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The mecA gene was lost in 36 (14.4%) of 250 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates after 2 years of storage at ؊80°C with the Microbank system (Pro-lab Diagnostics, Austin, Tex.). Further analysis of 35 of these isolates confirmed loss of the mecA gene in 32 isolates. This finding has important implications for the management of strain collections.

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Background Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is a leading cause of hearing loss and neurodevelopmental disabilities. An association between STIs and CMV including higher rates of CMV acquisition and reinfections in women with STIs has been shown in studies of selected populations of women attending STI clinics. However, the interaction between CMV and STIs in the genital tract and whether CMV and STI co-infection increases the risk of intrauterine transmission of CMV remains unclear. The objective of this study is to determine STI prevalence and CMV shedding rates in a cohort of unselected pregnant women. Methods Vaginal swabs from a cohort of CMV seropositive women in labor from a multi-center study were analyzed. After DNA extraction from vaginal swabs, PCR was performed for detection of CMV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). CMV genital shedding rates were compared between groups with and without STIs. Results Approximately 11% (11/101)) of pregnant women in this cohort tested positive for STIs (10 with TV and 1 with TV and GC co-infection). None of the women with STIs were shedding CMV in the genital tract during labor compared to 24% (22/90) of women without STIs. No significant difference in racial distribution was noted between the groups with and without STIs (82% Black vs 58% Black respectively; p = 0.19). Among women shedding CMV in the genital tract, CMV viral load levels ranged from 1.2x102 IU/ml -2.3x104 IU/ml. Conclusion In a cohort of unselected pregnant women, none of the CMV seropositive pregnant women with STIs were shedding CMV in the genital tract. Our preliminary findings suggest CMV shedding is not associated with STIs detected late in pregnancy. A larger study is need to confirm these findings and to define the relationship between STIs and cCMV. Disclosure No significant relationships.