- Email: [email protected]
A reply to the editors
Letters to the Editor We are concerned about the safety of a procedure described by Dr. Thomas E. Davis (Clin. Microb. Ncwslett. 14:97-100, 1992), who recommends harvesting mycobacteria for DNA probe identification by high speed centrifugation of broth cultures in a microcentrifuge. To the best of our knowledge, no study has established that this procedure can be done without the potential for generating infectious aerosols. In an effort to contain potential aerosols, some laboratories are placing the microcentrifuge in a class II, type A biological safety cabinet (BSC), but it should be recognized that the high-speed aerosols accidently gener-
In their interesting case report (1), Greiner and Jones discuss an Actinomyces-like bacterium and point out that its role in human pathology has been complicated by taxonomic shifts: first, Actinomyces propionicus, later Arachnia propionica, and, f'mally, on the basis of sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA, it has found its home in the genus Propionibacterium. But surely, Propionibacterium propionicum. "Um" nouns in Latin belong to the second declension and are neuter, if my memory serves me well. It may not be important, but if we are going to use Latin binomials for classification, let us get our genders right!
ated by a microcentrifuge will escape through the front laminar flow panel. It is possible that modifications of either the tubes or the centrifuge could eliminate the potential for accidental release of aerosols. Perhaps a closed centrifuge head, sealed by an O-ring, that is only opened within a BSC could provide a high level of containment; however, we know of no data that demonstrate the safe use of microcentrifuges for pelleting viable mycobacteria. One of us (J. H.) has experienced leakage from screw-capped microcentrifuge tubes that were sealed with rubber rings. Until safety data have been generated, laboratories should concentrate
Greiner, T. C. and R. N. Jones. 1992. Propionibacterium propionicus (Actinomyces propionicus, Arachnia propionica) pulmonary infection:presentationas a soft tissue chest wall mass. Clin. Microbiol. Newslett. 14:117-118.
broth mycobacterial cultures in a conventional centrifuge using covered safety cups. This may require longer spins and greater centrifuge speeds (to attain higher g forces) than required for processing primary specimens. Edward P, Desmond
California Department of Health Services Berkeley, CA Janet A. Hindler Medical Center Los Angeles, CA Marie B. Coyle Harborview Medical Center Unh,ersity of Washington Seattle, WA
port provides a detailed nomenclature and reference to a "full description of the species in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology" (1986). Is it "urn" or "us" who needs to be scolded? Lawrence J. Kunz, Ph.D.
Formerly, Director Bacteriology Laboratory Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA 02114
Prof. Dr. D. M. MacLaren Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Un&ersiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A Reply To the Editors In his letter, D. M. MacLaren criticized the terminology used by Greiner and Jones (1). In their case report, Greiner and Jones appropriately attributed the specific epithet "propionicus" to Charfreitag and two coauthors in reference to their prior publication (2). That this citation had been published in the authoritative International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology provides (for me at least) a large measure of confidence in the acceptability of the specific "us" with the generic "urn." The last paragraph of the reclassification re-
Our laboratory received three operating room specimens from a patient who was to have a total hip replacement. Gram stain results from the specimen were as follows: hip joint---occasional
gram-negative bacilli; femoral can~--occasional gram-positive cocci; acetabulum--occasional gram-positive cocci. The orthopedic surgeon did not expect such f'mdings and delayed the pro-
cedure until culture results became available. The cultures were negative after3 d. Because there was no growth in the cultures, we made Gram stains of the
ClinicalMicrobiologyNewsletter15:12,1993
@1993ElsevierSciencePublishingCo.,Inc.
1. Greiner, T. C. and R. N, Jones. 1992.
Propionibacterium propionicus (Actinomyces propionicus, Arachnia propionica) pulmonary infection: presentation as a soft tissue chest wall mass. Clin. Microbiol. Newslett. 14:117-118. 2. Charfreitag, O., M. D. Collins, and E. Stackebrandt. 1988. Reclassification of Arachnia propionica as Propionibacterium propionicus. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 19:267-272.
0196-4399/93/$0.00+ 06.00
9.5
i
ii
soft agar medium from several new culture collection devices and observed occasional gram-positive cocci and gramnegative bacilli in all smears prepared. When we contacted the manufacturers of the culture collection kits, we were informed that agar is usually contaminated with bacteria, and microbiologists should expect to observe
,
, ,,,r.,.,,,
I
occasional or rare, nonviable bacteria in Gram-stained smears prepared from agar-containing devices. This finding was reported to the FDA Medical Device Office. The presence of nonviable bacteria in culture collection devices is not only confusing to microbiologists and physicians but can have severe consequences
to patients, tt cannot be tolerated. Since agar may be c o n t a i n S , a different medium; free of nonviable bacteria, should be used in the manufacture of culture collection/transport devices. Spyros D. Kominos, Sc.D. Clinical MicrobiologyLaboratory Mercy Hospital Pittsburgh, PA 15219
•
iii
iii
ii
Ill
I
General laformatlou
Editors Mary Jane Ferraro Paul A. Granato
Subscription iofonnation can be found inside the front cover.
Josephine A. Morello R.J. Z a b r a n s k y
@ 1993 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. ISSN 0196-4399 CMNEEJ 15(12)89-96, 1993
This newsletter has been registor~l with the Copyt~ht Clearance Center, Inc. Coment is given for cepym$ articles for penmml or intenml me, or for the penmml or internal use of specific cheats. 1~alscoment is given on the condition that the copier psy through the ~ the per-copy fee staled in the code on the fu'n page for cow/ing b~ond ;kat pennitO~dW / ~ US Copyrigl~ Law. If no code appears on an an/de, the m d ~ r lure not given tmmi consent to copy and perminion to copy must be obtained dimply from the author. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, mmle, a ~ i n g and promotional puq)mes, or for ereatin8 new collective works. Add~Js onlers, dmallm of addles, and claims for missing issues to Journal Fuk~llmeot ~ Ehevier Science Putgishin I Co.. Inc,,,655 Avenne of the Amedcu, New York, NY 10010, Clalr~ for mimdngimles can be honoredonly up to tlweemonthsfor domegic addmmes and sixmondtsforforeignadsheuet. 13~icate cowes will not be sent to replace ones unddivemd due to failure to noti~ Elsevier of change of ~ s .
Elsevier
Poatammer. Send adds.am duress, to C~ucai Microhiok~y NcwdeU~, El~vier Science Publigung Co., Inc., 655 Avenue of the Amm/cas, New Yolk, MY 10010. ~l/torids sad !_~_:_~_~ in ~ mwskauNr me published for the ia~n~t of the readers and do not nece.mmrilyn ~ dm opl~iomsof th® ~tmm. Clinical Micro~ololy New~euer is abstracted in Tropical Diseazes Builetin mul Ahso~¢~ on H y S ~ Commumcaide DiJe~e~.
96
01964399/93/$0.00÷
06.00
@ 1993 ElsevierSciencePublishingCo., Inc.
Clinical MicrobiologyNewsLetter15:12,1993
In their interesting case report (1), Greiner and Jones discuss an Actinomyces-like bacterium and point out that its role in human pathology has been complicated by taxonomic shifts: first, Actinomyces propionicus, later Arachnia propionica, and, f'mally, on the basis of sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA, it has found its home in the genus Propionibacterium. But surely, Propionibacterium propionicum. "Um" nouns in Latin belong to the second declension and are neuter, if my memory serves me well. It may not be important, but if we are going to use Latin binomials for classification, let us get our genders right!
ated by a microcentrifuge will escape through the front laminar flow panel. It is possible that modifications of either the tubes or the centrifuge could eliminate the potential for accidental release of aerosols. Perhaps a closed centrifuge head, sealed by an O-ring, that is only opened within a BSC could provide a high level of containment; however, we know of no data that demonstrate the safe use of microcentrifuges for pelleting viable mycobacteria. One of us (J. H.) has experienced leakage from screw-capped microcentrifuge tubes that were sealed with rubber rings. Until safety data have been generated, laboratories should concentrate
Greiner, T. C. and R. N. Jones. 1992. Propionibacterium propionicus (Actinomyces propionicus, Arachnia propionica) pulmonary infection:presentationas a soft tissue chest wall mass. Clin. Microbiol. Newslett. 14:117-118.
broth mycobacterial cultures in a conventional centrifuge using covered safety cups. This may require longer spins and greater centrifuge speeds (to attain higher g forces) than required for processing primary specimens. Edward P, Desmond
California Department of Health Services Berkeley, CA Janet A. Hindler Medical Center Los Angeles, CA Marie B. Coyle Harborview Medical Center Unh,ersity of Washington Seattle, WA
port provides a detailed nomenclature and reference to a "full description of the species in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology" (1986). Is it "urn" or "us" who needs to be scolded? Lawrence J. Kunz, Ph.D.
Formerly, Director Bacteriology Laboratory Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA 02114
Prof. Dr. D. M. MacLaren Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Un&ersiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A Reply To the Editors In his letter, D. M. MacLaren criticized the terminology used by Greiner and Jones (1). In their case report, Greiner and Jones appropriately attributed the specific epithet "propionicus" to Charfreitag and two coauthors in reference to their prior publication (2). That this citation had been published in the authoritative International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology provides (for me at least) a large measure of confidence in the acceptability of the specific "us" with the generic "urn." The last paragraph of the reclassification re-
Our laboratory received three operating room specimens from a patient who was to have a total hip replacement. Gram stain results from the specimen were as follows: hip joint---occasional
gram-negative bacilli; femoral can~--occasional gram-positive cocci; acetabulum--occasional gram-positive cocci. The orthopedic surgeon did not expect such f'mdings and delayed the pro-
cedure until culture results became available. The cultures were negative after3 d. Because there was no growth in the cultures, we made Gram stains of the
ClinicalMicrobiologyNewsletter15:12,1993
@1993ElsevierSciencePublishingCo.,Inc.
1. Greiner, T. C. and R. N, Jones. 1992.
Propionibacterium propionicus (Actinomyces propionicus, Arachnia propionica) pulmonary infection: presentation as a soft tissue chest wall mass. Clin. Microbiol. Newslett. 14:117-118. 2. Charfreitag, O., M. D. Collins, and E. Stackebrandt. 1988. Reclassification of Arachnia propionica as Propionibacterium propionicus. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 19:267-272.
0196-4399/93/$0.00+ 06.00
9.5
i
ii
soft agar medium from several new culture collection devices and observed occasional gram-positive cocci and gramnegative bacilli in all smears prepared. When we contacted the manufacturers of the culture collection kits, we were informed that agar is usually contaminated with bacteria, and microbiologists should expect to observe
,
, ,,,r.,.,,,
I
occasional or rare, nonviable bacteria in Gram-stained smears prepared from agar-containing devices. This finding was reported to the FDA Medical Device Office. The presence of nonviable bacteria in culture collection devices is not only confusing to microbiologists and physicians but can have severe consequences
to patients, tt cannot be tolerated. Since agar may be c o n t a i n S , a different medium; free of nonviable bacteria, should be used in the manufacture of culture collection/transport devices. Spyros D. Kominos, Sc.D. Clinical MicrobiologyLaboratory Mercy Hospital Pittsburgh, PA 15219
•
iii
iii
ii
Ill
I
General laformatlou
Editors Mary Jane Ferraro Paul A. Granato
Subscription iofonnation can be found inside the front cover.
Josephine A. Morello R.J. Z a b r a n s k y
@ 1993 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. ISSN 0196-4399 CMNEEJ 15(12)89-96, 1993
This newsletter has been registor~l with the Copyt~ht Clearance Center, Inc. Coment is given for cepym$ articles for penmml or intenml me, or for the penmml or internal use of specific cheats. 1~alscoment is given on the condition that the copier psy through the ~ the per-copy fee staled in the code on the fu'n page for cow/ing b~ond ;kat pennitO~dW / ~ US Copyrigl~ Law. If no code appears on an an/de, the m d ~ r lure not given tmmi consent to copy and perminion to copy must be obtained dimply from the author. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, mmle, a ~ i n g and promotional puq)mes, or for ereatin8 new collective works. Add~Js onlers, dmallm of addles, and claims for missing issues to Journal Fuk~llmeot ~ Ehevier Science Putgishin I Co.. Inc,,,655 Avenne of the Amedcu, New York, NY 10010, Clalr~ for mimdngimles can be honoredonly up to tlweemonthsfor domegic addmmes and sixmondtsforforeignadsheuet. 13~icate cowes will not be sent to replace ones unddivemd due to failure to noti~ Elsevier of change of ~ s .
Elsevier
Poatammer. Send adds.am duress, to C~ucai Microhiok~y NcwdeU~, El~vier Science Publigung Co., Inc., 655 Avenue of the Amm/cas, New Yolk, MY 10010. ~l/torids sad !_~_:_~_~ in ~ mwskauNr me published for the ia~n~t of the readers and do not nece.mmrilyn ~ dm opl~iomsof th® ~tmm. Clinical Micro~ololy New~euer is abstracted in Tropical Diseazes Builetin mul Ahso~¢~ on H y S ~ Commumcaide DiJe~e~.
96
01964399/93/$0.00÷
06.00
@ 1993 ElsevierSciencePublishingCo., Inc.
Clinical MicrobiologyNewsLetter15:12,1993