Article
Microbiology
Simon Brinkwirth, Sofie Martins, Olaniyi Ayobami, Marcel Feig, Ines Noll, Benedikt Zacher, Tim Eckmanns, Guido Werner, Niklas Willrich, Sebastian Haller
Summary: The incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) in bloodstream infections (BSIs) is increasing in Germany, particularly among older hospitalized patients, neonates, and infants.
Article
Microbiology
Robert J. Hart, Lisa A. Morici
Summary: The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is a widespread pathogen causing opportunistic infections in humans and is becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. It is estimated that at least 700,000 people die each year from drug resistant microbial infections and Pa is listed as one of the most critical species in need of novel therapeutics. Current vaccine development efforts have mainly focused on preventing pulmonary infections, but the rise in nosocomial infections, bloodstream infections, and antibiotic resistance poses a major threat to global public health. Therefore, attention should be given to potential Pa vaccine candidates and a renewed effort for prophylactic vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Sherry A. Dunbar, Christopher Gardner, Shubhagata Das
Summary: This article describes the application of two rapid, molecular bloodstream infection panels that can identify the most common pathogens and associated genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance, providing clinicians with faster information for treatment. Molecular testing methods reduce the turnaround time for diagnosing bloodstream pathogens to a few hours, helping to initiate timely and effective treatment.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Brandon R. Hadfield, Joseph B. Cantey
Summary: Recent advances in causes, diagnosis, management, and prevention of neonatal bloodstream infections (BSI) have led to a decrease in BSI incidence, but challenges such as emerging resistance and the need for novel diagnostics remain. Ongoing efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by neonatal BSI must remain a priority. This review highlights the rapid changes in the field over the past 18 months.
CURRENT OPINION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Amir Nutman, Elizabeth Temkin, Liat Wullfhart, Vered Schechner, Mitchell J. Schwaber, Yehuda Carmeli
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major public health concern in Israel, with high mortality. This study provides insights into the incidence, antimicrobial resistance, and mortality of Ab-BSI in Israel from 2018 to 2019. The findings highlight the significant burden of Ab-BSI in both hospital and community settings, with antimicrobial resistance being a key factor contributing to higher mortality.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yue Qiu, Junwen Yang, Yiping Chen, Jinhong Yang, Qingxiong Zhu, Chunhui Zhu, Shuangjie Li, Jing Liu, Chaomin Wan, Yu Zhu, Minxia Chen, Yi Xu, Jianning Tong, Rui Li, Qingwen Shan, Daojiong Lin, Shouye Wu, Zhiqiang Zhuo, Caihong Wang, Shiyong Zhao, Zhenghong Qi, Xiaofeng Sun, Bieerding Maihebuba, Chunmei Jia, Huiling Gao, Yibing Cheng, Mei Zeng
Summary: The study investigated the microbiological profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of bloodstream pathogens in Chinese children. The results showed that the major bacterial pathogens differ in different age groups, ward types, and regions, with Escherichia coli being the most common pathogen, especially in neonates and infants. The high prevalence of important resistant phenotypes is a serious concern.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Luciana Rodrigues Pires de Campos, Marina Farrel Cortes, Beatriz Deo, Camila Rizek, Sania Santos, Lauro Perdigao, Silvia Figueiredo Costa
Summary: Mechanical ventilation, surgery, and hemodialysis are independent risk factors for multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in critically ill trauma patients. Carbapenemase (KPC) is the main mechanism of resistance, and cross-transmission may contribute to its spread.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Seok Jun Mun, Si-Ho Kim, Hyoung-Tae Kim, Chisook Moon, Yu Mi Wi
Summary: The contribution of different pathogens to mortality in bloodstream infection varies by acquisition site, with hospital-acquired BSI showing higher rates of drug resistance, specific infection focus, and inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nina J. Zhu, Timothy M. Rawson, Siddharth Mookerjee, James R. Price, Frances Davies, Jonathan Otter, Paul Aylin, Russell Hope, Mark Gilchrist, Yeeshika Shersing, Alison Holmes
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the patterns of community- and hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. There was a high incidence of hospital-acquired bacteremia during the COVID-19 waves, especially in SARS-CoV-2-negative elective patients.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alemayehu Mekonnen Gezmu, Andre N. H. Bulabula, Angela Dramowski, Adrie Bekker, Marina Aucamp, Sajini Souda, Britt Nakstad
Summary: This retrospective study compared neonatal bloodstream infections in Botswana and South Africa in 2017, finding high rates of BSI and associated mortality in both neonatal units. ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified as a dominant pathogen in outbreaks in Princess Marina Hospital.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Andreas G. Tofarides, Panagiotis Dimitriou, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos, Dimitrios Rogkas, Christina Flourou, Elina Khattab, Diamanto Kasapi, Chara Azina, Eirini Christaki
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, and resistant strains are becoming increasingly common. This study found that recent antimicrobial use and heart disease are associated with bloodstream infections caused by ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rikke Thoft Nielsen, Christian Ostergaard Andersen, Henrik Carl Schonheyder, Jorgen Holm Petersen, Jenny Dahl Knudsen, Jens Otto Jarlov, Marie Norredam
Summary: A study in Denmark found that long-term migrants had different distribution of pathogens and resistance patterns in bloodstream infections compared to non-migrants. Migrants had higher odds of Escherichia coli infections and lower odds of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. These differences were only prevalent in community-acquired bloodstream infections.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Anna Maria Peri, Felicity Edwards, Andrea Henden, Patrick N. A. Harris, Mark D. Chatfield, David L. Paterson, Kevin B. Laupland
Summary: Knowledge of the epidemiology of bloodstream infection in haematology patients is crucial for patient management. This study investigates the epidemiology of bloodstream infection in haematological malignancy patients in Queensland over the last two decades, revealing a high prevalence of neutropenic patients and gram-negative pathogens as the main causative agents, with increasing antimicrobial resistance.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Surgery
Khushboo Patel, Kelly L. Maguigan, Tyler J. Loftus, Alicia M. Mohr, Bethany R. Shoulders
Summary: In surgical ICU patients with secondary bloodstream infections due to intraabdominal infections, cessation of antibiotic therapy within 7 days of source control was not associated with an increased incidence of recurrent intraabdominal infections.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Mathias Schmelcher, Martin J. Loessner
Summary: Endolysins, as a promising new class of antimicrobials, have shown effectiveness in various animal models against bacterial infections in different organs and tissues. However, challenges such as immunogenicity, circulation half-life, and specific targeting and penetration properties still need to be addressed for their systemic application.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kensuke Shoji, Shinya Tsuzuki, Takayuki Akiyama, Nobuaki Matsunaga, Yusuke Asai, Setsuko Suzuki, Noriko Iwamoto, Takanori Funaki, Masaki Yamada, Nobuaki Ozawa, Koushi Yamaguchi, Isao Miyairi, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This retrospective observational study examined the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 in Japan, revealing differences in the effects of the Delta and Omicron variants. The study also identified that onset during the later stage of pregnancy and during the Delta variant period were independently associated with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, while receiving two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was protective against developing moderate-to-severe COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Akira Endo, Yusuke Asai, Taichi Tajima, Mio Endo, Takayuki Akiyama, Nobuaki Matsunaga, Haruhiko Ishioka, Shinya Tsuzuki, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on microbial infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has not been fully described. This study used data from the Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) to assess changes in AMR-related metrics before and after the start of the pandemic. The study found a decrease in microbial infections in 2020, driven by reduced bed occupancy, but the incidence remained constant or slightly increased after adjusting for bed occupancy. The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae decreased significantly from April 2020, likely due to non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19. Antimicrobial use showed a weak increasing trend, while hand sanitizer use in medical institutions increased by about 50% in 2020 compared to 2019.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yusuke Asai, Shinya Tsuzuki, Nobuaki Matsunaga, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This study analyzed the treatment trends of COVID-19 and found regional differences in the use of steroids and favipiravir. The proportion of steroid use increased nationwide, while the use of favipiravir showed a decreasing trend. Registry studies play an important role in the real-time monitoring of medication status and trend analysis.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Hiroaki Baba, Saori Ikumi, Shotaro Aoyama, Tetsuo Ishikawa, Yusuke Asai, Nobuaki Matsunaga, Norio Ohmagari, Hajime Kanamori, Koichi Tokuda, Takuya Ueda, Eiryo Kawakami
Summary: This study investigated the differences in mortality rates of COVID-19 patients in Japan across 6 epidemiological waves, stratified by age group and 4C mortality score risk group. The results showed that the mortality rates of Japanese patients were significantly lower than those reported in the UK, except for patients aged >= 90 years at very high risk. In the fourth and fifth wave periods, there were no significant differences in mortality rates of patients aged >= 75 years at very high risk compared to the UK, while in the sixth wave period, the mortality rates were significantly lower in all age groups and risk groups.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shohei Yamamoto, Kouki Matsuda, Kenji Maeda, Yusuke Oshiro, Natsumi Inamura, Tetsuya Mizoue, Maki Konishi, Junko S. Takeuchi, Kumi Horii, Mitsuru Ozeki, Haruhito Sugiyama, Hiroaki Mitsuya, Wataru Sugiura, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: Longitudinal data comparing booster effects of Delta breakthrough infection and third vaccine dose on neutralizing antibodies against Omicron are lacking. The study found that Delta breakthrough infection led to significant increases in neutralizing antibody levels against Wild-type and Delta, and 64% of cases developed detectable neutralizing antibodies against Omicron BA.1. However, the neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron were lower compared to Wild-type and Delta. Therefore, infection prevention measures should be continued regardless of vaccine and infection history.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nobumasa Okumura, Kayoko Hayakawa, Kei Yamamoto, Gen Yamada, Kazuhisa Mezaki, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This study evaluated the treatment efficacy of cephalexin as oral antibiotic therapy for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)-induced pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). The results showed that completion of antibiotic treatment with cephalexin is a reasonable option for patients with MSSA bacteremia and PVO, even in cases with spinal abscess, if effective intravenous antimicrobial therapy is provided for at least 3 weeks.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Y. Li, S. Yamamoto, Y. Oshiro, N. Inamura, T. Nemoto, K. Horii, J. S. Takeuchi, T. Mizoue, M. Konishi, M. Ozeki, H. Sugiyama, W. Sugiura, N. Ohmagari
Summary: This study compared the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers during the Delta and Omicron periods. The risk of infection was 3.4-fold higher during the early Omicron-predominant period compared to the Delta period. Working in a COVID-19-related department or having a higher occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was not significantly associated with an increased infection risk during both periods. However, during the Omicron-predominant period, spending more than 30 minutes in closed spaces, crowded spaces, and close-contact settings without wearing a mask was associated with a higher infection risk.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Ayumi Kamo-Imai, Tomiteru Togano, Motohiko Sato, Yuiko Kawakami, Kumi Inaba, Hiroshi Shimazu, Saori Igarashi, Keiko Tanaka, Mari Terada, Noriko Kinoshita-Iwamoto, Sho Saito, Satoshi Kutsuna, Akira Hangaishi, Shinichiro Morioka, Kenzo Takahashi, Satoshi Miyata, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This study retrospectively observed the safety of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) apheresis in Japan. Adverse events occurred during CCP collection, including syncope, hypotension, and nausea. First-time donors and patients with severe illness were more likely to experience adverse events. Despite more adverse events compared to healthy donors, this study confirms the safety of CCP apheresis.
TRANSFUSION AND APHERESIS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Sho Nakakubo, Yoko Unoki, Koji Kitajima, Mari Terada, Hiroyuki Gatanaga, Norio Ohmagari, Isao Yokota, Satoshi Konno
Summary: This study demonstrates that the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level on day 8 is a reliable indicator for predicting in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients, suggesting its potential usefulness in post-treatment decision-making in severe cases.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryuta Uraki, Shun Iida, Peter J. Halfmann, Seiya Yamayoshi, Yuichiro Hirata, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Maki Kiso, Mutsumi Ito, Yuri Furusawa, Hiroshi Ueki, Yuko Sakai-Tagawa, Makoto Kuroda, Tadashi Maemura, Taksoo Kim, Sohtaro Mine, Noriko Iwamoto, Rong Li, Yanan Liu, Deanna Larson, Shuetsu Fukushi, Shinji Watanabe, Ken Maeda, Zhongde Wang, Norio Ohmagari, James Theiler, Will Fischer, Bette Korber, Masaki Imai, Tadaki Suzuki, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Summary: The Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 rapidly spread globally in India and Nepal during the summer of 2022. However, its virological features were largely unknown. In this study, BA.2.75 clinical isolates were evaluated in Syrian hamsters, and it was found that BA.2.75 had higher replicative ability in the lungs compared to BA.2 and BA.5. BA.2.75 also caused focal viral pneumonia in hamsters, unlike BA.5. These findings suggest that BA.2.75 may cause more severe respiratory disease and should be closely monitored.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Tropical Medicine
Kohei Kamegai, Kayoko Hayakawa, Kei Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Nomoto, Kanako Komaki-Yasuda, Shigeyuki Kano, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This article reports a severe case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a pregnant Japanese woman, who developed prolonged anemia and miscarriage after receiving treatment with intravenous quinine and oral artemether-lumefantrine. The authors emphasize the importance of monitoring hemoglobin levels for at least a month in patients who recover from severe malaria after ACT treatment.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yusuke Miyazato, Shinya Tsuzuki, Akihiro Matsunaga, Shinichiro Morioka, Mari Terada, Sho Saito, Noriko Iwamoto, Satoshi Kutsuna, Yukihito Ishizaka, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: Post-COVID conditions refer to the symptoms that persist after acute COVID-19, and the effect of serum antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 on their development was investigated. A retrospective study of COVID-19-recovered individuals was conducted, and serum antibody titers and demographic information were collected. Participants were divided into two groups based on antibody titers, and the frequency of post-COVID conditions was compared. The incidence of depressed mood was significantly higher in the group with higher antibody titers, indicating a difference in pathogenesis that requires further investigation.
GLOBAL HEALTH & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Taito Kitano, Shinya Tsuzuki, Ryuji Koizumi, Kensuke Aoyagi, Yusuke Asai, Yoshiki Kusama, Norio Ohmagari
Summary: This study analyzes data from the 47 prefectures of Japan and finds that the geographical variation of antimicrobial use (AMU) is associated with the proportion of female individuals, education level, and the number of diagnoses related to upper respiratory infections.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Shogo Otake, Yoshiki Kusama, Shinya Tsuzuki, Shota Myojin, Makoto Kimura, Naohiro Kamiyoshi, Toru Takumi, Akihito Ishida, Masashi Kasai
Summary: The study found that a facility-specific guideline was less effective than a nudge-based antimicrobial stewardship program in reducing oral third-generation cephalosporin prescriptions in Primary Emergency Medical Centers (PECs).
PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yoko Tsuzuki, Takumi Hirata, Shinya Tsuzuki, Shinichiro Wada, Akiko Tamakoshi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether the experience level of the first assistant surgeon affects perioperative organ injuries in patients undergoing TLH for benign diseases. The results showed that the inclusion of a less experienced first assistant, when there is an experienced primary surgeon, does not negatively impact the occurrence of perioperative organ injuries.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
