PEG-PLGA nanoparticles deposited in and .

In our prior research, polymer nanoparticles (NPs) containing tobramycin displayed robust antibacterial efficacy against biofilm-embedded () and (. ) cells, critical pathogens in cystic fibrosis. In the current study, we investigated the deposition of a nanoparticulate carrier composed of poly(d,l-lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol)--PLGA (PEG-PLGA) that was either covalently bonded with cyanine-5-amine (Cy5) or noncovalently bound with freely embedded cationic rhodamine B (RhB), which served as a drug surrogate.

Treatment of Complicated Gram-Positive Bacteremia and Infective Endocarditis.

The Gram-positive cocci Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., and Enterococcus spp. are the most frequent causative organisms of bloodstream infections and infective endocarditis.

Impact of absolute values and changes in meteorological and air quality conditions on community-acquired pneumonia in Germany.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global health concern as it is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and economic burden to the health care systems. In Germany, more than 15,000 people die every year from CAP. Climate change is altering weather patterns, and it may influence the probability and severity of CAP.

Biomarkers troponin and procalcitonin in addition to CRB-65 enhance risk stratification in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of infectious disease mortality globally, necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission for ∼10% of hospitalised patients. Accurate prediction of disease severity facilitates timely therapeutic interventions.

Methods: Our study aimed to enhance the predictive capacity of the clinical CRB-65 score by evaluating eight candidate biomarkers: troponin T high-sensitive (TnT-hs), procalcitonin (PCT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, angiopoietin-2, copeptin, endothelin-1, lipocalin-2 and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin.

[Management of adult bronchiectasis - Consensus-based Guidelines for the German Respiratory Society (DGP) e. V. (AWMF registration number 020-030)].

Bronchiectasis is an etiologically heterogeneous, chronic, and often progressive respiratory disease characterized by irreversible bronchial dilation. It is frequently associated with significant symptom burden, multiple complications, and reduced quality of life. For several years, there has been a marked global increase in the prevalence of bronchiectasis, which is linked to a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems.

Accurate bacterial outbreak tracing with Oxford Nanopore sequencing and reduction of methylation-induced errors.

Our study investigates the effectiveness of Oxford Nanopore Technologies for accurate outbreak tracing by resequencing 33 isolates of a 3-year-long outbreak with Illumina short-read sequencing data as the point of reference. We detect considerable base errors through cgMLST and phylogenetic analysis of genomes sequenced with Oxford Nanopore Technologies, leading to the false exclusion of some outbreak-related strains from the outbreak cluster. Nearby methylation sites cause these errors and can also be found in other species besides Based on these data, we explore PCR-based sequencing and a masking strategy, which both successfully address these inaccuracies and ensure accurate outbreak tracing.

Changes in Attitudes towards Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination during the Subsiding COVID-19 Pandemic-Results of a Longitudinal Survey Study among Risk Groups in Germany between 2021 and 2023.

Background: In many countries, an increase in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how attitude, risk perception and knowledge towards influenza and pneumococcal vaccines of at-risk patients developed when the COVID-19 pandemic subsided and if COVID-19 vaccination attitude (VA) was still associated with the attitudes towards the two other vaccines.

Methods: We used longitudinal data from two surveys conducted in Germany in 2021 and 2023 among persons with chronic diseases.

Diversification of Biofilm Populations under Repeated Phage Exposures Decreases the Efficacy of the Treatment.

Phage therapy has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of chronic, biofilm-related infections. To gain a deeper insight into the complex biofilm-phage interactions, we investigated in the present study the effect of three successive exposures to lytic phages of biofilms formed by the reference strains PAO1 and PA14 as well as of two sequential clinical isolates from the sputum of a patient with cystic fibrosis (CF). The Calgary device was employed as a biofilm model and the efficacy of phage treatment was evaluated by measurements of the biomass stained with crystal violet (CV) and of the cell density of the biofilm bacterial population (CFU/mL) after each of the three phage exposures.

How are Long-Covid, Post-Sepsis-Syndrome and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome related? A conceptional approach based on the current research literature.

Long-Covid (LC), Post-Sepsis-Syndrome (PSS) and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome (PICS) show remarkable overlaps in their clinical presentation. Nevertheless, it is unclear if they are distinct syndromes, which may co-occur in the same patient, or if they are three different labels to describe similar symptoms, assigned on the basis on patient history and professional perspective of the treating physician. Therefore, we reviewed the current literature on the relation between LC, PSS and PICS.

A practice-based approach to teaching antimicrobial therapy using artificial intelligence and gamified learning.

Objectives: Scalable teaching through apps and artificial intelligence (AI) is of rising interest in academic practice. We focused on how medical students could benefit from this trend in learning antibiotic stewardship (ABS). Our study evaluated the impact of gamified learning on factual knowledge and uncertainty in antibiotic prescription.

Long versus short course anti-microbial therapy of uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a systematic review.

Background: Current guidelines recommend at least 2 weeks duration of antibiotic therapy (DOT) for patients with uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) but the evidence for this recommendation is unclear.

Objectives: To perform a systematic literature review assessing current evidence for recommended DOT for patients with SAB.

Methods: The following are the methods used for this study.

Resurgence of common respiratory viruses in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)-A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global cause of death and hospitalization. Bacteria or community-acquired viruses (CARVs) cause CAP. COVID-19 associated restrictions effectively reduced the circulation of CARVs.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia in a prospective observational cohort study.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and non-COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia (NC-CAP) often result in hospitalization with considerable risks of mortality, ICU treatment, and long-term morbidity. A comparative analysis of clinical outcomes in COVID-19 CAP (C-CAP) and NC-CAP may improve clinical management.

Methods: Using prospectively collected CAPNETZ study data (January 2017 to June 2021, 35 study centers), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of clinical outcomes including in-hospital death, ICU treatment, length of hospital stay (LOHS), 180-day survival, and post-discharge re-hospitalization rate.

[Automated surveillance and risk prediction with the aim of risk-stratified infection control and prevention (RISK PRINCIPE)].

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) represent an enormous burden for patients, healthcare workers, relatives and society worldwide, including Germany. The central tasks of infection prevention are recording and evaluating infections with the aim of identifying prevention potential and risk factors, taking appropriate measures and finally evaluating them. From an infection prevention perspective, it would be of great value if (i) the recording of infection cases was automated and (ii) if it were possible to identify particularly vulnerable patients and patient groups in advance, who would benefit from specific and/or additional interventions.

Teaching prudent antibiotic use on the go: a descriptive report on development, utilization and listener satisfaction of an educational podcast format for medical students and young professionals.

Background: An important component in fostering the responsible use of antibiotics is training of new and future prescribers in this interdisciplinary topic. Because podcasts are playing an increasing role in medical education, we aimed to develop and evaluate a podcast format with practice and guideline-oriented learning content on antibiotic therapy for medical students and young medical professionals.

Methods: We developed the concept for the podcast with the direct involvement of medical students and medical experts with teaching experience.

Effect of acyclovir therapy on the outcome of mechanically ventilated patients with lower respiratory tract infection and detection of herpes simplex virus in bronchoalveolar lavage: protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial (HerpMV).

Introduction: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is frequently detected in the respiratory tract of mechanically ventilated patients and is associated with a worse outcome. The aim of this study is to determine whether antiviral therapy in HSV-positive patients improves outcome.

Methods And Analysis: Prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial in parallel-group design.

Beyond muscles: Investigating immunoregulatory myokines in acute resistance exercise - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Myokines, released from the muscle, enable communication between the working muscles and other tissues. Their release during physical exercise is assumed to depend on immune-hormonal-metabolic interactions concerning mode (endurance or resistance exercise), duration, and intensity. This meta-analysis aims to examine the acute changes of circulating myokines inducing immunoregulatory effects caused by a bout of resistance exercise and to consider potential moderators of the results.