Genotype ; Humans ; Streptococcal Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; genetics

Humans ; Young Adult ; Fusobacterium necrophorum ; Pharyngitis/microbiology* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Sepsis/diagnosis*

Streptococcus (S.) dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis is responsible for severe diseases in humans, including primary bacteraemia, pneumonia, endocarditis, and toxic shock syndrome. Infection in some animal species can also occur, although a few studies have looked into cross-species infectivity. In horses, S. equisimilis is generally considered infrequent or opportunistic, but has recently been isolated from cases of strangles-like disease. Rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques could enable epidemiological studies and effective investigation of outbreaks involving these bacteria. In this study, PCR protocols previously described in cattle and in humans to detect the species S. dysgalactiae and the subspecies equisimilis were evaluated to detect specific sequences in equine samples. For this purpose, 99 monolateral nasal swabs were collected from horses from stud farms with a history of S. equisimilis infection and were tested blindly by bacteriological isolation and by single and duplex PCR. DNA for PCR was extracted both from the colonies grown on agar media and from enrichment broth aliquots after incubation with nasal swab samples. S. equisimilis was identified by bacteriological isolation in 23 out of 99 swab samples, and PCR assays on these colonies were fully concordant with bacteriological identification (kappa statistic = 1.00). In addition, PCR of the enrichment broth aliquots confirmed the bacteriological results and detected S. equisimilis in 6 samples more than the bacteriological examination (kappa statistic = 0.84). The PCR protocols appeared to be reliable for the rapid identification of S. equisimilis in equine nasal swab samples, and could be useful for microbiological diagnosis.
Animals ; NA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Horse Diseases/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Horses ; Limit of Detection ; Male ; Nasopharynx/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods/*veterinary ; Respiratory Tract Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcal Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Streptococcus/genetics/*isolation & purification

We describe the first case of primary peritonitis in Korea of a healthy person due to Streptococcus pyogenes. In the absence of comorbid conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, immunosuppression, or nephrotic syndrome, primary peritonitis is uncommon in a young healthy woman. Abdomen computed tomography revealed ascites in the lower abdomen and peritoneal enhancement suggesting peritonitis. In diagnostic laparoscopy, purulent ascites was found in the pelvic cavity but both ovaries and fallopian tubes were intact. There were no intra-abdominal abnormalities such as bowel perforation, appendicitis, or necrosis. The reports of blood culture, ascites culture, and cervical swab culture confirmed S. pyogenes. After use of antibiotics, the patient was cured and discharged without sequelae.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Streptococcus pyogenes/*isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report a case of post-streptococcal uveitis mainly presenting with bilateral recurrent retinal vasculitis in Korea. A 14-year-old Asian female presented with decreased visual acuity of 20 / 30 in the right eye and 20 / 25 in the left eye. The patient had a history of glomerulonephritis nine months before onset of uveitis. The manifestation of uveitis was predominantly retinal vasculitis. We presumed post-streptococcal uveitis because probable streptococcal infection was confirmed by anti-streptolysin O titer elevation. With topical and oral steroid treatments, the patient experienced complete vision recovery. Post-streptococcal uveitis occurs rarely and mostly involves young patients in the form of non-granulomatous anterior uveitis. However, as this case shows, it may primarily involve the posterior uvea without anterior inflammation and may recur.
Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retinal Vasculitis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Streptococcal Infections/*diagnosis ; Uveitis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Visual Acuity

A multiplex PCR protocol was established to simultaneously detect major bacterial pathogens in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) including Edwardsiella (E.) tarda, Streptococcus (S.) parauberis, and S. iniae. The PCR assay was able to detect 0.01 ng of E. tarda, 0.1 ng of S. parauberis, and 1 ng of S. iniae genomic DNA. Furthermore, this technique was found to have high specificity when tested with related bacterial species. This method represents a cheaper, faster, and reliable alternative for identifying major bacterial pathogens in olive flounder, the most important farmed fish in Korea.
Animals ; Edwardsiella tarda/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Fish Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Fisheries/*methods ; *Flatfishes ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/economics/*veterinary ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcal Infections/diagnosis/microbiology/*veterinary ; Streptococcus/genetics/*isolation & purification

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here, we present the analytical and diagnostic usefulness of a new real-time PCR-based assay (Xpert GBS; Cepheid, USA) for rapid and accurate prenatal GBS screening. METHODS: We enrolled 175 pregnant women who were between 35 and 39 weeks of gestation. The analytical performance of the Xpert GBS assay was first tested using a reference GBS strain. Next, to test diagnostic performance, rectovaginal swabs were obtained from pregnant women who visited the hospital for regular antenatal screening after 34 weeks of gestation. The results of the Xpert GBS assay were compared to those of standard culture for the detection of prenatal GBS colonization. RESULTS: When any positive result from Xpert GBS or culture was considered a true positive, the sensitivity of the Xpert GBS assay and culture were 91% (20/22; 95% CI [confidence interval], 72-98) and 68% (15/22; 95% CI, 47-84), respectively. The specificity of both methods was 100% (153/153; 95% CI, 97-100). The sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert GBS assay, using the culture results as a reference, were 86.7% and 95.6%, respectively. In the Xpert GBS assay, the median threshold cycle of vaginally colonized samples was significantly lower than rectally colonized samples (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The Xpert GBS assay is an accurate, rapid, easy-to-use test for the detection of maternal GBS colonization in prenatal screening that might be especially useful in clinical settings where standard culture is not feasible.
DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rectum/microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcal Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Vagina/microbiology

We report a case of necrotizing fasciitis involving Streptococcus agalactiae, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, and Finegoldia magna in a 36-yr-old female diabetic patient, which started after a minor dog bite to the toe of the patient. This case suggested that a trivial infection after a minor dog bite in an immunocompromised patient such as diabetes patient could result in a significant complication such as necrotizing fasciitis. The life-threatening infection was cured by timely above-the-knee amputation, as well as penicillin G and clindamycin therapy.
Actinomycetales Infections/diagnosis/microbiology ; Adult ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Arcanobacterium ; Bites and Stings/*complications ; Clindamycin/therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis/therapy ; *Dogs ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Female ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/microbiology ; Humans ; Penicillin G/therapeutic use ; Peptostreptococcus ; Streptococcal Infections/diagnosis/microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae

Although the association between Streptococcus bovis endocarditis and colon carcinoma is well known, very few cases of S. bovis infection associated with underlying malignancies have been reported in Korea. The S. bovis group has been recently reclassified and renamed as Streptococcus gallolyticus and Streptococcus infantarius subspecies under a new nomenclature system. We report a case of infective endocarditis with colon cancer caused by S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (previously named S. bovis biotype I). A 59-yr-old woman presented with a 1-month history of fever. Initial blood cultures were positive for gram-positive cocci, and echocardiography showed vegetation on mitral and aortic valves. Antibiotic treatment for infective endocarditis was started. The infecting strain was a catalase-negative and bile-esculin-positive alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus susceptible to penicillin and vancomycin. The strain was identified as S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus with the use of the Vitek 2 GPI and API 20 Strep systems (bioMerieux, USA). The 16S rDNA sequences of the blood culture isolates showed 100% homology with those of S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus reported in GenBank. The identification of the infecting organism, and the subsequent communication among clinical microbiologists and physicians about the changed nomenclature, led to the detection of colon cancer. The patient recovered after treatment with antibiotics, valve surgery, and operation for colon cancer. This is the first report of biochemical and genetic identification of S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus causing infective endocarditis associated with underlying colon cancer in a Korean patient.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Colonic Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis, Bacterial/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Streptococcal Infections/complications/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Streptococcus bovis/genetics/*isolation &purification

Bacterial pericarditis has been recognized as a rare disease since the development of antibiotics. Usually, the disease is associated with underlying conditions or a seeding of infection elsewhere to the pericardium. Here we describe a case of group G streptococcal pericarditis as an initial presentation of colon cancer. A 52-yr-old man was admitted because of dyspnea. An electrocardiogram showed a diffuse ST-segment elevation and a two-dimensional echocardiogram showed a large amount of pericardial effusion. A pericardiocentesis was done and purulent fluid was drained. Group G streptococci was cultured in pericardial fluid. The patient was treated with antibiotics and pericardiostomy with saline irrigation. A colonoscopy revealed a small mass with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in rectosigmoid colon. He underwent a mucosectomy and was recovered without any complication.
Adenocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology/surgery ; Streptococcal Infections/complications/drug therapy/*microbiology/surgery ; Streptococcus/*classification