Article
Microbiology
Jacinda C. Abdul-Mutakabbir, Logan Nguyen, Philip T. Maassen, Kyle C. Stamper, Razieh Kebriaei, Keith S. Kaye, Mariana Castanheira, Michael J. Rybak
Summary: Cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, shows potent activity against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, with lower MIC values compared to other Gram-negative agents. Studies indicate synergistic effects when combined with other antibiotics, and beta-lactamase inhibitors increase susceptibility to CFDC in MDR A. baumannii isolates.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Harald Seifert, Carina Mueller, Danuta Stefanik, Paul G. G. Higgins, Esther Wohlfarth, Michael Kresken
Summary: Cefiderocol has potent activity against multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. However, some carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates have elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations, especially those carrying metallo-β-lactamase.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kimberly Cipko, Alice Kizny Gordon, Suman Adhikari, Pamela Konecny
Summary: This article reports a successful salvage treatment of XDRAB and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected retained spinal hardware with cefiderocol, despite the development of reversible acute interstitial nephritis after 32 days of treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Casin Le, Camila Pimentel, Fernando Pasteran, Marisel R. Tuttobene, Tomas Subils, Jenny Escalante, Brent Nishimura, Susana Arriaga, Aimee Carranza, Vyanka Mezcord, Alejandro J. Vila, Alejandra Corso, Luis A. Actis, Marcelo E. Tolmasky, Robert A. Bonomo, Maria Soledad Ramirez
Summary: Cefiderocol, a recently introduced antibiotic, shows reduced efficacy against A. baumannii bacteria when exposed to human fluids, potentially due to changes in gene expression. Further investigation is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Article
Microbiology
Stefano Stracquadanio, Carmelo Bonomo, Andrea Marino, Dafne Bongiorno, Grete Francesca Privitera, Dalida Angela Bivona, Alessia Mirabile, Paolo Giuseppe Bonacci, Stefania Stefani
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between a novel cephalosporin called cefiderocol (FDC) and different strains of Acinetobacter baumannii with varying susceptibilities to the drug. The results show diverse susceptibility profiles and the possibility of non-susceptible phenotypes at high drug concentrations. Combination therapy could potentially eliminate drug-adapted subpopulations and restore full activity of FDC.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jenny Escalante, Brent Nishimura, Marisel R. R. Tuttobene, Tomas Subils, Vyanka Mezcord, Luis A. A. Actis, Marcelo E. E. Tolmasky, Robert A. A. Bonomo, Maria Soledad Ramirez
Summary: The mortality rates of patients infected with Acinetobacter baumannii who were treated with cefiderocol (CFDC) were not as favorable as those receiving the best available treatment for pulmonary and bloodstream infections. The presence of human serum albumin (HSA) in the growth medium decreases the expression of genes associated with iron uptake systems. Removing HSA from the growth medium reduces the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CFDC and enhances the expression of iron-uptake genes and decreases the expression of beta-lactamases genes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qutaiba Ababneh, Sara Al Sbei, Ziad Jaradat, Sebawe Syaj, Neda'a Aldaken, Hamza Ababneh, Zeina Inaya
Summary: This study extensively sequenced five multi-drug resistant A. baumannii clinical isolates from three major Jordanian hospitals. Plasmids harboring resistance genes were detected, and experiments confirmed the transfer or loss of resistance phenotypes. The findings highlight the importance of plasmids in spreading resistance among A. baumannii clinical strains.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brent Nishimura, Jenny Escalante, Marisel R. Tuttobene, Tomas Subils, Vyanka Mezcord, Camila Pimentel, Nardin Georgeos, Fernando Pasteran, Cecilia Rodriguez, Rodrigo Sieira, Luis A. Actis, Marcelo E. Tolmasky, Robert A. Bonomo, Maria Soledad Ramirez
Summary: Research shows that albumin-rich human fluids increase the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an antibiotic against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, while low albumin concentration human urine does not impact the antibiotic's resistance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aamir Hussain, Shaheena Kousar, Ihsan Ullah, Aqsa Zulfiqar, Hafiz Arslan Ali, Amina Manzoor, Atif Aziz, Asghar Javaid, Mubashar Aziz, Binish Khaliq, Humera Nazir, Aleem Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Akrem, Muhammad Qamar Saeed
Summary: Enrichment of various phages against XDR clinical strains, including QAB 3.4 with broad lytic activity, shows promise for clinical applications and as environmentally friendly infection control agents.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Noor Zaidan, J. Patrik Hornak, David Reynoso
Summary: A successful case of treating XDR Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia and septic shock with a novel antibiotic obtained via expanded access protocol was reported, suggesting that focused research and drug development efforts can mitigate the poor outcomes associated with these infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Wesley D. Kufel, Yasmeen Abouelhassan, Jeffrey M. Steele, Ramiro L. Gutierrez, Talha Perwez, George Bourdages, David P. Nicolau
Summary: The study investigated the pharmacokinetics of cefiderocol in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma during the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) meningitis using two different dosing regimens. Results showed that cefiderocol achieved CSF concentrations surpassing the organism-specific MIC and the CLSI susceptible breakpoint for 100% of the dosing interval, leading to microbiological and clinical cure without any adverse effects.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Steven M. Smoke, Alison Brophy, Samuel Reveron, Alina Iovleva, Ellen G. Kline, Michael Marano, Lincoln P. Miller, Ryan K. Shields
Summary: This study reports on the treatment outcomes of 11 critically ill burn patients using cefiderocol for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections. The clinical success rate was 36%, but was complicated by the emergence of treatment-resistant A. baumannii and its transmission among patients. The resistant strains harbored disrupted pirA and piuA genes, which were not disrupted in susceptible strains.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prakash Kishore Hazam, Chin-Cheng Cheng, Chu-Yi Hsieh, Wen-Chun Lin, Po-Hsien Hsu, Te-Li Chen, Yi-Tzu Lee, Jyh-Yih Chen
Summary: Pathogenic superbugs are causing complex infections that cannot be treated effectively. Developing novel antibacterial agents, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), is urgently needed. This study successfully developed two TP2-based AMPs that showed significant antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria and low cytotoxicity. These peptides also demonstrated synergistic effects when combined with clinical antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Stephanie J. Ambrose, Mohammad Hamidian, Ruth M. Hall
Summary: In this study, the origins of resistance in a sporadic extensively resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolate were identified through genomic analysis. It was found that the isolate carried an unusual chromosomal region containing a large number of antibiotic resistance genes.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Marin Kollef, Herve Dupont, David E. Greenberg, Pierluigi Viale, Roger Echols, Yoshinori Yamano, David P. Nicolau
Summary: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has been classified as a critical pathogen requiring urgent new antibiotic treatment options. Cefiderocol, the first approved siderophore cephalosporin, shows stable activity against carbapenem-resistant pathogens and has demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating CRAB infections. Combination therapy with other active antibiotics and monitoring for resistance development are recommended.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Letizia Santinelli, Giacomo Rossi, Giorgia Gioacchini, Ranieri Verin, Luca Maddaloni, Eugenio N. Cavallari, Francesca Lombardi, Alessandra Piccirilli, Stefano Fiorucci, Adriana Carino, Silvia Marchiano, Chiara M. Lofaro, Sara Caiazzo, Massimo Ciccozzi, Carolina Scagnolari, Claudio M. Mastroianni, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Gabriella d'Ettorre
Summary: Functional and structural damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier contribute to microbial translocation in HIV-1 patients. In this study, long-term virologically suppressed HIV-1 patients underwent oral bacteriotherapy, which resulted in improvements in gut microbiota composition, mitochondrial function, and the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Daniele De Meo, Gianluca Cera, Roberta Pica, Fabiano Perfetti, Paolo Martini, Beatrice Perciballi, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Pietro Persiani, Ciro Villani
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antibiotic-coated implants in preventing fracture-related infections (FRIs) after surgical treatment in patients with increased infectious risk. A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with upper and lower limb fractures treated with internal fixation or prosthetic replacements, using a gentamicin coated nail (CN) and/or antibiotic-loaded hydrogel applied to the implant of choice (ALH). The study found that local antibiotic prophylaxis by coating resulted in a reduction in the incidence FRI, as compared to the estimated preoperative risk.
Article
Microbiology
Francesco Alessandri, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Giuseppe Migliara, Valentina Baccolini, Alessandro Russo, Carolina Marzuillo, Mariateresa Ceparano, Giovanni Giordano, Pierfrancesco Tozzi, Gioacchini Galardo, Giammarco Raponi, Claudio Mastroianni, Mario Venditti, Francesco Pugliese, Gabriella d'Ettorre
Summary: This study analyzed the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) due to Candida in COVID-19 patients supported with ECMO, and found that the incidence of candidemia was significantly higher in the ECMO group compared to the control group. This result was confirmed by survival analysis and multivariable analyses.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lorenzo Volpicelli, Mario Venditti, Alessandra Oliva
Summary: Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) are common in children and increasingly associated with multidrug resistance. Dalbavancin, a long-acting molecule, has shown promise in treating adult ABSSSIs, but its use in pediatric patients is limited. However, emerging evidence suggests that dalbavancin can be safe and effective in treating children with ABSSSIs.
EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Alessandra Oliva, Sergio Carbonara, Vito Cianci, Massimo Crapis, Enea Gino Di Domenico, Marco Falcone, Gioacchino Galardo, Emanuele Durante-Mangoni, Mario Venditti
Summary: Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSIs) commonly result in Emergency Department (ED) access and hospital admissions, causing a significant economic burden. Long-acting lipoglycopeptides (LALs) allow for outpatient management of ABSSSI patients who require parenteral therapy but do not need hospitalization. This article discusses the microbiological activity, efficacy, and safety of dalbavancin, critical steps for ABSSSI management in the ED, and the potential advantage of direct/early discharge with dalbavancin.
EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
A. Oliva, D. Al Ismail, G. Arcari, MC. Miele, E. Casali, F. Sacco, L. Volpicelli, M. De Angelis, M. T. Mascellino, F. Cancelli, G. Raponi, A. Carattoli, M. Venditti
Summary: This study describes the clinical characteristics of patients infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) and explores the in vitro activity of fosfomycin-containing combinations. The results show that the combination of fosfomycin and meropenem exhibits synergistic activity in 40% of cases, suggesting it as a valuable therapeutic option for KPC variants.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Leonardo Sorrentino, Matteo Fracella, Federica Frasca, Alessandra D'Auria, Letizia Santinelli, Luca Maddaloni, Ginevra Bugani, Camilla Bitossi, Massimo Gentile, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Ombretta Turriziani, Claudio Maria Mastroianni, Guido Antonelli, Gabriella d'Ettorre, Alessandra Pierangeli, Carolina Scagnolari
Summary: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the production of interferon (IFN) lambda and IFN gamma in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to investigate the expression of IFN lambda 1-3 and IFN gamma mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) of COVID-19 patients. The results showed lower levels of IFN lambda 1-3 and IFN gamma in PBMCs and BALs of severely ill patients compared to healthy donors. Secondary bacterial infections were associated with decreased IFN lambda in PBMCs but increased IFN lambda 3 in BALs. Dysregulation in IFN gamma, IFN lambda, and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) was observed in severe COVID-19 cases.
Article
Microbiology
Letizia Santinelli, Alessandro Lazzaro, Francesca Sciarra, Luca Maddaloni, Federica Frasca, Matteo Fracella, Sonia Moretti, Alessandra Borsetti, Ginevra Bugani, Francesco Alessandri, Veronica Zullino, Franco Ruberto, Francesco Pugliese, Leonardo Sorrentino, Daniele Gianfrilli, Andrea Isidori, Mary Anna Venneri, Claudio M. M. Mastroianni, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Gabriella d'Ettorre
Summary: By analyzing the immune cell profiles of COVID-19 patients, this study found that survivors and non-survivors had similar immune cellular characteristics in the blood and pulmonary compartments. However, non-survivors had lower levels of T lymphocytes in the lung tissue, which were highly immune-activated and associated with fatal outcomes in COVID-19.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Beatrice Perciballi, Alessandro Russo, Paolo Martini, Francesco Marchetti, Marco Rivano Capparuccia, Giancarlo Iaiani, Silvia Fabris, Massimo Ciccozzi, Ciro Villani, Mario Venditti, Gabriella D'Ettorre, Daniele De Meo
Summary: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and fracture-related infection (FRI) are challenging conditions in high-risk patients. For those not eligible for standard treatment, combination therapy of debridement, long-term antibiotics, and chronic oral antimicrobial suppression (COAS) can be a reasonable option. This study retrospectively analyzed 16 patients who underwent COAS after debridement and antibiotic treatment, with a median follow-up of 15 months. The monitoring of patients included clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and radiolabeled leukocyte scintigraphy (LS). The results showed that 62.5% of patients had no relapse after cure at the last evaluation, while side effects led to COAS discontinuation in 50% of the patients who experienced a relapse.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Valerio Capitani, Gabriele Arcari, Alessandra Oliva, Federica Sacco, Gaia Menichincheri, Linda Fenske, Riccardo Polani, Giammarco Raponi, Guido Antonelli, Alessandra Carattoli
Summary: This article reports a four-patient outbreak caused by Providencia stuartii in a hospital in Rome. Phenotypic analysis and whole-genome sequencing revealed highly related strains with XDR characteristics. The strains carried various virulence factors and resistance genes, which were found on plasmids similar to those found in previous Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in the same hospital. The emergence of XDR P. stuartii strains poses a significant public health threat, and monitoring their spread and developing new control and treatment strategies is crucial.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Alessandra Oliva, Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa, Malgorzata Mikulska, Federico Pea, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Carlo Tascini, Mario Venditti
Summary: Invasive Candida Infections (ICIs) have experienced significant changes in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations in recent decades, including a shift towards non-albicans species and an increase in exogenous infections. The long-acting echinocandin rezafungin has shown potent in-vitro activity against Candida spp., including azole-resistant strains and C.auris.
EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Francesco Alessandri, Giuseppe Migliara, Valentina Baccolini, Giovanni Giordano, Gioacchino Galardo, Carolina Marzuillo, Corrado De Vito, Alessandro Russo, Massimo Ciccozzi, Paolo Villari, Mario Venditti, Claudio M. Mastroianni, Francesco Pugliese, Gabriella d'Ettorre
Summary: The study aimed to assess the accuracy of procalcitonin levels as a diagnostic tool and found that elevated levels may not always indicate bacterial superinfections or coinfections in severe COVID-19 cases.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fabio Scarpa, Chiara Locci, Ilenia Azzena, Marco Casu, Pier Luigi Fiori, Alessandra Ciccozzi, Marta Giovanetti, Miriana Quaranta, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Stefano Pascarella, Massimo Ciccozzi, Daria Sanna
Summary: Recombination events are common in RNA viruses and the XBF SARS-CoV-2 lineage is a recent recombinant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Genetic analyses show that XBF does not have significant expansion potential or a higher contagion rate compared to other lineages. Cautionary measures should still be taken and genome-based monitoring remains important for detecting changes in viral genome composition.
Review
Microbiology
Marta Giovanetti, Eleonora Cella, Sonia Moretti, Fabio Scarpa, Alessandra Ciccozzi, Svetoslav Nanev Slavov, Francesca Benedetti, Davide Zella, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Massimo Ciccozzi, Alessandra Borsetti
Summary: Monkeypox has emerged as a significant global threat, highlighting the importance of global monitoring and rapid response. The unpredictable nature of its transmission, potential for human-to-human spread, and high morbidity rate underscore the need for proactive surveillance and international collaboration.
Review
Microbiology
Eleonora Cella, Marta Giovanetti, Francesca Benedetti, Fabio Scarpa, Catherine Johnston, Alessandra Borsetti, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Taj Azarian, Davide Zella, Massimo Ciccozzi
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a significant global health concern that requires a collaborative One Health approach. It poses a threat to human and animal health, as well as the effectiveness of medical treatments and veterinary interventions.
