Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance genes profiles of Vagococcus salmoninarum in a rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss, Walbaum) farm.

Disease outbreaks negatively affect fish production. Antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of diseases become ineffective over time because of antibiotic resistance developed by bacteria distributed in the aquaculture environment. This study was conducted for 4 months (cold period) in a fish farm to detect the fish disease, cold water streptococcosis. In the study, four brood stock showing disease signs were detected. Bacteria isolates were obtained and identified as Vagococcus salmoninarum. Antimicrobial susceptibility of V. salmoninarum was tested and antibiotic resistance gene profiles of V. salmoninarum isolates were screened. The phylogenetic relation of the isolates with the previously reported strains was evaluated. Antibiotic resistance developed by pathogenic bacteria is distributed in the aquaculture environment. The transfer of resistance genes from one bacterium to another is very common. This situation causes the antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of diseases to become ineffective over time. The disc diffusion test showed that all four isolates developed resistance to 13 (FFC30, AX25, C30, E15, CF30, L2, OX1, S10, T30, CRO30, CC2, PT15 and TY15) of the evaluated antibiotics and were about to develop resistance to six others (AM 10, FM 300, CFP75, SXT25, APR15 and TE30). Furthermore, antibiotic resistance genes tetA, sul1, sul2, sul3, dhfr1, ereB and floR were detected in the isolated strain. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis showed that isolated V. salmoninarum strain (ESN1) was closely related to the bacterial strains isolated from USA and Jura.

Changes in the intestinal microbiota of individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on sequencing: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the composition and abundance of the intestinal microbiota occur in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the results are inconsistent because of differences in the study design, subject area, and sequencing methodology. In this study, we compared the diversity and abundance of the intestinal microbiota of patients with NAFLD and healthy individuals through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) were searched from their inception to March 20, 2023. A meta-analysis was performed using Stata software to analyze variations in the richness and abundance of the intestinal microbiota in patients with NAFLD. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: A total of 28 articles were included. Shannon diversity was reduced in patients with NAFLD (SMD = -0.24 (95% CI -0.43-0.05, I2 = 71.7%). The relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Faecalibacterium, and Coprococcus all decreased, with total SMDs of -0.96 (95% CI -1.29 to -0.63, I2 = 4.8%), -1.13 (95% CI -2.07 to -0.19, I2 = 80.5%), and -1.66 (95% CI -3.04 to -0.28, I2 = 91.5%). Escherichia was increased in individuals with NAFLD (SMD = 1.78, 95% CI 0.12 to 3.45, I2 = 94.4%). CONCLUSION: Increasing the species diversity and altering the abundance of specific gut microbiota, including Coprococcus, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and Escherichia, may be beneficial for improving NAFLD.

First reported human case of isolation of Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine of a former zoo clerk in Japan: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Vagococcal infections are extremely rare in humans. There are limited studies on the optimal methods for identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and clinical manifestations of vagococcal infections. Herein, we report a patient with a urinary tract infection who had Vagococcus fluvialis in the urine. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old man presented to our urology department with a fever that had persisted for several days. He previously worked as a zoo clerk. The patient underwent a left nephroureterectomy for ureteral cancer 5 years ago, and total cystectomy and right cutaneous ureterostomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer 1 year prior. He was empirically treated with 500 mg of levofloxacin intravenously every 24 h for the urinary tract infection. V. fluvialis was detected in his urine samples and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in his urine and blood samples. Two bacterial species were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. He was administered intravenous levofloxacin for approximately 1 week, followed by oral levofloxacin for another week, after which the infections were eradicated. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of V. fluvialis detected in human urine in Japan. Vagococcus spp. is commonly isolated from fish or animals, and based on the patient's work history, it is possible that the patient was a carrier because of transmission from animals.

Vagococcus fluvialis isolation from the urine of a bladder cancer patient: a case report.

Vagococcus fluvialis infection is rare in humans, and there is limited research on the clinical manifestations and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Vagococcus fluvialis infection. Here, We isolated Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine samples of bladder cancer patients at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, and it is the first reported case of Vagococcus fluvialis isolated from the urine. The fully automated microbial identification system and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified the bacterium as Vagococcus fluvialis with a confidence level of 99.9%. The VITEK-2Compact fully automated microbial susceptibility analysis system indicated that it was most sensitive to tigecycline, vancomycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, and showed moderate sensitivity to erythromycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and tetracycline. Additionally, it exhibited synergy when combined with high-level gentamicin and vancomycin, showing sensitivity. However, it displayed poor activity against penicillin and furanth. According to our knowledge, this is the first study to isolate and identify Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine of bladder cancer patients and the systematically reviewed other reported Vagococcus infections on human, which provide an experimental basis for guiding the rational use of drugs in the clinical treatment and diagnose of Vagococcus fluvialis infection and related pathogenic mechanism research. Meanwhile, we have systematically reviewed other reported.

Fifty years devoted to anaerobes: historical, lessons, and highlights.

Renew interest and enthusiasm for anaerobes stem from both technological improvements (culture media, production of an adequate anaerobic atmosphere, identification methods) and greater awareness on the part of clinicians. Anaerobic infections were historically treated empirically, targeting the species known to be involved in each type of infection. Prevotella, fusobacteria, and Gram-positive cocci (GPAC) were considered responsible for infections above the diaphragm whereas for intra-abdominal infections, Bacteroides of the fragilis group (BFG), GPAC and clostridia were predominantly implicated. The antibiotic susceptibility of anaerobes was only taken into consideration by the clinician in the event of treatment failure or when faced with infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). The evolution of antibiotic resistance together with clinical failures due to the absence of detection of hetero-resistant clones has resulted in a greater need for accessible antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and disc diffusion method. Improved isolation and identification of anaerobes, along with the availability of accessible and robust methods for performing AST, will ensure that treatment, whether empirical or guided by an antibiogram, will lead to better outcomes for anaerobic infections.

In vitro activity of delafloxacin against anaerobic bacteria compared with other antimicrobials.

The aim of this study was to describe the in vitro activity of delafloxacin against 230 anaerobic isolates and compare it with the activity of other antimicrobials used against infections caused by anaerobic microorganisms. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were lower for delafloxacin than for all other antibiotics tested with the exception of piperacillin-tazobactam and meropenem against Gram-positive anaerobic cocci. Only two (0.8 %) isolates of Bacteroides spp. showed a MIC ≥4 µg/mL. With some exceptions, the present results show lower MICs for delafloxacin in comparison to the other antibiotics used against anaerobes.

Poor performance status is a risk factor for higher detection of Gram positive coccus in stone-related pyelonephritis.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the detection rate of causative organisms in stone-related pyelonephritis and to compare their distribution according to patient backgrounds. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with stone-related pyelonephritis. Clinical data were collected between November 2012 and August 2020 at Wakayama Medical University Hospital, including on patient backgrounds and causative organisms. Patients were categorized by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) as the good PS group (0, 1) and the poor PS group (2-4). Bacteria were divided into Gram-positive cocci (GPC) or non-GPC groups and logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors that predict detection of GPC. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients had stone-related pyelonephritis, 54 (68.4 %) in the good PS group and 25 (31.6 %) in the poor PS group. In the good PS group, Escherichia coli (67 %) was followed by Klebsiella species (9 %), while in the poor PS group, Escherichia coli (20 %) was followed by Enterococci and Staphylococci (12 %). GPC detection rate was significantly higher in the poor PS group than in the good PS group (40.0 % vs 14.8 %, p = 0.016), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that poor PS was an independent factor predicting detection of GPC (OR = 6.54, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the causative organisms in stone pyelonephritis was similar to that in common complicated urinary tract infections. Poor PS may be an independent predictor of GPC detection in patients with stone pyelonephritis.

Replacement of the illegitimate name Pleomorpha daqingensis (Wang et al. 2017) Montero-Calasanz et al. 2023 with the oldest legitimate name Geodermatophilus daqingensis Wang et al. 2017 and proposal to attribute this species to Petropleomorpha daqingensis (Wang et al. 2017) Li 2023 comb. nov.

The prokaryotic generic name Pleomorpha Montero-Calasanz et al. 2023 should be considered illegitimate for being a later homonym of the insect generic name Pleomorpha Saunders 1847, which contravenes Principle 2 and Rule 51b(5) of the 2022 Prokaryotic Code. The name Pleomorpha daqingensis Montero-Calasanz et al. 2023 is therefore illegitimate, and a proposal of a replacement name must be made. The author herein proposes to replace it with the oldest legitimate name Geodermatophilus daqingensis Wang et al. 2017 as requested by Rule 54 and then to attribute this species to the new combination Petropleomorpha daqingensis (Wang et al. 2017) Li 2023 comb. nov.

A case of Vagococcus fluvialis isolated from the bile of a patient with calculous cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cholecystitis, characterized by persistent inflammation of the gallbladder, predominantly stems from the prolonged presence of gallstones. Calculous cholecystitis has demonstrated a consistent escalation in its incidence over time.Gallbladder stones have been recognized as a predisposing factor for the development of biliary tract infections.Concomitantly, there have been substantial shifts in the distribution and resistance profiles of pathogenic microorganisms responsible for biliary tract infections. The timely acquisition of bile samples for pathogen analysis is of paramount importance, given its critical role in guiding judicious clinical pharmacotherapy and enhancing patient prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case involving a 66-year-old female patient who had previously undergone subtotal gastrectomy due to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient was admitted to our institution with complaints of abdominal pain. Subsequent diagnostic evaluation revealed concurrent choledocholithiasis and cholecystolithiasis. The patient underwent surgical cholecystectomy as the therapeutic approach. Histopathological examination of the excised gallbladder disclosed characteristic features indicative of chronic cholecystitis. Subsequent laboratory analysis of the patient's bile specimen yielded Gram-positive cocci, subsequently identified through biochemical assays, mass spectrometry, and 16 S rRNA analysis as Vagococcus fluvialis. Further in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disk diffusion and microfluidic dilution showed that this strain exhibited inhibition zone diameters ranging from 12.0 to 32.0 mm in response to 26 antibiotics, including ampicillin, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin, ciprofloxacin, cefoperazone/sulbactam, imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobarb, penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, methotrexate/sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, minocycline and tobramycin. However, the inhibition zone diameters were 6.0 mm for amikacin, oxacillin, clindamycin, and tetracycline. The patient received ceftazidime anti-infective therapy both preoperatively and within 24 h postoperatively and was discharged successfully one week after surgery. CONCLUSION: In this study, we present the inaugural isolation and identification of Vagococcus fluvialis from bile specimens of patients afflicted with calculous cholecystitis. This novel finding lays a substantial experimental groundwork for guiding clinically rational antimicrobial therapy and advancing the exploration of relevant pathogenic mechanisms pertaining to Vagococcus fluvialis infections.

Eluding the immune system's frontline defense: Secreted complement evasion factors of pathogenic Gram-positive cocci.

The human complement system is an important part of the innate immune response in the fight against invasive bacteria. Complement responses can be activated independently by the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, or the alternative pathway, each resulting in the formation of a C3 convertase that produces the anaphylatoxin C3a and the opsonin C3b by specifically cutting C3. Other important features of complement are the production of the chemotactic C5a peptide and the generation of the membrane attack complex to lyse intruding pathogens. Invasive pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and several species of the genus Streptococcus have developed a variety of complement evasion strategies to resist complement activity thereby increasing their virulence and potential to cause disease. In this review, we focus on secreted complement evasion factors that assist the bacteria to avoid opsonization and terminal pathway lysis. We also briefly discuss the potential role of complement evasion factors for the development of vaccines and therapeutic interventions.

Peptoniphilus equinus sp. nov., a novel Gram-stain-positive anaerobic coccus isolated from the faeces of a thoroughbred racehorse.

A novel, anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive coccoid strain, CBA3646T, was isolated from the faeces of a thoroughbred racehorse. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing yielded results indicative of CBA3646T representing a member of the genus Peptoniphilus, with the species most closely related to it being Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus DSM 20463T, with a similarity of 94.79 %. DNA-DNA relatedness and average nucleotide identity values between CBA3646T and P. asaccharolyticus DSM 20463T were 21.4 and 67.6 %, respectively. CBA3646T has a circular chromosomal genome of 1 709 189 bp (45.5 mol% DNA G+C content), containing 1652 genes in total, 1584 predicted protein-coding genes, 3 complete rRNA loci and 47 tRNA genes. The cells were non-motile diplococci, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Growth of CBA3646T was observed at 20-40 °C (optimal temperature, 35 °C) and in the presence of 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum concentration, 1 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of CBA3646T were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 1ω9c dimethyl acetal, with its major polar lipids being diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The elucidated phylogenetic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties are indicative of strain CBA3646T representing a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus, or which the name Peptoniphilus equinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CBA3646T (= KACC 22890T = JCM 35845T).

Characteristics of Gram-positive cocci infection and the therapeutic effect after liver transplantation. / è‚ç§»æ¤æœ¯åŽé©å °æ°é˜³æ€§çƒèŒçš„æ„ŸæŸ“ç‰¹ç‚¹åŠé˜²æ²»æ•ˆæžœ.

OBJECTIVES: Gram-positive cocci is the main pathogen responsible for early infection after liver transplantation (LT), posing a huge threat to the prognosis of liver transplant recipients. This study aims to analyze the distribution and drug resistance of Gram-positive cocci, the risk factors for infections and efficacy of antibiotics within 2 months after LT, and to guide the prevention and treatment of these infections. METHODS: In this study, data of pathogenic bacteria distribution, drug resistance and therapeutic efficacy were collected from 39 Gram-positive cocci infections among 256 patients who received liver transplantation from donation after citizens' death in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2019 to July 2022, and risk factors for Gram-positive cocci infection were analyzed. RESULTS: Enterococcus faecium was the dominant pathogenic bacteria (33/51, 64.7%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (11/51, 21.6%). The most common sites of infection were abdominal cavity/biliary tract (13/256, 5.1%) and urinary tract (10/256, 3.9%). Fifty (98%) of the 51 Gram-positive cocci infections occurred within 1 month after LT. The most sensitive drugs to Gram-positive cocci were teicoplanin, tigecycline, linezolid and vancomycin. Vancomycin was not used in all patients, considering its nephrotoxicity. Vancomycin was not administered to all patients in view of its nephrotoxicity.There was no significant difference between the efficacy of daptomycin and teicoplanin in the prevention of cocci infection (P>0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that preoperative Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score >25 (P=0.005), intraoperative red blood cell infusion ≥12 U (P=0.013) and exposure to more than 2 intravenous antibiotics post-LT (P=0.003) were related to Gram-positive cocci infections. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative MELD score >25 (OR=2.378, 95% CI 1.124 to 5.032, P=0.024) and intraoperative red blood cell transfusion ≥ 12 U (OR=2.757, 95% CI 1.227 to 6.195, P=0.014) were independent risk factors for Gram-positive cocci infections after LT. Postoperative Gram-positive cocci infections were reduced in LT recipients exposing to more than two intravenous antibiotics post-LT (OR=0.269, 95% CI 0.121 to 0.598, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Gram-positive cocci infections occurring early after liver transplantation were dominated by Enterococcus faecalis infections at the abdominal/biliary tract and urinary tract. Teicoplanin, tigecycline and linezolid were anti-cocci sensitive drugs. Daptomycin and teicoplanin were equally effective in preventing cocci infections due to Gram-positive cocci. Patients with high preoperative MELD score and massive intraoperative red blood cell transfusion were more likely to suffer Gram-positive cocci infection after surgery. Postoperative Gram-positive cocci infections were reduced in recipients exposing to more than two intravenous antibiotics post-LT.

EN-DALBACEN 2.0 Cohort: real-life study of dalbavancin as sequential/consolidation therapy in patients with infective endocarditis due to Gram-positive cocci.

OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) has high mortality and morbidity and requires long hospital stays to deliver the antibiotic treatment recommended in clinical practice guidelines. We aimed to analyse the health outcomes of the use of dalbavancin (DBV) in the consolidation treatment of IEs caused by Gram-positive cocci and to perform a pharmacoeconomic study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, retrospective, Spanish multicentre study in patients with IE who received DBV as part of antibiotic treatment in consolidation phase were followed for at least 12 months. The study was approved by the Provincial Committee of the coordinating centre. RESULTS: The study included 124 subjects, 70.2% male, with a mean age of 67.4 years and median Charlson index of 4 (interquartile range: 2.5-6). Criteria for definite IE were met by 91.1%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (38.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (22.6%), Enterococcus faecalis (19.4%), and Streptococcus Spp. (9.7%) were isolated more frequently, all susceptible to vancomycin. Before DVB administration, 91.2% had undergone surgery; 60.5% had received a second regimen for 24.5 d (16.6-56); and 20.2% had received a third regimen for 14.5 d (12-19.5). DBV was administered to facilitate discharge in 95.2% of cases. At 12 months, the effectiveness was of 95.9%, and there was 0.8% loss to follow-up, 0.8% IE-related death, and 3.2% relapse. Adverse events were recorded in 3.2%. The hospital stay was reduced by 14 d, and there was a mean savings of 5548.57 €/patient vs. conventional treatments. CONCLUSION: DBV is highly effective, safe, and cost-effective as consolidation therapy in patients with IE by Gram-positive cocci, with few adverse events.

Correlation analysis for alterations of intestinal flora in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: combinatorial detection of Coriobacterium, Atopobium, Coprococcus and Veillonella dispar may be a new method for HCC diagnosis.

Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumours in the world. Due to the characteristics of low early diagnosis rate, high malignancy and rapid progression, the majority of diagnosed patients are in the middle or late stage. Accumulating evidence reveals that intestinal flora imbalance will aggravate HCC by disturbing immune regulation, especially interleukin expression. Therefore, intestinal flora-based methods have the potential to be new diagnostic or therapeutic methods for HCC.Hypothesis. Compositions of intestinal florae were different between HCC patients and healthy people. Further, intestinal florae may alleviate or aggravate HCCs.Methods. To determine which intestinal florae and interleukin aggravate HCCs, we studied the differences in intestinal florae composition and interleukin (IL) indices between HCC patients and healthy people. A total of 64 HCC patients and 24 healthy people were recruited, and their fresh stool samples and serum samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolite index measurement.Results. Data showed that 484 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 476 OTUs were detected in the HCC and control groups, respectively. From the phylum level to the species level, 5, 6, 10, 15, 23 and 19 colonies showed differential abundance between the HCC group and healthy people. Moreover, interleukin-6 expression and interleukin-10 expression were significantly different between two groups. Of note, differences of Coriobacterium, Atopobium and Coprococcus at genus level and Veillonella dispar at species level in two groups were significantly related to IL-6 and IL-10.Conclusion. The abundance of intestinal florae in the HCC group was different from the control group. Additionally, combinatorial detection of Coriobacterium, Atopobium and Coprococcus at genus level and V. dispar at species level may be a new method for HCC diagnosis.

Effect of promethazine on biofilms of gram-positive cocci associated with infectious endocarditis.

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of promethazine against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus mutans and its effect on the antimicrobial susceptibility of biofilms grown in vitro and ex vivo on porcine heart valves. Promethazine was evaluated alone and in combination with vancomycin and oxacillin against Staphylococcus spp. and vancomycin and ceftriaxone against S. mutans in planktonic form and biofilms grown in vitro and ex vivo. Promethazine minimum inhibitory concentration range was 24.4-95.31 µg/mL and minimum biofilm eradication concentration range was 781.25-3.125 µg/mL. Promethazine interacted synergistically with vancomycin, oxacillin and ceftriaxone against biofilms in vitro. Promethazine alone reduced (p < 0.05) the CFU-counts of biofilms grown on heart valves for Staphylococcus spp., but not for S. mutans, and increased (p < 0.05) the activity of vancomycin, oxacillin and ceftriaxone against biofilms of Gram-positive cocci grown ex vivo. These findings bring perspectives for repurposing promethazine as adjuvant in the treatment of infective endocarditis.

Analysis of Neutrophil and Monocyte Inflammation Markers in Response to Gram-Positive Anaerobic Cocci.

The impact of anaerobic bacteria on the human host is sparsely investigated due to cultivation challenges. Nonetheless, in the last decade increasing research demonstrated the importance of paying attention to these overlooked pathogens. In this chapter, we provide an overview of analyzing surface and intracellular inflammation markers of neutrophils and monocytes in response to Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) species Peptoniphilus (P.) harei.

Proteomic insights into Helcococcus kunzii in a diabetic foot ulcer-like environment.

PURPOSE: Helcococcus kunzii is a skin commensal, Gram-positive bacterium, mostly isolated from infected chronic wounds. This opportunistic pathogen is usually co-isolated with Staphylococcus aureus. The present dataset explores the production and secretion of H. kunzii bacterial virulence interacting proteins in a growth medium mimicking chronic wounds in exponential and stationary growth phases. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The H. kunzii cellular proteome and exoproteome were assessed by analyzing three biological replicates per condition tested. Samples were analyzed using a Q-Exactive HF mass spectrometer. Comparative and functional analyses were performed to profile the identified protein set. RESULTS: The H. kunzii's cellular proteome encompassed 969 proteins, among which 64 and 53 were specifically identified in the exponential and stationary phase of growth, respectively. Its exoproteome comprised 58 proteins, among which 16 and 14 were characteristic of each growth stage. Metabolic differences between the two phases of growth are discussed. Besides, the production of previously shortlisted and novel putative H. kunzii targets involved in modulating the virulence of S. aureus is investigated. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This work, pioneering the study of H. kunzii physiology in a chronic wound-like environment, should assist future research on this opportunistic pathogen and the search for innovative approaches for wound management.

Design and validation of Dolosigranulum pigrum specific PCR primers using the bacterial core genome.

Dolosigranulum pigrum-a lactic acid bacterium that is increasingly recognized as an important member of the nasal microbiome. Currently, there are limited rapid and low-cost options for confirming D. pigrum isolates and detecting D. pigrum in clinical specimens. Here we describe the design and validation of a novel PCR assay targeting D. pigrum that is both sensitive and specific. We designed a PCR assay targeting murJ, a single-copy core species gene identified through the analysis of 21 D. pigrum whole genome sequences. The assay achieved 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity against D. pigrum and diverse bacterial isolates and an overall 91.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity using nasal swabs, detecting D. pigrum at a threshold of 1.0 × 104 D. pigrum 16S rRNA gene copies per swab. This assay adds a reliable and rapid D. pigrum detection tool to the microbiome researcher toolkit investigating the role of generalist and specialist bacteria in the nasal environment.

Periprosthetic joint infection caused by kytococcus schroeteri: The first reported case and a review of the literature.

Oftentimes, Gram-positive cocci are the cause for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). Most of these infections include bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis or other coagulase-negative staphylococci. We here present the first case of a PJI caused by Kytococcus schroeteri. While being a Gram-positive coccus, it is very rarely the cause for infections in the human body. K. schroeteri is part of the micrococcus branch and often encountered as a symbiotic bacterium living on the skin. Regarding its pathogenic potential, not a lot is known since less than a few dozen human infections have been reported worldwide. Furthermore, many of the cases reported are either associated with implanted material, especially heart valves, or associated with patients whose immune response is deficient. Only 3 reports of osteoarticular infections are described so far.