Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
S. Miyakis, S. Brentnall, M. Masso, G. Reynolds, M. K. Byrne, P. Newton, S. Crawford, J. Fish, B. Nicholas, T. Hill, A. M. van Oijen
Summary: The study compared patients with MRSA infection and MSSA infection, finding that MRSA infection was associated with significantly increased inpatient mortality, costs, and hospital length of stay. Key predictors of MRSA infection included date of index admission, comorbidity score, socio-economic disadvantage, and age.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Teresa Fasciana, Maria Letizia Gargano, Nicola Serra, Elena Galia, Ignazio Arrigo, Maria Rita Tricoli, Orazia Diquattro, Giuseppa Graceffa, Salvatore Vieni, Giuseppe Venturella, Anna Giammanco
Summary: The study found that extracts from albino Grifola frondosa could effectively inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and biofilm production by Staphylococcus aureus, reducing the presence of biofilm. This indicates that albino Grifola frondosa extracts could be utilized as functional food and natural additives for food processing control and safety.
Article
Microbiology
Isabel Guthridge, Simon Smith, Matthew Law, Enzo Binotto, Josh Hanson
Summary: Lincosamides, particularly when used as a predominant therapy, show potential efficacy in the treatment of MRSA bacteremia, especially in young, clinically stable patients with few comorbidities. Patients receiving lincosamide-predominant therapy had lower in-hospital mortality and a lower incidence of renal complications compared to those receiving an alternative regimen. Prospective studies are needed to further define the optimal role of lincosamides in the treatment of MRSA bacteremia.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
S. -C. Wong, J. H. -K. Chen, S. Y. -C. So, P. -L. Ho, K. -Y. Yuen, V. C. -C. Cheng
Summary: Gastrointestinal colonization of MRSA may contribute to adverse clinical outcomes and pose an unrecognized burden upon hospital infection control.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jian Peng, Biswajit Mishra, Rajamohammed Khader, LewisOscar Felix, Eleftherios Mylonakis
Summary: In this study, a smaller antimicrobial peptide C18 derived from cecropin 4 showed high antibacterial activity against various bacteria and yeasts, with a remarkable effect on drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. C18 also exhibited the capability to eliminate persister cells, reduce biofilm adherence, interact with DNA, and down-regulate virulence factor genes. Moreover, C18 showed promising results in a Galleria mellonella model, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for severe MRSA infections.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Mei Yang, Jin Zhang, Yinhao Wei, Jie Zhang, Chuanmin Tao
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential in antibacterial applications due to their unique features. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the structural characteristics, antibacterial mechanisms, and recent progress in MOF-based antibacterial applications. Suggestions and directions for future research are also discussed.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabella Hernandez-Aristizabal, Ivan Dario Ocampo-Ibanez
Summary: The emergence of bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics, especially VRSA and VISA strains, poses a serious threat to global health. Developing new antimicrobial alternatives, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), is urgently needed as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat resistant strains. Evaluating natural, artificial, and synthetic AMPs against VRSA and VISA strains shows great potential for clinical application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
L. Renggli, M. Gasser, C. Pluss-Suard, A. Kronenberg
Summary: Consumption of anti-MRSA antibiotics in Switzerland increased significantly between 2009 and 2019. Factors such as number of MRSA cases, year, hospital type, hospital department, and linguistic region were found to affect consumption. Additionally, the presence of an antibiotic stewardship group and prescription restrictions were associated with lower consumption of anti-MRSA antibiotics.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Bingqian Yuan, Xiaoyu Lu, Min Yang, Qiyi He, Zhuocen Cha, Yaqun Fang, Yan Yang, Lei Xu, Jingting Yan, Ren Lai, Aili Wang, Xiaodong Yu, Zilei Duan
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common pathogenic bacterium with increasing drug resistance. The antimicrobial peptide GW18 shows excellent activity against various strains of S. aureus and significantly reduces infection in animal models.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jina Kim, Young-Won Chin
Summary: The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria poses a global challenge. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a leading cause of infections, forms biofilms on medical devices, making them more resistant to antibiotics. A study investigated the use of Raman spectroscopy to monitor MRSA biofilm formation and found that Eugenol, when applied within the first 5 hours of biofilm formation, showed promise in breaking down the biofilm. The study also demonstrated the efficacy of Raman spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) in identifying planktonic bacteria from biofilm conglomerates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoyu Lu, Min Yang, Shengwen Zhou, Shuo Yang, Xiran Chen, Mehwish Khalid, Kexin Wang, Yaqun Fang, Chaoming Wang, Ren Lai, Zilei Duan
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and drug resistance worsens their severity. Researchers have discovered a new antimicrobial peptide called RK22 that exhibits good antibacterial activity against S. aureus, rapidly killing the bacteria without exacerbating the coagulation system. In in vivo experiments, RK22 significantly inhibited S. aureus infection, including a clinically resistant strain, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of S. aureus infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Basavaprabhu Haranahalli Nataraj, Chette Ramesh, Rashmi Hogarehalli Mallappa
Summary: Metabolites of lactic acid bacteria have potential as postbiotics to inhibit the growth of undesirable microorganisms in food and pharmaceutical industries. The biosurfactants extracted from Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG showed promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against staphylococcal isolates, indicating their potential as candidates for further technology intervention.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Md Saruar Bhuiyan, Jhih-Hang Jiang, Xenia Kostoulias, Ravali Theegala, Graham J. Lieschke, Anton Y. Peleg
Summary: The study investigated host innate immune responses against clinically derived, daptomycin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates using a zebrafish infection model. Results showed that control of daptomycin-resistant S. aureus infections in vivo was compromised due to cross-resistance to host cationic antimicrobial peptides, shedding light on persistent infections caused by this troublesome pathogen.
Article
Dermatology
Caitlin J. Cotter, Cusi Ferradas, Shanna Ludwig, Kathryn Dalton, Jesper Larsen, Daniel Laucks, Sally Ann Iverson, Patrick Baron, Pam C. Tolomeo, Amy M. Brazil, Jacqueline M. Ferguson, Ebbing Lautenbach, Shelley C. Rankin, Daniel O. Morris, Meghan F. Davis
Summary: This study evaluated MRSA cultured from pets and the home environment in households where a human infected with MRSA had been identified, and identified potential risk factors for pet MRSA carriage. Results indicate that MRSA contamination of the home environment is likely an important risk factor for pet MRSA carriage.
VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiaonan Zhao, Xiaomeng Yuan, Ming Hu, Yin Zhang, Lulu Li, Qing Zhang, Xuexia Yuan, Wenbo Wang, Yuqing Liu
Summary: The study revealed a relatively high prevalence of S. aureus in bulk tank milk from Shandong dairy farms, with the isolates carrying multiple virulence genes and exhibiting multiple antimicrobial resistance. The lurking threat of MRSA in raw milk emphasizes the need for surveillance programs starting at the farm level.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Allyson J. Gallant, Paul Flowers, Karen Deakin, Nicola Cogan, Susan Rasmussen, David Young, Lynn Williams
Summary: This study aimed to enhance influenza vaccination uptake among adults with chronic respiratory conditions by using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to specify intervention content. The study identified barriers and enablers to vaccination through focus groups, interviews, and surveys. Factors such as perceptions of vaccine side effects, time constraints, and fear of needles were found to be common barriers, while enablers included protection from influenza, reminders, and support from others. Based on the findings, the study proposed a suite of multi-level intervention components involving diverse actors, recipients, and settings to enhance vaccination uptake.
PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Education & Educational Research
Helen Sweeting, Hilary Thomson, Valerie Wells, Paul Flowers
Summary: In recent years, there has been a shift towards 'whole school' approaches to improving health, which view a school as a whole system with various intervention opportunities. However, the application of these approaches in tertiary education settings is not well understood. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on whole institution approaches to improving health in tertiary education settings. The review found a significant number of publications, but there are still unanswered questions and gaps in knowledge.
RESEARCH PAPERS IN EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Gerard Lacey, Lucyna Gozdzielewska, Kareena McAloney-Kocaman, Jonathan Ruttle, Sean Cronin, Lesley Price
Summary: Interactive mobile applications can empower learners to independently develop hand hygiene skills and achieve proficiency. Healthcare organizations could improve hand hygiene quality by using self-directed skills-based training combined with regular ward-based assessments.
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Nicola J. Roberts, Kareena McAloney-Kocaman, Kate Lippiett, Emma Ray, Lindsay Welch, Carol A. Kelly
Summary: This study explores UK nurses' experiences of working in a respiratory clinical area during the COVID-19 pandemic over winter 2020. It was found that despite anxiety and depression, few nurses took time off work due to stress. Most of them were maintaining training and felt prepared for COVID challenges. Nurses expressed concerns over safety and patient feedback was mixed. One quarter of respondents expressed a desire to leave nursing.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2022)
Article
Social Work
Ellis R. Agnew, Kareena McAloney-Kocaman, Kirsty Wiseman-Gregg
Summary: Stigma has a negative impact on mental health. Both LGBTQ+ individuals and substance users face stigma, and being part of both groups can result in double stigma. This study found that heterosexual individuals were generally viewed more positively than LGBTQ+ individuals, regardless of their substance use behavior. However, illicit drug use by heterosexual individuals resulted in the most negative attitudes.
JOURNAL OF GAY & LESBIAN SOCIAL SERVICES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Paul Flowers, Gabriele Vojt, Maria Pothoulaki, Fiona Mapp, Melvina Woode Owusu, Claudia Estcourt, Jackie A. Cassell, John Saunders
Summary: This paper illustrates the initial steps of optimizing self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs). The study found that while the packs were generally acceptable, there were issues identified in each behavioral domain, and potential optimizations were suggested.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Art
Gemma Teal, Marianne McAra, Julie Riddell, Paul Flowers, Nicky Coia, Lisa McDaid
Summary: Participatory Design (PD) is increasingly used to address public health challenges, requiring interdisciplinary collaborations and practices. PD research generates evidence through collaboration with intended users, enabling the development of evidence-based interventions to tackle complex public health challenges.
CODESIGN-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COCREATION IN DESIGN AND THE ARTS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jude Robinson, Lesley Price, Jon Otter, Emma Burnett
Summary: This study aimed to define an optimal infection prevention and control (IPC) service in different contexts and settings within the UK and Ireland. Through discussion and consensus, key priorities, enablers for success, and necessary skills and expertise were identified. These findings have important implications for the development of IPC services at various levels of healthcare settings globally.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION PREVENTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bethany Griffith, Heather Archbold, Isabel Saez Berruga, Samantha Smith, Karen Deakin, Nicola Cogan, Gary Tanner, Paul Flowers
Summary: COVID-19 restrictions have led to rapid adaptations in Scotland's mental health sector. Virtual platforms have been crucial in maintaining patient care and supporting service users. The use of teletherapies has presented challenges, blurring work-life boundaries and increasing isolation for mental health workers.
PSYCHOLOGY HEALTH & MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Ashley D. Johnstone, Carl Davis, Nicola J. Roberts, Kath Sharp
Summary: This study evaluates the quality of life of children and young people with anterior chest wall deformity. The results suggest that surgical or non-surgical correction of the deformity significantly improves psychosocial quality of life, but its impact on physical quality of life remains uncertain and further research is needed.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Lesley Price, Lucyna Gozdzielewska, Katie Hendry, Agi Mcfarland, Jacqui Reilly
Summary: This systematic review aimed to update the evaluation of national-level infection prevention and control interventions and provide information for relevant guidelines. The effectiveness of care bundles with implementation strategies was supported, but the evidence for IPC programmes and regulations was inconclusive. Recommendations include strengthening the implementation strategies of care bundles and conducting more rigorous research in low-income and middle-income settings.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Education, Special
J. Finlayson, N. Roberts, T. Holt, J. Roast, M. McCardle, M. Parsonage, K. Slade, C. Sellers, V. Frighi
Summary: People with intellectual disabilities are at high risk of respiratory health issues, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first to report on the potential feasibility of parental home-based pulse oximetry monitoring for adults with intellectual disabilities, and suggests that it is safe and easy for parents to do.
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Paul Flowers, Ruth Leiser, Fiona Mapp, Julie McLeod, Oliver Stirrup, Christopher J. R. Illingworth, James Blackstone, Judith Breuer
Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a whole-genome sequence report form (SRF) in changing infection prevention and control (IPC) behaviors to reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used a three-staged design, including theorizing the content of the SRF using the behavior change wheel (BCW), conducting interviews to explore contextual accounts of using the SRF, and analyzing the support for the intervention. The results showed that the SRF could effectively change IPC behaviors; however, challenges in integrating it into routine practice were reported, highlighting the importance of local context.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julius Cesar Alejandre, Sebastien Chastin, Katherine N. Irvine, Michail Georgiou, Preeti Khanna, Zoe Tieges, Niamh Smith, Yong-Yee Chong, Frances Claire Onagan, Lesley Price, Sharon Pfleger, Rachel Helliwell, Judith Singleton, Samuel Curran, Allan Estandarte, Emily Sophia Smith, Karin Helwig
Summary: Nature-based social prescribing, such as blue prescription, can improve public health and the health of individuals with chronic conditions. However, there is limited evidence on the implementation of blue prescription programs in healthcare settings. We conducted a review and identified contextual factors and program theories that influence the outcomes of blue prescription programs. After participating in these programs, service users showed improvements in physical, mental, and social health. Consideration of contextual factors and program theories is crucial for the design and evaluation of blue prescription programs.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sarah Foulkes, Edward J. M. Monk, Dominic Sparkes, Nipunadi Hettiarachchi, Iain D. Milligan, Katie Munro, Andrew Taylor-Kerr, Naomi Platt, Anna Howells, Jerry Ye Aung Kyaw, Enemona Adaji, Eileen Gallagher, Jameel Khawam, Edgar Wellington, Lesley Price, David Crossman, Chris Norman, Elen de Lacy, Lisa Cromey, Diane Corrigan, Angie Lackenby, Paola Barbero, Busayo Elegunde, Maria Zambon, Meera A. Chand, Colin S. Brown, Jasmin Islam, Ana Atti, Susan Hopkins, Victoria J. Hall, Michelle J. Cole
Summary: Since June 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfec-tion Evaluation (SIREN) study has found increases in infections and reinfections among UK healthcare workers, and has detected the emergence of Omicron subvariant waves concurrent with national surveillance. SIREN's sentinel surveillance methods can be utilized for variant surveillance.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
