Clinical Outcomes of Patients with AmpC-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteremia Treated with Carbapenems versus Non-Carbapenem Regimens: A Single-Center Study.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections caused by AmpC-producing Enterobacterales pose treatment challenges due to the risk of AmpC overproduction and treatment failure. Current guidelines recommend carbapenems or cefepime as optimal therapy. We aimed to evaluate empiric and definitive non-carbapenem regimens for these infections.

Estimating bacterial load in S. aureus and E. coli bacteremia using bacterial growth graph from the continuous monitoring blood culture system.

Background: We examined whether the time to positivity (TTP) and growth and detection plot graph (GDPG) created by the automated blood culture system can be used to determine the bacterial load in bacteremic patients and its potential association correlation with disease severity.

Methods: Known bacterial inocula were injected into the blood culture bottles. The GDPGs for the specific inocula were downloaded and plotted.

Quantitative real-time PCR in Borrelia persica tick-borne relapsing fever demonstrates correlation with the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a correlation exists between the bacterial load of Borrelia persica in tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF), established by quantitative real-time PCR, and the development of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) after the initiation of antibiotic treatment. Forty-two blood samples were included in our study. The mean bacterial load, as established by real-time PCR, in patients who developed JHR was significantly greater than in those patients who did not develop JHR (443,293 copies vs.

When a Root Is the Cause of Infection.

Background: Sinorhizobium meliloti is a phytobacterium found in the root nodules of plants, where it is involved in fixing nitrogen for delivery to the roots in exchange for a photosynthate carbon source. There have been no reported cases of S. meliloti infection in humans.

The spectrum of bacteria and mechanisms of resistance identified from the casualties treated in the Israeli field hospital after the earthquake in Nepal, 2015: A retrospective analysis.

Background: On the April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. Soon-after, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) dispatched a tertiary field-hospital to Kathmandu.

A Cluster of Bacillus cereus Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Epidemiologic and Whole-genome Sequencing Analysis.

Bacillus cereus isolates causing an outbreak in the neonatal intensive care unit were investigated using whole-genome sequencing. The outbreak coincided with construction work performed adjacent to the neonatal intensive care unit and ceased after strict sealing of the construction area. We found the outbreak to be polyclonal, however, the clonality did not correlate with the virulence in vivo.

Bacterial contamination of surgical scrubs in the operating theater.

Background: Measures for the prevention of postsurgical infections include issuing special scrubs for the operating room (OR) and prohibiting walking out of the OR complex wearing these scrubs. The aim of this study was to provide further data on bacterial contamination of surgical scrubs.

Methods: Specimens were collected at the entrance to the OR from surgical scrubs worn by surgeons.

Spread of Carbapenem and Colistin-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST512 Clinical Isolates in Israel: A Cause for Vigilance.

Objectives: Genomic and phenotypic characterization of resistance mechanisms to carbapenems and colistin in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center (Jerusalem, Israel).

Results: The 15 K. pneumoniae isolates studied present a high level of resistance to the antibiotics tested.