Overall, MALDI-TOF is a reliable technique for the rapid detection of CPE from cultured colonies. MBT STAR®-Carba IVD Kit, the only commercially available assay, could easily be implemented in a clinical microbiology laboratory if it is already equipped with a Microflex LT Biotyper mass spectrometer.

During the last decade, many investigators have studied matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identification of mycobacteria. Diverse and contradictory results indicated that optimal level for routine testing has not been reached yet. This work aimed to assess Vitek MS through two distinct versions, Saramis v4.12 RUO and the IVD v3.0, under conditions close to routine laboratory practice. Overall, 111 mycobacterial isolates were subjected to protein extraction and same spectra were matched against both databases. The IVD v3.0 database proved to be superior to Saramis v4.12 and its identification rates remarkably increased, from 67% to 94% for isolates grown on Middlebrook 7H10 solid medium and from 62% to 91% for isolates grown on mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) liquid medium. With this new version, IVD v3.0, MALDI-TOF MS might be integrated into routine clinical diagnostics, although molecular techniques remain mandatory in some cases.

Urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium worms is endemic to tropical regions where it is the most common cause of hematuria. However, the intermediate snail hosts, Bulinus truncatus, have been described in Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, and Corsica. S. haematobium has long remained exotic to Europe, however, an outbreak of urinary schistosomiasis in Corsica started in 2011 with B. truncatus as the primary intermediate host. We describe the case of a 12-year-old French boy presenting hematuria and dysuria who was diagnosed with urinary schistosomiasis. Urine examination confirmed the presence of viable parasitic ova. He also had a positive serology. Since there was no history of travel to a schistosomiasis endemic region, the probable area of contamination was identified as the south of Corsica where the family had spent their summer holidays 7 months earlier. Two other family members had a positive serology without ova excretion in urine. The patients were treated with praziquantel. In light of these recent locally acquired cases in France, schistosomiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hematuria, especially in patients who have recently visited Corsica.

Secondary bacterial pneumonia infection is frequent in COVID-19 patients. Nocardia are responsible for opportunistic pulmonary infections especially after steroid treatment. We describe a case of pulmonary nocardiosis following critical COVID-19 pneumonia in an 83-year-old male. Two weeks after initiation of dexamethasone 6 mg/L, the patient developed a new episode of acute dyspnea. The sputum cultures identified Nocardia cyriacigeorgica. In spite of intravenous imipenem and cotrimoxazole treatment the patient died. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of nocardiosis in case of deterioration of respiratory status of severe COVID-19 inpatients and perform Nocardia evaluation. This evaluation requires prolonged culture.

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