Comparative evaluation of the novel IMMUNOCATCHTM Streptococcus pneumoniae (EIKEN CHEMICAL CO., LTD) test with the Uni-GoldTM Streptococcus pneumoniae assay and the BinaxNOW® Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen card for the detection of pneumococcal capsular antigen in urine samples.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and hospitalization, and S. pneumoniae is the most frequently isolated etiologic agent. The pneumococcal urinary antigen test (PUAT) is among the recommended methods to identify the causative agent in CAP patients. A novel PUAT (IMMUNOCATCHTMStreptococcus pneumoniae) was compared with the Uni-GoldTMS. pneumoniae assay routinely used in our laboratory and with the widely used BinaxNOW® S. pneumoniae antigen card. A total of 218 (183 freshly harvested and 35 frozen) urine samples (US) submitted for the detection of pneumococcal urinary antigen (PUAT) between December 2016 and November 2018 were evaluated. A number of 160 negative and 41 positive concordant results were scored for all the three assays. A total of 17 US gave discrepant results. The sensitivity and specificity of Immunocatch compared with Uni-Gold were 73.2% and 98.8%, respectively, and compared with BinaxNOW were 97.6% and 98.8%, respectively. The overall percent agreement (OPA) and the Cohen's kappa coefficient between the Immunocatch and the Uni-Gold resulted 92.2% and 0.78%, respectively, and compared with BinaxNOW were 98.6% and 0.95%, respectively. These performances suggest that the novel Immunocatch S. pneumoniae test is a useful tool for qualitative detection of S. pneumoniae capsular antigen in US.

Comparison of the Novel Immunocatch Legionella Test with Sofia Legionella FIA Assay and with BinaxNOW Legionella Card Assay for Detection of Legionella pneumophila (Serogroup 1) Antigen in Urine Samples.

Legionnaires' disease (LD) refers to a serious form of acute pneumonia caused by Legionella species. LD can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific, and therefore a rapid laboratory diagnosis is of paramount importance. In this study, a recently introduced immunochromatographic test (Immunocatch Legionella; Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd.) for Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) urinary antigen detection was compared with the Sofia Legionella fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) (Quidel) (routinely used in our laboratory) and with the widely used BinaxNOW Legionella assay (Alere). A total of 248 urine samples (60 frozen and 188 fresh) were evaluated. All of the samples were collected from patients with high clinical suspicion of Legionnaires' disease. The three assays were performed simultaneously according to the manufacturers' instructions. A total of 180 concordant negative and 66 concordant positive results were obtained. Only 2 discrepant results were registered. The sensitivity and specificity of Immunocatch compared with Sofia were, respectively, 98.5% and 99.4%. Cohen's kappa coefficient and overall percent agreement between Immunocatch and Sofia were also calculated and resulted in, respectively, 0.97 and 99.2%. These performances suggest that the Immunocatch test is a useful tool for Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) urinary antigen detection.

Shewanella algae infection in Italy: report of 3 years' evaluation along the coast of the northern Adriatic Sea.

Shewanella algae are Gram-negative, nonfermentative, motile bacilli, classified in the genus Shewanella in 1985. These environmental bacteria are occasionally identified in human infections, with a relatively strong association with exposure to seawater during warm seasons. This report describes a case series of 17 patients with infection correlated to S. algae in the coastal area of Romagna, Italy, from 2013 to 2016. The types of infection included otitis, pneumonia, sepsis and soft tissue (wound). Exposure to the marine environment during hot months was confirmed in 12 of 17 patients. An apparent correlation between increased severity of infection and patient age was also observed.

First report of sepsis due to Catabacter hongkongensis in an Italian patient.

The first isolation of Catabacter hongkongensis in Italy is reported. Pleomorphic Gram-positive rods were grown in blood cultures from samples obtained from a 55-year-old patient admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis after he experienced massive thoracic and abdominal trauma. The identification was obtained by amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.