Italian nationwide survey on Pseudomonas aeruginosa from invasive infections: activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam and comparators, and molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase producers.

Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of severe healthcare-associated infections and often shows MDR phenotypes. Ceftolozane/tazobactam is a new cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with potent activity against P. aeruginosa.

CXC Chemokines Exhibit Bactericidal Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens.

The continued rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens pose a serious challenge to global health. Countering antimicrobial-resistant pathogens requires a multifaceted effort that includes the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we establish the capacity of the human CXC chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 to kill multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing and colistin-resistant members of the family that harbor the mobile colistin resistance protein MCR-1 and thus possess phosphoethanolamine-modified lipid A.

Isolation and characterization of a novel tyrosinase produced by Sahara soil actinobacteria and immobilization on nylon nanofiber membranes.

In the present study different actinomycete strains were collected and isolated from Algerian Sahara soil with the aim to select novel enzymes with promising features for biotechnological applications. The Ms1 strain was selected, amongst the others, for its capability to produce melanin in different solid media. Ms1 chromosomal DNA was sequenced and the strain assigned to Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus sp.

Clinical outcomes of elderly patients with bloodstream infections due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in an Italian Internal Medicine ward.

Purpose: Infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-EB) are a major health problem, but data regarding elderly patients is lacking.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study quantifying the effects of antimicrobial treatment and primary infection site on clinical outcomes in an historical case series of 42 patients aged 80.7±10years admitted to an Internal Medicine ward in Italy for ESBL-EB bloodstream infections (BSI).

Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcome of Pre-engraftment Gram-Negative Bacteremia After Allogeneic and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: An Italian Prospective Multicenter Survey.

Background: Gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) is a major cause of illness and death after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and updated epidemiological investigation is advisable.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the epidemiology of pre-engraftment GNB in 1118 allogeneic HSCTs (allo-HSCTs) and 1625 autologous HSCTs (auto-HSCTs) among 54 transplant centers during 2014 (SIGNB-GITMO-AMCLI study). Using logistic regression methods.

Effect of combination therapy containing a high-dose carbapenem on mortality in patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of high-dose (HD) carbapenem-based combination therapy on clinical outcome in patients with monomicrobial carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP) bloodstream-infection (BSI).

Methods: Post hoc analysis of all adult patients with CR-KP BSI who were treated with a combination antibiotic regimen, collected over a six-year period in six large Italian teaching hospitals. To control for confounding effects of HD carbapenem combination on 14-day mortality, a multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed.

Evolving beta-lactamase epidemiology in Enterobacteriaceae from Italian nationwide surveillance, October 2013: KPC-carbapenemase spreading among outpatients.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC-type beta-lactamases (ACBLs) and carbapenemases are among the most important resistance mechanisms in Enterobacteriaceae. This study investigated the presence of these resistance mechanisms in consecutive non-replicate isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 2,352), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 697), and Proteus mirabilis (n = 275) from an Italian nationwide cross-sectional survey carried out in October 2013. Overall, 15.

An allelic variant of the PmrB sensor kinase responsible for colistin resistance in an Escherichia coli strain of clinical origin.

We investigated the colistin resistance mechanism in an Escherichia coli strain (LC711/14) isolated in Italy in 2014, from an urinary tract infection, which was previously shown to express a colistin resistance mechanism different from mcr-1. LC711/14 was found to carry a novel mutation in the pmrB gene, resulting in a leucine to proline amino acid substitution at position 10 of the PmrB sensor kinase component of the PmrAB signal transduction system. The role of this substitution in colistin resistance was documented by expression of the wild-type and mutated alleles in a pmrB deletion derivative of the E.

pHTβ-promoted mobilization of non-conjugative resistance plasmids from Enterococcus faecium to Enterococcus faecalis.

Objectives: To analyse the recombination events associated with conjugal mobilization of two multiresistance plasmids, pRUM17i48 and pLAG (formerly named pDO1-like), from Enterococcus faecium 17i48 to Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2.

Methods: The plasmids from two E. faecalis transconjugants (JH-4T, tetracycline resistant, and JH-8E, erythromycin resistant) and from the E.

New Genome Sequence of an Endophyte, sp. Strain EpSL27, Able To Inhibit Human-Opportunistic Pathogens.

We announce here the draft genome sequence of sp. strain EpSL27, isolated from the stem and leaves of the medicinal plant and able to inhibit human-pathogenic bacterial strains. The genome sequencing of this strain may lead to the identification of genes involved in the production of antimicrobial molecules.

Genetic and biochemical characterisation of CTX-M-37 extended-spectrum β-lactamase from an Enterobacter cloacae clinical isolate from Mongolia.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the resistance level of a bla-carrying Enterobacter cloacae isolate from Mongolia, to analyse kinetic parameters of the purified enzyme and to compare the genetic environment of the gene.

Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) agar dilution method. Purified CTX-M-37 enzyme was used to determined kinetic parameters.

Differential Th17 response induced by the two clades of the pandemic ST258 Klebsiella pneumoniae clonal lineages producing KPC-type carbapenemase.

The spread of KPC-type carbapenemases is mainly attributed to the global dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) strains belonging to the clonal group (CG) 258, including sequence type (ST) 258 and other related STs. Two distinct clades of CG258-KP have evolved, which differ mainly for the composition of their capsular polysaccharides, and recent studies indicate that clade 1 evolved from an ancestor of clade 2 by recombination of a genomic fragment carrying the capsular polysaccharide (cps) locus. In this paper, we investigated the ability of two ST258-KP strains, KKBO-1 and KK207-1, selected as representatives of ST258-KP clade 2 and clade 1, respectively, to activate an adaptive immune response using ex vivo-stimulation of PBMC from normal donors as an experimental model.

φBO1E, a newly discovered lytic bacteriophage targeting carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae of the pandemic Clonal Group 258 clade II lineage.

The pandemic dissemination of KPC carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-KP) represents a major public health problem, given their extensive multidrug resistance profiles and primary role in causing healthcare-associated infections. This phenomenon has largely been contributed by strains of Clonal Group (CG) 258, mostly of clade II, which in some areas represent the majority of KPC-KP isolates. Here we have characterized a newly discovered lytic Podoviridae, named φBO1E, targeting KPC-KP strains of clade II lineage of CG258.

Draft Genome Sequence of sp. Strain Ep R1 Isolated from Roots and Effective in the Growth Inhibition of Human Opportunistic Pathogens Belonging to the Complex.

In this announcement, we detail the draft genome sequence of the sp. strain Ep R1, isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant The elucidation of this genome sequence may allow the identification of genes associated with the production of antimicrobial compounds.

Multicenter evaluation of the RAPIDEC® CARBA NP test for rapid screening of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Gram-negative nonfermenters from clinical specimens.

The rapid diagnosis of carbapenemase-producing (CP) bacteria is essential for the management of therapy and infection control. In this study, RAPIDEC® CARBA NP (RCNP) was evaluated for the rapid screening of CP Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii complex, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical specimens collected at five Italian hospitals. Firstly, each site tested 20 well-characterized strains in a blinded fashion.

Meningococci of Serogroup X Clonal Complex 181 in Refugee Camps, Italy.

Four cases of infection with serogroup X meningococci (MenX) (1 in 2015 and 3 in 2016) occurred in migrants living in refugee camps or reception centers in Italy. All MenX isolates were identified as clonal complex 181. Our report suggests that serogroup X represents an emerging health threat for persons arriving from African countries.

Effects of photodynamic laser and violet-blue led irradiation on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide attached to moderately rough titanium surface: in vitro study.

Effective decontamination of biofilm and bacterial toxins from the surface of dental implants is a yet unresolved issue. This study investigates the in vitro efficacy of photodynamic treatment (PDT) with methylene blue (MB) photoactivated with λ 635 nm diode laser and of λ 405 nm violet-blue LED phototreatment for the reduction of bacterial biofilm and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) adherent to titanium surface mimicking the bone-implant interface. Staphylococcus aureus biofilm grown on titanium discs with a moderately rough surface was subjected to either PDT (0.