Connatal listeriosis--a case report and the possibilities of microbiological diagnosis

Serogrouping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from cases of human infection in Hungary 2004–2012 molecular typing of Listeria monocytogenes in Hungary

Eighty isolates of Listeria monocytogenes cultured from human infections in Hungary between 2004 and 2012 were serotyped by the PCR technique of Doumithet al. [9] and characterised by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Most of the isolates belonged to two serogroups: 53 isolates (66.3%) to serovar group 4b,4d,4e and 21isolates (25.8%) to serogroup 1/2a,3a. Although many pulsotypes were identified a particular pulsotype proved highly excelling comprising of 31 isolates after digestion by both ApaI and AscI restriction enzymes. All strains from this pulsotype belonged toserovar group 4b,4d,4e. Interestingly 24% of isolates from invasive samples(cerebrospinal fluid, blood) belonged to two distinct pulsotypes in the less common serovar group 1/2a,3a. Several small clusters of cases caused by isolates with identical pulsotypes were identified.

Clinical microbiology of early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis, particularly among preterm babies

Prematurity has got special challenge for clinicians and also other medical staff, such as microbiologists. Immature host defense mechanisms support early-onset sepsis, which can be very serious with very high mortality. While the past decade has been marked by a significant decline in early-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis in both term and preterm neonates, the overall incidence of early-onset sepsis has not decreased in many centers, and several studies have found an increase in sepsis due to gram-negative organisms. With increasing survival of these more fastidious preterm infants, late-onset sepsis or specially nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI) will continue to be a challenging complication that affects other morbidities, length of hospitalization, cost of care, and mortality rates. Especially the very low birthweight (VLBW) infants sensitive to serious systemic infection during their initial hospital stay. Sepsis caused by multiresistant organisms and Candida spp. are also increasing in incidence, has become the most common cause of death among preterm infants. This review focuses on the clinical microbiology of neonatal sepsis, particularly among preterm babies, summarizing the most frequent bacterial and fungal organisms causing perinatally acquired and also nosocomial sepsis.