Publications by authors named "Costa Cristina"

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic performance of four diagnostic methods for rapid determination of methicillin resistance in S. aureus positive blood cultures (BCs).

Methods: Clinical and spiked BCs were subjected to the evaluation of the following methods and protocols: a.

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After allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT), the diversity of the intestinal microbiota significantly decreases. The changes can be rapid and are thought to be caused by chemotherapy, antibiotics, or intestinal inflammation. Most patients are exposed to prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics during neutropenia and several patients are colonized by ESBL bacteria.

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  • The study assesses the effectiveness of new antibiotic combinations against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) in Italy, focusing on clinical isolates from 2022-2023.
  • Both meropenem/vaborbactam and imipenem/relebactam exhibited high susceptibility rates, indicating their potential as effective treatments.
  • Resistance to these antibiotics is associated with specific genetic factors, including the presence of KPC gene variants and changes in porin proteins, which affect drug uptake.
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Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony.

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Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is the major fraction of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Its harmful effects on microorganisms, due mainly to oxidative damage, have been exploited for development of natural solar and commercial UVA-based disinfection methods. In this work, the global transcriptional response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation was analyzed.

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  • The study investigates how KPC variants of Klebsiella pneumoniae develop resistance to new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (βL/βLICs) among patients treated with these antibiotics.
  • Researchers conducted a case series involving four patients with bloodstream infections linked to KPC-Kp, noting that most had underlying health issues and experienced severe complications.
  • Resistance mutations were identified in the KPC genes following treatment, emphasizing that the use of novel βL/βLICs can lead to the emergence of resistant strains, particularly against ceftazidime/avibactam.
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Oropouche fever, a debilitating illness common in South America, is caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arbovirus. OROV belongs to the Peribunyaviridae family, a large group of RNA viruses. Little is known about the biology of Peribunyaviridae in host cells, especially assembly and egress processes.

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  • - The QCMV test measures immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in lung transplant patients by detecting IFN-γ from CD8+ T cells, helping to assess the risk of CMV-related complications and lung rejection.
  • - In a study of 73 lung transplant patients, those with no immunity to CMV (group C) had a lower incidence of acute rejection events (AR) compared to those who were at high risk for CMV (group D), who also had more viral replication.
  • - The research found that non-reactive QCMV patients (group B) faced a significantly higher risk of developing chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) over 24 months, suggesting the
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  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • in Piedmont, Italy.
  • * Data from 2008 to present showed that out of 2,076 strains collected, 21.9% were resistant to penicillin G and 40.3% to erythromycin, with an overall increased risk of penicillin-resistant infections across all age groups.
  • * The findings indicate a significant rise in penicillin G-resistant pneumococcal disease particularly among infants and the elderly following vaccination implementation, while the SARS-CoV2 pandemic didn't show a significant impact on AMR
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The treatment of refractory CMV is often associated with high toxicity. Maribavir (MBV) is a novel oral antiviral, known for its favourable safety profile in fragile patients. We describe a case of CMV disease with end organ damage following kidney transplantation at high risk, for recipient-donor serological mismatch.

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Recently, a large number of nosocomial infections have been caused by an emerging pathogen that is rising as a worldwide issue in human health: . This yeast is considered resistant to antifungals of the first-line therapies, and consequently it is related to morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the in vitro anti- activity against twenty-three resistant clinical strains of different essential oils (EOs), pure or in combination with traditional antifungal agents, mainly caspofungin, fluconazole, micafungin and 5-flucytosine.

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Recently has emerged as a multi-resistant fungal pathogen, with a significant clinical impact, and is able to persist for a long time on human skin and hospital environments. It is a critical issue on the WHO fungal priority list and therefore it is fundamental to reinforce hospital surveillance protocols to limit nosocomial outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to apply Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among isolated strains from a outbreak at the University Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary University hospital in Turin (Italy).

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Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) nosocomial infections represent a serious hazard to public health, given high mortality rates and rapid spread of multidrug-resistance. The primary outcome of this study was to evaluate predictors of 14- and 30-d mortality in bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to both carbapenem-resistant and carbapenem-sensitive Acinetobacter.

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The collective meals market generates significant revenue for the world economy. Food services are responsible for consuming large amounts of water and energy, as well as generating a substantial volume of waste, which is often improperly disposed of. Given the unchecked expansion of food services, the lack of proper management of environmental resources can undermine sustainability principles, posing a threat to future generations.

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  • Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) other than Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter are significant pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections and show complex drug resistance, yet their characteristics remain underexplored.
  • A study from January 2020 to December 2023 examined hospitalized patients with positive blood cultures for less common NFGNB, identifying key clinical features and factors linked to patient mortality.
  • Results showed Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Achromobacter species as the most common pathogens, with bloodstream infections mostly originating from intravascular devices and respiratory tract; factors like older age and chronic conditions significantly increased in-hospital mortality rates.
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Objectives: The measurement of VOCs release in the headspace of a bacterial culture represents a new approach to rapidly assess antimicrobial susceptibility. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the VITEK® REVEAL™ system directly from a collection of Gram-negative positive blood cultures.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight positive blood cultures were included in the analysis (Enterobacterales, n = 95; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, n = 21; Acinetobacter baumannii complex, n = 12).

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Background: is a concerning pathogen, responsible for hospital-associated outbreaks. Multi drug resistant (MDR) strains are especially hard to treat. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on a MDR strain in order to identify genomic features potentially linked to its phenotype.

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Insects have been consumed for time immemorial in many regions of the globe. However, in other parts, they are not traditionally eaten. Because they are a more sustainable source of animal protein and provide valuable nutrients as well as bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on the human body, their consumption is encouraged.

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Background: Acute graft pyelonephritis (AGPN) is a relatively common complication in kidney transplants (KTs); however, the effects on allograft function, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors are not well established.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive adult KTs was performed between 01 January 2011 and 31 December 2018 (follow-up ended on 31 December 2019) to examine the association between the diagnosis of AGPN (confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) during the first post-transplantation year and graft outcomes.

Results: Among the 939 consecutive KTs (≈50% with donors ≥60 years), we identified 130 MRI-confirmed AGPN episodes, with a documented association with recurrent and multidrug-resistant bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) ( < 0.

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Temperature up-shift and UV-A radiation effects on growth, lipid damage, fatty acid (FA) composition and expression of desaturase genes desA and desB were investigated in the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. Although UV-A damaging effect has been well documented, reports on the interactive effects of UV radiation exposure and warming on cyanobacteria are scarce. Temperature and UV-A doses were selected based on the physiological responses previously obtained by studies with the same M.

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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is increasingly recognized as being implicated in acute illness in older adults, with a significant weight in hospitalizations for respiratory illness and death. By means of a best-evidence review, this paper aims to investigate whether RSV can be considered a forgotten pathogen in older patients, looking at trends in the literature volume and exploring possible epidemiological and clinical features underlying the focus given to it. We then present an assessment of its disease burden and present and future strategies for its reduction, particularly in light of the recent availability of new vaccines.

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  • * Among COVID-19 patients, there was a notable prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria-related VAP, but the rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria were similar between both groups.
  • * Patients with COVID-19 exhibited significantly higher ICU and in-hospital mortality rates, with a hazard ratio of 7.95 for 28-day hospital mortality, highlighting the severe impacts of the virus on critically ill patients.
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  • Aortic valve calcification (AVC) was studied in patients with bioprosthetic valves to assess its impact on patient prognosis.
  • In a study of 361 patients who had valve replacements, AVC was found to be significantly higher in those with structural valve degeneration (SVD).
  • The results indicate that AVC greater than 100 Agatston units is correlated with worse health outcomes and increased risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, making CT scans a valuable tool for evaluation.
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spp. periprosthetic joint infections are rare but difficult-to-treat events, with a slow onset, unspecific symptoms or signs, and a significant relapse risk. Treatment with antifungals meets with little success, whereas prosthesis removal improves the outcome.

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Introduction: The ESCPM group (Enterobacter species including Klebsiella aerogenes - formerly Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia species, Citrobacter freundii complex, Providencia species and Morganella morganii) has not yet been incorporated into systematic surveillance programs.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study analysing all ESCPM strains isolated from blood cultures in 27 European hospitals over a 3-year period (2020-2022). Diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility were investigated.

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