We characterized 22 human clinical strains of Streptococcus bovis by genotypic (16S rRNA gene sequence analysis [MicroSeq]; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) and phenotypic (API 20 Strep and Rapid ID32 Strep systems (bioMerieux Vitek, Hazelton, Mo.) methods. The strains, isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine, formed two distinct 16S ribosomal DNA sequence clusters. Three strains which were associated with endocarditis urinary tract infection (UTI), and sepsis clustered with the S. bovis type strain ATCC 33317 (cluster 1); other closely related type strains were S. equinus and S. infantarius. Nineteen strains clustered at a distance of about 2.5% dissimilarity to the S. bovis type strain (cluster 2) and were associated with central nervous system (CNS) disease in addition to endocarditis, UTI, and sepsis. All strains were distinct from S. gallolyticus. Within cluster 2, a single strain grouped with ATCC strain 43143 (cluster 2a) and may be phenotypically distinct. All the other strains formed a second subgroup (cluster 2b) that was biochemically similar to S. bovis biotype II/2 (mannitol negative and beta galactosidase, alpha galactosidase, beta glucuronidase, and trehalose positive). The API 20 Strep system identified isolates of cluster 2b as S. bovis biotype II/2, those of cluster 1 as S. bovis biotype II/1, and that of cluster 2a as S. bovis biotype I. There was an excellent correlation of biotype and genotype: S. bovis biotype II/2 isolates form a separate genospecies distinct from the S. bovis, S. gallolyticus, and S. infantarius type strains and are the most common isolates in adult males.S. bovis is a human pathogen associated with endocarditis, sepsis, and meningitis (2,3,4,6,7,8,10). Since the early 1980s genetic and biochemical diversity among S. bovis has been noted (4,7,8). Several groups studied this diversity and devised schemes to distinguish strains by biotype. S. bovis strains from humans are said to be biotype I (or typical) if, among other traits, they ferment mannitol and produce glucan and biotype II (or variant) if they cannot ferment mannitol or produce glucan. The S. bovis biotype II strains are further divided into type II/1 and type II/2 by the ability of the later group to produce beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase and ferment trehalose but not glycogen (4,8).Recently the S. bovis group has been further defined based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, ribotyping, and whole-cell protein electrophoresis patterns. S. infantarius, with a 1.8% difference by 16S rRNA gene sequence from the S. bovis type strain, is phenotypically like S. bovis biotype II/1 (1, 9). Ribotyping patterns were used to differentiate all related species from S. infantarius and distinguish two subspecifics within the group (9). S. gallolyticus, originally isolated from Koala dung, is phenotypically that of biotype I (5, 9). Devriese et al. examined strains previously identified as S. bovis by both phenotypic methods and whole-cell protein electrophoresis and reported that many of the human s...

A novel Pseudomonas species, for which the name Pseudomonas otitidis sp. nov. is proposed, was identified from clinical specimens of infected human ears. Forty-one pseudomonads (34 from patients with acute otitis externa, six from patients with acute otitis media with otorrhoea and one from a patient with chronic suppurative otitis media) were recovered that did not match any known species. On the basis of genetic analyses and biochemical characterization, these isolates were shown to belong to the genus Pseudomonas. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA–DNA hybridization studies indicated that this novel bacterium is closely related to, but different from, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A description of this species is based on polyphasic studies of 11 clinical isolates. The type strain of Pseudomonas otitidis is MCC10330T (=ATCC BAA-1130T=DSM 17224T).

Objective:The aim of this study was to use antimicrobial efficacy endpoint methodology to determine compatibility of multipurpose disinfecting solutions (MPSs), lens cases, and hydrogel lenses for disinfection (AEEMC) against International Organization for Standardization (ISO)–specified microorganisms and clinical ocular isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.Methods:Six MPSs (PQ/Aldox 1, 2, and 3; PQ/Alexidine; PQ/PHMB; and PHMB) were challenged against ISO-specified microorganisms and S. maltophilia using the AEEMC test. AEEMC tests were performed with and without balafilcon A, etafilcon A, and senofilcon A lenses in lens cases with organic soil. Exposure times included disinfection time (DT) and 24 hr. Additionally, all six MPSs were challenged with two strains of S. maltophilia, based on the ISO Stand-alone test.Results:The efficacy against bacteria for PQ/Aldox and PQ/Alexidine MPSs was not diminished by the presence of lenses. The efficacy of PQ/PHMB and PHMB MPSs against Serratia marcescens was significantly reduced compared with the no-lens control at DT for at least one lens type. The PHMB MPS with lenses present also demonstrated reduced efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus at DT versus the control. PQ/Aldox MPSs retained activity against Fusarium solani with lenses present; however, all other test MPSs demonstrated reduced F. solani efficacy at DT with lenses present. With lenses, all MPSs showed reduced efficacy against Candida albicans.Conclusions:AEEMC antimicrobial efficacy test results vary based on challenge microorganism, contact lenses, and MPS biocide systems. This study highlights the importance of evaluating MPSs for compatibility with lenses and lens cases.