O
Microbiology News & Ideas
In This Issue
1 TechniTopics
Foodborne Diseases -
An Update, Part II
The Gram Stain Revisited
4 BACTEC
System News
BACTEC
Version 5 Software
BD CultureSwab
MaxV - Maximizing
Recovery of Microorganisms
BBL
CHROMagar
Media Enhancements
BD Difco
System,
Qualicon, Inc.). Since this method
detects only the presence of L. mono-
cytogenes DNA, isolation of the organ-
ism is needed for confirmation.
Incidence data for 1987, prospectively
collected by CDC, suggested that there
were at least 1,600 cases of listeriosis
with 415 deaths per year in the U.S.
The vast majority of cases are consid-
ered sporadic, making epidemiologic
links to particular food items very dif-
ficult. The main target population for
Listeria infections include: pregnant
women and the fetus; immunocompro-
mised persons such as cancer patients
(leukemia patients in particular); the
elderly; and normal, healthy people
who have been exposed to heavily con-
taminated food or beverage items.
6
L. monocytogenes has been associated
with foods such as raw milk, insuffi-
2 BD LabO volume 16 number 1
TechniTopics
Foodborne Diseases
Continued from page 1
Kenneth D. Wilde, Ph.D.
Dr. Wilde recently retired from the
Maryland Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene, where he served as
the Chief, Division of Public Health
Environmental Microbiology. Following
receipt of a B.A. in Natural Science
from Kutztown University, he earned
M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Microbiology from the University
of Maryland.
His duties at the department of health involved the areas of
food/shellfish safety, dairy and water bacteriology, including
serving as State Water Quality Laboratory Certification
Officer, and overseeing the operations of the food/water
bioterrorism laboratory. He was entrusted to analyze powder
samples for anthrax spores during the Fall and Winter 2001-
2002 and participated in the presentation of numerous state
laboratory-sponsored bioterrorism workshops.
Dr. Wilde is a certified Specialist Microbiologist in Public
Health and Medical Laboratory Microbiology with the
National Registry of Microbiologists of the American
Academy of Microbiology.
Continued on page 16
L. monocytogenes has been
associated with foods such
as raw milk, insufficiently
pasteurized fluid milk,
cheeses (particularly
soft-ripened varieties),
ice cream, raw vegetables,
raw and cooked poultry,
all types of raw meats and
raw and smoked fish.
L. monocytogenes has been
associated with foods such
as raw milk, insufficiently
pasteurized fluid milk,
cheeses (particularly
soft-ripened varieties),
ice cream, raw vegetables,
raw and cooked poultry,
all types of raw meats and
raw and smoked fish.
The Gram stain is one of the oldest and
most important diagnostic procedures
performed in the clinical microbiology
laboratory. Performing this stain
correctly on clinical specimens helps
microbiologists and physicians with
rapid, valuable information as to
whether infection is present, and if so,
to categorize the infection.
The Gram stain is clearly a valuable
diagnostic assay, but caution needs to
be exercised both in its application and
in the interpretation of results to pre-
vent the dissemination of misleading
information. Quite simply, a Gram stain
may reveal the presence or absence of
microorganisms, and either result may
or may not be significant or indicative
of infection.
False-negative Gram stains can occur in
infectious diseases that are associated
with low (paucibacillary) microbial
load. In these situations, a negative
Gram stain result may not be equivalent
to no infection. One frequent exam-
ple is that of prosthetic joint infections.
These infections are typically associated
with very low microbial loads. Less
than 10% of specimens from patients
who are actually infected have a posi-
tive Gram stain.
1
In other words, 90%
or more of patients with a definitive
prosthetic joint infection will have a
negative Gram stain result. So, using a
negative Gram stain result to rule-out
infection is not possible.
In addition, the Gram stain is not
100% specific for microorganisms or
infection and, therefore, cannot be used
to conclusively rule-in infection as
well. A commonly recognized cause of a
false-positive Gram
stain is the presence
of contaminating
microorganisms in
the specimen, such as
a sputum specimen.
Less commonly rec-
ognized causes of a
false-positive Gram
stain are the presence
of artifacts, which
may be in one or
more of the different
reagents necessary to
conduct the stain.
Artifacts may also be
present in the specimen,
on the slide, in the immersion oil,
in the system used to transport the
specimen (agar-based transport
swabs), or in the microbiological
culture medium used to grow the
microorganisms.
If used inappropriately, liquid culture
media (e.g. Tryptic Soy Broth,
Brain Heart Infusion Broth, Fluid
Thioglycollate Medium) may produce
false-positive Gram stain results due
to the presence of nonviable microor-
ganisms that arise from the initial
bioburden population of microorgan-
isms in the product. A number of
sources may contribute to the level of
artifacts or nonviable bioburden level
including: biological components of the
dehydrated culture medium; water;
packaging (e.g., tubes, bottles, caps);
processing environment; processing
equipment; and people who come in
contact with the product.
Sterilization is a process designed to
eliminate viable microorganisms from a
material or medium.
2
At BD, a variety
of methods are used to reduce and or
eliminate the bioburden of microorgan-
isms in our microbiological culture
media.
3
These methods include terminal
moist-heat sterilization (autoclaving),
irradiation and filtration (performed in
conjunction with aseptic filling).
The primary objective of autoclaving is
to provide the appropriate amount of
heat that will result in a low probability
of non-sterility yet not adversely affect
the appearance or performance of the
product. This can be a challenge with
media formulations that have high
levels of simple sugars (e.g., glucose)
and amino acids from proteins (e.g.,
lysine) that react under heat, resulting
in Maillard browning
4
and an undesir-
able appearance. Although autoclaving
reduces the viable bioburden, the
process does not remove the microor-
ganisms destroyed in the process or
their remains, particularly nonviable
whole cells, cell wall fragments, toxins
and other proteins. These remains
become the recognizable artifacts
visible following a simple staining
procedure such as the Gram stain.
These nonviable structures in the
medium may also contribute to a false-
positive Gram stain result.
TechniTopics
BD LabO volume 16 number 1 3
Continued on page 11
The Gram Stain Revisited
The Gram stain is clearly a valuable diagnostic assay,
but caution needs to be exercised both in its application
and in the interpretation of results to prevent the
dissemination of misleading information.
BD BACTEC
System News
4 BD LabO volume 16 number 1
The BACTEC
.
At this time, we are pleased to add 13 new members of the club. In addition,
we have prepared an updated list of all the organisms recovered on the
BACTEC 9000 series instruments. Since the last list was published in June 2002,
36 organisms have been added for a grand total of 272 organisms!
Why dont you join the club? If you
have an unusual organism isolated
from any of the BACTEC 9000 series
instruments (9240, 9120, 9050 and
9000MB), see if it is listed on the
BACTEC 9000 Culture Club form on
page 5. If its not listed, complete the
form on page 6 and send it in to receive
your complimentary BD Portfolio!
There is no limit to the number of
forms that can be submitted.
For more information on the
BACTEC
System News
Aerobic Gram-Negative
Organisms
Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter lwoffi
Acinetobacter sp.
Aeromonas hydrophila
Aeromonas sp.
Alcaligenes faecalis
Alcaligenes xylosoxidans
subsp. xylosoxidans
Bordetella pertussis
Brevundimonas diminuta
Brevundimonas vesicularis
Brucella suis
Brucella sp.
Burkholderia cepacia
Burkholderia pickettii
Burkholderia
pseudomallei
Campylobacter fetus
Campylobacter jejuni
subsp. jejuni
Campylobacter sp.
Capnocytophaga
canimorsus
Capnocytophaga
cynodegmi
Cardiobacterium hominis
Chromobacterium
violaceum
Chryseobacterium
indologenes
Chryseobacterium
meningosepticum
Chryseomonas luteola
Citrobacter amalonaticus
Citrobacter diversus
Citrobacter freundii
Citrobacter sp.
Comamonas acidovorans
Eikenella corrodens
Enterobacter aerogenes
Enterobacter agglomerans
Enterobacter
cancerogenus
Enterobacter cloacae
Enterobacter sakazakii
Escherichia coli
Escherichia vulneris
Flavobacterium sp.
Haemophilus aphrophilus
Haemophilus influenzae
Haemophilus
parainfluenzae
Haemophilus
paraphrophilus
Haemophilus sp.
Helicobacter rappini
Kingella kingae
Kingella sp.
Klebsiella oxytoca
Klebsiella ozaenae
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Kluyvera ascorbata
Kluyvera sp.
Methylobacterium
mesophilicum
Methylobacterium sp.
Moraxella catarrhalis
Moraxella nonliquefaciens
Moraxella sp.
Morganella morganii
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria meningitidis
Neisseria mucosa
Neisseria sicca
Neisseria subflava
Neisseria sp.
Ochrobactrum anthropi
Pasteurella multocida
Plesiomonas shigelloides
Proteus mirabilis
Proteus penneri
Proteus vulgaris
Providencia alcalifaciens
Providencia rettgeri
Providencia stuartii
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Pseudomonas fluorescens
group
Psychrobacter immobilis
Rhizobium (Agrobacterium)
radiobacter
Riemerella anatipestifer
Roseomonas sp.
Salmonella arizonae
Salmonella paratyphi A
Salmonella typhi
Salmonella serotype
Montevideo
Salmonella sp., Grp B
Salmonella sp., Grp D
Salmonella sp., Grp G
Salmonella sp.
Serratia liquefaciens
Serratia marcescens
Serratia plymuthica
Shewanella putrefaciens
Shigella sonnei
Shigella sp.
Sphingomonas
paucimobilis
Stenotrophomonas
maltophilia
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
Vibrio cholerae, non-01
Vibrio fluvialis
Vibrio mimicus
Vibrio vulnificus
Yersinia enterocolitica
Aerobic Gram-Positive
Organisms
Aerococcus sp.
Arthrobacter sp.
Aureobacterium sp.
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus licheniformis
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus sp.
Brevibacterium casei
Brevibacterium
paucivorans
Cellulomonas sp.
Corynebacterium Grp B-1
Corynebacterium Grp D-2
Corynebacterium
aquaticum
Corynebacterium jeikeium
Corynebacterium striatum
Corynebacterium xerosis
Corynebacterium sp.
Dermabacter hominis
Enterococcus avium
Enterococcus casseliflavus
Enterococcus durans
Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecium
Enterococcus gallinarum
Enterococcus sp.
Erysipelothrix
rhusiopathiae
Facklamia hominis
Gemella morbillorum
Lactococcus sp.
Leuconostoc sp.
Listeria monocytogenes
Micrococcus sp.
Oerskovia sp.
Pediococcus sp.
Rhodococcus equi
Rhodococcus sp.
Roseomonas sp.
Rothia dentocariosa
Rothia mucilaginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus auricularis
Staphylococcus capitis
Staphylococcus cohnii
Staphylococcus
epidermidis
Staphylococcus
haemolyticus
Staphylococcus hominis
Staphylococcus
lugdunensis
Staphylococcus
saccharolyticus
Staphylococcus
saprophyticus
Staphylococcus schleiferi
Staphylococcus sciuri
Staphylococcus simulans
Staphylococcus warneri
Staphylococcus xylosus
Stomatococcus
mucilaginosus
Stomatococcus sp.
Streptococcus
acidominimus
Streptococcus anginosus
Streptococcus bovis
Streptococcus constellatus
Streptococcus intermedius
Streptococcus milleri
Streptococcus mitis
Streptococcus mutans
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus salivarius
Streptococcus sanguis
Streptococcus uberis
Streptococcus vestibularis
Streptococcus Grp A
Streptococcus Grp B
Streptococcus Grp C
Streptococcus Grp D
Streptococcus Grp F
Streptococcus Grp G
Streptococcus sp.,
gamma hemolytic
Streptococcus sp.,
nutritionally variant
Streptococcus sp., viridans
Weissella confusa
Anaerobic Organisms
Anaerobiospirillum
succiniciproducens
Bacteroides caccae
Bacteroides fragilis
Bacteroides fragilis group
Bacteroides
melaninogenicus
Bacteroides ovatus
Bacteroides splanchnicus
Bacteroides
thetaiotaomicron
Bacteroides ureolyticus
Bacteroides vulgatus
Bacteroides sp.
Bifidobacterium sp.
Clostridium butyricum
Clostridium
clostridioforme
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium innocuum
Clostridium limosum
Clostridium
paraperfringens
Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium ramosum
Clostridium septicum
Clostridium sporogenes
Clostridium tertium
Clostridium sp.
Eubacterium lentum
Eubacterium limosum
Eubacterium sp.
Fusobacterium mortiferum
Fusobacterium
necrophorum
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Fusobacterium varium
Fusobacterium sp.
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus sp.
Leptotrichia buccalis
Peptococcus sp.
Peptostreptococcus
anaerobius
Peptostreptococcus
asaccharolyticus
Peptostreptococcus
prevotii
Peptostreptococcus sp.
Porphyromonas
endodontalis
Porphyromonas gingivalis
Prevotella bivia
Prevotella buccae
Prevotella oralis
Prevotella oris
Propionibacterium acnes
Propionibacterium sp.
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
Veillonella parvula
Veillonella sp.
Yeast/Fungi Organisms
Alternaria sp.
Aspergillus niger
Candida albicans
Candida guilliermondii
Candida kefyr
Candida krusei
Candida lusitaniae
Candida parapsilosis
Candida stellatoidea
Candida tropicalis
Coccidioides immitis
Cryptococcus neoformans
Fusarium sp.
Histoplasma capsulatum
Malassezia furfur
Prototheca sp.
Rhodotorula rubra
Rhodotorula sp.
Torulopsis glabrata
Trichophyton rubrum
Actinomycetes
Actinomyces odontolyticus
Actinomyces viscosus
Actinomyces sp.
Nocardia asteroides
Nocardia farcinica
Streptomyces sp.
Mycobacteria
Mycobacterium
avium-intracellulare
Mycobacterium chelonae
Mycobacterium flavescens
Mycobacterium fortuitum
Mycobacterium
malmoense
Mycobacterium
mucogenicum
Mycobacterium neoaurum
Mycobacterium simiae
Mycobacterium sp.
Mycobacterium terrae
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Mycobacterium xenopi
Others
Leptotrichia sp.
BACTEC
/F Systems
BD BACTEC
System News
To meet the demand for automated
systems that detect, monitor, audit and
communicate information on patient
infections, emerging resistance and
nosocomial events, BD announces the
availability of EpiCenter
Version 5
Software. The EpiCenter Microbiology
Data Management System centralizes
the operation and data management for
the BD BACTEC
, BD BACTEC
MGIT
microbiology systems.
For the microbiology lab, the EpiCenter
System provides efficient-consistency in
the production and communication of
microbiology results. The EpiCenter
System assists the laboratory in meeting
the need for rapid microbiology on all
shifts by improving the efficiency in the
review of results. This enables managers
to achieve staffing and quality assurance
efficiencies. EpiCenter integrated fea-
tures like Pro-Active Alerts and
Expertised Results improve result
consistency from every technologist.
In addition, the EpiCenter System
integrates continuous education
features into the software enabling
new or existing users to continually get
more from the system. These capabili-
ties ensure that the laboratory efficiently
delivers the most accurate and timely
results for their patients.
Outside the lab, the EpiCenter System
conveys real-time, patient-focused
epidemiology. EpiCenter Version 5
Software has an optional Multi-User
capability. Ancillary departments, such
as Infection Control and Pharmacy, can
provide direct patient benefits while
increasing their efficiency by using this
secure, direct access to the Microbiology
Departments data. As an example,
Infection Control Officers can effective-
ly monitor and investigate emerging
resistance and nosocomial events.
Using another EpiCenter Version 5
optional module, BD EpiCARE
Version 5 Software:
Latest Software Benefits Microbiology,
Infection Control and Pharmacy Departments
Product Highlights
Product Highlights
8 BD LabO volume 16 number 1
Now Available
BD CultureSwab
MaxV
Maximizing Recovery of Microorganisms
BD CultureSwab
MaxV(+) Amies Gel w/o Charcoal, Single Swab 50 swabs per pack
220236 BD CultureSwab
MaxV(+) Amies Gel w/o Charcoal, Double Swab 50 swabs per pack
Reason 3: Patented
Venturi-constriction
designed to maintain
media moisture and
minimize oxidation by
forcing breaks or
bubbles out of the
agar, enhancing
microbial survival.
BD CultureSwab MaxV, for aerobic transport, and BD CultureSwab
MaxV(+), for aerobic and anaerobic transport, can be used for collection
of throat, vaginal, skin and wound specimens.
For more information on BD CultureSwab
MaxV or other BD
Collection and Transport Products, mark the appropriate box(es) on the
reader response card or contact your local BD sales representative.
Reason 2: Nitrogen flushed
gas-impermeable packaging
seals-in the nitrogen gas, which
protects the media from
exposure to oxidation and
moisture, assuring optimal
performance.
Reason 1: BD CultureSwab MaxV features a unique swab design consisting
of hypoallergenic, non-animal proteins embedded into the rayon swab fibers
to maximize organism viability. Protein provides additional nutrients for
maintaining microorganisms, especially fastidious species, without creating
organism overgrowth.
S
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a
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i
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t
e
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i
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.
BD LabO volume 16 number 1 9
Product Highlights
The prevalence of nosocomial infections
caused by MRSA has been increasing
for several years in many countries
around the world.
1
The U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
estimates that between 60,000 and
80,000 Americans die each year from
nosocomial infections and the cause
in the majority of cases is S. aureus.
BBL CHROMagar MRSA allows
microbiology laboratories to identify
patients colonized with MRSA more
quickly and easily than the time-con-
suming and labor-intensive processes
currently available. BBL CHROMagar
MRSA allows for the direct detection
and identification of most MRSA within
24 hours. The cost benefits associated
with reducing nosocomial infections
can be significant.
This technology will be extremely
useful to those who wish to identify
patients colonized with MRSA, said
Dr. Bill Jarvis of Emory University
School of Medicine and President, Jason
and Jarvis Associates. Since MRSA
colonization leads to infection in a
specific patient and is a risk factor for
transmission of MRSA to other patients,
rapid identification of those with MRSA
colonization will reduce the risk of
infection in colonized patients, by
enabling their clinicians to intervene,
and reduce the risk of patient-to-patient
transmission by permitting isolation of
those who are MRSA-colonized.
Furthermore, this technology will
markedly increase the rate at which
community-associated or hospital-
acquired MRSA patients are identified.
Thus, more rapid isolation and treat-
ment can occur. The multiple benefits
of this rapid identification method
will improve patient treatment, reduce
the risk of transmission in healthcare
settings, and reduce the burden of
MRSA in U.S. hospitals.
BBL CHROMagar MRSA utilizes a
new chromogenic technology, which
permits the detection of MRSA using
chromogenic substrates and antibiotics.
MRSA strains will grow in the presence
of cefoxitin
2
and produce mauve-colored
colonies resulting from hydrolysis of the
chromogenic substrate. Additional
selective agents are incorporated for the
suppression of gram-negative organisms,
yeast and some gram-positive
cocci. Bacteria other than MRSA
may utilize other chromogenic
substrates in the medium result-
ing in blue to blue/green colored
colonies or if no chromogenic
substrates are utilized, the
colonies appear as white
or colorless.
In clinical evaluations, BBL
CHROMagar MRSA displayed
7% greater recovery
3
of MRSA
than traditional screening algorithms
and has the capability to identify
MRSA earlier than most traditional
algorithms. This unique technology
requires less technologist time and
improves the workflow in the labora-
tory. BBL CHROMagar MRSA allows
for the direct detection and identifica-
tion of most MRSA within 24 hours,
or at 48 hours with a confirmatory
coagulase test.
For more information on BBL
CHROMagar MRSA, mark the appro-
priate box on the reader response card.
1
Reacher, M.H. et al. 2000. Bacteremia and antibiotic
resistance of its pathogens reported in England and
Wales between 1990 and 1998:trend analysis. Br.
Med. J. 320:213-6.
2
National Committee for Clinical Laboratory
Standards. 2004. Performance standards for antimi-
crobial susceptibility testing; Fourteenth Informational
Supplement, M100-S14. National Committee for
Clinical Laboratory Standards, Wayne, Pa.
3
BBL CHROMagar MRSA package insert.
BBL
CHROMagar
MRSA
The New Standard in Rapid MRSA Screening
We are pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Admini-
stration has cleared BBL
CHROMagar
CHROMagar
MRSA 20
ALSO AVAILABLE
254102 BBL
CHROMagar
Orientation 20
215081 BBL
CHROMagar
Orientation 100
254093 BBL
CHROMagar
Candida 20
214982 BBL
CHROMagar
Staph aureus 20
214984 BBL
CHROMagar
O157 20
214983 BBL
CHROMagar
Salmonella 20
10 BD LabO volume 16 number 1
Product Highlights
BBL
Media Enhancements
As a microbiology company and a leader in media
development and manufacturing, we feel it is
important to routinely reassess our products and
improve them. From new formulations such as the
exclusive BBL
CHROMagar
family of products to
improvements on older formulations, BD
Diagnostics remains committed to providing the
highest quality products for infectious disease diag-
nosis. Recently, we have enhanced two of our tradi-
tional media formulations, BBL Salmonella Shigella
Agar and BBL Chocolate II Agar.
In both cases, we have made subtle proprietary processing
and formulation adjustments to improve the product our
customers require. For Salmonella Shigella Agar, the
improvements made reduce the amount of naturally
occurring precipitates that may become evident in this
routinely used microbiological medium. Precipitation inside
Salmonella Shigella Agar can sometimes resemble fungal
elements embedded in the agar. These artifacts can lead some
laboratories to discard Salmonella Shigella Agar needlessly,
thinking the medium is contaminated. The enhancement we
have made will reduce waste and discards in the laboratory.
For Chocolate II Agar, we have applied our 60+ years of
culture media development experience to produce a product,
which we believe to be significantly different in performance
than any other on the market. Growth of fastidious organ-
isms, such as Haemophilus spp. and Neisseria spp., is rich
and robust with textbook morphologies on BBL Chocolate II
Agar. Reproducibility of organism morphology and consis-
tent results are key features in this enhancement of BBL
Chocolate II Agar.
Contact your local BD media representative if you would
like to learn more about BBL Salmonella Shigella Agar or
Chocolate II Agar. We are confident that you will
immediately recognize the quality and excellence that is
paramount to the BBL family of media products.
Salmonella and Shigella Agar
Chocolate II Agar
Cat. No. Description Qty/Pkg
221181 BBL
Chocolate II Agar 20
221267 BBL
Antisera
New Salmonella & Shigella Grouping Sets
Similarly, UV and gamma irradiation
will reduce the levels of viable microor-
ganisms in a finished product, but these
processes do not physically remove the
nonviable microorganisms, residuals or
other artifacts that are a result of the
sterilization process.
Sterile filtration is a useful method for
sterilizing liquids and gases. Filtration
physically removes viable and nonviable
microorganisms from the final product
rather than destroying them during the
manufacturing process. After filtration,
aseptic handling controls must be in
place to prevent contamination from
the environment, process equipment
and personnel. However, not all culture
media are filterable, especially those
containing thickening agents like agar
or gelatin (e.g., Fluid Thioglycollate
Medium).
Given these facts, caution should be
exercised when performing Gram stains
on liquid culture media. These media
are designed, developed and manufac-
tured for growing microorganisms.
Therefore, liquid culture media should
not be used for performing Gram stains
directly on specimens (e.g., tissue biop-
sy). In addition, caution must be used
when Gram staining suspicious micro-
bial growth in liquid culture media.
In conclusion, Gram stain results are
affected by many variables and care
must be taken in its application and
interpretation.
1
Atkins, B.L., et al. 1998. Prospective evaluation of cri-
teria for microbiological diagnosis of prosthetic-joint
infection at revision arthroplasty. J. Clin. Microbiol.
36:2932.
2
Akers, J. and J. Agalloco. 1997. Sterility and sterility
assurance. PDA J. Pharm. Sci. & Tech. 51:72.
3
Difco & BBL Manual. 2003. Becton, Dickinson and
Company, Sparks, MD.
4
Maillard Reaction (BrowningReaction) L. C.
Maillard, Compt. Rend. 154, 66 (1912); Ann. Chim.
9, 5, 258 (1916).
Gram Stain Revisited
Continued from page 3
Description Size Cat. No.
Salmonella O Grouping Antisera Set 241107
contains one of each of the following:
Salmonella O Antiserum Group A Factors 1, 2, 12 3 mL 229471
Salmonella O Antiserum Group B Factors 1, 4, 12, 27 3 mL 229731
Salmonella O Antiserum Group B Factors 1, 4, 5, 12 3 mL 229481
Salmonella O Antiserum Group C1 Factors 6, 7 3 mL 229491
Salmonella O Antiserum Group C2 Factors 6, 8 3 mL 229501
Salmonella O Antiserum Group D1 Factors 1, 9, 12 3 mL 229511
Salmonella O Antiserum Group E Factors 1, 3, 10, 15, 19, 34 3 mL 228191
Salmonella O Antiserum Group F Factor 11 3 mL 222601
Salmonella O Antiserum Group G Factors 13, 22, 23 (36), (37) 3 mL 230291
Salmonella O Antiserum Group H Factors 1, 6, 14, 24, 25 3 mL 222621
Salmonella O Antiserum Group I Factor 16 3 mL 222631
Salmonella Vi Antiserum 3mL 228271
Salmonella O Antiserum Poly A-I & Vi Factors 1-16, 19, 22-25, 34, Vi 3 mL 222641
Description Size Cat. No.
Shigella Grouping Antisera Set 241108
contains one of each of the following:
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group A 3 mL 228341
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group A
1 3 mL 227761
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group B 3 mL 228351
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group C 3 mL 228361
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group C1 3 mL 227771
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group C2 3 mL 227781
Shigella Antiserum Poly Group D 3 mL 228371
Gram stain results
are affected by many
variables and care must
be taken in its application
and interpretation.
The BD Nasopharyngeal Specimen Collection Wall Chart has
been updated and is now available. Utilize this reference by
posting throughout your facility wherever nasopharyngeal
samples are collected. This chart is one of many tools that
BD provides to customers free-of-charge.
The BD Nasopharyngeal Specimen Collection Wall Chart
provides guidance on methods of collection, materials
and specimen transport to the laboratory. Four methods
of collection are featured with illustrations and
step-by-step instructions:
Vacuum-assisted nasopharyngeal aspirate collection,
Nasopharyngeal swab collection,
Nasopharyngeal wash bulb collection, and
Nasopharyngeal wash syringe collection.
Also featured are BD CultureSwab
,
BD ProbeTec
, BD Viper
or BD EpiCenter
MGIT
and BBL
brands of
dehydrated and prepared media manufactured by BD
Diagnostics. This team, consisting of highly motivated and
skilled microbiologists who are experienced in the fields of
both clinical and industrial microbiology procedures, is
designed to provide our customers consultation and solu-
tions to their media needs.
The team is responsible for:
Providing clinical and industrial microbiology technical
assistance for our media customers via our toll-free num-
ber 800.638.8663.
Championing technical and service issues that impact our
worldwide media customers.
Monitoring customer product incident reports for media
product lines and working closely with our Quality
Department to communicate product trends.
Providing technical support tools through our Worldwide
Service Organization to international customers.
The Industrial and Clinical Media Advisory Team is com-
mitted to continuing the tradition of excellence of BD Difco
and BBL media.
BD Diagnostics Service Organization News
BD LabO volume 16 number 1 15
Micro Happenings
FIND (Foundation for Innovative New
Diagnostics) and BD have formed an interna-
tional collaboration aimed at improving diag-
nosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-
infected patients in developing countries.
TB is the leading cause of death in AIDS
patients in high-burdened countries, mainly in
sub-Saharan Africa. TB is particularly difficult
to diagnose in AIDS patients because they
often have few or no TB bacteria in their spu-
tum; thus, the standard diagnostic procedure
using microscopy is insensitive. Classical cul-
ture methods for TB are more sensitive, but
notoriously slow, typically requiring 21 to 42
days. BD has developed an improved culture
method, the BD MGIT
(Mycobacteria Growth
Indicator Tube) system, which provides results
within 10 to 14 days. The BD MGIT technology
can be used both for detection of the bacteria causing TB as well as for
the determination of resistance to the TB drugs routinely used for treat-
ment. The BD MGIT system is now widely used in industrialized countries
but not in the developing world.
Ed Ludwig, President and CEO, BD, said, BD is committed to providing
technologies which can help alleviate the impact of TB and HIV globally.
BD is pleased to enter into this agreement with FIND, which is aimed at
making these technologies more accessible to the public health sector of
high-burdened countries.
Access to quality diagnostic equipment in countries with limited health
resources will improve the management of tuberculosis in HIV-positive
patients, said Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director of the World Health
Organization (WHO) Stop TB Department. This new agreement provides
a blueprint for modern TB technology to be made more widely available
globally, which will help reduce TB deaths and decrease transmission
rates in high risk areas.
The agreement between FIND and BD will operate in two stages.
Demonstration Projects
First, FIND will perform and support projects using certain BD equipment,
reagents, training and support to be purchased from BD in an effort to
demonstrate the effectiveness of more rapid and accurate TB diagnosis in
settings where TB and HIV are common and in areas with high prevalence
of multiple-drug-resistant TB. FIND will conduct these projects in close
cooperation with WHO, the
relevant working groups of
the Stop TB Partnership, and
the Consortium to Respond
Effectively to the AIDS/TB
Epidemic (CREATE) based at
the Johns Hopkins Center for
TB Research. The goal of
these demonstration projects
is to promote the use of this
technology by national TB
control and AIDS programs.
According to Dr. G. Roscigno,
CEO of FIND, The collabora-
tion with BD in the MGIT
project is a significant and
innovative step forward for
FIND. FINDs demonstration
projects using the BD MGIT technology will pave the way for the intro-
duction of critical technologies in the public health sector of developing
countries while contributing to a reduction in mortality particularly in HIV/
TB patients.
Implementation
The second stage is focused on sustainable implementation of this
advanced diagnostic technology in the public health sector. Under this
agreement, BD has committed to provide certain equipment, reagents,
training and support to the public health sector in the high-burdened
countries on terms that will enable them to be purchased and implement-
ed on a sustainable basis.
Helene Gayle, President of the International AIDS Society (IAS) and
Director, HIV, TB and Reproductive Health Program at the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation said, We are particularly pleased that this innovative
collaboration between BD and FIND is addressing one of the most urgent
needs of the TB and HIV community in the developing world.
About FIND
FIND is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to the develop-
ment of diagnostic tests for infectious diseases in developing countries.
FIND was established with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. Driven by the huge burden of disease, the existence of global
control strategies and the capacity to treat detected cases, FIND has
selected tuberculosis as an initial disease focus.
FIND and BD Combine International Efforts
to Improve Rapid Tuberculosis Diagnosis for
HIV-positive Patients in Developing Countries
BBL
CHROMagar
MRSA, for
detection of nasal colonization
by methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
BD CultureSwab
MaxV
specimen collection and transport
swabs, for improved recovery of fastidious
organisms such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae
and Haemophilus influenzae
BD Directigen
Automated Identification/Susceptibility
System, the BD ProbeTec
ET DNA
Amplification System and the BD Viper