Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dennis Nurjadi, Vanessa M. Eichel, Patrik Tabatabai, Sabrina Klein, Katharina Last, Nico T. Mutters, Johannes Poschl, Philipp Zanger, Klaus Heeg, Sebastien Boutin
Summary: This monocentric cohort study in a tertiary NICU in Heidelberg, Germany, focused on identifying risk factors for S aureus colonization and infections in hospitalized newborns in a nonoutbreak setting. The findings suggest that nasal colonization is a relevant risk factor for S aureus infection in this setting, and further investigations are needed to validate and assess the generalizability of the results.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elena Priante, Chiara Minotti, Cristina Contessa, Margherita Boschetto, Paola Stano, Federico Dal Bello, Ettore De Canale, Elisabetta Lolli, Vincenzo Baldo, Eugenio Baraldi, Daniele Dona
Summary: This study reports the detection and control of an outbreak caused by ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) in an Italian NICU. Prompt recognition of the event onset and the adoption of infection control interventions helped contain the bacteria spread on the ward. Multidisciplinary management and effective control measures were successful in preventing further cases and controlling the outbreak in a short period of time.
Article
Microbiology
Atsushi Miyake, Kenji Gotoh, Jun Iwahashi, Akinobu Togo, Rie Horita, Miho Miura, Masahiro Kinoshita, Keisuke Ohta, Yushiro Yamashita, Hiroshi Watanabe
Summary: This study investigates the transmission route and biofilm of Candida parapsilosis in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Microsatellite analysis confirms that the C. parapsilosis strains in the three inpatients and two environmental cultures are the same. Dry weight measurements and electron microscopy confirm the formation of biofilms by C. parapsilosis. The outbreak is attributed to horizontal transfer through the incubator's humidifier, and the biofilm produced by C. parapsilosis is linked to its invasive and infectious properties.
Article
Microbiology
Sanjam S. Sawhney, Eric M. Ransom, Meghan A. Wallace, Patrick J. Reich, Gautam Dantas, Carey-Ann D. Burnham
Summary: This study discovered a high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with a borderline oxacillin resistance phenotype (BORSA) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). By analyzing mutations and truncations and using a random forest classification model, BORSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus were distinguished among clinical isolates collected from two continents. This work highlights the need for improved MRSA screening methods and the presence of the non-mecA-mediated BORSA phenotype.
Article
Microbiology
Sanjam S. Sawhney, Eric M. Ransom, Meghan A. Wallace, Patrick J. Reich, Gautam Dantas, Carey-Ann D. Burnham
Summary: In this study, researchers discovered a high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus isolates exhibiting a borderline oxacillin resistance phenotype (BORSA) in their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They found that the current MRSA screening methods misclassified BORSA, and identified specific markers that can distinguish BORSA from methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). The findings have implications for epidemiological reporting of MRSA rates and can help improve MRSA screening methods.
Article
Immunology
Sebastian Baier-Grabner, Susanne Equiluz-Bruck, David Endress, Marion Blaschitz, Soren Schubert, Alexander Indra, Marta Fudel, Thomas Frischer, Florian Goetzinger
Summary: This study reports an outbreak of a yersiniabactin-producing K. aerogenes strain causing invasive infection in preterm infants, possibly associated with increased iron uptake. Extended search for virulence factors and genetic sequencing could be pivotal in the management of NICU outbreaks in the future.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anamika Yadav, Peeyush Jain, Kusum Jain, Yue Wang, Aditi Singh, Ashutosh Singh, Jianping Xu, Anuradha Chowdhary
Summary: This article reports an outbreak of fungemia caused by Lodderomyces elongisporus in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Delhi, India. The outbreak affected 10 preterm, low-birthweight neonates, with nine of them surviving after treatment. Whole-genome sequencing showed that patient isolates grouped into two clusters, one from stored apples and the other from patients, clinical environments, and stored apples. Recombination was found in all samples, and there was significant genome divergence between the clinical and apple surface strains. The study highlights the diversity, recombination, and evolution of L. elongisporus in the hospital setting.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. Sartor, I. Ligi, P. R. Petit, I. Grandvuillemin, C. Zandotti, A. Nougairede, S. Schipani, F. Fenollar, R. N. Charrel
Summary: This study describes an outbreak of adenovirus (ADV) D8 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), associated with ophthalmologic equipment used for screening retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The outbreak was significantly attributed to ROP examination, inadequate disinfection protocol, and transmission from parents to neonates and between parents.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kathleen A. Quan, Mohamad R. A. Sater, Cherry Uy, Robin Clifton-Koeppel, Linda L. Dickey, William Wilson, Pat Patton, Wayne Chang, Pamela Samuelson, Georgia K. Lagoudas, Teri Allen, Lenny Merchant, Rick Gannotta, Cassiana E. Bittencourt, J. C. Soto, Kaye D. Evans, Paul C. Blainey, John Murray, Dawn Shelton, Helen S. Lee, Matthew Zahn, Julia Wolfe, Keith Madey, Jennifer Yim, Shruti K. Gohil, Yonatan H. Grad, Susan S. Huang
Summary: This study described a slow and prolonged MRSA outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit, involving 15 babies and 6 healthcare personnel. The outbreak was successfully controlled through a series of infection prevention interventions, including decolonization of persistent carriers among healthcare personnel.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Randall Jenkins, Devlynne Ondusko, Luke Montrose, Ryan Forbush, David Rozansky
Summary: The study shows that in a neonatal unit, infants receive 98% of DEHP exposure from respiratory devices, with bubble CPAP accounting for 95% of the total exposure. By avoiding the use of IV tubing containing DEHP and modifying respiratory equipment appropriately, DEHP exposure can be significantly reduced.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
A. Muyldermans, F. Crombe, P. Bosmans, F. Cools, D. Pierard, I Wybo
Summary: Analysis of a Serratia marcescens outbreak in an NICU from 2018-2019 revealed that replacing siphons and weekly decontamination with acetic acid were key infection control measures. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) enabled faster recognition and accurate mapping of the outbreak, facilitating the implementation of control measures. Additionally, WGS provided valuable insights into the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lu Lin, Weiqin Liu, Jing Mu, Enmei Zhan, Hong Wei, Siqi Hong, Ziyu Hua
Summary: The establishment of NNICU has gradually improved and standardized neuroprotective therapy and clinical follow-up to improve neurodevelopmental prognosis of NE patients. The unit focused on neonatal neurocritical care for babies susceptible to NE with evidence-based medicine guidance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carolin Boehne, Leonard Knegendorf, Frank Schwab, Ella Ebadi, Franz-Christoph Bange, Marius Vital, Dirk Schlueter, Gesine Hansen, Sabine Pirr, Corinna Peter, Bettina Bohnhorst, Claas Baier
Summary: This study investigated MRSA colonization and infection in a mixed tertiary neonatal intensive and intermediate care unit in Germany over an 8-year period. The study found that the burden of MRSA was low and emphasized the importance of a comprehensive infection control concept.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rachel Keilman, Sarah Harding, Mark Rowin, Erin Reade, Paige Klingborg, David Levine, Henry Spratt
Summary: Staphylococci species have been found to contaminate surfaces in a NICU, with floors near sinks and return air ducts being the most heavily contaminated areas, possibly serving as reservoirs for the bacteria.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Angel Rodriguez-Villodres, Jose Manuel Ortiz de la Rosa, Raquel Valencia-Martin, Francisco Jimenez Parrilla, Guillermo Martin-Gutierrez, Natividad Marquez Patino, Estela Perea Cruz, Maria Teresa Sanchez Jimenez, Antonio Pavon Delgado, Jose Miguel Cisneros, Jose Antonio Lepe
Summary: The study evaluated the clinical and epidemiological impact of a qPCR-based molecular surveillance strategy on controlling the outbreak of S. marcescens in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The results showed that the implementation of the qPCR strategy effectively controlled the spread of infection and significantly reduced the occurrence of bloodstream infections. The study demonstrated that qPCR can be a useful tool for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.
ANNALS OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND ANTIMICROBIALS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elin M. Svensson, Robin J. Svensson, Lindsey H. M. te Brake, Martin J. Boeree, Norbert Heinrich, Sarah Konsten, Gavin Churchyard, Rodney Dawson, Andreas H. Diacon, Gibson S. Kibiki, Lilian T. Minja, Nyanda E. Ntingiya, Ian Saone, Stephen H. Gillespie, Michael Hoelscher, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Ulrika S. H. Simonsson, Rob Aarnoutse
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Karlygash Abdiyeva, Nurkeldi Turebekov, Andrey Dmitrovsky, Nur Tukhanova, Anna Shin, Lyazat Yeraliyeva, Norbert Heinrich, Michael Hoelscher, Ravilya Yegemberdiyeva, Zhanna Shapiyeva, Zulfiya Kachiyeva, Aliya Zhalmagambetova, Josef Montag, Gerhard Dobler, Josua Zinner, Edith Wagner, Stefan Frey, Sandra Essbauer
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carlijn H. C. Litjens, Rob E. Aarnoutse, Eleonora W. J. van Ewijk-Beneken Kolmer, Elin M. Svensson, Angela Colbers, David M. Burger, Martin J. Boeree, Lindsey H. M. te Brake, Rob Aarnoutse, Martin Boeree, Norbert Heinrich, Andreas Diacon, Rodney Dawson, Sunita Rehal, Gibson Kibiki, Gavin Churchyard, Ian Sanne, Nyanda Ntinginya, Lilian Minja, Robert Hunt, Salome Charalambous, Madeleine Hanekom, Hadija Semvua, Stellah Mpagama, Christina Manyama, Bariki Mtafya, Klaus Reither, Robert Wallis, Amour Venter, Kim Narunsky, Anna-Maria Mekota, Sonja Henne, Georgette Plemper van Balen, Stephen Gillespie, Patrick Phillips, Michael Hoelscher
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Markus Beutler, Sara Plesnik, Marina Mihalic, Laura Olbrich, Norbert Heinrich, Samuel Schumacher, Michael Lindner, Ina Koch, Wolfgang Grasse, Christoph Metzger-Boddien, Sabine Hofmann-Thiel, Harald Hoffmann
Article
Respiratory System
Wilber Sabiiti, Khalide Azam, Eoghan Charles William Farmer, Davis Kuchaka, Bariki Mtafya, Ruth Bowness, Katarina Oravcova, Isobella Honeyborne, Dimitrios Evangelopoulos, Timothy Daniel McHugh, Celso Khosa, Andrea Rachow, Norbert Heinrich, Elizabeth Kampira, Geraint Davies, Nilesh Bhatt, Elias N. Ntinginya, Sofia Viegas, Ilesh Jani, Mercy Kamdolozi, Aaron Mdolo, Margaret Khonga, Martin J. Boeree, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Derek Sloan, Michael Hoelscher, Gibson Kibiki, Stephen H. Gillespie
Article
Microbiology
Rehema Moraa Moirongo, Eva Lorenz, Nyanda E. Ntinginya, Denise Dekker, Jose Fernandes, Jana Held, Maike Lamshoeft, Frieder Schaumburg, Chacha Mangu, Lwitiho Sudi, Ali Sie, Aurelia Souares, Norbert Heinrich, Andreas Wieser, Benjamin Mordmueller, Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Akim Ayola Adegnika, Boubacar Coulibaly, Juergen May, Daniel Eibach
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Stijn W. van Beek, Rob ter Heine, Jan-Willem C. Alffenaar, Cecile Magis-Escurra, Rob E. Aarnoutse, Elin M. Svensson
Summary: This study developed a population pharmacokinetic model for isoniazid and tested several limited sampling strategies for model-based therapeutic drug monitoring. The strategy sampling at 2 and 4 hours after dosing was determined as the most suitable for predicting AUC(24) and peak concentration. Further evaluation in a clinical setting is needed to confirm the performance of this strategy.
CLINICAL PHARMACOKINETICS
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Nan Zhang, Radojka M. Savic, Martin J. Boeree, Charles A. Peloquin, Marc Weiner, Norbert Heinrich, Erin Bliven-Sizemore, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Michael Hoelscher, William Whitworth, Glenn Morlock, James Posey, Jason E. Stout, William Mac Kenzie, Robert Aarnoutse, Kelly E. Dooley
Summary: Pyrazinamide is a potent sterilizing agent that can shorten the treatment duration for tuberculosis, and its optimal dose remains uncertain. Higher blood concentrations of pyrazinamide are associated with faster culture conversion time and higher conversion probability. Optimizing the use of pyrazinamide may enhance its microbiologic efficacy, but increasing the dose alone may not be enough to shorten tuberculosis treatment, requiring parallel increases in rifampicin dose.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Lindsey H. M. te Brake, Veronique de Jager, Kim Narunsky, Naadira Vanker, Elin M. Svensson, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Stephen H. Gillespie, Norbert Heinrich, Michael Hoelscher, Rodney Dawson, Andreas H. Diacon, Rob E. Aamoutse, Martin J. Boeree
Summary: The study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and early bactericidal activity of increasing doses of rifampicin in treatment-naive adult smear-positive patients with tuberculosis. While the 50mg/kg dose showed an increased bactericidal effect, it was not well tolerated, leading to treatment discontinuations, whereas the 40mg/kg dose was well tolerated and selected for further evaluation.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Clara Marlene Ihling, Paul Schnitzler, Norbert Heinrich, Chacha Mangu, Lwitiho Sudi, Aurelia Souares, Sabine Gies, Ali Sie, Boubacar Coulibaly, Andiyam Thierry Ouedraogo, Benjamin Mordmueller, Jana Held, Ayola Akim Adegnika, Jose F. Fernandes, Isabella Eckerle, Juergen May, Benedikt Hogan, Daniel Eibach, Julia Tabatabai
Summary: This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among febrile children with acute respiratory tract infection in several sub-Saharan African countries. The results showed RSV A strains clustering with genotype ON1 and RSV B strains belonging to genotype BAIX. Phylogenetic analysis revealed diversification of RSV strains into different lineages in sub-Saharan Africa.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2021)
Correction
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Stijn W. van Beek, Rob ter Heine, Jan-Willem C. Alffenaar, Cecile Magis-Escurra, Rob E. Aarnoutse, Elin M. Svensson
CLINICAL PHARMACOKINETICS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Jan Heyckendorf, Sophia B. Georghiou, Nicole Frahm, Norbert Heinrich, Irina Kontsevaya, Maja Reimann, David Holtzman, Marjorie Imperial, Daniela M. Cirillo, Stephen H. Gillespie, Morten Ruhwald
Summary: Despite advancements in diagnostics, drugs, and regimens, tuberculosis remains a major global health threat. The current methods for monitoring TB treatment and determining treatment success have limitations. However, molecular technologies and assays show promise as suitable alternatives, which can potentially revolutionize TB therapy monitoring and expedite drug development.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Beatrice Kemilembe Mutayoba, Michael Hoelscher, Norbert Heinrich, Moses L. Joloba, Eligius Lyamuya, Andrew Martin Kilale, Nyagosya Segere Range, Bernard James Ngowi, Nyanda Elias Ntinginya, Saidi Mwinjuma Mfaume, Amani Wilfred, Basra Doulla, Johnson Lyimo, Riziki Kisonga, Amri Kingalu, Jupiter Marina Kabahita, Ocung Guido, Joel Kabugo, Isa Adam, Moses Luutu, Maria Magdalene Namaganda, Joanitah Namutebi, George William Kasule, Hasfah Nakato, Henry Byabajungu, Pius Lutaaya, Kenneth Musisi, Denis Oola, Gerald Mboowa, Michel Pletschette
Summary: The study found that Lineage 3 is the most prevalent lineage in Tanzania, while drug-resistant mutations were more common among isolates belonging to Lineage 4.
Article
Immunology
Nyanda Elias Ntinginya, Abhishek Bakuli, Daniel Mapamba, Wilber Sabiiti, Gibson Kibiki, Lilian Tina Minja, Davis Kuchaka, Klaus Reither, Patrick Peter John Phillips, Martin Johan Boeree, Stephen H. Gillespie, Michael Hoelscher, Norbert Heinrich
Summary: Bacterial killing in patients with tuberculosis relapse differs significantly from that in patients achieving cure, as evidenced by TB-MBLA and MGIT TTP measurements.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
I Sabi, W. Olomi, E. Nkereuwem, T. Togun, M. P. Gomez, M. Sylla, B. Diarra, M. Sanogo, E. Sichone, H. Mahiga, F. Njeleka, A. O. Ebonyi, U. Egere, N. E. Ntinginya, M. Hoelscher, N. Heinrich, B. Kampmann
Summary: The study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert(R) MTB/RIF Ultra in fresh respiratory samples for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children. While Ultra showed improved performance compared to Xpert, its sensitivity remains sub-optimal for TB detection in children, with an additional 20 cases detected in the group with negative culture results, suggesting that culture may not be a perfect reference standard.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
(2022)
