Article
Infectious Diseases
Andres Ceballos-Garzon, Guillermo Garcia-Effron, Susana Cordoba, Jose Y. Rodriguez, Carlos Alvarez-Moreno, Patrice Le Pape, Claudia Marcela Parra-Giraldo, Soraya Morales-Lopez
Summary: The susceptibility of 31 Candida auris clinical isolates was evaluated using four different methods. The results showed that Etest had a higher agreement with the reference methods compared to VITEK (R) 2. Discrepancies were observed for fluconazole and amphotericin B. Most isolates were considered resistant to fluconazole based on categorical agreement. All isolates were susceptible to echinocandins. Caution should be exercised when interpreting susceptibility results using the VITEK (R) 2 system for C. auris infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tahani A. A. Alsenani, Maria Margarita Rodriguez, Barbara Ghiglione, Magdalena A. A. Taracila, Maria F. F. Mojica, Laura J. J. Rojas, Andrea M. M. Hujer, Gabriel Gutkind, Christopher R. R. Bethel, Philip N. N. Rather, Maria Luisa Introvigne, Fabio Prati, Emilia Caselli, Pablo Power, Focco van den Akker, Robert A. A. Bonomo
Summary: Designing novel beta-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) is an accepted strategy to combat the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to cephalosporin and carbapenem. This study evaluates the activity of two alpha-amido-beta-triazolylethaneboronic acid transition state inhibitors (S02030 and MB_076) against KPC-2 and CTX-M-96 beta-lactamases. The inhibitors show potent activity and their structures provide insights into the design of effective BLIs.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Christian G. Giske, John Turnidge, Rafael Canton, Gunnar Kahlmeter
Summary: EUCAST is an international committee focused on susceptibility testing, aiming to harmonize clinical breakpoints in Europe and beyond. Its activities include collecting MIC distribution data, developing software, identifying epidemiological cutoff values, and creating testing methods. EUCAST's decisions are subject to public consultation, except for breakpoints of new antimicrobial agents.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meng Yu, Qingzheng Wei, Weiqing Song, Jiangshui Yuan
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the development of resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam and carbapenems in a K. pneumonia strain expressing a novel KPC-2 variant. The results showed that the KPC-49 mutant strain was resistant to both ceftazidime-avibactam and carbapenems. Experimental whole genome sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to understand the drug resistance mechanisms of the mutant strains.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Priyanka Gaur, Vivek Hada, Rama S. Rath, Aroop Mohanty, Parul Singh, Atul Rukadikar
Summary: This study aims to compare the agreement in antimicrobial susceptibility using CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints. The results showed that there was an increase in the percentage of resistant isolates with most drugs when using EUCAST guidelines.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gabriele Bianco, Donatella Lombardo, Guido Ricciardelli, Matteo Boattini, Sara Comini, Rossana Cavallo, Cristina Costa, Simone Ambretti
Summary: The study evaluated the reliability and performance of the EUCAST RAST method, and found that it accurately determined microbial susceptibility to main antimicrobials. The method showed potential for antimicrobial de-escalation interventions.
Article
Microbiology
Magdalena A. Taracila, Christopher R. Bethel, Andrea M. Hujer, Krisztina M. Papp-Wallace, Melissa D. Barnes, Joseph D. Rutter, Jamie VanPelt, Ben A. Shurina, Focco van den Akker, Cornelius J. Clancy, M. Hong Nguyen, Shaoji Cheng, Ryan K. Shields, Richard C. Page, Robert A. Bonomo
Summary: This study investigates the susceptibility and resistance mechanism of D179Y variant of KPC-2 and -3 to carbapenems and ceftazidime and ceftazidime-avibactam, and it reveals that conformational changes and overall disorder caused by D179Y substitution contribute to the unexpected phenotype.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ursula Theuretzbacher, Elena Carrara, Michela Conti, Evelina Tacconelli
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a difficult-to-treat pathogen with a wide range of resistance determinants, particularly carbapenem resistance. New antibiotics have been developed to address this issue, but challenges such as class-specific resistance mechanisms and cross-resistance within classes remain.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Claire Amaris Hobson, Aurelie Cointe, Herve Jacquier, Alaksh Choudhury, Melanie Magnan, Celine Courroux, Olivier Tenaillon, Stephane Bonacorsi, Andre Birgy
Summary: This study reveals that CZA-resistant KPC variants may lead to cross-resistance to cefiderocol by increasing the MICs. Additionally, cefiderocol is greatly impacted by the inoculum effect, indicating precautions should be taken when treating infections with suspected high inoculum levels.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Michaela Simon, Roman G. Gerlach, Yvonne Pfeifer, Niels Pfennigwerth, Soren G. Gatermann, Agnes Schroeder, Andreas Hiergeist, Axel Hamprecht, Tamara Ruegamer, Andre Gessner, Jonathan Jantsch
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness of a semi-automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing system in detecting ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in carbapenem-resistant, metallo-beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. The system showed good performance in detecting susceptibility to ceftazidime-avibactam, providing a reliable method for identifying phenotypic resistance in these bacteria.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Suravaram Swathi, Hada Vivek, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
Summary: This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial susceptibility of various antibiotics using CLSI & EUCAST breakpoints, finding discrepancies in interpretation for most drugs. Only 3 antibiotics showed perfect agreement between the two guidelines, with major changes observed in the Intermediate category for others. Further research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these changes in antimicrobial susceptibility.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Javier Sanchez-Lopez, Laura Martinez-Garcia, Federico Becerra-Aparicio, Maria Isabel Morosini, Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa, Rafael Canton
Summary: A ceftazidime-avibactam resistant ST131-Escherichia coli high-risk clone isolate was recovered from a patient with bacteremia in 2019, carrying a novel KPC-49 variant. Genomic analysis revealed high content of resistance and virulence genes in both isolates, with the bla(KPC-49) gene increasing ceftazidime-avibactam MIC and decreasing carbapenem MICs. The bla(KPC-3) and bla(KPC-49) genes were located on the transposon Tn4401a as part of an IncF [F1:A2:B20] plasmid.
Article
Microbiology
Ohad Shifman, Tamar Aminov, Moshe Aftalion, David Gur, Hila Cohen, Elad Bar-David, Ofer Cohen, Emanuelle Mamroud, Haim Levy, Ronit Aloni-Grinstein, Ida Steinberger-Levy, Shahar Rotem
Summary: The EUCAST RAST shows promising applicability for rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing of dangerous pathogens in positive blood cultures. This could lead to shorter diagnostic times and prompt antibiotic treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Juan Antonio Castillo-Polo, Desiree Gijon Cordero, Blanca Perez-Viso, Maria Garcia-Castillo, Javier Saez de la Fuente, Maria Isabel Morosini, Rafael Canton, Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa
Summary: The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates carrying novel bla(KPC) variants conferring ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ/AVI) resistance is increasing. The accuracy of phenotypic methods commonly used in routine clinical laboratories for detecting novel K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) enzymes was evaluated. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize KPC-ST307-K. pneumoniae isolates before and after CAZ/AVI therapy. Common phenotypic methods failed to detect novel KPC carbapenemases, but rapid molecular or immunochromatography assays were successful, highlighting their relevance in microbiology laboratories.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Burcu Dalyan Cilo, Beyza Ener
Summary: This study aimed to determine and compare the antifungal susceptibility of various Candida species isolated from blood cultures using the CLSI M27 microdilution reference method and the VITEK 2 automated system. The VITEK 2 system showed higher MIC values for azole group drugs compared to CLSI, with the best categorical agreement found for amphotericin B and the least for voriconazole. The VITEK 2 system is convenient for routine laboratories, but limitations in detecting specific resistant strains were observed in this study.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yohei Doi, Takuma Ishihara, Sumi Banno, Masahiko Ando, Masashi Kondo
Summary: This study investigated the use of favipiravir in COVID-19 patients between February 2020 and December 2021. The results showed that favipiravir was effective and well tolerated in treating COVID-19 patients.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Wang Chun Kwok, Sze Him Isaac Leung, Terence Chi Chun Tam, James Chung Man Ho, David Chi-Leung Lam, Mary Sau Man Ip, Pak Leung Ho
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of mRNA vaccine and inactivated whole virus vaccine in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The results showed that patients who received two doses of either vaccine had a lower risk of hospitalization and respiratory failure compared to those who were not vaccinated. Both vaccines were equally effective in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalization and respiratory failure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Clement Kin-Ming Tsui, Fatma Ben Abid, Khalil Al Ismail, Christi Lee McElheny, Muna Al Maslamani, Ali S. Omrani, Yohei Doi
Summary: The emergence of carbapenem-resistant, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae is a new threat to health care. We studied the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Qatar using whole-genome sequence data. We also characterized the prevalence and genetic basis of hypervirulent phenotypes and established the virulence potential using a Galleria mellonella model.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rimi Tanii, Sohei Harada, Hiroki Saito, Koh Okamoto, Yohei Doi, Masahiro Suzuki
Summary: This article reports a fatal case of respiratory and bloodstream infection caused by K. variicola complicating severe COVID-19. Co-infection or secondary infection of K. variicola in COVID-19 is likely under-recognized and can be fulminant as in this case.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kayo Kumadaki, Natsumi Suzuki, Kaoru Tatematsu, Yohei Doi, Kentaro Tsukamoto
Summary: Bartonella species are hemotropic bacteria that cause zoonotic infections in humans. They replicate in vascular endothelial cells and induce vascular proliferation. BafA, a bacteria-secreted protein, is involved in Bartonella-induced vasoproliferation. In this study, the activity of BafA proteins derived from different Bartonella species was compared, and it was found that B. henselae, B. koehlerae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. grahamii induced cell proliferation and tube formation, while B. doshiae showed no activity. These findings suggest that BafA may contribute to the infectivity or pathogenicity of Bartonella species in humans.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Burcu Isler, Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Burhan Sami Benli, David L. Paterson, Nick Daneman, Robert Fowler, Murat Akova
Summary: This study investigated the current practice of antibiotic treatment duration and timing of IV to oral switching for common bacteraemic conditions among Turkish infectious disease and ICU physicians. The results showed that the most commonly recommended duration of antibiotic treatment for bacteraemia was 14 days, followed by 10 and 7 days. Most physicians recommended switching to oral antibiotics after 7 days of IV treatment. Prolonged treatment durations may be due to a presumption that resistant bacterial infections require longer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Emily L. Heil, Kimberly C. Claeys, Ellen G. Kline, Tara M. Rogers, Kevin M. Squires, Alina Iovleva, Yohei Doi, Mary Banoub, Mandee M. Noval, Paul M. Luethy, Ryan K. Shields
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with CRAB infections who received three-drug combination regimens. It found that the use of three-drug regimens resulted in high rates of clinical response and low mortality in severe CRAB infections among COVID-19 patients.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Norio Ohmagari, Yohei Doi, Takumi Imamura, Takuhiro Sonoyama, Genki Ichihashi, Takao Sanaki, Yuko Tsuge, Takeki Uehara, Hiroshi Mukae
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ensitrelvir in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. It is a phase 3 study using a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. The primary endpoint is the time to resolution of COVID-19 symptoms, and key secondary endpoints include the change in SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and the time to first negative viral titer.
Article
Virology
Wang Chun Kwok, Man Fung Tsoi, Sze Him Isaac Leung, Chung Ki Tsui, Terence Chi Chun Tam, James Chung Man Ho, David Chi Leung Lam, Mary Sau Man Ip, Pak Leung Ho
Summary: A retrospective cohort study conducted in Hong Kong showed that both molnupiravir (MOV) and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) are effective in preventing severe outcomes of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Xin Li, Huiluo Cao, Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen, Yuey-Zhun Ng, Ka-Kin Fung, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: Typhoid fever is a concerning disease in Hong Kong, with two local cases caused by Salmonella Typhi being identified within a two-week period in late 2022. A phylogenetic study of Salmonella Typhi isolates from Hong Kong Island between 2020 and 2022 revealed clonal transmission between the two cases. While most local strains belonged to the non-H58 genotype with low antibiotic resistance, the presence of extensively drug-resistant H58 strains is a worrying concern.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jinnethe Reyes, Lauren Komarow, Liang Chen, Lizhao Ge, Blake M. Hanson, Eric Cober, Erica Herc, Thamer Alenazi, Keith S. Kaye, Julia Garcia-Diaz, Lanjuan Li, Souha S. Kanj, Zhengyin Liu, Jose M. Onate, Robert A. Salata, Kalisvar Marimuthu, Hainv Gao, Zhiyong Zong, Sandra L. Valderrama-Beltran, Yunsong Yu, Paul Tambyah, Gregory Weston, Soraya Salcedo, Lillian M. Abbo, Qing Xie, Karen Ordonez, Minggui Wang, Martin E. Stryjewski, Jose M. Munita, David L. Paterson, Scott Evans, Carol Hill, Keri Baum, Robert A. Bonomo, Barry N. Kreiswirth, Maria Virginia Villegas, Robin Patel, Cesar A. Arias, Henry F. Chambers, Vance G. Fowler Jr, Yohei Doi, David van Duin, Michael J. Satlin
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) infections and the distribution and clinical significance of carbapenemases. The results showed that carbapenemase-producing CRPA infections were associated with increased 30-day mortality, and the prevalence of carbapenemase genes varied by region. These findings highlight the therapeutic challenges posed by these carbapenem-resistant organisms.
Article
Microbiology
Hanshu Fang, Xin Li, Mei-Kum Yan, Man-Ki Tong, Kin-Hung Chow, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed the susceptibility levels of Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) in a hospital-based laboratory. The study found emerging resistance of BFG to several important anti-anaerobic antibiotics, highlighting the importance of anaerobic susceptibility testing in clinical laboratories to guide therapy.
Article
Immunology
Michael J. Satlin, David van Duin, Pranita D. Tamma, Thomas P. Lodise, Daria Van Tyne, Keith A. Rodvold, Nadine Rouphael, Scott R. Evans, Vance G. Fowler, Toshimitsu Hamasaki, Robin Patel, Lauren Komarow, Keri Baum, Maria Souli, Nyssa Schwager, Robert A. Bonomo, Yohei Doi
Summary: Addressing antibacterial-resistant gram-negative infections is a priority of the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group. The focus of investigation has evolved from elucidating the epidemiology of these infections to improving patient care through clinical trials of optimizing pharmacokinetics and of novel therapies.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Forrest Tang, Chung-Ho Lee, Xin Li, Shuo Jiang, Kin-Hung Chow, Cindy Wing-Sze Tse, Pak-Leung Ho
Summary: This study evaluated two rapid detection methods for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales in midstream urine samples. The results showed that the CTX-M LFA had higher sensitivity than the ESBL NP test, while both tests had high specificity. These rapid tests could improve antimicrobial stewardship for urinary tract infections.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qi Zhang, Minji Wang, Xuqiao Hu, Aixin Yan, Pak-Leung Ho, Hongyan Li, Hongzhe Sun
Summary: Gold-based drugs and nanoparticles can synergize with glutathione or N-acetyl cysteine to kill mcr-1-positive bacteria. This study not only provides a basis for combining gold-based drugs with colistin to combat mcr-1-positive bacterial infections, but also reveals a new horizon for overcoming antimicrobial resistance using gold-based drugs.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)