Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anthony D. Harris, Lisa Pineles, J. Kristie Johnson, Lyndsay M. O'Hara, L. Leigh Smith, Indira French, Jamie Rubin, Rebecca Perlmutter, Ashley Heller, Liore Klein, John Thoguru, David Blythe, Elisabeth Vaeth
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida auris among patients receiving mechanical ventilation in Maryland. The findings revealed that both pathogens were common among patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Review
Dermatology
Christianna Marie Czyz, Paul Werner Kunth, Florian Gruber, Christopher Kremslehner, Christoph Matthias Hammers, Jennifer Elisabeth Hundt
Summary: Human skin equivalents (HSEs) are three-dimensional skin organ culture models raised in vitro. This review provides an overview of common techniques for setting up HSEs, including the use of 3T3-J2 murine fibroblasts, purchased human fibroblasts or freshly isolated and cultured fibroblasts to build the scaffold, and freshly isolated and cultured keratinocytes to seed on top. It also discusses the addition of other cell types such as melanocytes and provides possible markers and techniques for evaluating artificial skin. The review further compares HSEs to human skin organ culture and discusses their advantages, limitations, and future perspectives.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alessandro Russo, Francesca Gavaruzzi, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Cristian Borrazzo, Alessandra Oliva, Francesco Alessandri, Eugenia Magnanimi, Francesco Pugliese, Mario Venditti
Summary: Our study found that COVID-19 patients exhibited higher occurrences of serum lactate levels mmol/l > 2, Acinetobacter baumannii colonization, BSI, and steroid therapy. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that serum lactate levels > 2 mmol/l, Acinetobacter baumannii colonization, BSI, and steroid therapy were associated with 30-day mortality. Additionally, factors independently associated with the development of BSI in COVID-19 patients included white blood cells count > 11,000 mm(3), serum lactate levels > 2 mmol/l, infections at time of ICU admission, Acinetobacter baumannii colonization, and steroid therapy.
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
Microbiology
Amir Nutman, Gabrielle D. Levi, Alona Keren-Paz, David Schwartz, Samira Masarwa, Vered Schechner, Yehuda Carmeli
Summary: The carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings and requires robust infection control measures. Our study found that the skin sponge method showed the highest sensitivity for detecting CRAB carriage, exceeding 90% in both acute care and post-acute care hospitals. Based on these findings, we recommend implementing the skin sponge method as the preferred approach for CRAB screening to optimize infection control strategies.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie Semenec, Amy K. K. Cain, Catherine J. J. Dawson, Qi Liu, Hue Dinh, Hannah Lott, Anahit Penesyan, Ram Maharjan, Francesca L. L. Short, Karl A. A. Hassan, Ian T. T. Paulsen
Summary: This study characterizes the genomes of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae strains co-isolated from a single human lung infection, and investigates their interactions through various assays. The findings shed light on their effects on antimicrobial resistance and virulence during co-infection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Ilaria Cavallo, Alessandra Oliva, Rebecca Pages, Francesca Sivori, Mauro Truglio, Giorgia Fabrizio, Martina Pasqua, Fulvia Pimpinelli, Enea Gino Di Domenico
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a major pathogen in vulnerable and critically ill patients, causing various infections with high mortality rates. Carbapenems have been the first choice for treatment, but widespread prevalence of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii has led to the use of colistin as the main therapeutic option. However, high clinical failure rates have been reported for colistin monotherapy. Additionally, A. baumannii forms biofilms on medical devices, posing a significant treatment challenge.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jian Peng, Yue Wang, Zhaoyin Wu, Chengju Mao, Lu Li, Huijun Cao, Zhilang Qiu, Guo Guo, Guiyou Liang, Feng Shen
Summary: The antimicrobial peptide Cec4 effectively clears multidrug-resistant A. baumannii by altering bacterial cell membrane permeability, polarity, and increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species. Cec4 affects the expression of important genes related to the secretion system, outer membrane, and efflux pump in A. baumannii. It does not easily induce stable drug resistance in bacteria. In vivo experiments show that Cec4 has good therapeutic potential with low toxicity against cells and tissues, effectively improving survival rates and reducing bacterial load in infected mice.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shuk-Ching Wong, Jonathan Hon-Kwan Chen, Pui-Hing Chau, Simon Yung-Chun So, Christine Ho-Yan Auyeung, Lithia Lai-Ha Yuen, Veronica Wing-Man Chan, Germaine Kit-Ming Lam, Kelvin Hei-Yeung Chiu, Pak-Leung Ho, Janice Yee-Chi Lo, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng
Summary: The study aims to analyze the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of newly identified gastrointestinal colonization of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in a healthcare region in Hong Kong. The results showed that patients referred from residential care homes for the elderly, use of indwelling devices, and previous use of certain medications were significantly associated with gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB. Gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB poses a challenge for infection prevention and control.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nikola Perinka, Matija Strbac, Milos Kostic, Jovana Malesevic, Nelson Castro, Vitor Correia, Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez
Summary: The paper introduces an all-printed flexible testbed based on a Human model equivalent circuit for automated validation and testing of multi pad systems, which mimics the electrical behavior of biomedical electrodes. It helps to reduce the need for tests on human subjects in the development phase of new systems.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Shi Hua Tan, Dun An Cliff Chua, Je Re Jeremiah Tang, Carine Bonnard, David Leavesley, Kun Liang
Summary: In vitro 3D human skin models are critical tools in advancing our understanding of skin physiology and function. Many of the existing reconstructed models are limited in terms of structure and complexity, thus failing to recapitulate native human skin. Hydrogels have been identified as useful scaffold materials for fabricating the dermal equivalent of 3D skin models, allowing for greater flexibility and control in scaffold properties and cellular incorporation. This review aims to provide a critical discussion of the biomaterial selection and design strategies in the construction of hydrogel-based full-thickness skin equivalents. At the same time, insights into future developments and technological advances which can accelerate progress in this field are offered.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ding-Yun Feng, Jian-Xia Zhou, Xia Li, Wen -Bin Wu, Yu-Qi Zhou, Tian-Tuo Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated factors that differentiate infection from colonization and predicted mortality in patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by A. baumannii. The results showed that age, total number of inpatient departments, absolute neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein level helped distinguish between infection and colonization. Several novel predictors were associated with in-hospital mortality. The study highlights the importance of identifying A. baumannii pneumonia and predicting the risk of death to reduce mortality.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Francesca Paola Nocera, Anna-Rita Attili, Luisa De Martino
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii is a multi-drug resistant opportunistic pathogen that causes severe infections and is considered a major cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. In recent literature, it has been reported to cause veterinary nosocomial infections as well.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yue Zheng, Nana Xu, Jiaojiao Pang, Hui Han, Hongna Yang, Weidong Qin, Hui Zhang, Wei Li, Hao Wang, Yuguo Chen
Summary: This study found that colonization with extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii (XDR-AB) was associated with lower long-term survival in critically ill patients, but not with short-term survival. Patients colonized with XDR-AB had significantly lower overall survival rates at 6 months.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Simeng Hou, Haotian Wu, Si Chen, Xubo Li, Zhenxing Zhang, Yiwen Cheng, Yuanyuan Chen, Meirong He, Qi An, Churiga Man, Li Du, Qiaoling Chen, Fengyang Wang
Summary: This study analyzed the differential transcripts data of bovine skin fibroblasts infected with bovine A. baumannii to explore the immune responses mediated by fibroblasts against A. baumannii infection. The results showed differential expression of genes involved in immune pathways, apoptosis, and protein-protein interactions. The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of fibroblasts in defending against A. baumannii infection and lays the foundation for the development of therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and control of diseases caused by A. baumannii.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)