A multiplex PCR (MPCR) for detection of vanA-and vanB-mediated resistance to vancomycin was optimized and adapted for use in the routine microbiology laboratory. Consecutive specimens (1196) submitted for vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) surveillance were processed by clinical technologists on Bile Esculin Azide Agar containing 6 mg/L vancomycin (BEAA/Vanco6) plates and 466 showing black ...

We study the effect of group size on cooperation in voluntary contribution mechanism games. As in previous experiments, we study fourand eight-person groups in high and low marginal per capita return (MPCR) conditions. We find a positive effect of group size in the low MPCR condition, as in previous experiments. However, in the high MPCR condition we observe a negative group size effect. We ext...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been known to be a rapid and accurate diagnostic test for causative viruses of viral retinitis, but cost is the limiting factor. In the present study an attempt was made to standardize a multiplex PCR (mPCR) on intraocular specimens from patients with viral retinitis for the detection of one or more viruses [herpes simplex virus (HSV),...

OBJECTIVE To assess whether multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) vs non-mPCR testing impacts the use of antibiotics, chest radiographs, and isolation precautions. STUDY DESIGN We retrospectively compared use of antibiotics, chest radiographs, and isolation precautions for patients <18 years old (excluding neonates) hospitalized at a tertiary referral center tested for respiratory pathog...

INTRODUCTION Serotype surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae is indispensable for evaluating the potential impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Serotyping by the standard Quellung reaction is technically demanding, time consuming, and expensive. A simple and economical strategy is multiplex PCR-based serotyping. We evaluated the cost effectiveness of a modified serial multiplex PCR (mPC...

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay was developed for detection and characterization of pathogenic Escherichia coli that cause diarrhea and edema disease in swine. The mPCR assay was designed as a single reaction for detecting 5 different adhesins (K88, K99, 987P, F41, and F18), 3 enterotoxins (LT, STaP, and STb), and the Shiga toxin (Stx2e) associated with porcine pathogenic E. ...

Introduction: Serotype surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae is indispensable for evaluating the potential impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Serotyping by the standard Quellung reaction is technically demanding, time consuming, and expensive. A simple and economical strategy is multiplex PCR-based serotyping. We evaluated the cost effectiveness of a modified serial multiplex PCR (mP...

Two molecular biology methods were used to differentiate Salmonella enterica 1,4,[5],12:i:- strains: "Salmonella Check&Trace microarray" (CT) and multiplex PCR (mPCR). For 92 strains in CT result "Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-" were obtained. Those strains were confirmed in mPCR as monophasic fljB-lack Salmonella Typhimurium. For 17 strains, which in CT assay were recognized as Salmonella Typhimuri...

We investigate experimentally whether the extent of conditional cooperation in public good games depends on the marginal per capita return (MPCR) to the public good and type of game. The MPCR is varied from 0.2 to 0.4 to 0.8. The ‘standard’ game, in which three players contribute before a follower, is compared with a leader-follower game, in which one player leads and three follow. Even though ...

Haemophilus parasuis is classified mainly through serotyping, but traditional serotyping always yields non-typable (NT) strains and unreliable results via cross-reactions. Here, we surveyed the serotype prevalence of Chinese H. parasuis isolates using traditional serotyping (gel immuno-diffusion test, GID) and molecular serotyping (multiplex PCR, mPCR). We also investigated why discrepant resul...