Implementation of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in Routine Clinical Laboratories Improves Identification of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci and Reveals the Pathogenic Role of Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for staphylococcal identification is now considered routine in laboratories compared with the conventional phenotypical methods previously used. We verified its microbiological relevance for identifying the main species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) by randomly selecting 50 isolates. From 1 January 2007 to 31 August 2008, 12,479 staphylococci were isolated with phenotypic methods, of which 4,594 were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and 7,885 were coagulase negative staphylococci. Using MALDI-TOF MS from 1 January 2011 to 31 August 2012, 14,913 staphylococci were identified, with 5,066 as S. aureus and 9,847 as CoNS. MALDI-TOF MS allowed the identification of approximately 85% of the CoNS strains, whereas only 14% of the CoNS strains were identified to the species level with phenotypic methods because they were often considered contaminants. Furthermore, the use of MALDI-TOF MS revealed the occurrence of recently characterized Staphylococcus species, such as S. pettenkoferi, S. condimenti, and S. piscifermentans. Microbiological relevance analysis further revealed that some species displayed a high rate of microbiological significance, i.e., 40% of the S. lugdunensis strains included in the analysis were associated with infection risk. This retrospective microbiological study confirms the role of MALDI-TOF MS in clinical settings for the identification of staphylococci with clinical consequences. The species distribution reveals the occurrence of the recently identified species S. pettenkoferi and putative virulent species, including S. lugdunensis.

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men with hereditary hemochromatosis.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disease that progresses silently. This disease is often diagnosed late when complications appear. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is one of the classical complications of hemochromatosis. Its frequency is declining probably because of earlier diagnosis and better informed physicians. Certain symptoms linked to HH can have an impact on a patient's sexuality, such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and impairment of ejaculation, as well as on his reproductive capacities. This review is based on an online search in English, French and German language publications found in PubMed/Medline, up to 23 September 2016 using the following key word: Male infertility, Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, Hereditary Hemochromatosis. Thirty-four papers met these inclusion criteria. This review describes the impact of iron overload on male fertility, resulting in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and proposes treatment modalities.

L'Hémochromatose Héréditaire est. une maladie génétique qui évolue en silence. Son diagnostic est. souvent fait tardivement, au stade des complications. Même si son incidence diminue, l'Hypogonadisme Hypogonadotrope (HH) est. l'une des complications classiques de l'Hémochromatose. Ceci est. probablement le résultat d'un diagnostic plus précoce, d'une meilleure information des médecins. Certains symptômes en lien avec l'HH, peuvent avoir un impact sur la sexualité (diminution de la libido, dysfonction érectile ou troubles de l'éjaculation…) ainsi que sur la reproduction.Cette revue repose sur une recherche online en langue anglaise, française et allemande de publications disponibles sur PubMed/Medline, jusqu'au 23 sept. 2016 à partir des mots clés suivants: infertilité masculine, hypogonadisme hypogonadotrope, Hémochromatose Héréditaire. Trente quatre publications ont satisfait aux critères de sélection. Cet article de revue décrit l'impact d'une surcharge en fer sur la fertilité masculine, notamment via l'Hypogonadisme Hypogonadotrope qu'elle induit et propose des modalités de traitement.