Incidence, risk factors and clinical outcome of multidrug-resistant organisms after heart transplantation.

Background: Transplant recipients commonly harbor multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), as a result of frequent hospital admissions and increased exposure to antimicrobials and invasive procedures.

Aim: To investigate the impact of patient demographic and clinical characteristics on MDRO acquisition, as well as the impact of MDRO acquisition on intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and on ICU mortality and 1-year mortality post heart transplantation.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 98 consecutive heart transplant patients over a ten-year period (2013-2022) in a single transplantation center.

Effect of Low-Level Laser Irradiation (810 nm) on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Osteoblast-Like Cells Cultured on SLA Titanium Discs Exposed to a Peri-implantitis Environment.

Elimination of inflammation and re-osseointegration are the major objectives of peri-implantitis therapy. Existing data, however, do not support any decontamination approach. Thus, the present study aims to assess whether the air-debriding decontamination method with erythritol powder restores the biocompatibility of infected titanium discs and to investigate the potent biomodulatory ability of diode laser (810 nm) irradiation to promote cell proliferation and differentiation of premature osteoblast-like cells (MG63) towards osteocytes.

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator-Related Culture-Negative Infection: A Case of Infection.

is one of the most common causes of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis (IE). However, only a few cases of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) infection have been reported in the literature. Herein, we present a case of CIED-related blood culture-negative infection attributed to .

Adaptation of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing to the ISO 20776 Standard and Validation of the Method.

Brucellosis, mainly caused by (B.) , is associated with a risk of chronification and relapses. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) standards for are not available, and the agent is not yet listed in the EUCAST breakpoint tables.

The Importance of Complementary PCR Analysis in Addition to Serological Testing for the Detection of Transmission Sources of spp. in Greek Ruminants.

The early and accurate diagnosis of brucellosis, a ubiquitous zoonotic infection, is significant in preventing disease transmission. This study aimed to assess the infection rate of spp. in ruminants and to evaluate the agreement between a serological test and a molecular method for the detection of infected cases.

Clinical Application of the Novel Cell-Based Biosensor for the Ultra-Rapid Detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 Spike Protein Antigen: A Practical Approach.

The availability of antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 represents a major step for the mass surveillance of the incidence of infection, especially regarding COVID-19 asymptomatic and/or early-stage patients. Recently, we reported the development of a Bioelectric Recognition Assay-based biosensor able to detect the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein expressed on the surface of the virus in just three minutes, with high sensitivity and selectivity. The working principle was established by measuring the change of the electric potential of membrane-engineered mammalian cells bearing the human chimeric spike S1 antibody after attachment of the respective viral protein.

Molecular Evidence of a Broad Range of Pathogenic Bacteria in spp.: Should We Re-Examine the Role of Fleas in the Transmission of Pathogens?

The internal microbiome of common cat and dog fleas was studied for DNA evidence of pathogenic bacteria. Fleas were grouped in pools by parasitized animal. DNA was extracted and investigated with 16S metagenomics for medically relevant (MR) bacteria, based on the definitions of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (WHO).

Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis in common fleas in Greece and comparative evaluation of genotypic methods.

Introduction: Rickettsia felis is the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever (FBSF), an emerging zoonosis. Although there is evidence of FBSF in Greece, fleas, the classic vectors of R. felis, have not been adequately studied.

Serosurvey of IgG Antibodies against and in the Population of Attica, Greece.

are the causative agents of murine typhus and cat-scratch disease, respectively. A small-scale survey (N = 202) was conducted in the Attica region, Greece, for determining the prevalence rates of IgG antibodies against and by indirect fluorescence antibody test. IgG against and were present in 17.

In vitro activity of aztreonam/avibactam against a global collection of Klebsiella pneumoniae collected from defined culture sources in 2016 and 2017.

Objectives: This study reports on the activity of aztreonam/avibactam (ATM-AVI) against a collection of Klebsiella pneumoniae collected in 2016 and 2017.

Methods: Non-duplicate K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from four regions (Africa/Middle East, n = 785; Asia-Pacific, n = 1433; Europe, n = 4236; Latin America, n = 1499) and five culture sources (blood, n = 902; intra-abdominal, n = 992; urinary tract, n = 2148; skin and skin structure, n = 1409; lower respiratory tract, n = 2502).

Evidence of DNA in the Microbiome of from Pet Cats in Greece.

Cat fleas () are the most prevalent ectoparasites of pet animals with cosmopolitan distribution, obligatory hematophagous, and may prey on humans to receive bloodmeals. We studied the microbiota of 100 flea-pools, containing , and collected from equal number of cats and dogs in the region of Attica, Greece, including Athens. The 16S metagenomics technique detected spp.

Combination of conventional culture, vial culture, and broad-range PCR of sonication fluid for the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection.

We assessed the value of conventional culture, vial culture, and broad-range PCR of the sonication fluid (SF), individually or in combinations, for the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). We studied 114 consecutive patients (median age:72.5 years, males: 28.

Colistin resistance in carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream isolates: Evolution over 15 years and temporal association with colistin use by time series analysis.

Colistin is often the only available treatment option against infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CP-Kp). In this study, the evolution of colistin resistance among CP-Kp and its relationship with colistin use in a tertiary-care hospital in Athens, Greece, was investigated. All CP-Kp blood isolates recovered between January 2002 and June 2016 were tested for susceptibility to colistin by agar dilution and broth microdilution methods.

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2014-16 in Greece.

Objectives: To determine antimicrobial susceptibility in isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae collected in 2014-16 from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections in Greece.

Methods: MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and susceptibility assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) breakpoints.

Results: A total of 99 S.

Osteostimulative calcium phosphosilicate biomaterials partially restore the cytocompatibility of decontaminated titanium surfaces in a peri-implantitis model.

Bacterial peri-implant biofilms, and the chemotherapeutics for their removal alter titanium surface cytocompatibility. In this study we aimed to assess the adjunctive use of an osteostimulative biomaterial utilizing a peri-implantitis model under the hypothesis that it will increase cell migration towards treated titanium surfaces. Acid-etched titanium surfaces were inoculated with a multi-species biofilm model and treated with 1.

Magnetic nanoparticle-enhanced PCR for the detection and identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis.

This paper evaluated magnetic nanoparticle-enhanced PCR for the detection and identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis. Two different types of magnetic nanoparticles designated MPIO (iron concentration 2.5 mg/ml, size 1 µm) and NP (iron concentration 8.

, 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.

Pneumonia and Pleural Empyema due to a Mixed spp. Infection as a Possible Early Esophageal Carcinoma Signature.

Lactobacilli are human commensals found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. Although generally conceived as non-pathogenic microorganisms, the existence of several reports implicating them in certain severe pathological entities renders this species as opportunistic pathogens. The case of a 58-year-old woman with mixed infection is described.

18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan for monitoring the therapeutic response in experimental Staphylococcus aureus foreign-body osteomyelitis.

Background: 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) scan is useful for diagnosis of osteoarticular infections. Whether (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning may be used for therapeutic monitoring is not clear. The objective of this study was to develop (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning for monitoring therapeutic response to antimicrobials in experimental Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.

Bronchiectasis exacerbations: The role of atypical bacteria, respiratory syncytial virus and pulmonary function tests.

Background: Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Objective: To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.

Methods: A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient).