Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ahmed Alsolami, Naif Saad ALGhasab, Mohammed S. M. Alharbi, Abdelhafiz I. Bashir, Mohd Saleem, Azharuddin Sajid Syed Khaja, Dakheel F. Aldakheel, Ehab Rakha, Jabar Aziz Alshammari, Taha E. Taha, Ziyad Melibari, Yaseer H. Alharbi, Ali A. Almutlag, Kamaleldin B. Said
Summary: MRSA lineages are a significant clinical and public health issue, and there is limited data on local lineage profiles. This study reports on the frequency of community-acquired and hospital-acquired MRSA cases. The majority of the isolates were community-acquired MRSA, with variations in infection types between males and females.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Feiteng Zhu, Hemu Zhuang, Shujuan Ji, Er Xu, Lingfang Di, Zhengan Wang, Shengnan Jiang, Haiping Wang, Lu Sun, Ping Shen, Yunsong Yu, Yan Chen
Summary: The study found that in households of CA-MRSA infected patients in China, most MRSA isolates belonged to epidemic CA-MRSA clones, while no MRSA was detected in the control group households. The research revealed that the home environment is an important reservoir for MRSA.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shutao Zhang, Xinhua Qu, Haozheng Tang, You Wang, Hongtao Yang, Weien Yuan, Bing Yue
Summary: The study shows that high-dose diclofenac inhibits the growth of MRSA without inducing drug-resistant mutations easily, while low-dose diclofenac can resensitize bacteria to beta-lactams and inhibit biofilm formation. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicate that diclofenac reduces the expression of genes and proteins associated with antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. Murine implant infection models suggest that diclofenac combined with beta-lactams can substantially alleviate MRSA infections in vivo, offering promising applications for preventing perioperative infections.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Catia Cilloniz, Cristina Dominedo, Albert Gabarrus, Carolina Garcia-Vidal, Jose Becerril, Diego Tovar, Estela Moreno, Juan M. Pericas, Carmen Rosa Vargas, Antoni Torres
Summary: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of MSSA community-acquired pneumonia and found that MSSA CAP patients had higher 30-day mortality than pneumococcal CAP patients, with MSSA being an independent factor of mortality.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Ella Galper, Tali Bdolah-Abram, Orli Megged
Summary: The study aimed to assess CA-MRSA infection frequency, identify risk factors, and evaluate resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus to recommend optimal treatment. It found an increase in CA-MRSA incidence over the past decade, with risk factors including young age, female sex, Arab ethnicity, and residence in East Jerusalem. MSSA resistance to clindamycin increased, while resistance to Trimethoprim-Sulphamethoxazole remained low.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hyemin Chung, Eunsil Kim, Eunmi Yang, Yun Woo Lee, Joung Ha Park, Seongman Bae, Jiwon Jung, Min Jae Kim, Yong Pil Chong, Sung-Han Kim, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Yang Soo Kim
Summary: This study investigated the clinical and microbiological characteristics of persistent bacteremia caused by the major CA-MRSA strain in Korea. Recurrent bacteremia within 12 weeks was significantly more common in persistent bacteremia group, and risk factors included liver cirrhosis, high initial CRP, infective endocarditis, and bone and joint infections.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Elham Zarenezhad, Hussein T. Abdulabbas, Mahrokh Marzi, Esraa Ghazy, Mohammad Ekrahi, Babak Pezeshki, Abdolmajid Ghasemian, Amira A. Moawad
Summary: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has developed extensive antibiotic resistance and contains virulence factors for severe infections. Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) have shown potential as a cheap prognostic and therapeutic agent, exerting antibacterial effects through disrupting cell membranes, deforming proteins, and inhibiting DNA replication.
Article
Microbiology
Jiun-Liang Chen, Tsung-Yu Huang, Wei-Bin Hsu, Chiang-Wen Lee, Yao-Chang Chiang, Pey-Jium Chang, Kuo-Ti Peng
Summary: This study investigated the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of MRSA clones isolated from PJI patients in a hospital in Taiwan. The findings showed that ST239 MRSA isolates were highly resistant to multiple antibiotics, had a high biofilm formation ability, and infected patients typically exhibited fever and inflammation. Additionally, knee infections were mainly attributed to ST59 MRSA, and there was an increasing trend of infections caused by ST8 and other MRSA genotypes in PJI patients.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shutao Zhang, Xinhua Qu, Juyang Jiao, Haozheng Tang, Minqi Wang, You Wang, Hongtao Yang, Weien Yuan, Bing Yue
Summary: Felodipine has antibacterial effects against MRSA, biofilm, and persisters. It can inhibit the expression of proteins associated with aminoglycoside resistance, eradicate formed biofilms and kill persisters. Felodipine also reduces MRSA virulence and modulates bacterial metabolism. It inhibits the growth of persisters by binding to a protease. In a mouse infection model, felodipine in combination with gentamicin alleviates bacterial burden and inflammation.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yuwen Lu, Yifei Lu, Baobao Li, Jiazhen Liu, Lixin Wang, Lianyang Zhang, Yang Li, Qiu Zhong
Summary: StAP1 phage is a MRSA phage isolated from a Chinese hospital, exhibiting broad-spectrum characteristics and strong lytic effects on various MRSA strains, indicating its potential application in MRSA infection treatment.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Kuan-Yi Lu, Nikki J. Wagner, Amanda Z. Velez, Agathe Ceppe, Brian P. Conlon, Marianne S. Muhlebach
Summary: MRSA infections are common and chronic in cystic fibrosis patients but are often resistant to antibiotic therapy. This study investigated whether bacterial phenotypes could predict the clinical outcomes of MRSA infections. The results showed no associations between these phenotypes and MRSA clearance, suggesting that additional factors may be relevant for predicting the clearance of MRSA.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hitoshi Kawasuji, Yoshihiro Ikezawa, Mika Morita, Kazushige Sugie, Mayu Somekawa, Masayoshi Ezaki, Yuki Koshiyama, Yusuke Takegoshi, Yushi Murai, Makito Kaneda, Kou Kimoto, Kentaro Nagaoka, Hideki Niimi, Yoshitomo Morinaga, Yoshihiro Yamamoto
Summary: The clinical characteristics and virulence gene profiles of PVL-negative CA-MRSA were investigated, and it was found that CA-MRSA had a higher incidence of metastatic infections compared to HA-MRSA. The presence of cna and fnbB genes was more common in CA-MRSA strains, but was not associated with the development of metastatic infections.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jingjing Zhong, Ming Wei, Chunxia Yang, Yudong Yin, Yu Bai, Ran Li, Li Gu
Summary: The purpose of this study was to analyze the molecular epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in China and investigate the antimicrobial resistance and clinical characteristics of different infection sites. The predominant type of CA-MRSA was ST59-t437-IV, and new non-epidemic types SCCmec VII were also identified. CA-MRSA pneumonia cases were often secondary to influenza infection, while patients with CA-MRSA-associated infective endocarditis were more likely to have underlying cardiac diseases, and those with CA-MRSA-associated skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) were more likely to have a history of diabetes mellitus.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Akwe Nyabera, Lilia Shaban, Kristin Hijazin, Taisiya Tumarinson
Summary: MRSA liver abscess is a rare and potentially fatal infection that requires early recognition and appropriate management. Patients with abdominal pain and elevated liver function tests should be highly suspected of liver abscess, and timely treatment is crucial to avoid complications.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feng Liao, Wenpeng Gu, Xiaoqing Fu, Bin Yuan, Yunhui Zhang
Summary: The study investigated the impact of cytokine storm caused by MRSA infection on BALB/c mice, showing that community-acquired MRSA strains provoked severe infection and lethality.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
William A. Dunlop, Paul J. Secombe, Jason W. Agostino, Frank M. P. van Haren
Summary: Indigenous Australians have a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease and are younger with fewer comorbidities in the ICU compared to non-Indigenous Australians. However, after adjusting for confounders, there is no significant difference in mortality rates between indigenous and non-indigenous CKD5D patients. Socioeconomic disadvantage contributes to the overrepresentation of indigenous people in the ICU.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katherine A. Thurber, Eden M. Barrett, Jason Agostino, Catherine Chamberlain, James Ward, Vicki Wade, Mary Belfrage, Raglan Maddox, David Peiris, Jennie Walker, Bernard Baffour, Mark Wenitong, Charlee Law, Timothy Senior, Naomi Priest, Kate Freeman, Tanya Schramm
Summary: The study highlighted high prevalence of health-related risk factors for severe COVID-19 among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, especially those from disadvantaged social backgrounds. Multi-sectoral responses are essential to improve health outcomes and address social inequities affecting these populations.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christopher R. Bailie, Vivian K. Leung, Elizabeth Orr, Elizabeth Singleton, Cate Kelly, Kirsty L. Buising, Benjamin C. Cowie, Martyn D. Kirk, Sheena G. Sullivan, Caroline Marshall
Summary: This study analyzed the performance of a manual contact tracing system for healthcare workers (HCW) at a multi-site healthcare facility in Melbourne, Australia, during the COVID-19 epidemic. The results showed that contact tracing was effective in detecting and containing a significant proportion of HCW cases without excessive quarantine of uninfected staff. The effectiveness of contact tracing depends on dynamic factors and should be monitored in real-time.
INFECTION DISEASE & HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kathleen O'Brien, Jason Agostino, Karen Ciszek, Kirsty A. Douglas
Summary: This study describes the trends in overweight/obesity in early childhood and parents' perceptions of their child's weight. It found that parents often do not accurately perceive their child's weight and show little concern for obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ellie Paige, Emily Banks, Jason Agostino, David Brieger, Karen Page, Grace Joshy, Eden M. Barrett, Rosemary J. Korda
Summary: This study quantified the relationship of socioeconomic factors to dispensing and persistent use of lipid- and blood pressure-lowering medication following hospital admission for a major CVD event. There was little to no evidence of a relationship of income and education to medication use after adjustment for medication subsidisation. Subsidisation is substantially associated with increased use and accounts for most of the relationship with socioeconomic position.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Breanne Kunstler, Skye Newton, Hayley Hill, John Ferguson, Phillipa Hore, Tari Turner
Summary: This study analyzed the efficacy of healthcare workers wearing P2/N95 respirators and surgical masks in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and experiencing adverse events. The results showed no significant difference in infection prevention between respirators and masks, but wearing respirators increased the likelihood of healthcare workers experiencing headaches, respiratory distress, facial irritation, and pressure-related injuries.
INFECTION DISEASE & HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Margaret Campbell, Naomi van der Linden, Karen Gardner, Helen Dickinson, Jason Agostino, Michelle Dowden, Irene O'Meara, Meg Scolyer, Hannah Woerle, Rosalie Viney, Kees van Gool
Summary: This study estimated the health system costs associated with diagnosing, treating, and managing crusted scabies. The findings revealed a significant financial burden, with the hospital system bearing the majority of the costs. The analysis provides valuable information for policymakers and researchers in evaluating prevention programs and resource allocation decisions, and highlights the need for further research on the broader costs and non-financial impacts of crusted scabies.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sandra Nilsson, Kayla Smurthwaite, Lesa L. Aylward, Margaret Kay, Leisa-Maree Toms, Leisa King, Shelby Marrington, Martyn D. Kirk, Jochen F. Mueller, Jennifer Braunig
Summary: This study examines the associations between exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and clinical chemistry endpoints in firefighters. The findings suggest that higher levels of PFAAs are significantly associated with elevated levels of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Emily Banks, Abby Haynes, Ray Lovett, Uday Narayan Yadav, Jason Agostino
Summary: The output-orientated policy engagement (OOPE) model is proposed to increase the policy-relevance and application of research in epidemiology. This model integrates foundational engagement methods with cycles of specific activities centered around research outputs. It not only promotes evidence generation and awareness among policymakers, but also facilitates relationship-building, mutual learning, and tangible policy impacts.
HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Amy Elizabeth Parry, Alice Richardson, Martyn D. Kirk, Samantha M. Colquhoun, David N. Durrheim, Tambri Housen
Summary: This study investigates the team dynamics and leadership experience of epidemiologists during emergency response, and the utility of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) tool in future public health emergency responses. They found that the TEAM tool was not validated for use in epidemiology teams involved in emergency response, but descriptive analysis provided insight into the performance of epidemiology emergency response teams. The study also revealed that female responders were less satisfied with response leadership compared to their male counterparts, and national responders were more satisfied across all survey categories compared to international responders.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. K. Ferguson, S. Chiu, C. Oldmeadow, J. Deane, S. Munnoch, N. Fraser
Summary: This study examined the impact of a piperacillin-tazobactam (PT) shortage on vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) acquisition in an Australian hospital. The results showed a significant decrease in VRE infections after the PT shortage. The study indicated that exceeding a certain threshold in the usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics, specifically PT, was associated with a higher incidence of hospital-acquired VRE.
INFECTION DISEASE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Brett G. Mitchell, Andrew J. Stewardson, Lucille Kerr, John K. Ferguson, Stephanie Curtis, Ljoudmila Busija, Michael J. Lydeamore, Kirsty Graham, Philip L. Russo
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of heightened infection prevention and control measures implemented in response to COVID-19 on healthcare associated infections (HAI). The overall results showed no significant difference in HAI rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, but two hospitals that experienced an earlier and larger outbreak demonstrated a significant decrease in HAI incidence.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Danielle C. Butler, Jason Agostino, Ellie Paige, Rosemary J. Korda, Kirsty A. Douglas, Vicki Wade, Emily Banks
Summary: The study quantified the claims of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health checks in Australian adults, indicating that a significant proportion of eligible individuals had not received this preventive care intervention. The findings suggest there is great potential for improving identification and management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at high risk of CVD through health checks, potentially preventing future CVD events.
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH & PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Katelyn Barnes, Jason Agostino, Dagmar Ceramidas, Kirsty Douglas
Summary: This study describes patient characteristics and presentations to community-based primary care medical services in the after-hours period. The findings suggest that community-based after-hours medical services play a significant role in after-hours medical care.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PRIMARY HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Amy Elizabeth Parry, Martyn D. Kirk, Samantha Colquhoun, David N. Durrheim, Tambri Housen
Summary: This study investigates the role, challenges, and support needs of epidemiologists in responding to public health emergencies. The findings highlight the challenges of navigating political dynamics, cultural differences, and communication issues during emergency response. National responders possess advantages in understanding the local political environment, language, and culture, while male responders are more likely to receive the necessary support.
HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH
(2022)