Article
Infectious Diseases
Kyriaki Xanthopoulou, Julia Wille, Janine Zweigner, Kai Lucassen, Thorsten Wille, Harald Seifert, Paul G. Higgins
Summary: The study characterized two Enterococcus faecium isolates with different resistance phenotypes obtained from the same blood culture. Analysis revealed that they were ST203 and genetically identical. The heterogeneity in resistance phenotypes was attributed to the acquisition or loss of plasmid segments in the enterococcal isolates.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Paola Lisotto, Natacha Couto, Sigrid Rosema, Mariette Lokate, Xuewei Zhou, Erik Bathoorn, Hermie J. M. Harmsen, Alexander W. Friedrich, John W. A. Rossen, Monika A. Chlebowicz-Fliss
Summary: Genomic analysis of VREfm and VSEfm isolates revealed close relationships, with detailed analysis of MGEs and plasmid content enhancing discriminatory power and enabling identification of epidemiological links.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lynn El Haddad, Georgios Angelidakis, Justin R. Clark, Jesus F. Mendoza, Austen L. Terwilliger, Christopher P. Chaftari, Mark Duna, Serena T. Yusuf, Cynthia P. Harb, Mark Stibich, Anthony Maresso, Roy F. Chemaly
Summary: Phages specific to Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were successfully isolated from sewage samples and found to be safe and effective in the Galleria mellonella model, making them potential agents for therapy against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Article
Microbiology
Yusuke Hashimoto, Masato Suzuki, Sae Kobayashi, Yuki Hirahara, Jun Kurushima, Hidetada Hirakawa, Takahiro Nomura, Koichi Tanimoto, Haruyoshi Tomita
Summary: Linear plasmids with high self-transmissibility and the ability to acquire and maintain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, particularly through transposition with IS1216E, have been identified in clinical multidrug-resistant enterococci. These plasmids play a crucial role in the spread and maintenance of AMR genes among enterococci.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mieko Tokano, Norihito Tarumoto, Jun Sakai, Kazuo Imai, Masahiro Kodana, Toru Kawamura, Takuya Maeda, Shigefumi Maesaki
Summary: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a significant cause of healthcare-associated infections. Whole-genome sequencing and taxonomic characterization using average nucleotide identity (ANI) values and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) can serve as viable alternatives to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for infection control and outbreak evaluations.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Vestergaard, Bolette Skive, Ilona Domraceva, Hanne Ingmer, Henrik Franzyk
Summary: This study identified 11 stable peptide/beta-peptoid hybrids with antibacterial activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus strains, and found three analogues with bactericidal effects through membrane disruption. These findings provide promising starting points for further optimization studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ilona Trautmannsberger, Laura Kolberg, Melanie Meyer-Buehn, Johannes Huebner, Guido Werner, Robert Weber, Valerie Heselich, Sebastian Schroepf, Hans-Georg Muench, Ulrich von Both
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the dynamics and routes of transmission of VREfm infections in a German pediatric hospital, revealing a possible nosocomial spread as the cause for an unusual accumulation of cases. The findings highlight the importance of increasing efforts in hygiene measures, infection control, and antibiotic stewardship to combat VREfm transmission events.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pei-Yun Lin, Shang-Yih Chan, Arnold Stern, Po -Hsiang Chen, Hung -Chi Yang
Summary: This study characterized Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE-fm) isolates obtained from hospitals in northern Taiwan in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence genes, and biofilm production. Most isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance and carried the virulence genes esp and hyl. Isolates carrying the esp gene had greater biofilm production. Linezolid-resistant VRE-fm isolates carrying hyl were found to be pathogenic in a nematode model. Combining molecular epidemiology studies of pathogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans can guide physicians in limiting opportunistic infections caused by VRE-fm.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Theresa Maria Wagner, Jessin Janice, Mark Schulz, Susan A. Ballard, Anders Goncalves da Silva, Geoffrey W. Coombs, Denise A. Daley, Stanley Pang, Shakeel Mowlaboccus, Tim Stinear, Kristin Hegstad, Benjamin P. Howden, Arnfinn Sundsfjord
Summary: This study identified eight potential vancomycin variable enterococci (VVE) isolates through whole-genome sequencing of Australian Enterococcus faecium (Efm) isolates. It was found that VVE could convert to a resistant phenotype under vancomycin selection, which was associated with a 44-bp deletion in the vanHAX promoter region and an increased vanA plasmid copy number.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Yothin Teethaisong, Piyasiri Chueakwon, Kulwara Poolpol, Intu-orn Ayamuang, Siriporn Suknasang, Chittadech Apinundecha, Griangsak Eumkeb
Summary: This study investigated the antibacterial potential of Stephania suberosa extract (SSE) and its synergism with ampicillin (AMP) or vancomycin (VAN) against AMP- and VAN-resistant Enterococcus faecium. The results showed that SSE inhibited the growth of E. faecium and exhibited synergistic interaction with AMP and VAN. These findings support that SSE could reverse the activity of AMP and VAN, and synergistically inhibit AMP- and VAN-resistant E. faecium.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Ronan F. O'Toole, Kelvin W. C. Leong, Vanessa Cumming, Sebastiaan J. Van Hal
Summary: Enterococcus faecium has become a dominant species in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections in healthcare settings. Variants such as vanB ST796 and vanA ST1421 have emerged, originally from Australia, and caused VRE outbreaks in other countries. The detection of vancomycin variable enterococci (VVE) belonging to ST1421 in Europe, which exhibit a vancomycin-susceptible phenotype but can revert to resistance, is of concern. This study also explores the use of genome sequencing to understand the evolution and spread of VRE.
RESEARCH IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hsih-Yeh Tsai, Yu-Lin Lee, Po-Yu Liu, Min-Chi Lu, Pei-Lan Shao, Po-Liang Lu, Shu-Hsing Cheng, Wen-Chien Ko, Chi-Ying Lin, Ting-Shu Wu, Muh-Yong Yen, Lih-Shinn Wang, Chang-Pan Liu, Wen-Sen Lee, Zhi-Yuan Shi, Yao-Shen Chen, Fu-Der Wang, Shu-Hui Tseng, Yu-Hui Chen, Wang-Huei Sheng, Chun-Ming Lee, Yen-Hsu Chen, Chun-Hsing Liao, Po-Ren Hsueh
Summary: Multicenter surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility was conducted for 235 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) isolates from 18 Taiwanese hospitals. The study found very low susceptibility rates to teicoplanin, dalbavancin, and telavancin, while tigecycline and eravacycline showed high activity against VREfm isolates in Taiwan. The susceptibility rates of VREfm isolates to oxazolidinone-class antibiotics were much lower compared to other parts of the world.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Khaled A. Abd El-Razik, Eman S. Ibrahim, Amany A. Arafa, Riham H. Hedia, Abdelgayed M. Younes, Mahmoud H. Hasanain
Summary: This study found that healthy dogs can carry vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in their feces, potentially serving as a source of VRE infection. The isolates from the fecal samples were found to harbor antibiotic resistance genes and virulence determinants. These findings suggest that dogs may impact public health in Egypt, highlighting the need for a One Health task force approach to restrict their spread.
Article
Microbiology
Weiwei Li, Jiamin Hu, Ling Li, Mengge Zhang, Qingyu Cui, Yanan Ma, Hainan Su, Xuhua Zhang, Hai Xu, Mingyu Wang
Summary: This study identified a multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium strain EF332 that is resistant to both daptomycin and vancomycin, and discovered new genetic mutations that confer daptomycin resistance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
K. B. Gast, A. J. G. van Oudheusden, J. L. Murk, J. J. J. M. Stohr, A. G. Buiting, J. J. Verweij
Summary: This study investigated VRE carriers at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in 2018, identifying two outbreaks and using environmental sampling and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to study genetic relatedness. Results showed high genetic relatedness of VRE, close correlation between environmental contamination and VRE transmission, and the potential of quantifying environmental contamination to reflect VRE transmission risk.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Parisa Fakhkhari, Elahe Tajeddin, Masoumeh Azimirad, Siavosh Salmanzadeh-Ahrabi, Ahya Abdi-Ali, Bahram Nikmanesh, Babak Eshrati, Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, Parviz Owlia, Mohammad Reza Zali, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: Transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa along the food chain could cause gastrointestinal infections. The study compared the prevalence, putative virulence genotype, and antibiotic resistance phenotype of P. aeruginosa isolates from the stool of patients with community and hospital acquired diarrhea with isolates from environmental samples. The results showed that P. aeruginosa infection was present in 3.4% of the cases, while 57.4% of vegetable samples were contaminated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seyedeh Zohre Mirbagheri, Ronak Bakhtiari, Hashem Fakhre Yaseri, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani, Seyyed Saeed Eshraghi, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: The study investigated transcriptional alterations of genes related to gastritis in relation to H. pylori infection status and virulence factors. Six distinct genotypes of H. pylori were identified, with overexpression of inflammatory genes in infected patients and specific gene co-regulation differences between infected and non-infected patients.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Kiana Karimi, Omid Zarei, Parinaz Sedighi, Mohammad Taheri, Amin Doosti-Irani, Leili Shokoohizadeh
Summary: This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance pattern and biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae strains isolated from two major hospitals in Hamadan, West of Iran. The results showed a strong correlation between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment of infections caused by K. pneumoniae. High-level resistance to cefotaxime was detected in 92% of isolates, while all isolates were susceptible to colistin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Leila Ganji, Mohammad Hassan Shirazi, Nasser Ebrahimi-Daryani, Parisa Eslami, Mohammad Rahbar, Mohammad Reza Zali, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: This study found a higher frequency of CdtB encoding bacteria in patients with gastroenteritis and IBS compared to healthy individuals. Infection with Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria carrying CdtB may be a risk factor for the development or progression of IBS among Iranian patients. Further research is necessary to confirm this association.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Majid Sohrabi, Masoud Alebouyeh, Fatemeh Fallah, Fatemeh Tahmasebi, Hossein Goudarzi, Maryam Kazemi Aghdam
Summary: This study developed a rapid and cost-effective EvaGreen-based real-time PCR method to simultaneously detect Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, making it a valuable diagnostic tool for bacterial meningitis.
ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Shahnaz Armin, Abdollah Karimi, Masoud Alebouyeh, Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei, Maryam Rajabnejad, Roxana Mansour Ghanaiee, Seyed Alireza Fahimzad, Nafiseh Abdollahi, Leila Azimi
Summary: This study evaluated an easy to use method to identify carbapenemase producing bacteria and improved its accuracy through modifications. The results showed high sensitivity in identifying carbapenemase-producing bacteria, but low accuracy in non-carbapenemase-producing bacteria. The use of modified incubation time and breakpoint can enhance the accuracy of this method against PCR.
ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Tayebe Nazari, Abdollah Karimi, Masoud Alebouyeh, Roxana Mansour Ghanaiee
Summary: This study aimed to assess the frequency of rotavirus (RV) infection in hospitalized children under 5 years old with diarrhea during 2021-2022. The overall prevalence of RV infection was 28.5%, and it was higher in boys, children aged <= 12 months, and children with mixed feeding. Therefore, establishing a national RV registration system and control programs, like vaccination, seems to be considered.
ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Nasim Almasian Tehrani, Masoud Alebouyeh, Shahnaz Armin, Neda Soleimani, Abdollah Karimi, Bibishahin Shamsian, Shiva Nazari, Leila Azimi
Summary: This study investigated the correlation between the colonization of carbapenemase encoding Enterobacteriaceae and SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as antibiotic prescription in immunocompromised children admitted to oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) wards. The findings revealed a significant connection between antibiotic use and CRE colonization in both infected and non-infected children with SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the importance of prolonged hospitalization and appropriate antibiotic management.
ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Leily Mohajerzadeh, Manoochehr Ebrahimian, Mehdi Sarafi, Gholamreza Ebrahimisaraj, Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei, Seyed Mahmood Noorbakhsh, Ali Kaveh, Hossein Taheri, Leila Azimi, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: The incidence of complicated appendicitis significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the proportion of midline laparotomy after the outbreak. These findings suggest that delays in care provision during the COVID-19 outbreak may have contributed to the rise in the incidence of complicated appendicitis in children.
ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mehdi Mirzaii, Masoud Alebouyeh, Mohammad Bagher Sohrabi, Parisa Eslami, Mojgan Fazli, Maryam Ebrahimi, Parinaz HajiAsgarli, Marjan Rashidan
Summary: This study investigated the fluoroquinolone resistance and the synergistic effect between a new efflux pump inhibitor (EPI), thioridazine, and ciprofloxacin against Enterococcus faecium. The results showed that thioridazine significantly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin in some strains.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shahnaz Armin, Fatemeh Fallah, Abdollah Karimi, Fereshteh Karbasiyan, Masoud Alebouyeh, Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei, Maryam Rajabnejad, Roxana Mansour Ghanaie, Seyed Alireza Fahimzad, Nafiseh Abdollahi, Hannan Khodaei, Leila Azimi
Summary: This study evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Iran. The results showed that all CRE strains were resistant to metronidazole and levofloxacin, while tigecycline had the highest sensitivity on CRE.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fereshteh Amereh, Mohammad Reza Arabestani, Seyed Mostafa Hosseini, Leili Shokoohizadeh
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and relationship between plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes and OqxAB pump genes in K. pneumoniae strains isolated from Hamadan hospitals in Iran. The study found high resistance to fluoroquinolones and detected the OqxAB efflux pump gene in more than 90% of the K. pneumoniae strains. The study also found diverse genetic profiles among qnr-positive strains, but no significant correlation between qnr and OqxAB was observed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Roxana Mansour Ghanaie, Idesbald Boone, Ahmad Reza Shamshiri, Abdollah Karimi, Arezu Amirali, Noushin Marhamati, Mohammad Hossein Rostami, Niloofar Pashaei, Shahriar Janbazi, Leila Azimi, Hannan Khodaei, Fatemeh Fallah, Tim Eckmanns, Andreas Jansen, Hamid Reza Baradaran, Maryam Momeny Ourimi, Saeed Maham, Ameneh Elikaei, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: A population-based survey was conducted in Tehran from September 19, 2020, to June 21, 2021, to detect antibodies and active infection of SARS-CoV-2 in children aged 14 or less. Of the 1517 participants, 18% showed cardinal symptoms of COVID-19, and 33.2% and 10.7% had a serological history and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly higher among 10-14-year-old children, and active infection was higher in symptomatic children and during autumn 2020 and spring 2021. Socioeconomic status was associated with higher RT-qPCR positivity.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fatemeh Rezaei, Masoud Alebouyeh, Seyedeh Zohre Mirbagheri, Amir Ebrahimi, Abbas Rahimi Foroushani, Ronak Bakhtiari
Summary: Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increases the risk of gastric cancer in Helicobacter pyloriinfected patients. This study investigates the impact of omeprazole at different pH levels on the pathogenicity of H. pylori, and the results show that omeprazole can increase the expression of H. pylori cagA and cagL.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nasim Almasian Tehrani, Leila Azimi, Shahnaz Armin, Neda Soleimani, Fatemeh Fallah, Abdollah Karimi, Bibi Shahin Shamsian, Shiva Nazari, Masoud Alebouyeh
Summary: This study investigated the intestinal colonization and translocation of CRE in immunocompromised pediatric patients. The results showed that bacteremia was present in 71.4% of the patients, Enterobacteriaceae spp. were found in 100% of stool samples and 31% of blood samples. There was a significant correlation between length of hospital stay, days of fever, chemotherapy regimens, and death rate. Therefore, implementing infection control programs and applying infection prevention strategies are necessary for immunocompromised children.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
