Microbiology / Infectious Disease

In this “Hot Topic,” Elitza Theel, Ph.D., discusses how common cases of presumed Lyme disease go unreported each year and discusses scenarios in which testing for Lyme disease is indicated and reviews both recommended and inappropriate testing methodologies. The overall focus is on performance of the CDC endorsed two-tiered serologic testing algorithm and the latest CDC recommendations.

The new Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, PCR, Feces test is now available to the Mayo Clinic practice and Mayo Medical Laboratories clients.

Infectious diarrhea is a common and usually self-limited illness. While most patients with infectious causes of diarrhea will get better on their own, there are certain scenarios in which testing is indicated. The The FilmArray gastrointestinal panel is a multiplex PCR test delivering rapid and cost-effective testing results. It is capable of detecting DNA or RNA of 22 pathogens in approximately 1 hour from stool submitted to the laboratory.

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is among the most common bacterial infections worldwide with approximately one-half of the world’s population infected. Several invasive and noninvasive testing methods are available to detect H pylori infection.

During summer activities, it's bound to happen. But how dangerous is it to accidentally swallow a bug? Bobbi Pritt, M.D., a microbiologist, pathologist, and Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, discusses when swallowing an insect is harmless and which ones can be dangerous in The Wall Street Journal column entitled, "Burning Question."