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Anneke van der Zee

Publications and source records attributed to Anneke van der Zee.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Bordetella holmesii DNA is not detected in nasopharyngeal swabs from Finnish and Dutch patients with suspected pertussis.

Bordetella holmesii is a Gram-negative bacterium first identified in 1995. It can cause pertussis-like symptoms in humans. B. holmesii contains insertion sequences IS481 and IS1001, two frequently used targets in the PCR diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis infections. To investigate the prevalence of B. holmesii in Finnish and Dutch patients with pertussis-like symptoms and whether B. holmesii has caused any false-positive results in diagnostic PCRs, B. holmesii-specific real-time PCRs were developed. The Finnish methods were conventional IS481 PCR and B. holmesii-specific real-time PCR (LightCycler, Roche) targeting the B. holmesii recA gene. The Dutch methods were IS481 and IS1001 PCRs with conventional or real-time formats and B. holmesii-specific real-time PCR targeting the homologue of IS1001. Of 11,319 nasopharyngeal swabs, 2804 were collected from Finnish patients from 2000 to 2003, and 8515 from Dutch patients from 1992 to 2003. B. holmesii DNA was not found in the samples analysed. The results suggest that B. holmesii is not among the causative agents of pertussis-like symptoms in Finnish and Dutch patients and thus does not in practice confound IS481 and IS1001 PCRs.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2006

Detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila DNA in serum: case reports and review of the literature.

Legionella pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose. Existing laboratory tests all have shortcomings, especially the ability to diagnose all Legionella spp. at an early stage. Detection of Legionella DNA in serum can be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease (LD). This report describes two patients with LD diagnosed by PCR using serum samples. In addition, quantification of L. pneumophila DNA using real-time PCR during the course of illness was carried out. The results obtained mirrored both the clinical condition and C-reactive protein values during the course of the illness. Quantification of Legionella DNA in serum using real-time PCR could be a valuable tool to monitor the effects of antimicrobial therapy in patients with LD.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of three Legionella urinary antigen assays during an outbreak of legionellosis in Belgium.

During an outbreak of legionellosis in Belgium, urine samples of 32 legionellosis patients were tested with three Legionella urinary antigen assays: the Biotest enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit, the Binax EIA kit and the Binax NOW Immunochromatographic Test kit. The three tests were concomitantly compared. The test sensitivities on the first urine samples were 65.6 % for the Biotest EIA, 50.0 % for the Binax EIA and 56.3 % for the Binax NOW. Testing of a second urine sample increased the sensitivities to 71.9 %, 59.4 % and 65.6 %, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. In outbreak settings, testing second samples from patients presenting with symptoms but initially testing negative and/or concentrating urine samples for testing might be valuable additions to the urinary antigen test to increase the sensitivities of the tests.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed2005

Outbreak of infection with a multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain associated with contaminated roll boards in operating rooms.

An outbreak with a multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MRKP) strain among seven patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit (ICU) of a regional teaching hospital in The Netherlands was investigated. Epidemiologic investigations revealed a short delay between an operation and the acquisition of the MRKP strain. A case-control study comprising 7 cases and 14 controls was conducted to identify the risk factors associated with the acquisition of the MRKP strain. An operation at each of two operation rooms was strongly associated with the acquisition of the MRKP strain: odds ratio of 36 (95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 481.2; P=0.003, Fisher exact two-tailed test). Cultures of environmental specimens of the operation rooms revealed contamination of the roll boards used to transport patients from the bed to the operation table with the MRKP strains. Molecular genotyping of the isolates revealed clonal similarity between the isolates of the seven cases, isolates from environmental specimen cultures, and in addition, an MRKP isolate from a re-patriated ICU patient from earlier that year. The outbreak ended after cleaning and replacement of the roll boards in the operation rooms and implementation of additional barrier precautions for colonized or infected patients. It was concluded that two operation rooms played a significant role in the transmission of an MRKP strain between ICU patients during the presented outbreak.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Recognition of SCCmec types according to typing pattern determined by multienzyme multiplex PCR-amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Multienzyme multiplex PCR-amplified fragment length polymorphism (ME-AFLP) typing is a reliable and simple method for typing of bacterial species. In this study we analyzed two well-documented strain collections of Staphylococcus aureus and compared ME-AFLP typing results with results of various other typing methods. The discriminatory power of ME-AFLP was found comparable to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and typing results were highly concordant. ME-AFLP typing presents a suitable method for prescreening of large strain collections. Furthermore, the obtained typing patterns were found to cluster according to the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types of the strains.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2005

Effect of clarithromycin treatment on Chlamydia pneumoniae in vascular tissue of patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Several small clinical trials have indicated that antibiotic treatment of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is associated with a better outcome in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It has not been demonstrated whether antibiotic treatment eradicates C. pneumoniae from vascular tissue. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of clarithromycin on the presence of C. pneumoniae in the vascular tissue of patients with CAD. Patients who had CAD and who were waiting for coronary artery bypass graft surgery were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were treated with clarithromycin at 500 mg or placebo once daily from the day of inclusion in the study until surgery. Several vascular tissue specimens were obtained during surgery. The presence of C. pneumoniae in vascular tissue specimens was examined by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and two PCR assays. Chlamydia immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the time of inclusion in the study and 8 weeks after surgery. A total of 76 patients were included, and 180 vascular tissue specimens were obtained (80 specimens from the group treated with clarithromycin and 100 specimens from the group treated with placebo). Thirty-five patients received clarithromycin (mean duration, 27 days; standard deviation [SD], 12.2 days), and 41 patients received placebo (mean duration, 27 days; SD, 13.9 days). IHC detected the C. pneumoniae major outer membrane protein antigen in 73.8% of the specimens from the group treated with clarithromycin and 77.0% of the specimens from the group treated with placebo (P was not significant). Chlamydia lipopolysaccharide antigen was found in only one specimen from the group that received placebo. C. pneumoniae DNA was not detected in any specimen. Baseline Chlamydia-specific IgG titers were equally distributed in both groups and were not significantly different after treatment. There was no indication of an active C. pneumoniae infection in vascular tissue. Chlamydia-specific IgG titers remained unchanged throughout the study in both the antibiotic- and the placebo-treated patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Diagnosis of atypical pathogens in patients hospitalized with community-acquired respiratory infection.

The object of our study was to determine the proportion of atypical respiratory pathogens among patients hospitalized with a community-acquired respiratory infection. From September 1997 to May 1999, 159 patients (57% male, median age 55, range 1-88 y) admitted to 3 regional hospitals for a community acquired respiratory infection, were enrolled in the study. Microbiological diagnosis for the atypical pathogens Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila was performed with PCR on a throat swab, sputum and/or broncho alveolar lavage (BAL). In addition, Legionella species other than L. pneumophila (L. non-pneumophila species) were detected by PCR. Two serum samples were collected and processed for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae serology. In total, 27 patients (17%) were diagnosed with an atypical pathogen. Infection with M. pneumoniae was detected in 19 patients (12%) (PCR positive n = 7), with C. pneumoniae in 5 patients (3%) (PCR positive n = 0) and with L. pneumophila in 4 patients (2.5%) (PCR positive n = 4). In 54 (34%) patients routine microbiological investigations revealed aetiological agents other than the 3 atypical pathogens, the most frequently diagnosed pathogens being Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 18), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 17), Gram-negative rods (n = 13), Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 6) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6). More than 1 pathogen was found in 13 patients. Atypical pathogens were found more often in the young age group (0-18 y), in contrast to bacterial pathogens that were found more often in the older age groups (> or = 65 y). Atypical pathogens were found less often in patients with a clinical presentation of atypical pneumonia. Legionella species other than L. pneumophila were found by PCR in 13 patients (8%), and in 6 patients in combination with another pathogen. An atypical pathogen (M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae or L. pneumophila) was found in 17% of the patients hospitalized with a community acquired respiratory infection, predominantly in the young age group. The role of Legionella non-pneumophila species as pathogen in community acquired respiratory infection needs to be determined. The clinical presentation does not predict the type of pathogen found.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Is the perceived association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and vascular diseases biased by methodology?

Inter- and intralaboratory inconsistencies in detection rates of Chlamydia pneumoniae in vascular specimens have been demonstrated. In this study, 66 vascular tissue specimens from 66 patients with vascular disease were tested by three PCR assays: a 16S PCR-based reverse line blot (RLB) assay, a single-step PCR, and a nested PCR. Also, we explored the impacts of different DNA polymerase enzymes on the results based on gel electrophoresis and hybridization. The PCR results by gel electrophoresis in the single-step PCR depended on which DNA polymerase was used. All samples were negative with AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase, and 54.5% (36 of 66) were positive with the conventional Taq DNA polymerase. All samples were negative after hybridization with a C. pneumoniae-specific probe. In the nested PCR, all specimens were negative by gel electrophoresis and after hybridization. The RLB assay failed to detect C. pneumoniae in any specimen; however, 20 specimens were Chlamydia sp. positive. The sequence analysis of six of these samples demonstrated Chlamydia-like organisms. RLB detected Chlamydia sp. DNA in water and in the elution buffer after passage of the Qiagen columns (11 of 40). This study identified factors that may influence the detection of C. pneumoniae DNA in vascular tissues and consequently bias the perception of a link between C. pneumoniae and vascular diseases. The following are strongly recommended: to use DNA polymerases that have to be activated, to decontaminate with dUTP-uracil-DNA glycosylase, to hybridize with specific probes, to include sufficient controls, and to use molecular grade water.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Polymerase chain reaction detection of Neisseria meningitidis in the intraocular fluid of a patient with endogenous endophthalmitis but without associated meningitis.

PURPOSE: To report a patient with Neisseria meningitidis endophthalmitis without associated meningitis with full visual recovery, with early detection of the microorganism using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case report. PARTICIPANTS: One patient with endogenous endophthalmitis. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction analysis and culture of the intraocular fluid sample. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed with a universal (16S rRNA) primer set to detect bacterial DNA, and subsequently a specific probe was used to detect Neisseria species DNA. RESULTS: The 16S rRNA primers detected bacterial DNA, the specific probe detected Neisseria species DNA, and culture was positive for Neisseria meningitidis serotype C. CONCLUSIONS: A universal bacterial PCR can be very helpful for the diagnosis of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis at an early stage of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Use of multienzyme multiplex PCR amplified fragment length polymorphism typing in analysis of outbreaks of multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in an intensive care unit.

We developed and optimized a new modified amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) typing method to obtain a multibanding fingerprint that can be separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Both to maximize the discriminatory power and to facilitate the computer-assisted analysis, bacterial DNA was digested with four different restriction enzymes. After ligation of adaptors to the DNA fragments, PCR testing of various single primers was performed. Two single primers that gave optimal results with regard to band resolution and discriminatory power were selected and combined. The computer-assisted analysis of fingerprint patterns was performed with Pearson's product-moment correlation values of densitometric curves, without assigning bands to peaks. Thus, the analysis is not subject to human interpretation errors. With this method, we investigated two outbreaks of multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in an intensive care unit and various sporadic isolates of K. pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca. Cluster analysis of isolates analyzed in different experiments and on different gels showed that fingerprint patterns clustered correctly according to subspecies or to the outbreaks. Multienzyme multiplex PCR AFLP revealed that the first outbreak was caused by two different types of strains. Outbreak two was caused by yet another strain of K. pneumoniae. In conclusion, the typing method used here is easy to perform and highly reproducible, and due to generation of complex banding patterns, it has a higher discriminatory power. Furthermore, the multienzyme multiplex PCR fingerprints are easy to analyze, and a reliable database can be stored in the computer to facilitate comparison of future isolates of Klebsiella spp. The method can be performed in every clinical microbiology laboratory.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of real-time PCR for detection of and discrimination between Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, and Bordetella holmesii for clinical diagnosis.

PCR is increasingly being used as a diagnostic test for the detection of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis DNA, as it has improved sensitivity and specificity in comparison to conventional techniques. The assay described here uses the two insertion sequences IS481 and IS1001 for B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, respectively, with detection by molecular beacons. The real-time PCR for IS481 detects both B. pertussis and Bordetella holmesii, and the real-time PCR for IS1001 detects both B. parapertussis and B. holmesii. By performing both assays discrimination between B. pertussis and B. parapertussis can be obtained. The sensitivity was 1 to 10 CFU/ml for B. pertussis, 10 CFU/ml for B. parapertussis, and 10 CFU/ml for B. holmesii in both assays. The clinical sensitivity of the B. pertussis assay was not affected by duplexing with an internal control PCR. Real-time PCR, conventional PCR, and culture were performed on 57 clinical samples. Eight of the 57 (14%) were found positive by culture, 19 of 57 (33%) were found positive by conventional PCR, and 22 of 57 (39%) were found positive by real-time PCR. One sample was inhibitory. When the B. pertussis assay was compared with a clinical standard for B. pertussis infection, sensitivity was 38, 83, and 100% and specificity was 100, 97, and 97% for culture, conventional PCR, and real-time PCR, respectively. The real-time PCR designed for B. pertussis and B. parapertussis provides sensitive and specific diagnosis of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis infections and is therefore suitable for implementation in the diagnostic laboratory.

Bordetella↗
PubMed2002

Intercenter reproducibility of binary typing for Staphylococcus aureus.

The reproducibility of the binary typing (BT) protocol developed for epidemiological typing of Staphylococcus aureus was analyzed in a biphasic multicenter study. In a Dutch multicenter pilot study, 10 genetically unique isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were characterized by the BT assay as presented by van Leeuwen et al. [J. Clin. Microbiol. 2001 39 (1) 328]. The BT assay, including a standardized DNA extraction protocol was performed in duplicate in eleven medical microbiology laboratories. Two different hybridization detection procedures were applied and a prelabeled DNA sample as process control was included. Only three laboratories accurately identified all strains. Divergence in technical procedures resulted in misinterpretation due to an increasing number of faint or absent hybridization signals in combination with high background staining. The binary type of the process control was determined correctly by all participating laboratories. The feasibility of the BT protocol was related directly to the skill of the laboratory personnel. On the basis of the national study, we concluded that the DNA extraction protocol needed modification to improve DNA yield and purity. Subsequently, seven European laboratories participated in an international study to determine the reproducibility of the modified BT protocol. Each center was asked to analyze 10 DNA samples previously extracted from 10 MRSA strains (phase 1) and, additionally, to analyze 10 MRSA strains, using the standardized or their in-house DNA isolation protocol (phase 2). A prelabeled DNA process control sample was included again. The binary types of all DNA samples were identified correctly by all but one laboratories. This latter laboratory diverged from the protocol by adding an excess of labeled DNA to the hybridization mixture, resulting in a high background and, therefore, noninterpretable BT results. All centers produced identical BT results for the process control. Five of the seven centers correctly identified the binary types of all 10 MRSA strains in phase 2 of the international study. Three of these centers used their in-house DNA extraction protocol. Divergence from the standard BT protocol in the remaining two centers resulted in no interpretable BT data for the 10 MRSA strains. The study demonstrated that each center that followed the BT protocol to the letter could generate reproducible results, irrespective whether or not an in-house DNA isolation protocol was used. The current BT protocol thus represents a simple method generating robust, reproducible genotype data for S. aureus strains.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗