Staphylococcus intermedius (S. intermedius) was isolated from 88.6% and 49.4% of skin and ear samples, respectively, during the years 1992 through 1997, and frequency of isolation remained unchanged. More than 95% of all S. intermedius isolates were susceptible to cephalothin and oxacillin, providing support for empirical treatment of canine skin and ear infections with cephalexin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) was isolated from 7.5% and 27.8% of skin and ear samples, respectively. The frequency of isolation from skin samples increased over the study period. Because of multidrug-resistant profiles for P. aeruginosa isolates, especially for ear isolates, empirical treatment of P. aeruginosa infections is not advisable.

We compared the performance of an automated method for obtaining RBC and WBC counts and WBC differential counts in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with the reference manual method. Results from 325 samples from 10 worldwide clinical sites were used to demonstrate the accuracy, precision, and linearity of the method. Accuracy statistics for absolute cell counts showed a high correlation between methods, with correlation coefficients for all reportable absolute counts greater than 0.9. Linearity results demonstrated that the method provides accurate results throughout the reportable ranges, including clinical decision points for WBCs of 0 to 10/microL. Interassay precision and intra-assay precision for the ADVIA 120 (Bayer HealthCare, Tarrytown, NY) method were acceptable at all levels. The ADVIA 120 CSF Assay enumerates and differentiates cells via flow cytometry in a minimally diluted sample, improving the analysis of typically hypocellular CSF samples. Study results demonstrate that the automated ADVIA 120 CSF Assay is an acceptable alternative to the labor-intensive manual method.

We compared the performance of an automated method for obtaining RBC and WBC counts and WBC differential counts in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples with the reference manual method. Results from 325 samples from 10 worldwide clinical sites were used to demonstrate the accuracy, precision, and linearity of the method. Accuracy statistics for absolute cell counts showed a high correlation between methods, with correlation coefficients for all reportable absolute counts greater than 0.9. Linearity results demonstrated that the method provides accurate results throughout the reportable ranges, including clinical decision points for WBCs of 0 to 10/microL. Interassay precision and intra-assay precision for the ADVIA 120 (Bayer HealthCare, Tarrytown, NY) method were acceptable at all levels. The ADVIA 120 CSF Assay enumerates and differentiates cells via flow cytometry in a minimally diluted sample, improving the analysis of typically hypocellular CSF samples. Study results demonstrate that the automated ADVIA 120 CSF Assay is an acceptable alternative to the labor-intensive manual method.

MR staphylococci isolation is similar when compared to other studies. However, increased MDR isolation is of greater concern and high-scoring MDR staphylococci will limit our future antimicrobial choices.

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