Expert Consensus on Polymyxin Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Clinical Interpretation.

The polymyxins are important antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacilli. In 2020, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute modified the clinical breakpoints for polymyxin susceptibility test by eliminating the "susceptible" interpretive category, only reporting intermediate (≤2 mg/L) and resistant (≥4 mg/L). However, the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing recommended the use of clinical breakpoints of ≤2 mg/L as susceptible and >2 mg/L as resistant.

Efficacy of the WINROP algorithm for retinopathy of prematurity screening in Southern China.

Aim: To evaluate the predicting efficacy of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by the WINROP algorithm (http://winrop.com) in Southern China.

Methods: All preterm infants with the gestational age (GA) less than 32wk were included.

Sharp instrument injuries among hospital healthcare workers in mainland China: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of sharp instrument injuries in hospital-based healthcare workers (HCWs) in mainland China and the contributing factors.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The data were derived from public hospitals.

The inoculum effect of antibiotics against CTX-M-extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.

Background: Questions remain regarding the use of the cephalosporins to treat infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. For example, should ceftazidime or cefepime be used to treat infections with CTX-M ESBL-producing organisms with low MICs (minimum inhibitory concentrations), according to the new Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute's (CLSI) recommendations for susceptibility testing? Some studies have reported that in vitro MICs of cephalosporins increase as the inoculum increases, which is the inoculum effect; however, most of the enzymes studied were SHV and TEM. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inoculum effect on ceftazidime, cefepime and four other β-lactam agents against CTX-M-ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli.

Spectrum and antimicrobial resistance of common pathogenic bacteria isolated from patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in mainland of China.

Background: Bacteria-induced respiratory infection has been long considered to be the major cause of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Therefore, a clear picture about the distribution and drug-resistance of pathogenic bacteria in the lower airways should be helpful for treatment of the disease. So far, data on this topic among Chinese are lacking.

An uncontrolled open-label, multicenter study to monitor the antiviral activity and safety of inhaled zanamivir (as Rotadisk via Diskhaler device) among Chinese adolescents and adults with influenza-like illness.

Background: It is the first multicenter clinical study in China to investigate zanamivir use among Chinese adolescents and adults with influenza-like illness (ILI) since 2009, when inhaled zanamivir (RELENZA(®)) was marketed in China.

Methods: An uncontrolled open-label, multicentre study to evaluate the antiviral activity, and safety of inhaled zanamivir (as Rotadisk via Diskhaler device); 10 mg administered twice daily for 5 days in subjects ≥ 12 years old with ILI. Patients were enrolled within 48 hours of onset and followed for eight days.

ISEcp1 element in association with bla(CTX-M) genes of E. coli that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamase among the elderly in community settings.

Introduction: This study analyzed the relationship between the ISEcp1 element and bla(CTX-M) genes of Escherichia coli isolates that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) in community settings.

Methods: Nineteen E. coli isolates that produced CTX-M-type β-lactamase were collected from four communities of elderly people in Shenyang, China.

Molecular characteristics and resistant mechanisms of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in Shenyang, China.

The investigation was carried out to elucidate the molecular characteristics and resistant mechanisms of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Thirty-seven isolates were collected from January 2007 to December 2007. The homology of the isolates was analyzed by both pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

[Molecular epidemiological study of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii].

Objective: To determine the possible genetic background and the source of our hospital's 43 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and the category of gene cassettes in type 1 integrons of all strains.

Methods: Restriction enzyme Apa I was chosen for all strains in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) methods. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to compare the allelic profiles of all the strains.

[Novel gene sequence variants of pbp2b in penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumonia isolates].

Objective: To investigate the alternations in gene/amino acid sequence of penicillin-binding protein (PBP)2b from clinical isolates of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumonia (PNSP) in this region.

Methods: 24 strains of Streptococcus pneumonia were collected from January to December 2006. The antibiotics susceptibility of these strains was detected.

Prevalence of rectal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli among elderly people in community settings in China.

The importance of community-acquired infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) Escherichia coli has been increasingly recognized in recent years. No comprehensive data are available on the prevalence, risk factors, and genotypes of ESBL production in community residents in China. Rectal samples from 270 elderly people were collected in four communities in Shenyang (China).

Molecular characteristics of penicillin-binding protein 2b, 2x, and 1a sequences in penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Shenyang, China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the amino acid motifs found in penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) 2b, 2x, and 1a of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Shenyang, China, and to obtain information regarding the prevalence of alterations within the motifs or in positions flanking the motifs. For 18 clinical isolates comprising 4 penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae, 5 penicillin-intermediate S.

[Expression of nuclear factor-kappa B and effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia rat model].

Objective: To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and cytokines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA)-induced pneumonia of rats, and the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC).

Methods: Seventy-two male SD rats were divided into three groups at random:a control group, a PA group and a PDTC group (n = 24 each). The PA induced pneumonia model was established in SD rats.

[Replacement of third-generation cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam decreases colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing intestinal Escherichia coli].

Objective: To investigate the role of replacement of third-generation cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam (pip-tazo) in influencing the colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in intestinal tract.

Methods: The study was divided into two phases lasting altogether 9 months, namely the pre-replacement phase (phase I, 3 months) and replacement phase (phase II, 6 months).

[Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin on modulating glucose metabolism and functions of lung fibroblasts].

Objective: It is recognized that lung fibroblasts (LF) act as a common pathway in the development of fibrosis from alveolitis of whatever etiology. The study was undertaken to identify the modulating effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on LF glucose metabolism and functions, to explore possible therapeutic targets through modulating LF for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: Human embryonic lung (HEL) diploid fibroblast cells were cultured for 24 h with blank control, 100 ng/ml IGF-1, 200 ng/ml IGF-1, 100 ng/ml IGF-1 + 100 ng/ml insulin, 100 ng/ml IGF-1 + 200 ng/ml insulin, 100ng/ml insulin, 200 ng/ml insulin, respectively.

Involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in E. coli-induced U937 apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate whether the effect of E. coli on U937 cell lines apoptosis is mediated via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation.

Methods: The U937 cell lines were treated with E.