Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie Semenec, Amy K. K. Cain, Catherine J. J. Dawson, Qi Liu, Hue Dinh, Hannah Lott, Anahit Penesyan, Ram Maharjan, Francesca L. L. Short, Karl A. A. Hassan, Ian T. T. Paulsen
Summary: This study characterizes the genomes of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae strains co-isolated from a single human lung infection, and investigates their interactions through various assays. The findings shed light on their effects on antimicrobial resistance and virulence during co-infection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruohan Wei, Xuemei Yang, Han Liu, Tongyao Wei, Sheng Chen, Xuechen Li
Summary: The study demonstrates that chemically synthesized Pse-CRM197 conjugates can stimulate high immune responses and provide a new alternative for controlling infections caused by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jaeeun Park, Misung Kim, Bora Shin, Mingyeong Kang, Jihye Yang, Tae Kwon Lee, Woojun Park
Summary: The modification of outer membrane charge induced by polymyxin B (PMB) in Acinetobacter baumannii leads to PMB-resistant variants and clinical isolates producing outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Upregulation of the pmr operon and decreased membrane-linkage proteins result in enhanced biofilm formation and protection of susceptible bacteria from PMB, suggesting OMVs function as decoys against PMB. OMVs also protect the microbial community against PMB treatment in anaerobic conditions, indicating their potential clinical significance in antibiotic resistance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sachio Suzuki, Phawinee Subsomwong, Kouji Narita, Noriaki Kawai, Takahito Ishiai, Wei Teng, Rojana Sukchawalit, Akio Nakane, Sadatomo Tasaka, Krisana Asano
Summary: By comparing AbOMVs isolated under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, it was found that they have different protein profiles. While both AbOMVs had similar cytotoxic effects on bacteria, AbOMVs from normoxia induced higher levels of the cytokine TNF-alpha production and invasion of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On the other hand, AbOMVs from hypoxia significantly enhanced A. baumannii invasion into lung epithelial cells. This finding sheds light on the complex interactions between A. baumannii, coinfecting pathogens, and host cells mediated by OMVs, particularly the different pathogenic effects of AbOMVs under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Irfan Ahmad, Aftab Nadeem, Fizza Mushtaq, Nikola Zlatkov, Muhammad Shahzad, Anton V. Zavialov, Sun Nyunt Wai, Bernt Eric Uhlin
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a common drug-resistant bacterial pathogen, and its biofilms and pili play important roles in antibiotic resistance and adherence to epithelial cells.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Christian M. Gill, Elif Aktas, Wadha Alfouzan, Lori Bourassa, Adrian Brink, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, Rafael Canton, Yehuda Carmeli, Marco Falcone, Carlos Kiffer, Anna Marchese, Octavio Martinez, Spyros Pournaras, Harald Seifert, Abrar K. Thabit, Maria Virginia Villegas, Lars F. Westblade, David P. Nicolau
Summary: In this study, high in vitro potency of ceftazidime and cefepime among carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates was found, with 6 g/day required to achieve optimal pharmacodynamic profiles. These findings should be considered in the clinical setting and for the application of CLSI susceptibility breakpoints.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yiwei Zhu, Jie Chen, Han Shen, Zhongju Chen, Qi-Wen Yang, Jin Zhu, Xi Li, Qing Yang, Feng Zhao, Jingshu Ji, Heng Cai, Yue Li, Linghong Zhang, Sebastian Leptihn, Xiaoting Hua, Yunsong Yu
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (KPC-PA) strains were found in 40.4% of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) isolates, with half of them resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI). Eight plasmid types and two mobile genetic elements mediating bla(KPC-2) transmission were identified through sequencing. Curing bla(KPC-2) plasmids in 28 strains restored CAZ-AVI susceptibility, indicating its role in resistance.
Article
Microbiology
Yang Yang, Yan Guo, Dandan Yin, Yonggui Zheng, Shi Wu, Demei Zhu, Fupin Hu
Summary: The study found that cefepime-zidebactam exhibited potent activity against almost all Enterobacterales and good activity against P. aeruginosa, while ceftazidime-avibactam showed good in vitro activity against Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa but less activity against Acinetobacter baumannii. Most of the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were susceptible to cefepime-zidebactam and ceftazidime-avibactam showed good activity against bla(KPC-2)-positive Enterobacterales and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Sandra-Maria Wienhold, Markus C. Brack, Geraldine Nouailles, Gopinath Krishnamoorthy, Imke H. E. Korf, Claudius Seitz, Sarah Wienecke, Kristina Dietert, Corinne Gurtner, Olivia Kershaw, Achim D. Gruber, Anton Ross, Holger Ziehr, Manfred Rohde, Jens Neudecker, Jasmin Lienau, Norbert Suttorp, Stefan Hippenstiel, Andreas C. Hocke, Christine Rohde, Martin Witzenrath
Summary: In this study, a purified lytic phage, vB_AbaM_Acibel004, was found to be effective against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in both immunocompetent mice and a human lung tissue model. Phage-treated mice showed faster recovery, lower bacterial burden, lung permeability, and cytokine release. Histopathological examination revealed reduced inflammation. No adverse events were observed. The bactericidal effect of the purified phage on A. baumannii was also confirmed in an ex vivo human lung infection model. These findings suggest the potential of the investigated phage for treating multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections and support further development of preclinical evaluation methods for phage efficacy.
Article
Microbiology
Shadi Zeraatkar, Maedeh Tahan, Hamid Sadeghian, Razieh Nazari, Mostafa Behmadi, Mahdi Hosseini Bafghi
Summary: Drug resistance in bacteria is a daily challenge in clinical treatment, and nanoparticles show potential for combating bacterial infections.
JOURNAL OF BASIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
George L. Daikos, Clovis Arns da Cunha, Gian Maria Rossolini, Gregory G. Stone, Nathalie Baillon-Plot, Margaret Tawadrous, Paurus Irani
Summary: Ceftazidime-avibactam shows good in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa and has demonstrated similar clinical and microbiological outcomes to comparators in Phase 3 clinical trials. Limited real-world data also suggest favorable outcomes with ceftazidime-avibactam treatment in some patients with MDR and XDR P. aeruginosa infections, indicating its potentially important role in managing serious and complicated P. aeruginosa infections.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Woo Cheol Lee, Sungjae Choi, Ahjin Jang, Kkabi Son, Yangmee Kim
Summary: The study focused on the crystal structures of the beta-ketoacyl-ACP reductase ApeQ produced by an APE gene cluster in Gram-negative bacteria. It was found that ApeQ plays a crucial role in APE biosynthesis and cannot be substituted by a similar enzyme from the FAS gene cluster. Structural and functional analysis revealed a positively charged arginine patch in ApeQ as the cognate ACP-binding site.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Brianna M. Eales, Vincent H. Tam
Summary: This article presents a challenging case of ventilator-associated pneumonia in which bacteriophage therapy was used as a last resort treatment in combination with systemic antibiotics. The data are promising, and several key areas for future research are highlighted.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
Summary: A recent study published in mBio sequenced the genomes of 313 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates from over 100 hospitals in almost 50 countries, providing an updated view of the global distribution of major international clones and their carbapenemase genes. Future global genomic epidemiology studies can be enhanced by considering both human and non-human isolates and their antibiotic resistance profiles.
Article
Microbiology
Pablo A. Fraile-Ribot, Javier Fernandez, Maria A. Gomis-Font, Lorena Forcelledo, Xavier Mulet, Carla Lopez-Causape, Antonio Oliver
Summary: The study investigated the mechanisms behind the in vivo switch in resistance phenotype of P. aeruginosa after ceftazidime-avibactam treatment. It was found that a single SNP difference can lead to a change in resistance profile, reverting a carbapenemase phenotype back into an ESBL phenotype. Through genetic analysis, it was discovered that certain mutations can alter the resistance patterns of bacteria in vivo.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Hyemin Chung, Sang-Bum Hong, Jin Won Huh, Heungsup Sung, Kyung-Hyun Do, Sang-Oh Lee, Chae-Man Lim, Younsuck Koh, Sang-Ho Choi
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yun Woo Lee, So Yun Lim, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Yang Soo Kim, Sang-Ho Choi
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Enterococcus raffinosus bacteremia in adults. The study found that E. raffinosus bacteremia mainly originated from biliary tract infection, had high resistance rates to penicillin and ampicillin, but had a low bacteremia-related mortality rate.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Youjin Chang, Kyoung Ran Kim, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Younsuck Koh, Chae-Man Lim
Summary: The outcomes of patients perceived as having non-beneficial ICU admission were extremely poor. The intensivists' perception played a vital role in predicting patients' outcomes and was more in line with long-term prognosis rather than immediate outcomes. The intensivists' judgment can guide the limited utilization of ICU resources.
ACUTE AND CRITICAL CARE
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Song-I Lee, Younsuck Koh, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Chae-Man Lim
Summary: Over the past decade, the proportion of very elderly patients in the ICU has increased, along with the non-surgical reasons for ICU admission. However, the in-hospital mortality of very elderly patients has decreased.
ACUTE AND CRITICAL CARE
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Jin-Young Huh, Sang-Ho Choi, Kyung-Wook Jo, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Tae Sun Shim, Chae-Man Lim, Younsuck Koh
Summary: This study investigated the risk factors for progression from non-severe Legionella pneumonia (LP) to severe LP. The results showed that a low platelet count and delayed antibiotic treatment were significantly associated with the progression to severe LP from non-severe LP.
ACUTE AND CRITICAL CARE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jiyoung Lee, Euijin Chang, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang -Oh Lee, Sang -Ho Choi, Yang Soo Kim, Seongman Bae
Summary: This study evaluated the rate and composition of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients and assessed the association between the use of empirical antibacterials and mortality. The results showed that bacterial co-infection was infrequent in the patients, and the co-infected organisms varied depending on the previous use of antibacterial drugs.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sang -Ho Choi, Antoni Cesar, Timothy Arthur Chandos Snow, Naveed Saleem, Nishkantha Arulkumaran, Mervyn Singer
Summary: For hospitalized adults with mild-to-moderate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), respiratory fluoroquinolone monotherapy or β-lactam plus macrolide combination therapy are suggested as first-line options according to guidelines. However, the efficacy of these regimens has not been adequately evaluated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yun Woo Lee, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Heungsup Sung, Kyung-Hyun Do, Sang-Oh Lee, Chae-Man Lim, Yang Soo Kim, Younsuck Koh, Sang-Ho Choi
Summary: We investigated the distribution and characteristics of severe Corynebacterium striatum pneumonia in South Korea from 2014 to 2019. The majority of cases were hospital-acquired and more than half of the patients were immunocompromised. The proportion of C. striatum cases among patients with severe hospital-acquired pneumonia increased over time, while methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections decreased. C. striatum was responsible for a significant proportion of severe hospital-acquired pneumonia cases, and the mortality rates were high, similar to those caused by MRSA. This pathogen is emerging as a possible cause of severe pneumonia, especially among immunocompromised patients.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hyeonji Seo, Seongman Bae, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Yang Soo Kim, Jiwon Jung
Summary: This study identified that patients with KPC-producing K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli bacteremia had a higher 30-day mortality rate, which may be related to high APACHE II scores and not receiving appropriate definitive treatment. Combination regimens with conventional drugs such as colistin, aminoglycoside, and tigecycline did not significantly affect mortality outcomes.
INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hyemin Chung, Hyeonji Seo, Sunghee Park, Haein Kim, Jiwon Jung, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Yang Soo Kim, Min Jae Kim
Summary: Multisystem inflammatory disease in children, similar to Kawasaki disease, can occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and similar syndromes have been reported in adults with a decreased incidence. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is characterized by shock, heart failure, and gastrointestinal symptoms with elevated inflammatory markers after COVID-19 infection.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Seong-Ho Choi, Jeongsoo Lee, Jiwon Jung, Eun Sil Kim, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Jun Hee Woo, Yang Soo Kim
Summary: This study investigated the temporal changes in Staphylococcus aureus genotypes causing bacteremia in South Korea over the last decade. Hospital clones ST5 and ST239 have been replaced by community genotype ST72. The decrease in CVC-related and persistent SAB was associated with this genotype shift, while mortality and recurrence rates remained stable. Further research is needed to understand the reasons behind the ST72 epidemic and predict the potential epidemic of ST8 strains, including USA300.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tark Kim, Seong Yeon Park, Yee Gyung Kwak, Jiwon Jung, Min-Chul Kim, Seong-Ho Choi, Shi Nae Yu, Hyo-Lim Hong, Yong Kyun Kim, Se Yoon Park, Eun Hee Song, Ki-Ho Park, Oh Hyun Cho, Sang-Ho Choi
Summary: In Korea, Staphylococcus aureus and streptococci are the main pathogens causing community-onset Pyomyositis, with MRSA being less common in these cases. Enteric Gram-negative organisms should be considered major etiologies, especially in the healthcare-associated Pyomyositis patient population in Korea.
INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Sang-Ho Choi, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Heungsup Sung, Eun Jin Chae, Kyung-Hyun Do, Sang-Oh Lee, Chae-Man Lim, Yang Soo Kim, Jun Hee Woo, Younsuck Koh
Summary: In Seoul, South Korea, severe human bocavirus-associated pneumonia cases were reported in adults, with a mortality rate of 54.5%. Higher death rates were observed in cases of co-infection (83.3%) and immunocompromise (80.0%).
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)