High rate of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) among COVID-19 patients presenting with bacteremia upon hospital admission.

We investigated the clinical implications of bacteremia among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Higher rates (52.1%) of multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) were noted on hospital admission compared to nosocomial acquisition (25%).

Risk Factors for In-hospital Mortality from Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection Among Black Patients-An Urban Center Experience.

Background: Racial disparities are central in the national conversation about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) , with Black/African Americans being disproportionately affected. We assessed risk factors for death from COVID-19 among Black inpatients at an urban hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study.

Classification of bloodstream infections in patients recently discharged from acute-care facilities: Hospital acquired or healthcare-associated community onset?

Laboratory-identified bloodstream infections (LAB-ID BSIs) in recently discharged patients are likely to be classified as healthcare-associated community-onset (HCA-CO) infections, even though they may represent hospital-onset (HO) infections. A review of LAB-ID BSIs among patients discharged within 14 days revealed that 109 of 756 cases (14.4%) were HO infections.

Electrosynthesis of magnetoresponsive microrobot for targeted drug delivery using calcium alginate.

Targeted drug delivery systems deliver drugs precisely to a specific targeted site inside the body, and can also release the drugs with controlled kinetics to prolong the efficacy of single dose administration. The advantageous properties of hydrogels make them attractive for use in the area of drug delivery. Calcium alginate is a pH sensitive hydrogel stable in acidic media and soluble in basic media.

Enterococcus spp. in a single blood culture: bacteremia or contamination?

We retrospectively evaluated adult cases with Enterococcus spp. in 1 blood culture (BC) (1/1/2010-12/31/2015; n=294) and stratified them into bacteremia or contamination. Contamination frequency was similar in community versus hospital-onset, E.

Screening for Intermediately Vancomycin-Susceptible and Vancomycin-Heteroresistant Staphylococcus aureus by Use of Vancomycin-Supplemented Brain Heart Infusion Agar Biplates: Defining Growth Interpretation Criteria Based on Gold Standard Confirmation.

BHI agars supplemented with vancomycin 4 (BHI-V4) and 3 (BHI-V3) mg/liter have been proposed for screening vancomycin intermediately susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heteroresistant (hVISA) phenotypes, respectively, but growth interpretation criteria have not been established. We reviewed the growth results (CFU) during population analysis profile-area under the curve (PAP-AUC) of consecutive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood isolates, which were saved intermittently between 1996 and 2012. CFU counts on BHI-V4 and BHI-V3 plates were stratified according to PAP-AUC interpretive criteria: <0.

Decreasing prevalence of isolates with vancomycin heteroresistance and vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥2 mg/L in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus over 11 years: potential impact of vancomycin treatment guidelines.

We evaluated vancomycin MIC (V-MIC) and the prevalence of intermediately susceptible (VISA) and heteroresistant (hVISA) isolates trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia among 720 adults (≥ 18 years) inpatients over 4 study periods (2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, and 2010-2012). V-MIC (Etest) and the prevalence of hVISA and VISA (determined by population analysis profile-area under the curve) were stratified according to the study period. Mean vancomycin MIC was 1.

MALDI-TOF identification of Gram-negative bacteria directly from blood culture bottles containing charcoal: Sepsityper® kits versus centrifugation-filtration method.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has dramatically altered the way microbiology laboratories identify clinical isolates. Direct blood culture (BC) detection may be hampered, however, by the presence of charcoal in BC bottles currently in clinical use. This study evaluates an in-house process for extraction and MALDI-TOF identification of Gram-negative bacteria directly from BC bottles containing charcoal.

Use of portable electronic devices in a hospital setting and their potential for bacterial colonization.

Portable electronic devices are increasingly being used in the hospital setting. As with other fomites, these devices represent a potential reservoir for the transmission of pathogens. We conducted a convenience sampling of devices in 2 large medical centers to identify bacterial colonization rates and potential risk factors.

Invasive Bordetella holmesii infections.

Bordetella holmesii is a rare cause of invasive human disease. The fastidious and unusual nature of this organism makes routine isolation and identification challenging. We report two cases of B.

Correlation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentration results by Etest and broth microdilution methods with population analysis profile: lack of Etest overestimation of the MIC.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (V-MICs) are sometimes reported to be higher according to Etest versus broth microdilution (BMD). These observations are often interpreted as an Etest overestimation of the actual MIC. We measured V-MIC of 484 MRSA blood isolates using Etest, BMD, and a modified BMD (M-BMD) with incremental dilutions parallel to the Etest scale, correlated the results with population analysis profile-area under the curve (PAP-AUC).

Decreasing incidence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia over 9 years: greatest decline in community-associated methicillin-susceptible and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant isolates.

Background: The impact of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) emergence on the epidemiology of S aureus bacteremia (SAB) is not well documented.

Methods: This was an observational study of adult (aged ≥18 years) inpatients with SAB in a single 808-bed teaching hospital during 2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, and 2010 with period-stratified SAB rate, onset mode, patient characteristics, and outcome.

Results: We encountered a total of 1,098 cases over the entire study period.

Relevance of vancomycin-intermediate susceptibility and heteroresistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

Objectives: To assess the relevance of vancomycin-intermediate susceptibility (VISA) and heteroresistance (hVISA) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia.

Methods: We determined vancomycin MICs for 371 saved MRSA blood isolates (2002-03; 2005-06) by Etest and broth microdilution (BMD), screened for hVISA (Etest methods), determined the population analysis profile (PAP)/AUC for isolates with suspected reduced susceptibility (MICs >2 mg/L and/or hVISA-screen-positive versus Mu3 (hVISA control), and stratified patient characteristics and outcome according to susceptibility phenotype: VISA (PAP/AUC >1.3), hVISA (PAP/AUC 0.

Detection of intermediately vancomycin-susceptible and heterogeneous Staphylococcus aureus isolates: comparison of Etest and Agar screening methods.

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with intermediate vancomycin susceptibility (VISA) and heteroresistance (hVISA) remains problematic. The population analysis profile/area under the curve (PAP/AUC) is the gold standard but is cumbersome. We compared the performance of two Etest screening methods (macromethod [MAC] and glycopeptide resistance detection [GRD]) plus brain heart infusion (BHI) agars supplemented with 3 (BHI-V3) or 4 (BHI-V4) mg/liter vancomycin in detecting hVISA and/or VISA phenotypes.

Molecular analysis of 2 cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cholecystitis and a review of the literature.

We present 2 cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acalculous cholecystitis and review the literature. We performed pulsed field gel electrophoresis, typing of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin testing on the isolates. One each was closely related to USA100 and USA300, indicating that both healthcare- and community-associated strains may cause MRSA cholecystitis.

Vancomycin MIC plus heteroresistance and outcome of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: trends over 11 years.

Vancomycin MICs (V-MIC) and the frequency of heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) isolates are increasing among methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, but their relevance remains uncertain. We compared the V-MIC (Etest) and the frequency of hVISA (Etest macromethod) for all MRSA blood isolates saved over an 11-year span and correlated the results with the clinical outcome. We tested 489 isolates: 61, 55, 187, and 186 isolates recovered in 1996-1997, 2000, 2002-2003, and 2005-2006, respectively.

Role of SCCmec type in outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a single medical center.

Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors may determine infection presentation. Whether SCCmec type-associated factors play a role in S. aureus bacteremia is unclear.