Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant in intensive care unit patients in Mediterranean countries, 2019.

Introduction: The colonization of patients by carbapenemase-producing (CPE) has been associated with heightened mortality, especially in vulnerable individuals within intensive care units (ICUs). Our study aimed to comprehensively assess CPE prevalence among ICU patients across the Mediterranean region pre-COVID-19, conducting a multicenter prevalence study in the first quarter of 2019.

Methods: We collected clinical data and rectal or fecal samples from 256 ICU patients for CPE testing.

Molecular Characteristics of Colistin Resistance in and the Activity of Antimicrobial Combination Therapy in a Tertiary Care Medical Center in Lebanon.

(1) Background: Infections with pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria, such as , are becoming increasingly common, especially in healthcare facilities. In this study, we selected 15 colistin-resistant clinical isolates from a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, to test combination therapies and determine their sequence types (STs) and the mechanism of colistin resistance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). (2) Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing via broth microdilution against 12 antimicrobials from different classes and growth rate assays were performed.

Characterization and susceptibility of non-albicans isolated from various clinical specimens in Lebanese hospitals.

Background: Invasive fungal infections have presented a challenge in treatment. In the past, it was known that the frontrunner in such infections is s with little emphasis placed on non-albicans species (NAC). Studies worldwide have shown a rise in fungal infections attributed to non-albicans species.

Antibacterial effect of a diet pill supplement on the human intestinal bacteria.

Introduction: Many people worldwide attempt to lose weight or adopt strategies to control it. Some have resorted to the consumption of commercialized diet pills to achieve this goal. Multiple brands exist without clearly indicating their mechanism of action or adverse effects on human health.

Determination of MIC, MPC, and MSW of Ilex paraguariensis against non-typhoidal Salmonella with identification of the mechanisms of resistance and pathogenicity factors.

This study investigated the antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis against 32 different strains of nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) through the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), mutant prevention concentration (MPC), and mutant selection window (MSW) and the detection of virulence genes by multiplex PCR assays. The MIC values of Ilex paraguariensis against Salmonella spp. strains varied between 0.

The impact of vaccination on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease from a nationwide surveillance program in Lebanon: an unexpected increase in mortality driven by non-vaccine serotypes.

Background: The impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and serotype distribution was examined across age groups from data collected by the Lebanese Inter-Hospital Pneumococcal Surveillance Program.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2020, 593 invasive isolates were collected from 79 hospitals throughout Lebanon. Serotypes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles were identified, and trends compared over 3 eras: PCV7, post-PCV7/ pre-PCV13, and PCV13 eras.

Epidemiology of Community-Acquired Respiratory Tract Infections in Patients Admitted at the Emergency Departments.

Objectives: Community-acquired respiratory infections (CARTIs) are responsible for serious morbidities worldwide. Identifying the aetiology can decrease the use of unnecessary antimicrobial therapy. In this study, we intend to determine the pathogenic agents responsible for respiratory infections in patients presenting to the emergency department of several Lebanese hospitals.

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysms in patients affected by osteochondroma.

Although exostosis or osteochondroma is a common bone tumor, associated vascular complications are rare. Clinical and radiological diagnoses are sometimes challenging, and there is no codification for surgical management. We report two cases of popliteal arterial pseudoaneurysms due to osteochondroma of the distal femur.

The Spread of Plasmidic AmpC in a General Lebanese Hospital Over Nine Consecutive Years and the Relationship With Restricted Isolation Protocols.

The dreaded bacterial infection by extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producers has always troubled the medical field whether on the public, scientific, or clinical levels. One of the lesser known β-lactamases, which is capable of hydrolyzing broad and extended-spectrum cephalosporins-i.e.

Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations.

The concept of drug-combination therapy is becoming very important mainly with the drastic increase in resistance to drugs. The Quadruple checkerboard, also called the Q-checkerboard, aims at maximizing the number of possible combinations that can be obtained between four drugs in one experiment to minimize the time and work needed to accomplish the same results with other protocols. This protocol is based on the simple micro dilution technique where the drugs are diluted and combined together in several 96-well plates.

The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global antimicrobial and biocide resistance: an AMR Insights global perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a serious public health challenge in all countries. However, repercussions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on future global health are still being investigated, including the pandemic's potential effect on the emergence and spread of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Critically ill COVID-19 patients may develop severe complications, which may predispose patients to infection with nosocomial bacterial and/or fungal pathogens, requiring the extensive use of antibiotics.

Community-acquired pneumonia in a patient with agammaglobulinaemia.

We herein describe the case of a 38-year-old patient with congenital agammaglobulinemia who presented with community-acquired pneumonia; acute respiratory failure with sepsis ensued requiring ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and vasopressors administration. The causative organism was identified as , sensitive to multiple agents. Stewardship was effectively applied; clinical, biologic and radiologic improvement resulted, and the patient was later discharged on ciprofloxacin therapy; improvement being maintained thereafter.

Genome analysis of isolated from a patient after kidney transplantation in Marseille.

is a new species in the genus . is a Gram-positive anaerobic rod. This strain, Marseille-P3177 (CSUR = P3177) with the below described genome was isolated from the urine sample of a women after kidney transplantation.

Higher Sensitivity Provided by the Combination of Two Lateral Flow Immunoassay Tests for the Detection of COVID-19 Immunoglobulins.

SARS-Cov-2 was identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic in March of 2020. COVID-19 has now been reported on every continent.

Advocacy for Increased International Efforts for Antimicrobial Stewardship Actions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries on Behalf of Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials (APUA), Under the Auspices of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC).

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a set of coordinated strategies to improve the use of antimicrobials, to enhance patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and decrease unnecessary costs. The pioneer years of AMS were restricted to high-income countries (HIC), where overconsumption of antibiotics was associated with emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. AMS in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is also necessary.

Endovascular repair of traumatic aortic isthmic rupture: Early and mid-term results.

Introduction: Conventional open repair of a traumatic aortic isthmic rupture is associated with a significantly high mortality and morbidity rates. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is currently often performed because it is a less invasive treatment than surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate short and mid-term results of TEVAR in traumatic aortic isthmic rupture.