Microbiology

MICROBIOLOGY - Response of the Microbiology area against SARS-CoV-2(COVID19)

The reference technique for performing the microbiological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is real-time PCR, which allows the detection of various virus genes with a sensitivity greater than 98%. At Catlab, various organizational changes were made to deal with the situation, and offer a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic service 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

MICROBIOLOGY - Valuation of the screening of Urine cultures in Primary

The diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI) is based on three factors: the patient's symptoms, the examination of the urine forms and the urine culture. In 2016, to qualitatively optimize the microbiological diagnosis of UTI, a screening of the urine with culture requested is started. The result of this screening is a clear decrease in negative urine cultures, an increase in positive ones, and a tendency to reduce contaminated urine cultures.

MICROBIOLOGY - Poseidon Project; development of a biosensor for Legionella detection

The Poseidon Project has been funded by the Horizon 2020 Program. Six institutions from 4 European countries participated, including Catlab. The objective was to develop a biosensor to monitor the concentration of Legionella in situ in water systems in high-risk facilities. Catlab's task was to validate the prototype detection and quantification of Legionella in water samples.

MICROBIOLOGY - Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this bulletin, we will see how it is acquired, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated. The current frequency of the disease, and the tests available to the Laboratory to diagnose it.

MICROBIOLOGY - New swabs

The first step of the microbiological diagnosis begins with obtaining the clinical sample; it must be representative of the infectious process that is wanted to diagnose. All the information that the microbiology laboratory can generate depends almost completely on the sample that is sent. Therefore, it is essential that the obtention procedure, the quantity sent, the type of transport and the appropriate speed of delivery. The consequences of a poorly collected and / or badly sent sample may result in the failure to isolate the etiologic agent of the infection.

MICROBIOLOGY - Diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis

Bacterial meningitis causes 120,000 deaths worldwide each year. The Catlab Microbiology area has recently incorporated a new PCR to detect in a short time the 14 microorganisms that most frequently cause meningitis, encephalitis and meningoencephalitis. It is performed in a single CSF sample and after a minimum manipulation. It allows detecting the microorganism in about 2 hours. Thus, inadequate treatments, over-treatments and improved patient management can be reduced.

MICROBIOLOGY - Incorporation of mass spectrometry in clinical microbiology

The Catlab Microbiology area has recently incorporated an advanced technology (MALDI-TOF) to identify bacteria and fungi in a few minutes, in contrast to conventional, very slow methods. It provides advantages in the management of the patient with sepsis, since the speed of information improves the quality of health care: it decreases the duration of empirical treatment, adjusts the administration of adequate antibiotics and reduces hospitalization times.

MICROBIOLOGY - Urinary tract infection. New circuit in Catlab

Urinary tract infections are one of the most frequent infectious diseases. The diagnosis of UTI is based on three factors: the patient's symptoms, examination of the formed elements of urine and urine culture. To optimize the microbiological diagnosis of UTI, a retrospective study of all urine cultures obtained by spontaneous urination was performed to set breakpoints that would allow rule planting negative urine cultures and no significant bacteriuria with sensitivity ≥ 95%. From the results, it is proposed to make a screening urine culture, which exclude the cultivation of all urine samples obtained by spontaneous urination, which leucocyte esterase or nitrites are not detected.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - Massive sequencing for antiretroviral resistance HIV-1

From February 2016, the massive sequencing will be used for the test of resistance to HIV-1 antiretroviral in Catlab. This method has several advantages; the resistances of the three regions (Pro, RT, INT) are determined in one integrated test; it automatically determines the subtype of HIV-1, and finally, the new test allows the detection of mutations in viral quasispecies that only represent 1% of the viral population, compared to 20% of the current test.

MICROBIOLOGY- Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a public health problem that affects a significant number of the population. It is essential to do a reliable and early diagnosis to avoid infection, its spread and possible complications.