Microbiology / Infectious Disease

Elitza Theel, Ph.D., Director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory, discusses eastern equine encephalitis virus, which is spread via mosquito bite.

By Suzanne Ferguson • October 3, 2019

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Elitza Theel, Ph.D., will discuss the detection of (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) in serum as a biomarker for the presence of invasive fungal infections.

By MCL Education • September 9, 2019

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing determines whether these bacteria are susceptible or resistant to a particular antibiotic. Bacteria are added onto plates of solid agar, where each plate has a different and increasing concentration of antibiotic than the previous plate. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that inhibits growth of the bacteria.

By Chris Bahnsen • July 22, 2019

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Robin Patel, M.D., discusses the FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel, describing the panel, her experience with it, and an algorithm for its use.

By MCL Education • July 1, 2019

Mayo Clinic Laboratories is one of the few laboratories in the country to offer two special sequencing-based tests for bacteria in its catalog. The first test is designed to help protect patients by investigating potential outbreaks of a single bacterial species or by identifying recurrent infections in an individual patient. The second has the ability to detect DNA of any bacteria to help identify the cause of an infection.

By Chris Bahnsen • June 4, 2019

Blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) are turning up more frequently in Minnesota, and so are the diseases they carry. Bobbi Pritt, a parasitologist in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, weighs in on the issue.

By Molly Dee • June 4, 2019

Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a common cause of disease in the transplant population. In some patients who are diagnosed with CMV and are on antiviral treatment for infections, the virus may develop resistance to the drugs. This “Hot Topic” will provide an overview of a new test developed by Mayo Clinic Laboratories, which uses next-generation sequencing technology to identify mutations in the genome of CMV that may be associated with antiviral resistance.

By MCL Education • May 13, 2019

Joseph Yao, M.D., gives an overview of this new test available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon other testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • May 8, 2019

Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, was recently featured in an article in CAP TODAY discussing how to recognize parasites in tissue.

By Hannah Crawford • March 22, 2019

Robin Patel, M.D., Chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was recently featured in Clinical Laboratory News about antibiotic-resistant infections and shortening the time to identify organisms and resistance.

By Suzanne Ferguson • December 17, 2018

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Asian longhorned tick has spread across nine states since it first appeared in the U.S. Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, discusses the risks.

By Kelley Luedke • December 14, 2018

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Robin Patel, M.D., will discuss the importance of accurate diagnosis of prosthetic-joint infection and its management, focusing on the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and definition of arthroplasty failure, as well as discuss diagnostic strategies.

By Robin Patel, M.D. • November 5, 2018

Parasites can be pretty: pretty cute, pretty awesome, and sometimes pretty creepy. This article is part one of a five-part series featuring some of Dr. Bobbi Pritt's "freaky favorites," ranked from 1 (not too scary) to 5 (bad-news bugs). Part five features bad-news bugs that spread malaria.

By Mayo Clinic News Network • November 2, 2018