No abstract

The environmental origin of the resistance seems to be probable since azole resistance was found also in naïve patients and an identical microsatellite genotype in clinical and environmental isolates was observed.

Data on the occurrence and epidemiology of Aspergillus spp. in laying hens farms are scant. With the aims of determining levels of airborne contamination in laying hen farms and evaluating the potential risk of infection for workers and animals, 57 air samples from 19 sheds (Group I), 69 from faeces (Group II), 19 from poultry feedstuffs (Group III) and 60 from three anatomical sites (i.e. nostrils, pharynx, ears) of 20 farm workers (Group IV) were cultured. The Aspergillus spp. prevalence in samples ranged from 31.6 % (Group III) to 55.5 % (Group IV), whereas the highest conidia concentration was retrieved in Group II (1.2¾10 4 c.f.u. g "1) and in Group III (1.9¾10 3 c.f.u. g "1). The mean concentration of airborne Aspergillus spp. conidia was 70 c.f.u. m "3 with Aspergillus fumigatus (27.3 %) being the most frequently detected species, followed by Aspergillus flavus (6.3 %). These Aspergillus spp. were also isolated from human nostrils (40 %) and ears (35 %) (P,0.05) (Group IV). No clinical aspergillosis was diagnosed in hens. The results demonstrate a relationship between the environmental contamination in hen farms and presence of Aspergillus spp. on animals and humans. Even if the concentration of airborne Aspergillus spp. conidia (i.e. 70 c.f.u. m "3) herein detected does not trigger clinical disease in hens, it causes human colonization. Correct management of hen farms is necessary to control environmental contamination by Aspergillus spp., and could lead to a significant reduction of animal and human colonization.

No abstract

Rapid detection of microorganisms in respiratory specimens is of paramount importance to drive the proper antibiotic regimen to prevent complications and transmission of infections. In the present study, the respiFISH® HAP Gram (-) Panel (miacom diagnostics GmbH, Duesseldorf, Germany) for the etiological diagnosis of hospital-acquired pneumonia was compared with the traditional culture method for the detection of major Gram-negative pathogens in respiratory specimens. respiFISH® combined the classical fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technology with fluorescence-labeled DNA molecular beacons as probes. From September 2011 to January 2012, 165 samples were analyzed: the sensitivity and specificity were 94.39 and 87.93%, respectively. Only six pathogens (3.6%) were not identified with respiFISH®, while seven specimens (3%) provided false-positive results. This beacon-based identification shortens the time to result by at least one work day, providing species-level identification within half an hour. Considering the high sensitivity and specificity and the significant time saving, the introduction of bbFISH® assays could effectively complement traditional systems in microbiology laboratories.