Accelerated Bacterial Identification with MALDI-TOF MS Leads to Fewer Diagnostic Tests and Cost Savings.

Introduction: Rapid microbiology reporting can enhance both clinical and economic outcomes.

Material And Methods: This three-year, quasi-experimental study, single-group pretest-posttest study, conducted at a university medical center, aimed to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of rapid microbiological identification reporting using MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 363 consecutive hospitalized patients with bacterial infections were evaluated, comparing a historical control group (CG, n = 183) with an intervention group (IG, = 180).

Characterization, prognostic factors, and clinical profile of ear infections by Turicella otitidis: Revealing the emerging rise of a controversial pathogen.

Introduction: Environmental changes and modifications in leisure habits have facilitated the emergence of new bacteria responsible for causing ear infections with different presentations. In this context, Turicella otitidis is a pathogen for which isolated cases of external and middle ear infections have been reported. However, our experience indicates a resurgence in its occurrence in recent years.

Clinical Impact of Rapid Bacterial Microbiological Identification with the MALDI-TOF MS.

Rapid microbiological reports to clinicians are related to improved clinical outcomes. We conducted a 3-year quasi-experimental design, specifically a pretest-posttest single group design in a university medical center, to evaluate the clinical impact of rapid microbiological identification information using MALDI-TOF MS on optimizing antibiotic prescription. A total of 363 consecutive hospitalized patients with bacterial infections were evaluated comparing a historical control group (CG) (n = 183), in which the microbiological information (bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility) was reported jointly to the clinician between 18:00 h and 22:00 h of the same day and a prospective intervention group (IG) (n = 180); the bacterial identification information was informed to the clinician as soon as it was available between 12:00 h and 14:00 h and the antibiotic susceptibility between 18:00 h and 22:00 h).

Infection-specific PET imaging with F-fluorodeoxysorbitol and 2-[F]F-ρ-aminobenzoic acid: An extended diagnostic tool for bacterial and fungal diseases.

Introduction: Suspected infectious diseases located in difficult-to-access sites can be challenging due to the need for invasive procedures to isolate the etiological agent. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a non-invasive imaging technology that can help locate the infection site. The most widely used radiotracer for PET imaging (2-deoxy-2[F] fluoro-D-glucose: [F]FDG) shows uptake in both infected and sterile inflammation.

Effectiveness of Several Antimicrobial Locks To Eradicate Intravascular Catheter Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Biofilms.

Tunneled central venous catheter (TCVC) related infection remains a challenge in the care of hemodialysis patients. We aimed to determine the best antimicrobial lock therapy (ALT) to eradicate coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) biofilms. We studied the colonization status of the catheter every 30 days by quantitative blood cultures (QBC) drawn through all catheter lumens.

Pre-Emptive Antimicrobial Locks Decrease Long-Term Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients.

This study aimed to prove that pre-emptive antimicrobial locks in patients at risk of bacteremia decrease infection. We performed a non-randomized prospective pilot study of hemodialysis patients with tunneled central venous catheters. We drew quantitative blood cultures monthly to detect colonization.

Impact of the Acceptance of the Recommendations Made by a Meropenem Stewardship Program in a University Hospital: A Pilot Study.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) promote appropriate antimicrobial use. We present a 4-year retrospective study that evaluated the clinical impact of the acceptance of the recommendations made by a meropenem-focused ASP. A total of 318 meropenem audits were performed.

Antibacterial Activity of Kaolin-Silver Nanomaterials: Alternative Approach to the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Production.

According to the search for alternatives to replace antibiotics in animal production suggested in the antimicrobial resistance action plans around the world, the objective of this work was to evaluate the bactericidal effect of kaolin-silver nanomaterial for its possible inclusion as an additive in animal feed. The antibacterial activity of the C3 (kaolin-silver nanomaterial) product was tested against a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (including multidrug resistant strains) by performing antibiograms, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as growth inhibition curves against seven strains causing infections in animals. The C3 product generated inhibition halos in all the tested strains, and a higher activity against Gram-negative bacteria was found, with MBC values ranged from 7.

Development and multimodal characterization of an elastase-induced emphysema mouse disease model for the COPD frequent bacterial exacerbator phenotype.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients undergo infectious exacerbations whose frequency identifies a clinically meaningful phenotype. Mouse models have been mostly used to separately study both COPD and the infectious processes, but a reliable model of the COPD frequent exacerbator phenotype is still lacking. Accordingly, we first established a model of single bacterial exacerbation by nontypeable (NTHi) infection on mice with emphysema-like lesions.

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Different Aquatic Environments in the North of Spain and South of France.

Due to the global progress of antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the list of the antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" in order to promote research and development of new antibiotics to the families of bacteria that cause severe and often deadly infections. In the framework of the One Health approach, the surveillance of these pathogens in different environments should be implemented in order to analyze their spread and the potential risk of transmission of antibiotic resistances by food and water. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the presence of high and critical priority pathogens included in the aforementioned list in different aquatic environments in the POCTEFA area (North Spain-South France).

First national survey of the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in Clinical Microbiology Laboratories in Spain.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to know, through a national survey, the methods and techniques used for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in the different Clinical Microbiology Services/Laboratories in Spain, as well as antibiotic resistance data.

Methods: The survey requested information about the diagnostic methods performed for Hp detection in Clinical Microbiology laboratories, including serology, stool antigen, culture from gastric biopsies, and PCR. In addition, the performance of antibiotic susceptibility was collected.

Glucose Catabolism Leading to Production of the Immunometabolite Acetate Has a Key Contribution to the Host Airway-Pathogen Interplay.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by abnormal inflammatory responses and impaired airway immunity, which provides an opportunistic platform for nontypeable (NTHi) infection. Clinical evidence supports that the COPD airways present increased concentrations of glucose, which may facilitate proliferation of pathogenic bacteria able to use glucose as a carbon source. NTHi metabolizes glucose through respiration-assisted fermentation, leading to the excretion of acetate, formate, and succinate.

Preclinical Evaluation of the Antimicrobial-Immunomodulatory Dual Action of Xenohormetic Molecules against Respiratory Infection.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by abnormal inflammation and impaired airway immunity, providing an opportunistic platform for nontypeable (NTHi) infection. In this context, therapies targeting not only overactive inflammation without significant adverse effects, but also infection are of interest. Increasing evidence suggests that polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, may be protective.

Non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria smooth and rough colony phenotypes pathogenicity evaluated using in vitro and experimental models.

Non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria (NPRGM) are widely distributed in water, soil and animals. It has been observed an increasing importance of NPRGM related-infections, particularly due to the high antimicrobial resistance. NPRGM have rough and smooth colony phenotypes, and several studies have showed that rough colony variants are more virulent than smooth ones.

Prevalence and characterization of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy human carriers.

Presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL-E), AmpC-producing and carbapenemase-producing (CPE) Enterobacteriaceae has been observed not only in the clinical environment, but also in the out-of-hospital environment. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize strains of ESBL, AmpC, and CPE present in feces of healthy carriers in Navarra (n = 125). Despite the fact that no CPE strains were isolated, 16% and 11.

Inactivation of the Thymidylate Synthase in Non-typeable Modulates Antibiotic Resistance and Has a Strong Impact on Its Interplay with the Host Airways.

Antibacterial treatment with cotrimoxazol (TxS), a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, generates resistance by, among others, acquisition of thymidine auxotrophy associated with mutations in the thymidylate synthase gene , which can modify the biology of infection. The opportunistic pathogen non-typeable (NTHi) is frequently encountered in the lower airways of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and associated with acute exacerbation of COPD symptoms. Increasing resistance of NTHi to TxS limits its suitability as initial antibacterial against COPD exacerbation, although its relationship with thymidine auxotrophy is unknown.

The effect of late infection and antibiotic treatment on capsular contracture in silicone breast implants: A rat model.

Background: The effect of late infection on capsular contracture has yet to be established, leaving a gap in clinical guidelines for the treatment patients with breast implants. This trial is the first to assess if the treatment of these infections can reverse this effect in an in vivo rat model and whether late distant infections increase the incidence of capsular contracture.

Materials And Methods: Three groups of female Wistar rats (n = 42) received two silicone implants in separate dorsal, subcutaneous pockets.

Genome Expression Profiling-Based Identification and Administration Efficacy of Host-Directed Antimicrobial Drugs against Respiratory Infection by Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Therapies that are safe, effective, and not vulnerable to developing resistance are highly desirable to counteract bacterial infections. Host-directed therapeutics is an antimicrobial approach alternative to conventional antibiotics based on perturbing host pathways subverted by pathogens during their life cycle by using host-directed drugs. In this study, we identified and evaluated the efficacy of a panel of host-directed drugs against respiratory infection by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi).

Relationship between azithromycin susceptibility and administration efficacy for nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae respiratory infection.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is an opportunistic pathogen that is an important cause of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). COPD is an inflammatory disease of the airways, and exacerbations are acute inflammatory events superimposed on this background of chronic inflammation. Azithromycin (AZM) is a macrolide antibiotic with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and a clinically proven potential for AECOPD prevention and management.

[Safety in the Microbiology laboratory].

The normal activity in the laboratory of microbiology poses different risks - mainly biological - that can affect the health of their workers, visitors and the community. Routine health examinations (surveillance and prevention), individual awareness of self-protection, hazard identification and risk assessment of laboratory procedures, the adoption of appropriate containment measures, and the use of conscientious microbiological techniques allow laboratory to be a safe place, as records of laboratory-acquired infections and accidents show. Training and information are the cornerstones for designing a comprehensive safety plan for the laboratory.

Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in meat products sold in Navarra, Spain.

Patterns of resistance in β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae family were investigated in isolates from 141 meat products (beef, poultry and pork) purchased in Spain. The strains that grow in ChromID ESBL agar plates were confirmed using the paired disk diffusion method. Resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, cefpodoxime, gentamicin, doxycycline, cotrimoxazol, norfloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, fosfomycin and cefoxitin were tested following CLSI recommendations.

Structural features governing the activity of lactoferricin-derived peptides that act in synergy with antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is naturally resistant to many antibiotics, and infections caused by this organism are a serious threat, especially to hospitalized patients. The intrinsic low permeability of P. aeruginosa to antibiotics results from the coordinated action of several mechanisms, such as the presence of restrictive porins and the expression of multidrug efflux pump systems.