Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Suzanne Suk Kwan Tso, Ellie Leister, Claire Rebecca Sharp, Jane Heller, Justine S. Gibson
Summary: This study describes the clinical course, culture and susceptibility profiles of dogs and cats mechanically ventilated for tick paralysis. The majority of these cases had concurrent evidence of aspiration pneumonia. Appropriate use of antimicrobials improved outcome. Clinicians should be aware of the development of bacterial pneumonia and select antimicrobials based on culture and susceptibility testing.
Article
Microbiology
Lexin Long, Jordy Evan Sulaiman, Yao Xiao, Aifang Cheng, Ruojun Wang, Jessie James Malit, Wai Chuen Wong, Wenchao Liu, Yong-Xin Li, Feng Chen, Henry Lam, Pei-Yuan Qian
Summary: This study identified elasnin as a potent biofilm eradicator against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Elasnin effectively inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated pre-formed biofilms of MRSA with low cytotoxicity and low risk of resistance development. Mechanistic studies revealed that elasnin induced biofilm matrix destruction and interfered with cell division by repressing expression of virulence factors. The study provided insights into molecular targets for biofilm eradication in MRSA.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christine M. Artim, Manisha Kunala, Meghan K. O'Leary, Christopher A. Alabi
Summary: This study evaluates a prodrug design for polycationic oligothioetheramides to improve cytotoxic profile by incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG); two peptide linkers were tested and the reactivation of oligoTEAs in the presence of serum protease cleavage of the peptide linkers is observed.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Catia Cilloniz, Raul Mendez, Hector Peroni, Carolina Garcia-Vidal, Veronica Rico, Albert Gabarrus, Rosario Menendez, Antoni Torres, Alex Soriano
Summary: The study found that empirically using ceftaroline in hospitalized patients with severe CAP is associated with a decreased risk of in-hospital mortality.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ivan Gentile, Antonio Riccardo Buonomo, Silvia Corcione, Laurenza Paradiso, Daniele Roberto Giacobbe, Davide Fiore Bavaro, Giusy Tiseo, Francesca Sordella, Michele Bartoletti, Giulia Palmiero, Antonietta Vozza, Antonio Vena, Francesca Canta, Nicola Schiano Moriello, Paola Congera, Arta Karruli, Carlo Tascini, Pierluigi Viale, Valerio Del Bono, Marco Falcone, Sergio Carbonara, Malgorzata Karolina Mikulskan, Matteo Bassettie, Emanuele Durante-Mangonid, Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa, Alberto Enrico Maraolo
Summary: This study evaluated the use of Ceftobiprole in a real-world setting and found it to be a safe and effective therapeutic choice, particularly for pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia. The study also identified factors associated with treatment success or fatal outcomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer A. Grousd, Brooke P. Dresden, Abigail M. Riesmeyer, Vaughn S. Cooper, Jennifer M. Bomberger, Anthony R. Richardson, John F. Alcorn
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus can complicate preceding viral infections, and bacterial virulence factors play a role in single or superinfection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hui Niu, Tianli Yang, Jin Wang, Rui Wang, Yun Cai
Summary: Pre-administration of colistin can attenuate excessive immune reactions and protect the lungs from MRSA-associated damages, but these effects cannot be reversed solely by blocking the p38/MAPK pathway. Further exploration of the mechanism underlying the immunoregulatory effects of colistin in mammals is necessary.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gamal Abd Elmoneim Elmowalid, Adel Attia M. Ahmad, Marwa Abd El-Hamid, Doaa Ibrahim, Ali Wahdan, Amal S. A. El Oksh, Ahlam E. Yonis, Mohamed Abdelrazek Elkady, Tamer Ahmed Ismail, Adel Qlayel Alkhedaide, Shimaa S. Elnahriry
Summary: This study found that Nigella sativa extract (NSE) exhibited antimicrobial activities against MRSA clinical isolates in vitro and showed synergistic effects with other antimicrobials to overcome MRSA resistance. In vivo experiments demonstrated that NSE improved growth performance, tight junction integrity, immune responsiveness, and resistance against MRSA in weaned rabbits. NSE has the potential to enhance rabbits' capability to respond to diseases through its antimicrobial, growth stimulating, and immunomodulation activities.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
John C. Lam, William Stokes
Summary: This article provides a brief overview of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia from a clinical and microbiological perspective and reviews the relevant evidence and literature gaps in its management. Using a case-based approach, evidence and clinical judgement are combined to highlight and justify the 5 core interventions that should be performed for all cases of S. aureus bacteremia: appropriate anti-staphylococcal therapy, screening echocardiography, assessment for metastatic phenomena and source control, decision on duration of antimicrobial therapy, and Infectious Diseases consultation.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Julia Sellares-Nadal, Joaquin Burgos, Maria Teresa Martin-Gomez, Andres Anton, Roger Sorde, Daniel Romero-Herrero, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Anna Falco-Roget, Cristina Kirkegaard, Dolors Rodriguez-Pardo, Oscar Len, Vicenc Falco
Summary: Over the 10-year study period, there were no significant differences in the bacterial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but there was a decline in septic complications such as septic shock, bacteremia, and complicated pleural effusion. Influenza vaccination played an important role in reducing mortality.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiuhui Lin, Jian He, Wanlin Li, Yuchen Qi, Huiqun Hu, Dongxiao Zhang, Feng Xu, Xiaoyuan Chen, Min Zhou
Summary: The encapsulated lysostaphin microspheres (LyIR@MS) effectively treat MRSA-induced pneumonia by improving biofilm sensitivity to host neutrophils, enhancing survival rate, and reducing inflammatory injury.
Article
Immunology
Zhen-Zhen Liu, Yong-Jun Yang, Cheng-Kai Zhou, Shi-Qing Yan, Ke Ma, Yu Gao, Wei Chen
Summary: STING plays a crucial role in suppressing necroptosis to combat pulmonary S. aureus infection, with STING deficiency resulting in impaired bacterial clearance and increased cell death.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Kento Homma, Keibun Liu, Yosuke Niimi, Satoshi Fukuda, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Tuvshintugs Baljinnyam, Nikolay Bazhanov, Ranjana Nawgiri, Palawinnage Muthukumarana, Rudolf Lucas, Donald Prough, Perenlei Enkhbaatar
Summary: Preclinical studies have shown the protective effects of female sex hormones and the immunosuppressive effects of male sex hormones. However, there is no consistent explanation for gender-related differences in multiorgan failure and mortality in clinical trials. This study used an ovine model to investigate gender differences in sepsis development and progression. The results indicate that male sheep have a faster onset of sepsis compared to females, but there is no significant difference in mortality or cardiopulmonary function between the two groups.
Article
Microbiology
Shisong Jing, Xiangri Kong, Li Wang, Heming Wang, Jiaxuan Feng, Lin Wei, Ying Meng, Chang Liu, Xiren Chang, Yishen Qu, Jiyu Guan, Haimiao Yang, Chi Zhang, Yicheng Zhao, Wu Song
Summary: The dramatic increase of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a great challenge to the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections. Quercetin has been identified as an effective agent in attenuating the virulence of MRSA and reducing the risk of S. aureus infections.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alaina DeKerlegand, Emily Johnston, Britney Mellor, Melanie Rae Schrack, Catherine O'Neal
Summary: Limited information was available to guide antimicrobial stewardship interventions in the early stages of treating patients with SARS-CoV-2. A retrospective study evaluated the impact of MRSA nasal swab PCR testing on the rate of anti-MRSA therapy in COVID-19 patients. The implementation of MRSA nasal swab PCR testing reduced anti-MRSA therapy in 81% of the patients.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Christina Bahrs, Aurelia Kimmig, Sebastian Weis, Juliane Ankert, Stefan Hagel, Jens Maschmann, Andreas Stallmach, Andrea Steiner, Michael Bauer, Wilhelm Behringer, Michael Baier, Miriam Kesselmeier, Cora Richert, Florian Zepf, Martin Walter, Andre Scherag, Michael Kiehntopf, Bettina Loffler, Mathias W. Pletz
Summary: A prospective cohort study among hospital staff in Jena University Hospital found a low risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for healthcare workers, possibly due to high compliance in wearing personal protective equipment.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carolin E. M. Jakob, Ujjwal Mukund Mahajan, Marcus Oswald, Melanie Stecher, Maximilian Schons, Julia Mayerle, Siegbert Rieg, Mathias Pletz, Uta Merle, Kai Wille, Stefan Borgmann, Christoph D. Spinner, Sebastian Dolff, Clemens Scherer, Lisa Pilgram, Maria Ruethrich, Frank Hanses, Martin Hower, Richard Strauss, Steffen Massberg, Ahmet Gorkem Er, Norma Jung, Joerg Janne Vehreschild, Hans Stubbe, Lukas Tometten, Rainer Koenig
Summary: This study developed a machine learning-based predictor model and a clinical score for identifying patients at risk of progressing to advanced COVID-19, with a focus on better prioritizing patients in need for hospitalization. The predictor model included variables such as temperature, age, body mass index, smoking habit, pulmonary involvement, inflammation markers, and acute kidney injury to predict the disease severity of COVID-19 patients.
Letter
Respiratory System
Christina Bahrs, Miriam Kesselmeier, Martin Kolditz, Santiago Ewig, Gernot Rohde, Grit Barten-Neiner, Jan Rupp, Martin Witzenrath, Tobias Welte, Mathias W. Pletz
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nico Andreas, Sebastian Weis, Steffi Kolanos, Sabine Baumgart, Thomas Kamradt, Mathias W. Pletz
Summary: In this case report, a 64-year-old male participant of the CoNAN study was found to have a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection without any measurable antibody response. After vaccination with the ChAdOx1 vaccine 11 months later, no antibodies were detected in six serological tests. However, T-helper cell immunity, specifically SARS-CoV-2-specific Th cells, produced detectable amounts of IFN gamma and TNF six weeks after the infection. A robust T-cell immunity was detectable for at least six months after the infection and was further boosted by the vaccination. These findings suggest that assessing prior infection or vaccine response based solely on antibody detection may have limitations in individual patients.
Article
Microbiology
Janine Zoellkau, Juliane Ankert, Mathias W. Pletz, Sasmita Mishra, Gregor Seliger, Silvia M. Lobmaier, Clarissa U. Prazeres Da Costa, Vera Seidel, Katharina von Weizsaecker, Alexandra Jablonka, Christian Dopfer, Michael Baier, Thomas Horvatits, Ingrid Reiter-Owona, Tanja Groten, Benjamin T. Schleenvoigt
Summary: No increased risk of HEV exposure or serological signs of schistosomiasis or echinococcosis exposure could be observed in pregnant migrants in Germany. The anti-HEV serology status did not have an influence on fetal growth restriction.
Article
Microbiology
Gamal Wareth, Jorg Linde, Philipp Hammer, Mathias W. Pletz, Heinrich Neubauer, Lisa D. Sprague
Summary: The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) in German healthcare is concerning, as little is known about its presence in veterinary settings and food chains. This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility and genomic determinants of 24 K. pneumoniae strains isolated from powdered milk samples produced in Germany. The findings revealed susceptibility to most antibiotics tested, but resistance to certain antibiotics was observed, along with the presence of genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and virulence. This poses a potential threat to public health, especially for neonates and infants consuming powdered milk.
Review
Microbiology
Kalysbek Kydyshov, Nurbolot Usenbaev, Almaz Sharshenbekov, Narynbek Aitkuluev, Murat Abdyraev, Salamat Chegirov, Jarkynay Kazybaeva, Hanka Brangsch, Falk Melzer, Heinrich Neubauer, Mathias W. Pletz
Summary: Brucellosis is still a challenge in developing countries like Kyrgyzstan, but the introduction of mass vaccination has contributed to its control.
Letter
Respiratory System
Mathias W. Pletz, Ralf Duerrwald, Janine Reiche, Norman Rose, Andre Scherag, Sebastian Weis
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Szilvia Neuhaus, Andrea T. Fessler, Ralf Dieckmann, Lara Thieme, Mathias W. Pletz, Stefan Schwarz, Sascha Al Dahouk
Summary: Disinfection is crucial in reducing infections, but the excessive use of disinfectants may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. However, there is currently no consensus on this matter. The lack of standardized procedures and criteria to evaluate bacterial susceptibility to disinfectants makes data analysis challenging. Therefore, standardization and adaptation of evaluation concepts are urgently needed.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haodong Shen, Petra Roesch, Lara Thieme, Mathias W. Pletz, Juergen Popp
Summary: It was found that different metabolic states of bacteria contribute to the formation of biofilms, and there are differences in their chemical composition. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to compare and investigate five species of bacteria in exponential phase, stationary phase, and biofilm. Spectral differences revealed variations in chemical composition among different metabolic states. Additionally, different species and strains of bacteria exhibited distinct behaviors based on spectral differences and principal component analysis. Furthermore, a combination of principal component analysis and support vector machines was applied to distinguish bacterial species within the same metabolic states. This study provides valuable data for comparing bacteria in different metabolic states using micro-Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics models.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias Horn, Christian Theilacker, Ralf Sprenger, Christof von Eiff, Ernestine Mahar, Julia Schiffner-Rohe, Mathias W. Pletz, Mark van der Linden, Markus Scholz
Summary: Two next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) have been licensed for use in adults, and PCV15 has also been licensed in children. A transmission model specific for Germany was developed to predict the prevalence of carriage and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) for serotypes included in these vaccines. The model predicts that the introduction of next-generation PCVs in adults may prevent a substantial and increasing proportion of adult IPDs, with PCV20 offering the broadest protection against pneumococcal disease.
Article
Infectious Diseases
David Attuy Vey da Silva, Ralf Dieckmann, Oliwia Makarewicz, Anita Hartung, Astrid Bethe, Mirjam Grobbel, Vitaly Belik, Mathias W. Pletz, Sascha Al Dahouk, Szilvia Neuhaus
Summary: Phenotypic susceptibility testing of ESBL and non-ESBL E. coli isolated from various sources showed differences in susceptibility to biocides and antimicrobials, with weakly positive correlations observed between biocide MICs/MBCs and antimicrobial MICs.
Letter
Respiratory System
Juliane Ankert, Stefan Hagel, Claudia Schwarz, Kaijie Pan, Liz Wang, Christof von Eiff, Bradford D. Gessner, Christian Theilacker, Mathias W. Pletz
Article
Infectious Diseases
Selma Tobudic, Christina Bahrs, Lisa Schneider, Emilia Paulussen, Lucie Bartonickova, Stefan Hagel, Peter Starzengruber, Heinz Burgmann, Mathias W. W. Pletz
Summary: This study aimed to compare treatment outcomes for bloodstream infections caused by a piperacillin/tazobactam-susceptible E. coli among three patient groups. The results showed that patients with BSI caused by AMP/SLB-resistant isolates treated with another monotherapy had an enhanced early treatment response compared to those treated with PIP/TAZ, indicating a potential association between initial use of PIP/TAZ and reduced treatment response.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Samira M. Hamed, Walid F. Elkhatib, Hanka Brangsch, Ahmed S. Gesraha, Shawky Moustafa, Dalia F. Khater, Mathias W. Pletz, Lisa D. Sprague, Heinrich Neubauer, Gamal Wareth
Summary: The genomic epidemiology and resistome structure of 46 A. baumannii clinical isolates were studied, revealing the extensive presence of resistance genes and their distribution among different global clones (GCs) in Egypt. This data is crucial for understanding A. baumannii infections and the dissemination of resistance genes.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Allison M. Hitchcock, Wesley D. Kufel, Keri A. Mastro Dwyer, Eric F. Sidman
Summary: Lenacapavir is a novel HIV-1 treatment option for patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV-1 infection. It has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and has shown good tolerability and efficacy in clinical trials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Roberta Gagliardini, Alessandro Tavelli, Stefano Rusconi, Sergio Lo Caputo, Vincenzo Spagnuolo, Maria Mercedes Santoro, Andrea Costantini, Alessandra Vergori, Franco Maggiolo, Andrea Giacomelli, Giulia Burastero, Giordano Madeddu, Eugenia Quiros Roldan, Antonella d'Arminio Monforte, Andrea Antinori, Alessandro Cozzi-Lepri
Summary: This study evaluated multiple treatment failures to modern antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected individuals and found that approximately 4% of them were difficult to treat. The difficult to treat group, compared to the non-difficult to treat group, was characterized by older age, higher prevalence of AIDS, lower CD4+ cell count, and higher risk of treatment failure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2024)
