The precipitate structure of copper-based antibacterial and antiviral agents enhances their longevity for kitchen use.

The transmission of bacteria through cooking surfaces, the handles of hot plates, and cookware that is not cleaned frequently can pose a problem. In this study, a copper ion-based mixed solution (CBMS) containing only inorganic ions with controlled acidity was assessed as a new antibacterial and antiviral agent. We analysed the structure of the precipitates, and various deposits measuring a few micrometres were observed on the substrates.

Intrinsic clarithromycin heteroresistance in Mycobacterium avium.

Background: Mycobacterium avium is associated with pulmonary disease in otherwise healthy adults. Several clarithromycin-refractory cases have been reported, including some cases caused by clarithromycin-susceptible strains.

Objectives: To characterize the reason for the discrepancy between clinical response and antibiotic susceptibility results.

Biochemical characterization of the L1-like metallo-β-lactamase from .

L1-like metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) exhibit diversity and are highly conserved. Although the presence of the gene is known, the biochemical characteristics are unclear. This study aimed to characterize an L1-like MBL from .

Pseudomonas otitidis bacteremia in an immunocompromised patient with cellulitis: case report and literature review.

Background: Pseudomonas otitidis belongs to the genus Pseudomonas and causes various infections, including ear, skin, and soft tissue infections. P. otitidis has a unique susceptibility profile, being susceptible to penicillins and cephalosporins but resistant to carbapenems, due to the production of the metallo-β-lactamase called POM-1.

Diversity of genes in species: insights from genome analysis of publicly available genome sequences.

L1 metallo-β-lactamases produced by exhibit high diversity. Here, we characterized the genomes of species harboring genes using publicly available genome sequences. Our findings provide evidence that species with genes constitute a complex comprising many species with high genetic diversity, and similarities between genes are lower than those of the genome.

Biochemical Characterization of the Subclass B3 Metallo-β-Lactamase PJM-1 from Pseudoxanthomonas japonensis.

Biochemical properties of the novel subclass B3 metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) PJM-1 expressed in Pseudoxanthomonas japonensis, which is often isolated from the environment, were determined. The 906-bp gene in is a species-specific MBL gene, and PJM, with 301 predicted amino acids, has 81.8% amino acid identity with AIM-1.

Molecular and biochemical characterization of novel PAM-like MBL variants, PAM-2 and PAM-3, from clinical isolates of Pseudomonas tohonis.

Background: There is no comprehensive study on PAM-like MBLs.

Objectives: Our aim was to characterize novel B3 MBL variants, PAM-2 and PAM-3, from Pseudomonas tohonis clinical isolates.

Methods: We evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility and the MBL gene composition of three novel P.

sp. nov., isolated from the skin of a patient with burn wounds in Japan.

Strain TUM18999 was isolated from the skin of a patient with burn wounds in Japan. The strain was successfully cultured at 20-42 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C) in 1.0-4.

Evaluation of the simplified carbapenem inactivation method as a phenotypic detection method for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) have become a global health concern. Current molecular detection methods require special equipment and reagents. Thus, there is an urgent need for a highly sensitive, specific, and simple method for phenotypic detection of CPE in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Immunochromatography and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Introduction: The rapid and accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is required to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This study evaluated the utility of two SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection methods.

Methods: We evaluated two types of antigen detection methods using immunochromatography (Espline) and quantitative chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (Lumipulse).

Complete whole-genome sequence of the novel Pseudomonas species strain TUM18999, isolated from a patient with a burn wound in Japan.

Objectives: Pseudomonas is a Gram-negative bacterial genus with numerous member species. In this study, using whole-genome sequencing, we characterized a novel Pseudomonas sp. strain TUM18999, isolated as a pathogen from a human patient.

Carbapenem inactivation method using bacterial lysate and MOPS (LCIM): a very sensitive method for detecting carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter species.

Objectives: Detection of carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamase (CHDL)-producing Acinetobacter spp. is critical for understanding antibiotic resistance. In this study, we compared the available detection techniques derived from the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM), using CHDL-producing Acinetobacter spp.

Evaluation of inhibitor-combination mCIM for detecting MBL-producing using three MBL inhibitors.

The increase in carbapenemase-producing (CPE), including metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers, is a severe global health concern. Thus, highly sensitive and specific methods for detecting MBL producers are needed. In this study, we tested the detectability of MBL-producing against three types of MBL inhibitors (sodium mercaptoacetate, SMA; ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA; and dipicolinic acid, DPA) used in combination with a modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM).

Long-term observation of antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characterisation of Campylobacter jejuni isolated in a Japanese general hospital 2000-2017.

Objectives: Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most common pathogens that causes gastroenteritis. Because there is currently insufficient epidemiological information about the antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characterisation of clinical isolates of C.

Novel mechanism responsible for high-level macrolide resistance in .

Background: High-level macrolide-resistant strains have been isolated; however, the underlying mechanism has not been well elucidated. We investigated the role of mutations in the 23S rRNA gene and the L4 and L22 ribosomal proteins using spontaneous erythromycin-resistant mutants and transformants.

Materials And Methods: The erythromycin-susceptible ATCC25238 and clinical isolate Mc19 were used as parental strains.

Molecular Characterization of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Moraxella catarrhalis Variants Generated by Stepwise Selection.

causes respiratory infections. In this study, fluoroquinolone-resistant strains were selected to evaluate the mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance. Strains with reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility were obtained by stepwise selection in levofloxacin, and fluoroquinolone targets and were sequenced.

Pantoea calida bacteremia in an adult with end-stage stomach cancer under inpatient care.

Pantoea calida is a gram-negative bacillus that was first identified in 2010. Here, we describe the first known case of P. calida bacteremia in a 77-year-old woman with end-stage stomach cancer under inpatient care.

Antimicrobial susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics and production of BRO β-lactamase in clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis from a Japanese hospital.

We investigated BRO-β-lactamase production of Moraxella catarrhalis isolates and its antimicrobial susceptibility to β-lactams. Of the 233 isolates, 232 were BRO producers and 224 were BRO-1 producers. Four isolates exhibited elevated ceftriaxone minimum inhibitory concentration (2 μg/mL) and different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and we expect this number to increase in the near future.

Evaluation of the modified carbapenem inactivation method and sodium mercaptoacetate-combination method for the detection of metallo-β-lactamase production by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

We evaluated the effectiveness of carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) and modified CIM (mCIM). Our results indicated that mCIM with 4h incubation improved sensitivity and specificity for detecting carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae compared to CIM. Additionally, we developed a sodium mercaptoacetate-combination method (SMA-mCIM) to detect metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) with high sensitivity and specificity.

Comparison of the Modified-Hodge test, Carba NP test, and carbapenem inactivation method as screening methods for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

We compared three screening methods for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. While the Modified-Hodge test and Carba NP test produced false-negative results for OXA-48-like and mucoid NDM producers, the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) showed positive results for these isolates. Although the CIM required cultivation time, it is well suited for general clinical laboratories.

Rapid assay of A2058T-mutated 23S rRNA allelic profiles associated with high-level macrolide resistance in Moraxella catarrhalis.

We report on a restriction fragment-length polymorphism (HpyCH4III) assay for profile analysis of 23S rRNA gene A2058T-mutated alleles associated with high-level macrolide resistance in Moraxella catarrhalis. Our assay results were supported by DNA sequencing analysis, allowed for simultaneous testing of many strains, and produced results from pure-cultured colonies within 4 h.

Prevalence and molecular analysis of macrolide-resistant Moraxella catarrhalis clinical isolates in Japan, following emergence of the highly macrolide-resistant strain NSH1 in 2011.

Although Moraxella catarrhalis is known to be susceptible to macrolides, highly macrolide-resistant M. catarrhalis isolates have recently been reported in Japan and China. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of macrolide-resistant M.

Molecular analysis of low-level fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis.

We investigated antimicrobial susceptibility and the molecular mechanism underlying low-level resistance to fluoroquinolones in 70 non-duplicate clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis. The isolates were collected in a general hospital in Tokyo, Japan, between January and October 2013 from 38 men and 32 women; most of the isolates (48 out of 70, 68.5%) were obtained from post-nasal drips of children.