intrinsic resistance genes, biosynthetic gene clusters for polyketide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthase, virulence genes, and prophages.