DJK-5, an anti-biofilm peptide, increases Staphylococcus aureus sensitivity to colistin killing in co-biofilms with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Chronic infections represent a significant global health and economic challenge. Biofilms, which are bacterial communities encased in an extracellular polysaccharide matrix, contribute to approximately 80% of these infections. In particular, pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are frequently co-isolated from the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis and are commonly found in chronic wound infections.

The role of exopolysaccharides Psl and Pel in resistance of to the oxidative stressors sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.

Unlabelled: is well-known for its antimicrobial resistance and the ability to survive in harsh environmental conditions due to an abundance of resistance mechanisms, including the formation of biofilms and the production of exopolysaccharides. Exopolysaccharides are among the major components of the extracellular matrix in biofilms and aggregates of . Although their contribution to antibiotic resistance has been previously shown, their roles in resistance to oxidative stressors remain largely elusive.

Genetic determinants of increased sodium hypochlorite and ciprofloxacin susceptibility in PA14 biofilms.

Reactive chlorine species (RCS) like sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) are potent oxidizing agents and widely used biocides in surface disinfection, water treatment, and biofilm elimination. Moreover, RCS are also produced by the human immune system to kill invading pathogens. However, bacteria have developed mechanisms to survive the damage caused by RCS.

Draft genome sequence of a methicillin-resistant strain isolated from a chronic wound.

We report the draft genome sequence and antimicrobial resistance gene profile of a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) clinical isolate recovered from a chronic pressure injury wound infection of an adult female patient. The draft genome sequence included a 2.86-Mb chromosome, which was accompanied by a 27-kb plasmid containing .

Oxidative stress responses in biofilms.

Oxidizing agents are low-molecular-weight molecules that oxidize other substances by accepting electrons from them. They include reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anions (O), hydrogen peroxide (HO), and hydroxyl radicals (HO), and reactive chlorine species (RCS) including sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and its active ingredient hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and chloramines. Bacteria encounter oxidizing agents in many different environments and from diverse sources.

Explaining Variability in Electronic Health Record Effort in Primary Care Ambulatory Encounters.

Background:  Electronic health record (EHR) user interface event logs are fast providing another perspective on the value and efficiency EHR technology brings to health care. Analysis of these detailed usage data has demonstrated their potential to identify EHR and clinical process design factors related to user efficiency, satisfaction, and burnout.

Objective:  This study aimed to analyze the event log data across 26 different health systems to determine the variability of use of a single vendor's EHR based on four event log metrics, at the individual, practice group, and health system levels.

The secondary metabolite hydrogen cyanide protects against sodium hypochlorite-induced oxidative stress.

The high pathogenicity of is attributed to the production of many virulence factors and its resistance to several antimicrobials. Among them, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a widely used disinfectant due to its strong antimicrobial effect. However, bacteria develop many mechanisms to survive the damage caused by this agent.

Knock-out of multidrug efflux pump MexXY-OprM results in increased susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Multidrug efflux systems of the resistance-nodulation-cell division family play a crucial role in resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a large variety of antibiotics. Here, we investigated the role of clinically relevant efflux pumps MexAB OprM, MexCD OprJ, and MexXY OprM in resistance against different cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Our results indicate that a knock-out in efflux pump MexXY-OprM increased susceptibility to some AMPs by two- to eightfold.

One-Year Adverse Outcomes Among US Adults With Post-COVID-19 Condition vs Those Without COVID-19 in a Large Commercial Insurance Database.

Importance: Many individuals experience ongoing symptoms following the onset of COVID-19, characterized as postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 or post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Less is known about the long-term outcomes for these individuals.

Objective: To quantify 1-year outcomes among individuals meeting a PCC definition compared with a control group of individuals without COVID-19.

Synergy between Human Peptide LL-37 and Polymyxin B against Planktonic and Biofilm Cells of and .

The rise in antimicrobial resistant bacteria is limiting the number of effective treatments for bacterial infections. and are two of the pathogens with the highest prevalence of resistance, and with the greatest need for new antimicrobial agents. Combinations of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and antibiotics that display synergistic effects have been shown to be an effective strategy in the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Assessment of structured data elements for social risk factors.

Objectives: Computable social risk factor phenotypes derived from routinely collected structured electronic health record (EHR) or health information exchange (HIE) data may represent a feasible and robust approach to measuring social factors. This study convened an expert panel to identify and assess the quality of individual EHR and HIE structured data elements that could be used as components in future computable social risk factor phenotypes.

Study Design: Technical expert panel.

Oxidative Stress Response in .

is a Gram-negative environmental and human opportunistic pathogen highly adapted to many different environmental conditions. It can cause a wide range of serious infections, including wounds, lungs, the urinary tract, and systemic infections. The high versatility and pathogenicity of this bacterium is attributed to its genomic complexity, the expression of several virulence factors, and its intrinsic resistance to various antimicrobials.

The Potential of Human Peptide LL-37 as an Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Agent.

The rise in antimicrobial resistant bacteria threatens the current methods utilized to treat bacterial infections. The development of novel therapeutic agents is crucial in avoiding a post-antibiotic era and the associated deaths from antibiotic resistant pathogens. The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 has been considered as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics as it displays broad spectrum antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities as well as immunomodulatory functions.

Biofilm-Innate Immune Interface: Contribution to Chronic Wound Formation.

Delayed wound healing can cause significant issues for immobile and ageing individuals as well as those living with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These delays increase a patient's risk for infection and, in severe cases, can result in the formation of chronic, non-healing ulcers (e.g.

Pediatrician Electronic Health Record Time Use for Outpatient Encounters.

Background: The time providers spend using their electronic health records (EHRs) delivering care and its potential impact on patient care are of concern for the health care system. In studies to date, researchers have focused on providers who primarily care for adults. Scant information exists for pediatricians.

Prior presumed coronavirus infection reduces COVID-19 risk: A cohort study.

Background: Immunological cross-reactivity between common cold coronaviruses (CCC) and SARS-CoV-2 might account for the reduced incidence of COVID-19 in children. Evidence to support speculation includes in vitro evidence for humoral and cellular cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV-2 in specimens obtained before the pandemic started.

Method: We used retrospective health insurance enrollment records, claims, and laboratory results to assemble a cohort of 869,236 insured individuals who had a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.

Droplet-Microarray: Miniaturized Platform for High-Throughput Screening of Antimicrobial Compounds.

Currently, there are no time-saving and cost-effective high-throughput screening methods for the evaluation of bacterial drug-resistance. In this study, a droplet microarray (DMA) system is established as a miniaturized platform for high-throughput screening of antibacterial compounds using the emerging, opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) as a target.

Surviving Reactive Chlorine Stress: Responses of Gram-Negative Bacteria to Hypochlorous Acid.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and its active ingredient, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), are the most commonly used chlorine-based disinfectants. HOCl is a fast-acting and potent antimicrobial agent that interacts with several biomolecules, such as sulfur-containing amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids, and membrane components, causing severe cellular damage. It is also produced by the immune system as a first-line of defense against invading pathogens.

The potential of drug repositioning as a short-term strategy for the control and treatment of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): a systematic review.

The novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has quickly become a threat to the public health and economy worldwide. Despite the severity of some cases, there are no current pathogen-specific antivirals available to treat the disease. Therefore, many studies have focused on the evaluation of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of clinically available drugs.

Sepsis surveillance: an examination of parameter sensitivity and alert reliability.

Objective: To examine performance of a sepsis surveillance system in a simulated environment where modifications to parameters and settings for identification of at-risk patients can be explored in-depth.

Materials And Methods: This was a multiple center observational cohort study. The study population comprised 14 917 adults hospitalized in 2016.

Physician Time Spent Using the Electronic Health Record During Outpatient Encounters: A Descriptive Study.

Background: The amount of time that providers spend using electronic health records (EHRs) to support the care delivery process is a concern for the U.S. health care system.

Technology-Enabled Clinical Trials: Transforming Medical Evidence Generation.

The complexity and costs associated with traditional randomized, controlled trials have increased exponentially over time, and now threaten to stifle the development of new drugs and devices. Nevertheless, the growing use of electronic health records, mobile applications, and wearable devices offers significant promise for transforming clinical trials, making them more pragmatic and efficient. However, many challenges must be overcome before these innovations can be implemented routinely in randomized, controlled trial operations.

A systematic comparison of contemporary automatic speech recognition engines for conversational clinical speech.

Conversations especially between a clinician and a patient are important sources of data to support clinical care. To date, clinicians act as the sensor to capture these data and record them in the medical record. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) engines have advanced to support continuous speech, to work independently of speaker and deliver continuously improving performance.