Saskatchewan Health

About: Saskatchewan Health is a government organization based out in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 442 authors who have published 489 publications receiving 7728 citations.

Canadian recommendations for laboratory interpretation of multiple or extensive drug resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract: The goal of this document was to provide Canadian laboratories with a framework for consistent reporting and monitoring of multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) and extensively drug resistant organisms (XDRO) for common gram-negative pathogens. This is the final edition of the interim recommendations, which were modified after one year of broad consultative review. This edition represents a consensus of peer-reviewed information and was co-authored by the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network and the Canadian Association of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. There are two main recommendations. The first recommendation provides standardized definitions for MDRO and XDRO for gram-negative organisms in clinical specimens. These definitions were limited to antibiotics that are commonly tested clinically and, to reduce ambiguity, resistance (rather than non-susceptibility) was used to calculate drug resistance status. The second recommendation identifies the use of standardized laboratory reporting of organisms identified as MDRO or XDRO. Through the broad consultation, which included public health and infection prevention and control colleagues, these definitions are ready to be applied for policy development. Both authoring organizations intend to review these recommendations regularly as antibiotic resistance testing evolves in Canada.

Comparison of the effectiveness of polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay in detecting Chlamydia trachomatis in different female genitourinary specimens.

Abstract: ○ Background.-In high-volume laboratories, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is the most commonly used method of detecting Chlamydia trachomatis. The optimal specimen for detecting C trachomatis is a combined urethral and cervical swab. Objective.-To compare EIA with the combined urethral and cervical swab with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on urine alone and urine mixed with cervical cells. Patients and Methods.-Phase 1 of the study included 752 sets of specimens used for comparison. In phase 2, another 212 samples of urine and urine plus cervical cells were added to the study for comparison of the 2 specimen types using PCR. Results.-In phase 1, 648 samples were negative and 76 were positive by all 3 methods and specimen combinations. Enzyme immunoassay was able to detect 81 positive samples (10.8%), whereas PCR on urine alone detected 97 positive samples (12.9%) and PCR on urine plus cervical cells detected 102 positive samples (13.6%), giving a sensitivity of 75%, 93.3%, and 98.1% respectively. In phase 2, PCR on urine alone detected 119 positive samples (12.3%) and PCR on urine plus cervical cells detected 127 positive samples (13.1 %), with a sensitivity of 92.2% and 98.5%, respectively. Conclusion.-Polymerase chain reaction on urine alone or urine plus cervical cells is superior to EIA on combined cervical and urethral swabs. There is a slight advantage of adding cervical cells to the urine compared with the urine specimen alone when PCR is used as the assay for detection. The total inhibition rate in our female population is only 3.1% when PCR is used.

Normal Values for Pentachlorophenol in Urine Samples Collected from a General Population

Abstract: Aliquots of urine samples collected over a 24-h period from normal individuals were analyzed for pentachlorophenol (PCP). Urine samples were taken from subjects living in various regions (both rural and urban) throughout the province of Saskatchewan. Urinary PCP concentrations were determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The normal PCP concentrations were found to range from 0.05 to 3.6 ng/mliters. Because the aliquots analyzed were taken from 24-h sample collections, the normal range of PCP excreted on a daily basis was determined. A total of 69 samples taken from 26 males and 43 females who ranged in age from 6 to 87 years were analyzed. The average amount of excreted PCP was determined to be 4.3 nmol/day.