Activity of cefepime, carbapenems and new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations on complex and in Spain (SMART 2016-2022).

Objectives: To analyse the susceptibility profile to cefepime, carbapenems and new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in complex and isolated from intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections in the SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) surveillance study in Spain.

Methods: The susceptibilities of 759 isolates (473 complex and 286 ) collected in 11 Spanish hospitals from 2016 to 2022 were analysed following the EUCAST 2023 criteria. Molecular characterization looking for β-lactamase genes was performed through PCR and DNA sequencing analysis.

Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea during Pregnancy on Fetal Development: Gene Expression Profile of Cord Blood.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is quite prevalent during pregnancy and is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, but its potential influence on fetal development remains unclear. This study investigated maternal OSA impact on the fetus by analyzing gene expression profiles in whole cord blood (WCB). Ten women in the third trimester of pregnancy were included, five OSA and five non-OSA cases.

CRISPR-Cas13a-Based Assay for Accurate Detection of OXA-48 and GES Carbapenemases.

Carbapenem-resistant pathogens have been recognized as a health concern as they are both difficult to treat and detect in clinical microbiology laboratories. Researchers are making great efforts to develop highly specific, sensitive, accurate, and rapid diagnostic techniques, required to prevent the spread of these microorganisms and improve the prognosis of patients. In this context, CRISPR-Cas systems are proposed as promising tools for the development of diagnostic methods due to their high specificity; the Cas13a endonuclease can discriminate single nucleotide changes and displays collateral cleavage activity against single-stranded RNA molecules when activated.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an adolescent: just a coincidence in time?

Background: Despite recent well-established kidney tropism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), usually presenting as acute kidney injury (AKI), there are few published cases with SARS-CoV-2-related tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). We report an adolescent with TIN and delayed association with uveitis (TINU syndrome), where SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was identified in kidney biopsy.

Case-diagnosis/treatment: A 12-year-old girl was assessed for a mild elevation of serum creatinine detected during the evaluation of systemic manifestations including asthenia, anorexia, abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss.

Activity of imipenem/relebactam against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Spain. SMART 2016-2020.

Objective: To determine susceptibility to the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination imipenem/relebactam in clinical isolates recovered from intra-abdominal (IAI), urinary (UTI), respiratory (RTI) and bloodstream (BSI) infections in the SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) study in SPAIN during 2016 - 2020.

Methods: Broth microdilution MICs for imipenem/relebactam and comparators were determined by a central laboratory against isolates of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MICs were interpreted using EUCAST-2021 breakpoints.

Are GES carbapenemases underdiagnosed? An allelic discrimination assay for their accurate detection and differentiation.

GES (Guiana Extended Spectrum) carbapenemases belong to "minor class A carbapenemases" and its prevalence could be underestimated due to the lack of specific tests. The aim of this study was to develop an easy PCR method to differentiate between GES β-lactamases with or without carbapenemase activity, based on an allelic discrimination system of SNPs that encode E104K and G170S mutations, without need of sequencing. Two pair of primers and Affinity Plus probes, labeled with different fluorophores; FAM/IBFQ and YAK/IBFQ, were designed for each one of the SNPs.

Usefulness of EUCAST rapid antibiotic susceptibility breakpoints and screening cut-off values directly from blood cultures for the inference of β-lactam resistance mechanisms in Enterobacterales.

Background: Reducing the turnaround time for reporting antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results is important for adjusting empirical treatments and may impact clinical outcomes of septic patients, particularly in settings with high antimicrobial resistance. Disc diffusion could be useful for inferring β-lactam resistance mechanisms.

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of EUCAST rapid AST (RAST) disc diffusion breakpoints for the screening of resistance mechanisms (sRAST) and interpretive reading of resistance phenotypes to infer ESBL and carbapenemases production in Enterobacterales.

Nutritional Assessment and Support in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: The Benefits of Working with a Registered Dietitian.

Background: An unbalanced dietary pattern, characterized by high animal protein content: may worsen metabolic control, accelerate renal deterioration and consequently aggravate the stage of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) in pediatric patients with this condition.

Aim: to assess the effect of a registered dietitian (RD) intervention on the CKD children's eating habits.

Methods: Anthropometric and dietetic parameters, obtained at baseline and 12 months after implementing healthy eating and nutrition education sessions, were compared in 16 patients (50% girls) of 8.

Recovery of Green Polyols from Rigid Polyurethane Waste by Catalytic Depolymerization.

Polyurethane (PU) is one of the most versatile polymers available and can be found in an infinite number of formats ranging from rigid or flexible foams to elastomers. Currently, most Rigid PU Foam (RPUF) waste is landfilled, even though a small amount is mechanically recycled, in which the material is conditioned in size to a very fine powder, which is introduced as a filler. In this work, chemical recycling of two types of rigid PU foams is studied, the major difference being the aliphatic or aromatic nature of the isocyanate used in the synthesis.

Evaluation of the rapid antigen detection test STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2: experience from an Emergency Department.

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical performance of STANDARD F COVID-19 Ag FIA (SD Biosensor Inc., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea), a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2, in patients attended at the Emergency Department with signs or symptoms compatible with COVID-19 that had started in the last 5 days. The clinical performance of the antigen test was compared with RT-PCR, the reference standard.

Fidaxomicin monotherapy versus standard therapy combined with bezlotoxumab for treating patients with Clostridioides difficile infection at high risk of recurrence: a matched cohort study.

Background: Both fidaxomicin and bezlotoxumab (used in combination with an antibiotic against Clostridioides difficile) achieve reductions in recurrence rates of C. difficile infection (CDI). However, the two strategies have never been compared.

Synthesis of Rigid Polyurethane Foams Incorporating Polyols from Chemical Recycling of Post-Industrial Waste Polyurethane Foams.

The preparation and characteristics of rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) synthesized from polyols obtained by glycolysis of post-industrial waste RPUFs have been studied. More precisely, waste rigid foams that have been chemically recycled by glycolysis in this work are industrially produced pieces for housing and bracket applications. The glycolysis products have been purified by vacuum distillation.

Oil Production by Pyrolysis of Real Plastic Waste.

The aim of this paper is for the production of oils processed in refineries to come from the pyrolysis of real waste from the high plastic content rejected by the recycling industry of the Basque Country (Spain). Concretely, the rejected waste streams were collected from (1) a light packaging waste sorting plant, (2) the paper recycling industry, and (3) a waste treatment plant of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The influence of pre-treatments (mechanical separation operations) and temperature on the yield and quality of the liquid fraction were evaluated.

Rapid identification from rectal swabs of the clinically most relevant carbapenemase genes from gram-negative bacteria using the BD MAX Check-Points CPO Assay.

We conducted an international multicentre evaluation to assess the clinical performance characteristics of the new multiplex PCR-based BD MAX Check-Points CPO assay to detect the 5 major carbapenemase families: KPC, VIM/IMP (tested simultaneously), NDM and OXA-48 compared to a reference method consisting of 2 culture methods (to improve recovery of CPO isolates from the rectal swabs), followed by carbapenem susceptibility testing and sequencing of target carbapenemase genes. Tests were performed from rectal swab specimens in ESwab collection and transport devices. Positive percent agreement (PPA) for BD MAX Check-Points CPO for KPC and OXA-48 were 88.

Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical samples in a university hospital in Madrid, Spain.

Background: The anaerobic infection management is usually based on empirical treatment because anaerobic culture techniques take a long time due to their fastidious nature. The aim of this study was to analyze the etiological profile of severe anaerobic infections and AST data from clinical anaerobic bacteria isolated in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain).

Material And Methods: A consecutive study was carried out over 19 months in Ramón y Cajal Universitary Hospital, Madrid.

In vitro characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa recovered in Portugal from low respiratory tract infections in ICU patients (STEP Study).

Purpose: to characterize the distribution and mechanisms involved in ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from intensive care units (ICUs) in Portugal as part of the STEP surveillance study.

Materials And Methods: a total of 226 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from patients with low respiratory tract infections (LRTI) admitted to ICUs between June 2017 and July 2018.

WGS characterization of MDR Enterobacterales with different ceftolozane/tazobactam susceptibility profiles during the SUPERIOR surveillance study in Spain.

Objectives: To analyse by WGS the ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) resistance mechanisms in and spp. isolates recovered from complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections in patients from Spanish ICUs (SUPERIOR surveillance study, 2016-17).

Methods: The clonal relatedness, the resistome and the virulome of 45 and 43 spp.

Usefulness of Fecal Calprotectin in the Management of Patients with Toxigenic .

The availability of highly sensitive molecular tests for the detection of in feces leads to overtreatment of patients who are probably only colonized. In this prospective study, the usefulness of fecal calprotectin (fCP) is evaluated in a cohort of patients with detection of toxigenic in feces. Patients were classified by an infectious diseases consultant blinded to fCP results into three groups-group I, presumed infection (CDI); group II, doubtful but treated CDI; and group III, presumed colonization or self-limited CDI not needing treatment.

Presence of Chromosomal - Genes Is Not Always Associated with Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Clinical Isolates Recovered in ICU Patients from Portugal and Spain.

CrpP enzymes have been recently described as a novel ciprofloxacin-resistance mechanism. We investigated by whole genome sequencing the presence of -genes and other mechanisms involved in quinolone resistance in MDR/XDR- isolates ( = 55) with both ceftolozane-tazobactam susceptible or resistant profiles recovered from intensive care unit patients during the STEP (Portugal) and SUPERIOR (Spain) surveillance studies. Ciprofloxacin resistance was associated with mutations in the and genes.

Real-life experience with fidaxomicin in Clostridioides difficile infection: a multicentre cohort study on 244 episodes.

The high cost of fidaxomicin has restricted its use despite the benefit of a lower Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence rate at 4 weeks of follow-up. This short follow-up represents the main limitation of pivotal clinical trials of fidaxomicin, and some recent studies question its benefits over vancomycin. Moreover, the main risk factors of recurrence after treatment with fidaxomicin remain unknown.

Real-World Experience with Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrence of Infection.

Bezlotoxumab is marketed for the prevention of recurrent infection (rCDI). Its high cost could be determining its prescription to a different population than that represented in clinical trials. The objective of the study was to verify the effectiveness and safety of bezlotoxumab in preventing rCDI and to investigate factors related to bezlotoxumab failure in the real world.