Article
Infectious Diseases
Emmanouil Bolikas, Eirini Astrinaki, Evangelia Panagiotaki, Efsevia Vitsaxaki, Stamatina Saplamidou, Ioannis Drositis, Dimitra Stafylaki, Georgios Chamilos, Achilleas Gikas, Diamantis P. Kofteridis, Evangelos I. Kritsotakis
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems globally, with a detrimental effect on increasing antimicrobial resistance. A study conducted in two tertiary-care hospitals investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The results revealed a 44% reduction in the infection rate of ESKAPEE bacteria during the intervention period compared to the pre-intervention period.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryuta Uraki, Maki Kiso, Shun Iida, Masaki Imai, Emi Takashita, Makoto Kuroda, Peter J. Halfmann, Samantha Loeber, Tadashi Maemura, Seiya Yamayoshi, Seiichiro Fujisaki, Zhongde Wang, Mutsumi Ito, Michiko Ujie, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Yuri Furusawa, Ryan Wright, Zhenlu Chong, Seiya Ozono, Atsuhiro Yasuhara, Hiroshi Ueki, Yuko Sakai-Tagawa, Rong Li, Yanan Liu, Deanna Larson, Michiko Koga, Takeya Tsutsumi, Eisuke Adachi, Makoto Saito, Shinya Yamamoto, Masao Hagihara, Keiko Mitamura, Tetsuro Sato, Masayuki Hojo, Shin-ichiro Hattori, Kenji Maeda, Riccardo Valdez, Moe Okuda, Jurika Murakami, Calvin Duong, Sucheta Godbole, Daniel C. Douek, Ken Maeda, Shinji Watanabe, Aubree Gordon, Norio Ohmagari, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Michael S. Diamond, Hideki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Mitsuya, Tadaki Suzuki, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Summary: The replicative ability and pathogenicity of Omicron BA.2 variant is similar to that of BA.1 in rodents, but it shows less pathogenicity compared to early SARS-CoV-2 strains. There is a marked reduction in the neutralizing activity of plasma from individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and vaccine recipients against BA.2 variant.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Danni Bao, Xiaohong Xu, Yizhang Wang, Fengjiao Zhu, Yanhong Wu, Hongzhang Li
Summary: We report a case of Clostridium ramosum bacteremia in a 73-year-old patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection in China. Whole-genome sequencing revealed two antimicrobial resistance genes in the isolated strain, explaining its resistance to tetracycline and macrolides. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship with a strain from pig feces in Canada. This highlights the potential risk of invasive C. ramosum infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai-Wen K. Yang, Chloe F. H. Paris, Kevin T. Gorman, Ilia M. Rattsev, Rebecca H. Y. Yoo, Yijia L. Chen, Jacob M. Desman, Tony Y. C. Wei, Joseph L. Greenstein, Casey Overby Taylor, Stuart C. Ray
Summary: There have been more than 621 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, resulting in over 6.5 million deaths. This study aimed to predict COVID-19 resistance using demographic, diagnostic, and health record data. The models showed modest performance in predicting resistance, and further association studies are needed to validate the findings.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ashish Bhargava, Kathleen Riederer, Mamta Sharma, Elisa Akagi Fukushima, Leonard Johnson, Louis Saravolatz
Summary: The study found higher rates of MDRO on admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus being the predominant pathogen. Therefore, bacteremia with MDRO should be considered in differential diagnosis, especially in at-risk populations and those admitted from nursing facilities.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
I. Gajica, M. Jovicevic, V. Popadic, A. Trudic, J. Kabic, D. Kekic, A. Ilic, S. Klasnja, M. Hadnadjev, D. J. Popadic, A. Andrijevic, A. Prokic, R. Tomasevic, L. Ranin, Z. Todorovic, M. Zdravkovic, N. Opavski
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence, causes, and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial infections in hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2. It also investigated comorbidities, risk factors, and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with bacterial infections. The findings reveal a significant association between healthcare-associated bacterial infections as an important complication of COVID-19 and fatal outcomes.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Petros Ioannou, Konstantinos Alexakis, Sofia Maraki, Diamantis P. Kofteridis
Summary: This study aimed to assess the epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by Pseudomonas spp. in a tertiary hospital. It found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the third most commonly identified cause among gram-negative microorganisms causing BSI, with a high mortality rate. The study also identified factors associated with mortality and observed changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick J. Lenehan, Eshwan Ramudu, A. J. Venkatakrishnan, Gabriela Berner, Reid McMurry, John C. O'Horo, Andrew D. Badley, William Morice, John Halamka, Venky Soundararajan
Summary: A retrospective study compared laboratory test measurements in rehospitalized COVID-19 patients versus those not rehospitalized after viral clearance, finding that rehospitalized patients had lower hemoglobin levels and were more likely to have moderate or severe anemia. These findings suggest that anemia-related lab tests should be considered in risk assessment for COVID-19 patients.
Letter
Immunology
Andrea Calcagno, Valeria Ghisetti, Teresa Emanuele, Mattia Trunfio, Silvia Faraoni, Lucio Boglione, Elisa Burdino, Sabrina Audagnotto, Filippo Lipani, Marco Nigra, Antonio D'Avolio, Stefano Bonora, Giovanni Di Perri
Summary: In a study involving 5,444 active healthcare workers in Italy, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunits S1/S2 antibodies was found to be 6.9%, with higher rates among those who had contact with patients. Out of 213 previously infected participants, 37 did not show seroconversion.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alex Bhattacharya, Simon M. Collin, James Stimson, Simon Thelwall, Olisaeloka Nsonwu, Sarah Gerver, Julie Robotham, Mark Wilcox, Susan Hopkins, Russell Hope
Summary: In England, hospital-onset probable and definite cases accounted for 5.3% of all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, with community-onset community-acquired cases being the highest proportion. Hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified in single and multi-site hospital-based studies, with up to 1 in 6 infections among hospitalised patients being attributed to nosocomial transmission.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Esteban Cruz-Arenas, Elizabeth Cabrera-Ruiz, Sara Laguna-Barcenas, Claudia A. Colin-Castro, Tatiana Chavez, Rafael Franco-Cendejas, Clemente Ibarra, Javier Perez-Orive
Summary: A study in a large hospital in Mexico City found a serological prevalence of 13.0% for SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers, with working in janitorial and security groups, having a lower educational level, and living with more people identified as factors increasing the risk of infection. The study suggests that providing additional testing and counseling for these groups could help limit the spread of contagion. The seropositive rate identified in this work is substantially higher than the official number of confirmed cases in Mexico City.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ziyad Al-Aly, Benjamin Bowe, Yan Xie
Summary: This study analyzed the US Department of Veterans Affairs national healthcare databases to investigate the occurrence of Long COVID and death risk after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings showed that vaccination significantly reduced the risk of death and post-acute sequelae but did not eliminate them completely. These results underscore the importance of further research on prevention and post-acute care for breakthrough infections.
Article
Virology
Thomas Lardaro, Alfred Z. Wang, Antonino Bucca, Alexander Croft, Nancy Glober, Daniel B. Holt, Paul I. Musey, Kelli D. Peterson, Russell A. Trigonis, Jason T. Schaffer, Benton R. Hunter
Summary: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed a low rate of bacteremia in this population. Clinical and laboratory features associated with bacteremia included low blood pressure and elevated blood-related indicators.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sarah Al Youha, Osama Alowaish, Islam K. Ibrahim, Mohammad Alghounaim, Ghada A. Abu-Sheasha, Zainab Fakhra, Sarah Al Hendi, Yousif AlQabandi, Sulaiman Almazeedi, Fatima Al Asoomi, Salman Al-Sabah
Summary: The study found that being a nurse and prolonged glove use were associated with an increased likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, most personal protective equipment (PPE) were reported to be available always or most of the time, with coveralls being the least available PPE item. Prospective cohort studies are needed to further understand the reasons behind these findings and to minimize infection transmission among healthcare workers.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Kim Blom, Sebastian Havervall, Ulrika Marking, Nina Greilert Norin, Philip Bacchus, Ramona Groenheit, Andreas Brave, Charlotte Thalin, Jonas Klingstrom
Summary: A study conducted in Stockholm, Sweden, revealed that 2.3% of healthcare workers in high-risk environments were infected with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alaa Riezk, Richard C. Wilson, Timothy M. Rawson, Vasin Vasikasin, Paul Arkel, Trevor J. Ferris, Lisa D. Haigh, Anthony E. G. Cass, Alison H. Holmes
Summary: This study aimed to develop a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quantification of benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, and amoxicillin in human serum and interstitial fluid samples. The method has a lower limit of detection and limit of quantification, making it suitable for the measurement in neonates and critically ill patients.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alaa Riezk, Vasin Vasikasin, Richard C. C. Wilson, Timothy M. M. Rawson, James G. G. McLeod, Rishi Dhillon, Jamie Duckers, Anthony E. G. Cass, Alison H. H. Holmes
Summary: This study aimed to establish and validate a rapid and reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of cefiderocol and meropenem in human plasma of critically ill patients. The method involved protein precipitation using acetonitrile for sample clean-up, followed by reverse phase chromatography using triple quadrupole LC/MS. The developed method showed good linearity, accuracy, and sensitivity for both cefiderocol and meropenem, with stability at different temperatures and protein binding assessed in human plasma.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. A. Otter, J. Zhou, J. R. Price, L. Reeves, N. Zhu, P. Randell, S. Sriskandan, W. S. Barclay, A. H. Holmes
Summary: A study in a London hospital found that the contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces and in the air has changed between April 2020 and January 2021. Surface and air samples were collected in January 2021 from clinical areas and a public area, and SARS-CoV-2 was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and viral culture. The study suggests that enhanced infection prevention measures have reduced the burden of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and in the air in healthcare facilities.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Timothy M. Rawson, Luke S. P. Moore
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Thomas Beaney, Jonathan Clarke, Ahmed Alboksmaty, Kelsey Flott, Aidan Fowler, Jonathan Benger, Paul P. Aylin, Sarah Elkin, Ara Darzi, Ana Luisa Neves
Summary: The impact of a national pulse oximetry remote monitoring program on the use of health services and mortality in COVID-19 patients attending Emergency Departments was investigated. The results showed that enrolled patients had a 52% lower death rate, but a 37% and 59% higher probability of ED attendance and hospital admission, respectively. This study suggests that pulse oximetry remote monitoring may be an effective and safe model for early detection and escalation of hypoxia.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Katie Harman, Sophie Grace Nash, Harriet H. Webster, Natalie Groves, Jo Hardstaff, Jessica Bridgen, Paula B. Blomquist, Russell Hope, Efejiro Ashano, Richard Myers, Sakib Rokadiya, Susan Hopkins, Colin S. Brown, Meera Chand, Gavin Dabrera, Simon Thelwall
Summary: There are concerns about the reduced efficacy of sotrovimab in reducing hospitalisation risk for the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant. A retrospective study was conducted to compare the risk of hospitalisation between BA.2 and BA.1 cases treated with sotrovimab. The results suggest that the risk of hospital admission was similar for both sub-lineages.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
A. Myall, M. Wiedermann, P. Vasikasin, P. Klamser, Y. Wan, A. Zachariae, R. Peach, I. Dorigatti, L. Kreitmann, J. Rodgus, M. Getino-Redondo, S. Mookerje, E. Jauneikaite, F. Davies, A. Weisse, J. Price, A. Holmes, M. Barahona, D. Brockmann
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
A. Myall, I. Venkatachalam, C. Philip, M. Yin, D. Koon, S. Arora, Y. Yue, R. Peach, A. Weisse, P. Tambyah, A. Chow, J. Price, A. Cook, A. Holmes, M. Barahona
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vasin Vasikasin, Bawornnan Panuvatvanich, Timothy M. Rawson, Alison H. Holmes, Worapong Nasomsong
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of empirical ertapenem and class 2 carbapenems for the treatment of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCRE) bacteraemia. The results showed that ertapenem was non-inferior to class 2 carbapenems in terms of 30-day mortality.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Emma McGuire, Claire Neill, Simon M. Collin, Hannah Higgins, Rebecca Guy, Mark Ganner, Juliana Coelho, Bruno Pichon, Russell Hope, Colin S. Brown
Summary: PVL toxin detection was not associated with worse outcomes in patients with community-acquired S. aureus bacteremia.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Timothy M. Rawson, David B. Antcliffe, Richard C. Wilson, Alireza Abdolrasouli, Luke S. P. Moore
Summary: Bacterial and fungal infections are common in ICU patients, and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. This article reviews the epidemiology of bacterial and fungal infection in the ICU, discussing risk factors, diagnosis and management approaches, as well as common strategies for infection prevention.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vasin Vasikasin, Timothy M. Rawson, Alison H. Holmes, Jonathan Otter
Summary: This review discusses the role of precision prescribing in preventing carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) by improving antibiotic selection, dosing, and duration. It explores the impact of different antibiotics, dosing, and duration on CRO development, and presents available options for precision prescribing, gaps in scientific evidence, and areas for future research.
JAC-ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2023)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Nurin Abdul Aziz, Sophie Grace Nash, Asad Zaidi, Tommy Nyberg, Natalie Groves, Russell Hope, Jamie Lopez Bernal, Gavin Dabrera, Simon Thelwall
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elita Jauneikaite, Kate S. Baker, Jamie G. Nunn, Janet Midega, Li Yang Hsu, Shweta R. Singh, Alison L. Halpin, Katie L. Hopkins, James R. Price, Padmini Srikantiah, Beverly Egyir, Iruka N. Okeke, Kathryn E. Holt, Sharon J. Peacock, Nicholas A. Feasey
Summary: Integrating genomic technologies into AMR surveillance in health-care facilities has the potential to provide valuable information for patient management and infection prevention in real time. However, there are significant challenges to implementing genomics for AMR surveillance in clinical settings. International experts have reviewed the evidence base and provided recommendations to address these challenges, including defining viable and cost-effective use cases and improving training and capacity building efforts.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Giovanni Satta, Timothy M. Rawson, Luke S. P. Moore
Summary: This review evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on CLABSI at a global level, finding a significant increase in CLABSI incidence/rates during the pandemic. Factors such as high workload, redeployment, and overwhelmed healthcare staff were identified as recurrent risk factors that negatively influenced infection control practices. Microbiological epidemiology was also impacted, with an increase in enterococcal infections and other pathogens.
INFECTION PREVENTION IN PRACTICE
(2023)