Review
Immunology
Arsheena Yassin, Mariya Huralska, Jason M. Pogue, Deepali Dixit, Robert G. Sawyer, Keith S. Kaye
Summary: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections has significantly increased in the past decade, leading to higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Treating these infections presents challenges, particularly for critically ill patients with limited margin for error. The availability of new therapies has improved treatment options, but optimal clinical and therapeutic approaches for managing these infections still need to be established.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Wen Mao, P. Monica Chien, Sarah J. Kelly
Summary: The research reveals that travellers with higher levels of PVD are less likely to exhibit an optimism bias towards COVID-19, particularly in terms of 'perceived infectability'. Understanding the subdimensions of PVD is crucial for theory testing and could inform governments and tourism organizations in educating travellers effectively to promote preventive behaviors.
CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Kosuke Kamio, J. Luis Espinoza
Summary: The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) poses a significant global public health concern due to their potential for widespread dissemination, limited treatment options, and high mortality rates. Active surveillance, early diagnosis, and contact isolation are important strategies for controlling and preventing the occurrence and spread of CRE bacteria. This study provides an overview of the epidemiology of CRE infections in Japan from 2015 to 2019, highlighting the stable but increasing number of reported cases. The majority of CRE infections were observed in patients over the age of 65, with men representing 60% of the cases and a mortality rate of approximately 3.5%. Notably, Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella aerogenes were the most common pathogens responsible for CRE infections, with Klebsiella aerogenes becoming the leading pathogen since 2017. The IMP carbapenemase type was the most commonly isolated carbapenemase. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence and mechanisms behind the local predominance of Klebsiella aerogenes and Enterobacter cloacae, particularly in healthcare settings.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susumu Shinya, Kentaro Kawai, Naoki Kobayashi, Yukiko Karuo, Atsushi Tarui, Kazuyuki Sato, Masato Otsuka, Masaaki Omote
Summary: Drug efflux pump inhibitors were investigated to increase drug susceptibility of multidrug-resistant bacteria and restore the antimicrobial effect of fluoroquinolones. The lead inhibitor, derived from a known hMATE1 inhibitor, showed significant reduction in resistance and could act synergistically with antimicrobial drugs against infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Heather Henderson, Sonia Napravnik, Michael R. Kosorok, Emily W. Gower, Alan C. Kinlaw, Allison E. Aiello, Billy Williams, David A. Wohl, David van Duin
Summary: HIV-infected individuals are more susceptible to MDR-E infections due to HIV-specific factors. We conducted an observational study and developed a predictive model using machine learning algorithms to identify clinical and demographic predictors of MDR-E infection among PWH.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Celine M. Gossner, Nelly Fournet, Christina Frank, Beatriz Fernandez-Martinez, Martina Del Manso, Joana Gomes Dias, Henriette de Valk
Summary: This study aimed to identify factors associated with dengue virus infection among European travelers and assess how surveillance data could support preparedness against outbreaks in Europe. The study found that Asia was the most common region for dengue infection among travelers, with higher infection rates among travelers returning from Asia. There was an association between the incidence rate in the country of infection and the infection rate among travelers, but no association between the number of travel-related cases and occurrence of autochthonous outbreaks in Europe.
Review
Microbiology
Mohd W. Azam, Raffaele Zarrilli, Asad U. Khan
Summary: The Enterobacterales order is a large group of Gram-negative bacteria that includes both pathogenic and nonpathogenic members, including beneficial gut microbiota. Pathogenic members produce virulence factors and display antimicrobial resistance. This review focuses on the virulence factors, pathogenicity, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales, particularly E. coli and similar bacterial species. The review also discusses different approaches for combating these infections. Understanding the virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria can aid in the development of novel strategies to treat infections caused by them.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jessa Marie V. Makabenta, Ahmed Nabawy, Aritra Nath Chattopadhyay, Taewon Jeon, Jungmi Park, Pui Chi Lo, Stas Nosovitski, Rui Huang, Cheng-Hsuan Li, Mingdi Jiang, Vincent M. Rotello
Summary: Integration of antimicrobial polymeric nanoparticles into hydrogel materials provides a promising strategy for treating multidrug-resistant biofilm infections. This study demonstrates the efficacy and selectivity of an injectable hydrogel loaded with engineered cationic antimicrobial polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) for the treatment of severe wound biofilm infections.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hak-Jae Kim, Sae Won Na, Hissah Abdulrahman Alodaini, Munirah Abdullah Al-Dosary, P. Nandhakumari, L. Dyona
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial strains isolated from wound infections, with some showing sensitivity to vancomycin. Specifically, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus species exhibited resistance to various antibiotics.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Han Fu, Joseph A. Lewnard, Isabel Frost, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Nimalan Arinaminpathy
Summary: Research suggests that a future TB vaccine could have a significant impact on global rifampicin-resistant TB burden, particularly in countries like India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Russian Federation. When combined with improvements in diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant TB, the implementation of the vaccine may prove to be effective.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria Caterina Pace, Antonio Corrente, Maria Beatrice Passavanti, Pasquale Sansone, Stephen Petrou, Sebastiano Leone, Marco Fiore
Summary: Intensive care units (ICU) have become the center of nosocomial infections, characterized by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), leading to high mortality rates. Carbapenems, once considered the last-resort antibiotics, are now facing resistance among Gram-negative pathogens, posing a significant global health concern. This comprehensive review highlights the new definition and epidemiology of the most common carbapenem-resistant MDROs (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacterales), emphasizing the importance of this problem for clinicians.
WORLD JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Monirul I. Sajib, Melinda Monteforte, Roderick Go
Summary: Cefiderocol is shown to be possibly associated with lower all-cause mortality than previously thought. The use of dual antibiotics in conjunction with cefiderocol may be advantageous in reducing mortality compared to using cefiderocol alone.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Guido Granata, Fabrizio Taglietti, Francesco Schiavone, Nicola Petrosillo
Summary: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of a novel antibiotic, durlobactam, in the treatment of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and it was found that durlobactam is effective when used in combination with sulbactam against A. baumannii. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the potential of this combination therapy for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Veronica Folliero, Federica Dell'Annunziata, Emanuela Roscetto, Marcella Cammarota, Anna De Filippis, Chiara Schiraldi, Maria Rosaria Catania, Vincenzo Casolaro, Alessandro Perrella, Massimiliano Galdiero, Gianluigi Franci
Summary: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of the anthelmintic drug niclosamide against multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum, showing bactericidal action and biofilm biomass degradation. These findings suggest the potential repurposing of niclosamide as a therapeutic agent for C. striatum infections.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Benoit Pilmis, Emmanuel Weiss, Anne Scemla, Alban Le Monnier, Paolo Antonio Grossi, Monica A. Slavin, Christian Van Delden, Olivier Lortholary, Catherine Paugam-Burtz, Jean-Ralph Zahar
Summary: Transplant recipients are highly susceptible to multidrug-resistant (MDR) related infections, especially those caused by metallo-β-lactamases. It is important to develop control strategies to manage MDR Gram-negative bacilli infections in transplant recipients. Understanding the clinical microbiology and infectious diseases is crucial for reducing the risk of infection in transplant recipients and the appropriate use of antibiotics.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yi Nong, George Taiaroa, Shivani Pasricha, Romain Guerillot, Ian R. Monk, Sarah L. Baines, Glen P. Carter, Benjamin P. Howden, Deborah A. Williamson
Summary: This study provides experimental evidence of co-selection for multidrug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus following exposure to fusidic acid or mupirocin. Carriage of fusC and mupA confers resistance to these antibiotics and may also provide a competitive advantage, leading to the selection of unrelated antimicrobial resistance determinants such as mecA, blaZ, and qacA. This highlights the need for judicious use of topical antibiotics to prevent the development of broader antibiotic resistance.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Carly M. Hughes, Gareth P. Gregory, Anna B. Pierce, Julian D. Druce, Mike Catton, Brian Chong, Norelle L. Sherry, Maryza Graham, Melissa Chen, Ross Salvaris, Nicole Eise, Jean Y. H. Lee, Zoe McQuilten, Simon Crouch, Clare Looker, Tony M. Korman, Rhonda L. Stuart
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tuyet Hoang, Anders Goncalves da Silva, Amy Jennison, Deborah A. Williamson, Benjamin P. Howden, Torsten Seemann
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the development of Australia's pathogen genomics platform AusTrakka, enabling rapid data sharing and real-time genomic surveillance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ashleigh F. Porter, Norelle Sherry, Patiyan Andersson, Sandra A. Johnson, Sebastian Duchene, Benjamin P. Howden
Review
Infectious Diseases
Theresa Maria Wagner, Benjamin Peter Howden, Arnfinn Sundsfjord, Kristin Hegstad
Summary: The acquisition and expression of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms in bacteria are often associated with a fitness cost. Transiently silent acquired AMR (tsaAMR) refers to acquired antimicrobial resistance genes with a corresponding phenotype within the wild-type distribution or below the clinical breakpoint for susceptibility, for which genetic alterations can mediate expression to a clinically relevant level of resistance. The phenomenon of tsaAMR is likely to increase due to the overall expansion of acquired AMR in bacterial pathogens and the use of genotypic methods in combination with conventional phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Benjamin P. Howden, Stefano G. Giulieri, Tania Wong Fok Lung, Sarah L. Baines, Liam K. Sharkey, Jean Y. H. Lee, Abderrahman Hachani, Ian R. Monk, Timothy P. Stinear
Summary: Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections are common and often result in high mortality due to drug resistance. This review examines recent advances in understanding the interactions between S. aureus and its host, including immune responses, metabolism, and genomic plasticity. The authors also discuss the challenges in vaccine development and the role of other bacteria in shaping S. aureus colonization.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Ashleigh F. Porter, Damian F. J. Purcell, Benjamin P. Howden, Sebastian Duchene
Summary: The study investigates the genetic adaptations of SARS-CoV-2 in mink hosts. The evolutionary rate of the virus increased upon introduction into minks before returning to the normal range in humans. The study also identified specific mutations in mink-associated lineages, highlighting the importance of ongoing surveillance of zoonotic infections.
Article
Microbiology
Jacqueline M. M. Morris, Karolina Mercoulia, Mary Valcanis, Claire L. L. Gorrie, Norelle L. L. Sherry, Benjamin P. P. Howden
Summary: Our study demonstrates that Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from cooked prawn is capable of harboring antimicrobial resistance genes of public health concern, specifically a chromosomally located bla(NDM-1) gene, and there is the potential for transmission of resistance genes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrew Henderson, Matthew P. Cheng, Ka Lip Chew, Geoffrey W. Coombs, Joshua S. Davis, Jennifer M. Grant, Dan Gregson, Stefano G. Giulieri, Benjamin P. Howden, Todd C. Lee, Vi Nguyen, Jocelyn M. Mora, Susan C. Morpeth, James O. Robinson, Steven Y. C. Tong, Sebastiaan J. Van Hal
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of two antibiotic susceptibility testing methods (CLSI and EUCAST) in detecting blaZ-positive S. aureus strains. The results showed a lower VME rate for the EUCAST method compared to the CLSI method.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Kyra y. l. Chua, May Yang, Lillian Wong, James Knox, Lai-yang Lee
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of clinical Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolates from urine specimens collected in Melbourne, Australia. The findings showed that empiric antibiotic recommendations for treatment of urinary S. saprophyticus remain appropriate.
Article
Microbiology
Liam K. R. Sharkey, Romain Guerillot, Calum J. Walsh, Adrianna M. Turner, Jean Y. H. Lee, Stephanie L. Neville, Stephan Klatt, Sarah L. Baines, Sacha J. Pidot, Fernando J. Rossello, Torsten Seemann, Hamish E. G. Mcwilliam, Ellie Cho, Glen P. Carter, Benjamin P. Howden, Christopher A. Mcdevitt, Abderrahman Hachani, Timothy P. Stinear, Ian R. Monk
Summary: This study provides insights into the functionality of the WalKR regulon in Staphylococcus aureus, highlighting its crucial role in cell wall homeostasis, purine biosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, and DNA replication. These findings underscore the potential of WalKR as a target for novel anti-staphylococcal therapeutics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica E. Stockdale, Kurnia Susvitasari, Paul Tupper, Benjamin Sobkowiak, Nicola Mulberry, Anders Goncalves da Silva, Anne E. Watt, Norelle L. Sherry, Corinna Minko, Benjamin P. Howden, Courtney R. Lane, Caroline Colijn
Summary: This article introduces a method for estimating serial intervals using virus sequences and applies it to case clusters of SARS-CoV-2 in Victoria, Australia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Charlie Higgs, Lamali Sadeesh Kumar, Kerrie Stevens, Janet Strachan, Norelle L. Sherry, Kristy Horan, Josh Zhang, Timothy P. Stinear, Benjamin P. Howden, Claire L. Gorrie
Summary: Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major human pathogen, has undergone significant changes in its epidemiology and distribution in Australia following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. This study used whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility data to examine the population structure and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Victoria, Australia. The results showed high diversity among isolates, with multiple serotypes and sequence types identified. Antimicrobial resistance, particularly to penicillin, was also observed. High-risk sub-populations with specific serotypes were identified. The study provides insights for IPD surveillance and prevention strategies.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Chantel Lin, Endang da Silva, Aalisha Sahukhan, Theresa Palou, Eka Buadromo, Tuyet Hoang, Benjamin P. Howden
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest and understanding of the utility of pathogen genomics in the Western Pacific region. Access to genomic data enhances surveillance and response to COVID-19, as well as supports surveillance of other infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistant pathogens.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2022)