In vitro activity of cefepime/zidebactam (WCK 5222) against recent Gram-negative isolates collected from high resistance settings of Greek hospitals.

Cefepime/zidebactam is in clinical development for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. MICs of cefepime/zidebactam (1:1) and comparators against Enterobacterales (n = 563), Pseudomonas (n = 172) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n =181) collected from 15 Greek hospitals (2014-2018) were determined by reference broth microdilution method. The isolates exhibited high carbapenem resistance rates [(Enterobacterales (75%), Pseudomonas (75%) and A.

Abundance of Colistin-Resistant, OXA-23- and ArmA-Producing Belonging to International Clone 2 in Greece.

Carbapenem resistant (CRAB) represents one of the most challenging pathogens in clinical settings. Colistin is routinely used for treatment of infections by this pathogen, but increasing colistin resistance has been reported. We obtained 122 CRAB isolates from nine Greek hospitals between 2015 and 2017, and those colistin resistant (ColR; = 40, 32.

Inactivation of mgrB gene regulator and resistance to colistin is becoming endemic in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Greece: A nationwide study from 2014 to 2017.

Introduction: In Greece, the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in humans has led to the reintroduction of colistin as a therapeutic agent. Unfortunately, colistin resistance with different mechanisms has emerged. The present work aims to determine the prevalence of carbapenem and colistin resistance and the corresponding mechanisms in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates from Greece.

Pneumococcal puerperal mastitis in a lactating mother.

Introduction: A case of pneumococcal mastitis in a breast-feeding mother 6 months postpartum is described. Mastitis is usually caused by . A review of the literature from 1950 to March 2018 revealed only four other cases in which the causative organism was .

Activity of cefiderocol (S-649266) against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria collected from inpatients in Greek hospitals.

Background: Cefiderocol (S-649266), a siderophore cephalosporin, utilizes a novel mechanism of entry into the periplasmic space of Gram-negative bacteria and is broadly stable to ESBLs and carbapenemases.

Methods: A collection of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria isolated from clinical specimens in 18 Greek hospitals was tested for susceptibility to cefiderocol, meropenem, ceftazidime, cefepime, ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, aztreonam, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, colistin and tigecycline. Broth microdilution plates were used to determine MICs.

, a cause of cystitis with malodorous urine in a child: clinical and microbiological challenges.

An infection of the lower urinary tract associated with an extremely unpleasant odour due to in an otherwise healthy 5-year-old boy is described herein. Interestingly, imaging examination revealed the presence of a bladder diverticulum. Routine microbiological examination based on Gram staining, colony morphology and catalase reactivity suggested that the responsible pathogen could belong either to staphylococci, α-haemolytic streptococci or enterococci, which are more common urine isolates.

Abnormal vaginal flora in symptomatic non-pregnant and pregnant women in a Greek hospital: a prospective study.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), candidiasis, and trichomoniasis were the three established types of vaginal conditions until aerobic vaginitis (AV) was defined in the early 2000s. We sought to study the prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora (AVF) with inflammation in our hospital and to correlate it with AV. We prospectively collected vaginal smear specimens originated from symptomatic women who were examined at Iaso Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children's Hospital of Athens from April 2014 until September 2015.

Susceptibility of contemporary isolates to fosfomycin: a systematic review of the literature.

The aim of this review was to evaluate the susceptibility of contemporary Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to fosfomycin. PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched to identify studies published in print or electronically from January 2010 until June 2015. In total, 84 studies were selected.

Is there a connection between inflammation, telomerase activity and the transcriptional status of telomerase reverse transcriptase in renal failure?

Telomerase is involved in the elongation of telomeres. It remains active in very few types of cell in mature organisms. One such cell type is the lymphocytes.

Multilocus sequence typing (and phylogenetic analysis) of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated from clinical cases in Greece.

Background: The molecular epidemiology of C. jejuni and C. coli clinical strains isolated from children with gastroenteritis, was investigated using the multilocus sequence typing method (MLST).

Differences in the epidemiology between paediatric and adult invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections.

In order to investigate for possible differences between paediatric and adult invasive Streptococcus pyogenes (iGAS) infections, a total of 142 cases were identified in 17 Greek hospitals during 2003-2007, of which 96 were children and 46 adults. Bacteraemia, soft tissue infections, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), and necrotizing fasciitis were the main clinical presentations (67·6%, 45·1%, 13·4%, and 12·0% of cases, respectively). Bacteraemia and lymphadenitis were significantly more frequent in children (P=0·019 and 0·021, respectively), whereas STSS was more frequent in adults (P=0·017).

Identification and antimicrobial resistance of campylobacter species isolated from animal sources.

Background: Campylobacter spp. are together with Salmonella spp. the leading causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.

Epidemiological characteristics of infections caused by Bacteroides, Prevotella and Fusobacterium species: a prospective observational study.

In order to investigate differences among infections due to Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides, Prevotella and Fusobacterium spp.), clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological data were collected and evaluated from 206 anaerobic infections. The most frequently isolated species was Bacteroides fragilis.

Sequence of pNL194, a 79.3-kilobase IncN plasmid carrying the blaVIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The nucleotide sequence of pNL194, a VIM-1-encoding plasmid, is described in this study. pNL194 (79,307 bp) comprised an IncN-characteristic segment (38,940 bp) and a mosaic structure (40,367 bp) including bla(VIM-1), aacA7, aadA1, aadA2, dfrA1, dfrA12, aphA1, strA, strB, and sul1. Tn1000 or Tn5501 insertion within fipA probably facilitated recruitment of additional mobile elements carrying resistance genes.

In vitro bactericidal activity of human beta-defensin 2 against nosocomial strains.

Human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a 41-amino acid cationic peptide of the innate immune system that serves as antimicrobial molecule. We determined the bactericidal activity of synthetic hBD-2 against nosocomial strains belonging to eight different bacterial species and exhibiting various antimicrobial resistance phenotypes. The native disulfide connectivity was found essential for the bactericidal activity of hBD-2, while sodium chloride concentration was reversely associated with its potency.

GES-13, a beta-lactamase variant possessing Lys-104 and Asn-170 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

GES-13 beta-lactamase, a novel GES variant possessing Lys-104 and Asn-170, was identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. bla(GES-13) was the single gene cassette of a class 1 integron probably located in the chromosome. GES-13 efficiently hydrolyzed broad-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam.

In vitro activity of tigecycline against 2423 clinical isolates and comparison of the available interpretation breakpoints.

MICs to tigecycline and 12 antimicrobials were performed by microdilution method, against 2423 nonduplicate pathogens recently isolated in 17 Greek hospitals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria were used comparatively for interpretation of tigecycline MICs. Tigecycline exhibited potent in vitro activity against the majority of the isolates tested.

Metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder: an unusual clinical presentation of acute cholecystitis.

Metastatic disease from cutaneous melanoma can affect all organs of the body, and varies in its biological behavior and clinical presentation. We present the case of a 58-year-old man who arrived at our clinic with acute abdominal pain, which, after investigation, was diagnosed as acute cholecystitis. The patient underwent laparotomy and cholecystectomy.

Multiplex PCR for the discrimination of A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger and A. terreus.

Aspergillus pathogens usually infect immunocompromised patients with lethal outcome. We report a multiplex PCR assay for the discrimination of the most frequent Aspergillus pathogens, A. fumigatus, A.

Prospective monitoring of BK virus replication in renal transplant recipients.

Background: BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) can be diagnosed only with renal graft biopsy. Definitive diagnosis of BKVAN requires demonstration of BK virus (BKV) replication in renal allograft tissues. Non-invasive analysis of urine and blood is considered essential in screening renal transplant recipients.

Prevalence of emm types 1 and 12 from invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Greece--results of enhanced surveillance.

Among a total of 101 isolates from the first systematic multicentre surveillance effort concerning invasive Streptococcus pyogenes disease in Greece, conducted between 2003 and 2005 and covering 38% of the population, emm types 1 and 12 were prevalent, being responsible for 27 and nine cases, respectively. The isolates from the remaining 65 cases were assigned to 26 other emm types. Erythromycin resistance (12 isolates) was primarily mef(A)-mediated, although all emm type 1 strains were susceptible.