Evaluation of the Xpert Carba-R assay for quantifying carbapenemase-producing bacterial load in stool samples.

Background: The spread of Carbapenemase-producing Organisms (CPO) remains a major threat globally. Within clinical settings, the existing method of determining gene load involves traditional culture to determine bacterial load and polymerase-chain-reaction-based Xpert Carba-R Assay to determine carbapenemase gene type. However, there is a need for a fast and accurate method of quantifying CPO colonisation to study the risk of persistent CPO carriage.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales incidence in the South-East Asia region: an observational study.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an initial increase in the incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from clinical cultures in South-East Asia hospitals, which was unsustained as the pandemic progressed. Conversely, there was a decrease in CRE incidence from surveillance cultures and overall combined incidence. Further studies are needed for future pandemic preparedness.

Evaluation of NG-Test CARBA 5 version 2, Cepheid Xpert Carba-R, and carbapenem inactivation methods in comparison to whole-genome sequencing for the identification of carbapenemases in non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli.

NG-Test CARBA 5 (NG-Biotech) is a rapid multiplex immunoassay for the phenotypic detection and differentiation of the "big five" carbapenemase families (KPC, OXA-48-like, VIM, IMP, and NDM). Version 2 of this assay was evaluated alongside the Xpert Carba-R assay (Cepheid, Inc.), the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), and the CIMTris assay, with a collection of carbapenem-resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli comprising 138 and 97 isolates.

Compliance with face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a community observational study in Singapore.

Introduction: Widespread mask use is an important intervention for control of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, data on the factors affecting mask use are lacking. In this observational study, we evaluated the proportion of and factors influencing face mask use and related hygiene practices.

Dissemination of -Positive ST308 Clone in Singapore.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST308 clone has been reported to carry carbapenemase genes such as and but has been rarely associated with . A total of 199 P. aeruginosa ST308 clinical and environmental isolates obtained between April 2019 and November 2020 from a tertiary-care hospital in Singapore were characterized using whole-genome sequencing.

Global epidemiology and clinical outcomes of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and associated carbapenemases (POP): a prospective cohort study.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) is a global threat, but the distribution and clinical significance of carbapenemases are unclear. The aim of this study was to define characteristics and outcomes of CRPA infections and the global frequency and clinical impact of carbapenemases harboured by CRPA.

Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective cohort study of CRPA isolated from bloodstream, respiratory, urine, or wound cultures of patients at 44 hospitals (10 countries) between Dec 1, 2018, and Nov 30, 2019.

Nanobiotics against antimicrobial resistance: harnessing the power of nanoscale materials and technologies.

Given the spasmodic increment in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), world is on the verge of "post-antibiotic era". It is anticipated that current SARS-CoV2 pandemic would worsen the situation in future, mainly due to the lack of new/next generation of antimicrobials. In this context, nanoscale materials with antimicrobial potential have a great promise to treat deadly pathogens.

Dominant Carbapenemase-Encoding Plasmids in Clinical Enterobacterales Isolates and Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, Singapore.

Dissemination of carbapenemase-encoding plasmids by horizontal gene transfer in multidrug-resistant bacteria is the major driver of rising carbapenem-resistance, but the conjugative mechanics and evolution of clinically relevant plasmids are not yet clear. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 1,215 clinical Enterobacterales isolates collected in Singapore during 2010-2015. We identified 1,126 carbapenemase-encoding plasmids and discovered pKPC2 is becoming the dominant plasmid in Singapore, overtaking an earlier dominant plasmid, pNDM1.

Genomic surveillance uncovers ongoing transmission of carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) and identifies actionable routes of transmissions in an endemic setting.

Objective: In our center, previous infection prevention and control (IPC) resources were concentrated on multidrug-resistant organisms other than CRAB because the rate of CRAB was stable with no evidence of outbreaks. Triggered by an increase in the baseline rate of CRAB isolated in clinical cultures, we investigated horizontal transmission of CRAB to guide targeted IPC actions.

Methods: We prospectively collected clinical data of patients with positive CRAB cultures.

Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Vaccination and Pediatric Age on Delta Variant Household Transmission.

Background: In Singapore, quarantine of all close contacts with entry and exit polymerase chain reaction testing enabled evaluation of the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and pediatric age on transmission of the Delta variant.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all household close contacts between 1 March 2021 and 31 August 2021.

Results: Among 8470 Delta variant-exposed contacts linked to 2583 indices, full-vaccination of the index with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 was associated with reduction in acquisition by contacts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.

Population-based variations of a core resistome revealed by urban sewage metagenome surveillance.

Sewage-based surveillance is widely employed to understand the occurrence and distribution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in urban community. However, there are limited studies which investigated the sewage of different sources within community. The present study used metagenomics to decipher the AMR profiles in five sources: local residence's source, animal source, migrant workers' source, clinical source , and urban wastewater treatment plant influent.

Predictors and Outcomes of Healthcare-Associated Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Enterobacterales: A Parallel Matched Case-Control Study.

Objectives: The increasing incidence of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales as major pathogens in healthcare associated infections (HAIs) is of paramount concern. To implement effective prevention strategies against carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales (CnSE) HAIs, it is crucial to identify modifiable factors associated with these infections. We identified risk factors for CnSE-HAIs, and compared clinical outcomes of CnSE-HAI and carbapenem-sensitive Enterobacterales (CSE)-HAI patients.

Virtual Infection Prevention and Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

COVID-19 brought new challenges and opportunities for infection prevention and control. Virtual infection prevention and control (VIPC), although nascent, is rapidly becoming a viable and necessary strategy for combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits of VIPC include extending the impact of globally scarce infectious disease providers and public health practitioners, allowing coordination between disparate professionals to more effectively combat infectious disease, and increasing access to and quality of healthcare.

Molecular epidemiology and phylogenomic analysis of clinical isolates in an Asian population.

comprises three subspecies. These closely related strains are typically multi-drug-resistant and can cause difficult-to-treat infections. Dominant clusters of isolates with increased pathogenic potential have been demonstrated in pulmonary infections in the global cystic fibrosis (CF) population.