Background & Objective: Tuberculosis is more prevalent in developing countries and death from tuberculosis meningitis is strongly associated with delays in diagnosis and treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been incorporated as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The rapid results and greater sensitivity compared to traditional microbiological methods makes PCR a suitable technique in tuberculosis, especially in tuberculosis meningitis, when diagnosis is difficult or when rapid diagnosis is needed. However, the possibility of false positive and false negative results must be considered. The aim of this study was to compare the conventional bacteriology (culture Ziehl- Neelsen staining) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis meningitis.

 Methods: This study included 25 clinically diagnosed patients that were suspected to have tuberculosis meningitis and 10 other bacterial or viral meningitis patients were investigated. DNA was extracted from CSF and the NESTED PCR using specific primers were done.

 Results: In 25 samples, Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was detected in 9 (36%) by PCR, 2(8%) and 1(4%) with culture and direct smear was obtained, respectively. whereas no DNA bands were detected in patient with the other 10 meningitis. The entire procedure was repeated and the same result was obtained.

 Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that PCR is a powerful method for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculosis meningitis. In a way that it decreases obtaining the results from several weeks in bacteriological methods to one to two days, especially in smear negative patients. This is very important in tuberculosis meningitis because it is a medical urgency and needs rapid diagnosis and early treatment.

  Background & objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria have become a growing problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in urine samples of hospitalized patients in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardabil over a period of October 2011 to August 2012.

  Methods : A total of 400 urinary pathogens isolated from urine samples were included in the study. All isolates were identified by routine biochemical methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing carried out by Kirby-Bauer method. Confirmatory test for production of ESBLs was performed by the combination disk tests. The results were interpreted according to the recommendation of CLSI.

  Results : Of 400 isolated bacteria, 267 were E.coli, 39 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 17 Klebsiella oxytoca, 16 Enterobacter cloacae, 15 Enterobacter aerogenese, 6 Enterobacter agglomerans, 8 Enterobacter sakazakji, 3 Citrobacter froundi, 2 Citrobacter diversus, 3 Proteus mirabilis, 4 Edvardsiella tarta, 3 Serratia marcesecens and 17 Morganella morganii all of which then were analyzed. ESBL was detected in 36.75% (147) of isolates. Eighty nine E.coli cases (77.4%), 15 Klebsiella pneumonia (13.04%), 2 Klebsiella oxytoca (1.74%), 3 Enterobacter aerogenese (2.6%), 4 Enterobacter cloacae (3.5%), 1 Citrobacter ferundi (0.86%), and 1 Morganella morganii (0.86%) were detected as ESBLs producers, respectively.

  Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, broad-spectrum beta-lactamase production in bacterial strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection was very high and almost 40% of all bacterial species isolates were ESBLs producers. Because of the high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in the urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients of our area, we would strongly suggest that the ESBL production should be considered in these patients.