Publications by authors named "O Zarkotou"
Background: Studies link multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) rectal colonization to increased infection risk, data from Greece, a country with high rates of MDRO, are limited.
Methods: We assessed bloodstream infection (BSI) risk following rectal colonization by MDROs across three Greek hospitals (2019-2022).
Results: Of 4,370 inpatients, 31.
Here, we report on the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant NDM-1-producing isolates from patients hospitalized in the Attica region, Greece, in 2022 to provide data on their resistome, their virulome, the genetic environment of , and their molecular epidemiology. A total of 17 carbapenem-resistant isolates identified as NDM-producers by immunochromatography at the hospital level were sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory, in the frame of the laboratory surveillance of carbapenem-resistant pathogens, for further characterization. The initial screening for genetic AMR determinants was carried out by PCR and the MDR Direct Flow Chip assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Candida auris cases in Greece rose significantly after 2019, leading to active surveillance from November 2019 to September 2021 in 11 hospitals, focusing on confirmed infections and outbreaks.
- A study identified 20 invasive infections and 25 colonized cases, with high mortality (53%) and common risk factors such as the use of indwelling devices and previous antibiotic treatments.
- The fungus showed resistance to fluconazole in all isolates and was mostly linked to a specific South Asian strain, highlighting the need for improved infection control measures in healthcare settings.
From 2019 (pre-COVID-19) to 2022 (COVID-19 years), three tertiary Greek hospitals monitored MDRO bloodstream infection (BSI) and hospital acquisition relying on laboratory data. Surveillance covered carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs. Non-ICUs experienced significant increases in CRE, CRAB and VRE during the pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Omicron-1 COVID-19 is less invasive in the general population than previous viral variants. However, clinical course and outcome of hospitalised patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia during the shift of the predominance from Delta to Omicron variants are not fully explored.
Methods: During January 2022 consecutively hospitalised patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were analysed.