Microbiology laboratories should be aware of these resistant species in patients with CF and consider using a selective medium.

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The new Roche Cobas Amplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosisassay, which is a semiautomated version of the manually performed Roche Amplicor M. tuberculosis test, was compared to culture and an IS6110-based in-house PCR protocol. A total of 1,681 specimens from 833 patients, including specimen types other than sputum, were tested in parallel by both the in-house PCR and the Cobas Amplicor M. tuberculosis assay. After we resolved discrepant PCR results, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the Cobas Amplicor M. tuberculosis assay were 66.33, 99.71, 94.36, and 97.66%, respectively. The corresponding values for the in-house PCR were 91.08, 99.85, 97.87, and 99.37%, respectively. For culture- and smear-positive specimens, the sensitivity of the Cobas AmplicorM. tuberculosis test was 96.42% (in-house PCR, 100%). If only smear-negative sputum specimens were considered, the Cobas Amplicor M. tuberculosis assay exhibited a sensitivity of 45.45% (in-house PCR, 63.63%) relative to that of culture. With a modified protocol for DNA extraction (washing of samples plus ultrasonication), both PCR methods performed better with gastric aspirates than with sputum samples (sensitivity of the Cobas AmplicorM. tuberculosis assay with smear-negative gastric aspirates, 70.00%; sensitivity of in-house PCR, 90.00%). With dithiothreitol being used for liquefaction of specimens in this study, the Cobas Amplicor M. tuberculosis assay exhibited an inhibition rate of 9.16%. In our view, the new Cobas Amplicor M. tuberculosis test (i) is well suited for typing of smear-positive specimens, (ii) may also be applied to gastric aspirates and other types of specimens if DNA extraction methods are modified appropriately, and (iii) exhibits a sensitivity with smear-negative sputum specimens which makes it recommendable that a minimum of three samples from the same patient be tested.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, dogs with chronic recurrent pyoderma were treated with antibiotics plus intravenous injections of either Propionibacterium acnes or placebo. Responses (an increase, decrease, or clearing of lesions) were measured and evaluated statistically. Eighty percent (12 of 15) of the dogs treated with antibiotics and P acnes compared with 38% (five of 13) of the dogs treated with antibiotics and placebo responded with significant improvement or complete remission of lesions at the end of the 12-week treatment schedule ( P < 0.05). CANINE PYODERMA is one of the most common diseases of the skin encountered by the veterinary practitioner.' The causative agent is usually found to be Staphylococcus ~p p . ' -~ The disease may be superficial, involving the epidermis, dermis, hair follicles, and other skin structures, or deep, characterized by cellulitis, furunculosis, fistulous tracts, and ulceration of the skin. These lesions may be found focally, regionally, or generally distributed. Pruritus may be associated with primary and secondary pyoderma~.~ This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Propionibacterium acnes as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic recurrent pyoderma of the dog. It was designed as a double-blind, randomly assigned, placebo-controlled study. Materials and Methods P acnes, Placebo, and AntibioticsNonviable P acnes was supplied* at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml suspended in a 12.5% ethanol in saline solu- tion. The carrier, a 12.5% ethanol in saline solution, was used as a placebo. Antibiotics used were commercially available products. Experimental Design Selection of PatientsOnly dogs with a history of chronic recurrent pyoderma and meeting the following criteria were eligible for enrollment in the study. Animals were required to have active lesions of canine pyoderma and hospital records confirming previous and recurring episodes of superficial or deep pyoderma or both. Each dog was skin tested for allergies with up to 60 antigens. Dogs with positive results for inhalant or food allergies were not entered in the study. The thyroid status of each dog was evaluated using T3 and T4 analysis. Those with unregulated hypothyroidism were deemed ineligible. Dogs with demodicosis confirmed by skin scraping and those with pruritus requiring corticosteroid therapy were specifically excluded. Randomization of PatientsEligible patients were preassigned randomly to P acnes or placebo treatment groups using a numbered accession order derived from a random number table. Selection and Use of AntibioticsA bacterial culture was performed from the skin lesions of each eligible dog, and an antibiotic sensitivity test was 26