Post-COVID-19-pandemic changes and clinical characteristics of invasive group a streptococcal infections from 2015 to 2023.

Purpose: Since winter 2022, invasive GAS (iGAS) infections have re-emerged in Europe, causing severe diseases in children and adults. We aimed to examine whether this reported post-pandemic increase was associated with an increased disease severity and/or a shift in clinical disease phenotypes.

Methods: We performed detailed clinical phenotyping of patients hospitalized with iGAS infections at a 1410-bed tertiary German Medical Center from 01/2015 to 09/2023.

A proof-of-principle study for the point-of-care detection of ESBL (CTX-M) by NG-Test CTX-M MULTI lateral flow assay in urine samples using a simplified method for use in a resource-limited setting.

Background: The rise of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) in low- and middle-income countries limits treatment options, leading to the frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Reducing time-to-result for a urinary infection can facilitate correct antibiotic treatment and support antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship measures. This study compared two simplified enrichment methods for detecting CTX-M directly from urine specimens.

Clinical relevance of Staphylococcus saccharolyticus detection in human samples: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To characterize the clinical relevance of S. saccharolyticus and to identify criteria to distinguish between infection and contamination.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated clinical features of patients with S.

Pulmonary Events in ICU patients with hyperoxia: is it possible to relate arterial partial pressure of oxygen to coded diseases? A retrospective analysis.

Objective: Oxygen has been used liberally in ICUs for a long time to prevent hypoxia in ICU- patients. Current evidence suggests that paO >300 mmHg should be avoided, it remains uncertain whether an "optimal level" exists. We investigated how "mild" hyperoxia influences diseases and in-hospital mortality.

Molecular surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in two nearby tertiary hospitals to identify regional spread of high-risk clones in Germany, 2019-2020.

Background: Understanding the transmission dynamics of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is critical to addressing the escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although hospital transmission of CRE has been extensively studied, information on community transmission is lacking.

Aim: To identify genomic clusters of CRE from two nearby institutions that may be indicative of community or inter-facility transmission.

The EC-COMPASS: Long-term, multi-centre surveillance of Enterobacter cloacae complex - a clinical perspective.

Background: Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECCO) comprises closely related Enterobacterales, causing a variety of infections ranging from mild urinary tract infections to severe bloodstream infections. ECCO has emerged as a significant cause of healthcare-associated infections, particularly in neonatal and adult intensive care.

Aim: The Enterobacter Cloacae COMplex PASsive Surveillance (EC-COMPASS) aims to provide a detailed multi-centre overview of ECCO epidemiology and resistance patterns detected in routine microbiological diagnostics in four German tertiary-care hospitals.

Tracing clinically-relevant antimicrobial resistances in Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex across diverse environments: A study spanning clinical, livestock, and wastewater treatment settings.

Acinetobacter baumannii has become a prominent nosocomial pathogen, primarily owing to its remarkable ability to rapidly acquire resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents and its ability to persist in diverse environments. However, there is a lack of data on the molecular epidemiology and its potential implications for public health of A. baumannii strains exhibiting clinically significant resistances that originate from non-clinical environments.

Corrigendum: Inflammatory response against via intracellular sensing of nucleic acids in keratinocytes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.

Cross-contamination of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria between patients and the hospital environment in the first year of a newly built surgical ward.

Background: Transmission and outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGN) in hospitals are often associated with contamination of the wastewater environment. We performed a prospective observational study to investigate the colonization of the hospital wastewater environment during the first year of occupancy of the surgical intermediate and intensive care units of a newly constructed building at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Germany.

Methods: We performed monthly screening of the wastewater system (toilets and sinks) for 12 months, starting 1 month before opening (1 October 2020 to 30 October 2021).

Monocentric observational cohort study to investigate the transmission of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales in a neonatal intensive care unit in Heidelberg, Germany.

Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales is a major threat for newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The route of acquisition in a non-outbreak setting should be investigated to implement adequate infection prevention measures. To identify risk factors for colonization with and to investigate the transmission pattern of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales in a NICU setting.

Efficacy of an Antibiotic Loaded Ceramic-Based Bone Graft Substitute for the Treatment of Infected Non-Unions.

The treatment of non-unions is often complicated by segmental bone defects and bacterial colonization. Because of the limited availability of autologous bone grafts, tissue engineering focuses on antibiotic-loaded bone graft substitutes. HACaS+G is a resorbable calcium sulphate-hydroxyapatite loaded with gentamicin.

The acquisition of transferable extrachromosomal fec operon is associated with a cefiderocol MIC increase in Enterobacterales.

Background: Cefiderocol is a novel siderophore cephalosporin active against MDR Gram-negative bacilli, including MBL-harbouring Enterobacterales. The detection of multiple cefiderocol-resistant blaVIM-carrying Enterobacterales isolates (MIC = 4 mg/L) from a single patient suggested an additional, potentially transferable, resistance determinant as blaVIM typically does not elevate cefiderocol MIC above the resistance threshold.

Methods: Transfer of a mobile genetic element was performed in liquid mating experiments.