Genomic epidemiological analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Portuguese hospitals reveals insights into circulating antimicrobial resistance.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) bacteria are an increasing threat to public health and represent one of the most concerning pathogens involved in life-threatening infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To understand the epidemiology of AMR of Kp in Portugal, we analysed whole genome sequencing, susceptibility testing and other meta data on 509 isolates collected nationwide from 16 hospitals and environmental settings between years 1980 and 2019. Predominant sequence types (STs) included ST15 (n = 161, 32%), ST147 (n = 36, 7%), ST14 (n = 26, 5%) or ST13 (n = 26, 5%), while 31% of isolates belonged to STs with fewer than 10 isolates.

ESBL/AmpC-Producing Causing Urinary Tract Infections in Non-Related Companion Animals and Humans.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by are frequently diagnosed in humans and companion animals. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and cephalosporinase (AmpC)-producing are worldwide-disseminated and frequently multidrug-resistant, hence leading to treatment failure and public health concerns. This study aimed to characterize and compare ESBL/AmpC-producing strains causing community-acquired UTI in companion animals and non-related humans.

Evidence of Sharing of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains between Healthy Companion Animals and Cohabiting Humans.

This study aimed to characterize the fecal colonization and sharing of strains between companion animals and humans living in close contact. Fecal samples were collected from 50 healthy participants (24 humans, 18 dogs, and 8 cats) belonging to 18 households. Samples were plated onto MacConkey agar (MCK) plates with and without cefotaxime or meropenem supplementation.

Clonal relatedness of Proteus mirabilis strains causing urinary tract infections in companion animals and humans.

Proteus mirabilis is a major cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) in humans and companion animals. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance, virulence and clonal relatedness of P. mirabilis isolated from dogs, cats and humans with UTI.

Klebsiella pneumoniae causing urinary tract infections in companion animals and humans: population structure, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes.

Objectives: To characterize the population structure, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of Klebsiella spp. isolated from dogs, cats and humans with urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Methods: Klebsiella spp.

Drug-Related Problems Identified in a Sample of Portuguese Institutionalised Elderly Patients and Pharmacists' Interventions to Improve Safety and Effectiveness of Medicines.

Background: Currently, people live longer but often with poor quality of life. The decrease in healthy life-years is partly attributable to the institution of polypharmacy to treat various comorbidities.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and nature of drug-related problems (DRPs) in polypharmacy elderly patients residing in nursing homes and to test the acceptability of a pharmacist's intervention.

Potentially inappropriate medications in a sample of Portuguese nursing home residents: Does the choice of screening tools matter?

Unlabelled: Background Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are often found in high proportion among the elderly population. The STOPP criteria have been suggested to detect more PIMs in European elderly than the Beers criteria. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PIMs and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) in a sample of Portuguese nursing homes residents.

Susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in diabetic foot infections.

Background: Foot infections are a major cause of morbidity in people with diabetes and the most common cause of diabetes-related hospitalization and lower extremity amputation. Staphylococcus aureus is by far the most frequent species isolated from these infections. In particular, methicillin-resistant S.

Molecular typing, virulence traits and antimicrobial resistance of diabetic foot staphylococci.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic disease that continues to increase significantly. One of the most important and costly complications of diabetes are foot infections that may be colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, harboring several virulence factors, that could impair its successful treatment. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent isolate in diabetic foot infections, together with aerobes and anaerobes.

Polymicrobial biofilms by diabetic foot clinical isolates.

Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic disease that continues to increase significantly. One of the most important and costly complications of diabetes is foot ulceration that may be colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, which may express several virulence factors that could impair treatment success. These bacterial communities can be organized in polymicrobial biofilms, which may be responsible for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) chronicity.

Characterization of multidrug-resistant diabetic foot ulcer enterococci.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent chronic progressive disease with complications that include diabetic-foot ulcers.

Methods: Enterococci isolated from diabetic-foot infections were identified, evaluated by macro-restriction analysis, and screened for virulence traits and antimicrobial resistance.

Results: All isolates were considered multidrug-resistant, cytolysin and gelatinase producers, and the majority also demonstrated the ability to produce biofilms.

In vitro design of a novel lytic bacteriophage cocktail with therapeutic potential against organisms causing diabetic foot infections.

In patients with diabetes mellitus, foot infections pose a significant risk. These are complex infections commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, all of which are potentially susceptible to bacteriophages. Here, we characterized five bacteriophages that we had determined previously to have antimicrobial and wound-healing potential in chronic S.

Evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 envelope in the first years of infection is associated with the dynamics of the neutralizing antibody response.

Background: Differently from HIV-1, HIV-2 disease progression usually takes decades without antiretroviral therapy and the majority of HIV-2 infected individuals survive as elite controllers with normal CD4⁺ T cell counts and low or undetectable plasma viral load. Neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) are thought to play a central role in HIV-2 evolution and pathogenesis. However, the dynamic of the Nab response and resulting HIV-2 escape during acute infection and their impact in HIV-2 evolution and disease progression remain largely unknown.

Wound healing potential of topical bacteriophage therapy on diabetic cutaneous wounds.

Chronic wounds that fail to heal are a common complication of diabetes mellitus and the most common precipitating reason for nontraumatic lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, the bacterial species that cause these infections are becoming more resistant to antibiotics, making them increasingly difficult to treat. We assessed the feasibility of combating chronic bacterial infections with a topically delivered bacteriophage cocktail in two animal models of diabetes mellitus.

Phage endolysins with broad antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis clinical strains.

Increasing antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens has drawn the attention to the potential use of bacteriophage endolysins as alternative antibacterial agents. Here we have identified, characterized, and studied the lytic potential of two endolysins, Lys168 and Lys170, from phages infecting Enterococcus faecalis. Lys168 and Lys170 belong to the cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolases/peptidases (CHAP) and amidase-2 protein families, respectively.

Novel chimerical endolysins with broad antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Due to their bacterial lytic action, bacteriophage endolysins have recently gained great attention as a potential alternative to antibiotics in the combat of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, particularly those displaying multidrug resistance. However, large-scale production and purification of endolysins is frequently impaired due to their low solubility. In addition, a large number of endolysins appear to exhibit reduced lytic efficacy when compared with their action during phage infection.

Baseline susceptibility of primary HIV-2 to entry inhibitors.

Background: The baseline susceptibility of primary HIV-2 to maraviroc (MVC) and other entry inhibitors is currently unknown.

Methods: The susceptibility of 19 HIV-2 isolates obtained from asymptomatic and AIDS patients and seven HIV-1 clinical isolates to the fusion inhibitors enfuvirtide (ENF) and T-1249, and to the coreceptor antagonists AMD3100, TAK-779 and MVC, was measured using a TZM-bl cell-based assay. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)), 90% inhibitory concentration (IC(90)) and dose-response curve slopes were determined for each drug.

Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of the rapid test VIKIA HIV1/2 in a highly complex HIV-1 epidemic.

The rapid test VIKIA HIV1/2 was evaluated in 210 Angolan subjects infected with multiple HIV-1 subtypes and complex recombinant forms and 225 seronegative individuals. All infected subjects tested positive (100% sensitivity); all seronegative subjects tested negative (100% specificity). VIKIA HIV1/2 is highly specific and sensitive even in highly complex epidemics.

Antiretroviral drug resistance surveillance among treatment-naive human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals in Angola: evidence for low level of transmitted drug resistance.

The prevalence of transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 drug resistance in Angola in 2001 in 196 untreated patients was investigated. All subtypes were detected, along with unclassifiable and complex recombinant strains. Numerous new polymorphisms were identified in the reverse transcriptase and protease.