Article
Microbiology
Alessandra Carattoli, Gabriele Arcari, Giulia Bibbolino, Federica Sacco, Dario Tomolillo, Federica Maria Di Lella, Maria Trancassini, Luigi Faino, Mario Venditti, Guido Antonelli, Giammarco Raponi
Summary: A study conducted in a university hospital in Rome, Italy identified multiple CZA-resistant KPC-3 protein variants, including novel variants that had not been reported before. These variants showed different sensitivities and activities to antibiotics, possibly due to mutations caused by amino acid substitutions, insertions, and deletions.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Federica Bovo, Tiziana Lazzarotto, Simone Ambretti, Paolo Gaibani
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the BMD method with the DD test and strip test in assessing the antimicrobial activity of CFD against KPC-Kp strains. The CA between the BMD method and DD test was 92%, while the CA between the BMD method and strip test was 90.7%. KPC-Kp strains showing resistance to CFD were 36% by three methods. The DD test was found to be a valid alternative to the BMD method, while the strip test exhibited major limitations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lin Huang, Min Cao, Yanyan Hu, Rong Zhang, Yufei Xiao, Gongxiang Chen
Summary: The trend of fosfomycin resistance among KPC-KP strains is increasing in China, with the two major mechanisms of resistance being plasmid-mediated fosfomycin resistance gene fosA3 and mutation of the target gene glpT.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jacqueline Findlay, Laurent Poirel, Mario Juhas, Patrice Nordmann
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of KPC variants on CZA resistance, finding increased susceptibility to cephalosporins and carbapenems but increased resistance to ceftazidime and piperacillin-tazobactam. The KPC variants exhibited increased affinity towards ceftazidime and slightly decreased sensitivity to avibactam, impacting CZA resistance while concurrently negatively impacting carbapenemase activities.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carolina Sabenca, Eliana Costa, Sara Sousa, Lillian Barros, Ana Oliveira, Sonia Ramos, Gilberto Igrejas, Carmen Torres, Patricia Poeta
Summary: The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains producing ESBL and KPC has become a major public health concern. The ability of these strains to form biofilms is worrisome as it can facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance and prolong infections in healthcare facilities.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Constantinos Tsioutis, Vanessa M. Eichel, Nico T. Mutters
Summary: This critical review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of measures to control the spread of KPC-KP in healthcare settings, finding that successful control during outbreaks doesn't necessarily indicate the effectiveness of individual infection control measures, due to low-quality evidence and lack of controlled intervention studies. The distribution of studies, reported cases, and high mortality rates highlight that KPC-KP remains a major healthcare problem globally.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jee Hong Kim, Yun Young Cho, Ji Young Choi, Yu Mi Wi, Kwan Soo Ko
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a hospital in South Korea. It identified two main clones, ST11 and ST307, with different resistance profiles and virulence levels. Continuous monitoring of these clones, which show different characteristics including resistance and virulence, is necessary.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Eva Gato, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Isaac Alonso-Garcia, Rosa Pedraza-Merino, Adrian Conde, Emilio Lence, Soraya Rumbo-Feal, Andrea Pena-Escolano, Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Tania Blanco-Martin, Ana Fernandez-Gonzalez, M. del Carmen Fernandez-Lopez, Romina Maceiras, Marta Martinez-Guitian, Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Luis Martinez-Martinez, Concepcion Gonzalez-Bello, Jorge Arca-Suarez, Alejandro Beceiro, German Bou
Summary: By studying high-risk Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, we found that imipenem/relebactam was more effective than ceftazidime/avibactam in preventing resistance mutations. In some strains, imipenem/relebactam resistance developed faster and reached higher levels compared to ceftazidime/avibactam. Lineages that evolved in the presence of ceftazidime/avibactam showed KPC substitutions associated with high-level resistance, while lineages that evolved in the presence of imipenem/relebactam showed specific substitutions related to imipenem/relebactam resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Qiwei Chen, Lizhang Liu, Xiaofang Hu, Xu Jia, Xiaowei Gong, Youjun Feng, Man Huang
Summary: The study focuses on the diversity of KPC-2-producing plasmids in highly transmissible ST11 clones of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP). The researchers report a clinical case of a rare ST437 CRKP isolate, K186, which produces KPC-2. Whole-genome sequencing revealed three distinct resistance plasmids, one of which, pK186_KPC, is a small IncN-type plasmid of 26,012bp. The study further suggests that the carbapenem-resistant pK186_KPC might have arisen from the integration of ancestral IncN and IncFII plasmids.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Theodoros Karampatakis, Charalampos Zarras, Styliani Pappa, Eleni Vagdatli, Elias Iosifidis, Emmanuel Roilides, Anna Papa
Summary: This study genetically characterized four ST39 CRKP isolates simultaneously producing VIM-1 and KPC-2, obtained in a Greek tertiary hospital. The isolates were pandrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant, and carried multiple antimicrobial resistance genes and plasmids. The analysis revealed a close clonal relatedness among the isolates.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lina Zhao, Xinxin Xia, Ting Yuan, Junying Zhu, Zhen Shen, Min Li
Summary: This study analyzed genomic data of carbapenemase-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) strains in China, revealing rich diversity in sequence types and capsular serotypes. The study also found that carbapenemase has spread to hypervirulent KPN, mammals, poultry, and insects. The prevalence of different capsular serotypes has changed over time, with ST11 replacing KL47 as the dominant serotype. Different genic indicators can be used to differentiate between types of KPN.
Article
Microbiology
Agnes B. Jousset, Saoussen Oueslati, Cecile Emeraud, Remy A. Bonnin, Laurent Dortet, Bogdan I. Iorga, Thierry Naas
Summary: Resistance to the combination of ceftazidime (CAZ) and avibactam (AVI) is increasing, with a CAZ-AVI-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain reported here. This strain, belonging to the high-risk sequence type 307 (ST307) clone, produces Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase 39 (KPC-39), a single-amino-acid variant of KPC3. The study found that KPC-39 has lost carbapenemase activity but shows increased affinity for CAZ, suggesting potential silent dissemination in European healthcare settings.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Athira Pattolath, Prabha Adhikari, Vidya Pai
Summary: The purpose of this study was to detect the presence of Carbapenemase-producing genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae, identify the risk factors for acquiring them, and understand their impact on clinical outcomes. The study found a high prevalence of Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP), with surgery and parenteral nutrition significantly associated with the infection. Patients with CRKP had a higher risk of mortality and poor clinical outcomes.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mohammed Al Balushi, Rajesh Kumar, Azza Al-Rashdi, Amin Ratna, Ahood Al-Jabri, Neima Al-shekaili, Ramasandhya Rani, Sara Al Sumri, Laila Al-Ghabshi, Seif Al-Abri, Amina Al-Jardani
Summary: This study describes the first report of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) sequence type (ST) 11 harboring KPC in Oman. Molecular and genomic analysis revealed that these KPC-producing strains belong to a single clone and caused multiple nosocomial infections in one health institution. This finding highlights the importance of sustained surveillance, infection prevention efforts, and active screening to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Chunlei Wang, Jiankang Zhao, Zhibo Liu, Aihua Sun, Lingxiao Sun, Binbin Li, Binghuai Lu, Yingmei Liu, Bin Cao
Summary: This study describes the in vivo evolution of carbapenem and ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in a pneumonia patient by analyzing four longitudinal Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates. The results showed a dynamic change of resistance phenotype and the emergence of resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam and carbapenems.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristy L. Buising, Robyn Schofield, Louis Irving, Melita Keywood, Ashley Stevens, Nick Keogh, Grant Skidmore, Imogen Wadlow, Kevin Kevin, Behzad Rismanchi, Amanda J. Wheeler, Ruhi S. Humphries, Marion Kainer, Jason Monty, Forbes McGain, Caroline Marshall
Summary: This observational study investigated the airflow, transmission, and clearance of aerosols in a hospital ward that had treated COVID-19 patients. The study found that aerosols rapidly spread from patient rooms to other areas of the ward, but portable air cleaners (HEPA filters) were effective in clearing aerosols from clinical spaces and reducing their spread. Installing small domestic air cleaners in patient rooms can clear 99% of aerosols within 5.5 minutes.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. H. Lee, M. Rounds, F. McGain, R. Schofield, G. Skidmore, I Wadlow, K. Kevin, A. Stevens, C. Marshall, L. Irving, M. Kainer, K. Buising, J. Monty
Summary: This study found that the use of portable air cleaning devices can effectively reduce aerosol transmission in high-risk environments. The addition of portable air cleaning devices significantly improves the clearance rate of aerosols.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
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
Medicine, General & Internal
Brodie Farrow, Asha Bonney, Kasha P. Singh, Steven Tong, Louis Irving, Wen Kwang Lim, Seok Lim, Douglas Johnson, Caroline Marshall, Kirsty Buising, Belinda Liu, Benjamin Cowie, Megan Rees, Alistair Miller
Summary: This study reviewed the demographics, management, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients cared for by the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2020. The study found that the demographics and outcomes of patients changed over time, with higher mortality rates observed in the elderly population.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Brenda L. Bartnik-Olson, Arlin B. Blood, Michael H. Terry, Shawn F. L. Hanson, Christopher Day, Daniel Kido, Paggie Kim
Summary: QSM-derived venous susceptibility is sensitive to cerebral oxygenation status across various oxygenation states and strongly correlated with brain tissue O2 tension, while showing no correlation with CBF.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wuji Zhang, Brendon Y. Chua, Kevin J. Selva, Lukasz Kedzierski, Thomas M. Ashhurst, Ebene R. Haycroft, Suzanne K. Shoffner-Beck, Luca Hensen, David F. Boyd, Fiona James, Effie Mouhtouris, Jason C. Kwong, Kyra Y. L. Chua, George Drewett, Ana Copaescu, Julie E. Dobson, Louise C. Rowntree, Jennifer R. Habel, Lilith F. Allen, Hui-Fern Koay, Jessica A. Neil, Matthew J. Gartner, Christina Y. Lee, Patiyan Andersson, Sadid F. Khan, Luke Blakeway, Jessica Wisniewski, James H. McMahon, Erica E. Vine, Anthony L. Cunningham, Jennifer Audsley, Irani Thevarajan, Torsten Seemann, Norelle L. Sherry, Fatima Amanat, Florian Krammer, Sarah L. Londrigan, Linda M. Wakim, Nicholas J. C. King, Dale I. Godfrey, Laura K. Mackay, Paul G. Thomas, Suellen Nicholson, Kelly B. Arnold, Amy W. Chung, Natasha E. Holmes, Olivia C. Smibert, Jason A. Trubiano, Claire L. Gordon, Thi H. O. Nguyen, Katherine Kedzierska
Summary: This study compares the immune response in peripheral blood and respiratory samples of COVID-19 patients, revealing differential immune responses between these compartments. Specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are more pronounced in respiratory specimens and correlate with neutralization activity. Additionally, inflammation, immune subsets, and drug therapy impact the immune response.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
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
Biochemical Research Methods
Amy Crowe, Yves Poy Lorenzo, Darren Jardine, Kumar Visvanathan
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, various sample collection methods including nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva samples have been evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 detection. However, there is limited literature on the use of anterior nasal swabs. In this study, we investigated a novel anterior nasal swab designed for standardized self-collection, improved sample uptake, and user comfort. The results showed that the RhinoswabTM performed comparably to a combined throat and nose swab for detecting SARS-CoV-2 using nucleic acid amplification techniques.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Joanne Tropea, Sanne Peters, Jill J. Francis, Noleen Bennett, Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh, Kirsty Buising, Lyn-li Lim, Caroline Marshall, Madelaine Flynn, Michael Murray, Paul Yates, Craig Aboltins, Douglas Johnson, Jason Kwong, Karrie Long, Judy McCahon, Wen K. Lim
Summary: This study aims to explore and enhance infection prevention and control practices in residential aged care facilities. It will assess current practices, investigate barriers, and find solutions to improve the implementation. IPC leads will be upskilled and supported to drive practice improvement. Participants include staff members, residents, and their families.
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)