A prospective multicentre screening study on multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care units in the Dutch-German cross-border region, 2017 to 2018: the importance of healthcare structures.

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance poses a risk for healthcare, both in the community and hospitals. The spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) occurs mostly on a local and regional level, following movement of patients, but also occurs across national borders.AimThe aim of this observational study was to determine the prevalence of MDROs in a European cross-border region to understand differences and improve infection prevention based on real-time routine data and workflows.

Long term observation of MRSA prevalence in a German rehabilitation center: risk factors and variability of colonization rate.

Data on MRSA prevalence in rehabilitation centers are sparse. We screened more than 18,000 patients with neurological, cardiac/pulmonary or orthopedic diagnoses treated in three German rehabilitation centers and documented potential risk factors in almost 1,500 of them. 2.

Impact of a low-oxygen environment on the efficacy of antimicrobials against intracellular Chlamydia trachomatis.

Emergence of chronic inflammation in the urogenital tract induced by Chlamydia trachomatis infection in females is a long-standing concern. To avoid the severe sequelae of C. trachomatis infection, such as pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), ectopic pregnancies, and tubal infertility, antibiotic strategies aim to eradicate the pathogen even in asymptomatic and uncomplicated infections.

Variation in the mutation frequency determining quinolone resistance in Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L2 and D.

Objectives: Quinolone resistance of chlamydiae is supposed to be extremely rare. To assess the risk for the emergence of chlamydial quinolone resistance, we analysed the occurrence of resistant mutants in a quantitative perspective.

Methods: Infectious elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L(2) (ATCC VR-902B) and D (ATTC VR-885) clones were purified on density gradients, and mutants resistant to moxifloxacin and rifampicin were selected by a plaque assay.

Genetic diversity of the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydophila pneumoniae by genome-wide analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms: evidence for highly clonal population structure.

Background: Chlamydophila pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in a biphasic life cycle within eukaryotic host cells. Four published genomes revealed an identity of > 99 %. This remarkable finding raised questions about the existence of distinguishable genotypes in correlation with geographical and anatomical origin.

Prevalence, genetic conservation and transmissibility of the Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteriophage (phiCpn1).

The Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteriophage was first identified in isolate AR-39. Its relevance for chlamydial biology and pathogenicity remains unknown. In this study, a collection of 36 C.

Chlamydia pneumoniae directly interferes with HIF-1alpha stabilization in human host cells.

Chlamydiaceae are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause endemic trachoma, sexually transmitted diseases and respiratory infections. The course of the diseases is determined by local inflammatory immune responses and the propensity of the pathogen to replicate within infected host cells. Both features require energy which is inseparably coupled to oxygen availability in the microenvironment.

Recurrent optic neuritis associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system.

It has been suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including multiple sclerosis. We report the case of a 12-year-old male with isolated recurrent optic neuritis and an associated CNS infection with C.

Single-nucleotide-polymorphism-specific PCR for quantification and discrimination of Chlamydia pneumoniae genotypes by use of a "locked" nucleic acid.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are targets to discriminate intraspecies diversity of bacteria and to correlate a genotype with a potential pathotype. Quantification of polygenotypic populations supports this task for in vitro and in vivo applications. We present a novel assay capable of quantifying mixtures of two genotypes differing by only one SNP.

Growth cycle-dependent pharmacodynamics of antichlamydial drugs.

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular pathogens that exhibit an extensive intracellular developmental cycle in vivo. Clinical treatment of chlamydial infection is typically initiated upon occurrence of symptomatology and is directed against an asynchronous population of different chlamydial developmental forms. Pharmacodynamics of antichlamydial drugs are predominantly characterized by MICs; however, in vitro determinations of MIC may not reflect differential susceptibilities of the developmental cycle.

Cox-2 inhibition abrogates Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced PGE2 and MMP-1 expression.

Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) promote vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) infection of PBMC is found in atherosclerotic patients, appears refractory to antibiotics, and may predispose to vascular damage. In Cp-infected human PBMC we analyzed the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) for the proatherosclerotic key mediators prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interstitial collagenase (MMP-1).

First-choice antibiotics at subinhibitory concentrations induce persistence of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Persistent growth forms of Chlamydia pneumoniae have been associated with chronic infections in vivo. We investigated the effects of first-line therapeutics on the induction of persistence by monitoring recoverable organisms, gene expression of membrane proteins, and morphology. We found that all of the antibiotics tested have distinct and subinhibitory concentrations at which they induce persistence.

Chlamydia pneumoniae multiply in neutrophil granulocytes and delay their spontaneous apoptosis.

The obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) is responsible for a range of human diseases, including acute respiratory infection. Although experimental intratracheal infection with Cp results in a massive recruitment of neutrophil granulocytes (polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN)), the role of these cells in the defense against Cp is unclear. In this study the interactions of PMN with Cp were investigated.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis.

Exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae is extremely common, and respiratory infections occur repeatedly among most people. Strong associations exist between C. pneumoniae infection and atherosclerosis as demonstrated by: (i) sero-epidemiological studies showing that patients with cardiovascular disease have higher titres of anti-C.

Genotypic differences in the Chlamydia pneumoniae tyrP locus related to vascular tropism and pathogenicity.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular pathogen that causes respiratory infections and has been associated with cardiovascular disease. We compared respiratory and cardiovascular isolates to find genetic differences associated with pathogenicity. A polymorphic region encoding a tyrosine/tryptophan permease was found to differ between disease isolates.

Micromanipulation of the Chlamydia pneumoniae inclusion: implications for cloning and host-pathogen interactions.

The Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion is fragile, rendering it incompatible to micromanipulation. We show that the Chlamydia pneumoniae inclusion differs, being resistant to micromanipulation as shown by direct microinjection of the infected host cytosol or the inclusion itself. We have used micromanipulation to clone C.

Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibition reduces Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced cell interaction and activation.

Background: Chlamydia pneumoniae stimulates chronic inflammation in vascular cells. Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) may have an ameliorating effect. We investigated possible mechanisms.

Isolation of Chlamydia pneumoniae clonal variants by a focus-forming assay.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is an obligate intracellular prokaryotic human pathogen that causes community-acquired respiratory infection and has been associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Unexpected results from genomic sequencing indicate that significant intrastrain polymorphism exists for some C. pneumoniae isolates.