In vivo Fitness of Strains in Murine Infection Is Associated with International Lineage II-rep-2 and International Lineage III Clones Showing High Case Fatality Rates in Human Infections.

We previously reported that the 14-day case fatality rate (CFR) in patients with carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) bacteremia varied between infecting clones. Here, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo fitness of CRAB blood isolates belonging to clones with low CFR (< 32% 14-day mortality) and high CFR (65% 14-day mortality). Fitness was measured in vitro using a growth curve assay and in vivo using murine thigh muscle and septicemia models of infection.

Does Acinetobacter baumannii Serve as a Source for bla Dissemination into Enterobacteriaceae in Hospitalized Patients?

The goal was to study the possibility that Acinetobacter baumannii serve as an epidemiologically significant source for transmission of the bla gene to Enterobacteriaceae by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in hospitalized patients. The study was done at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center from December 2014 until August 2015. Clinical and surveillance rectal cultures were collected as per hospital policies and were analyzed for the presence of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (NDME) and A.

Novel rat model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected silicone breast implants: a study of biofilm pathogenesis.

Background: Clinical infection of breast implants occurs in 7 to 24 percent of breast reconstructions. It may persist over time in the form of biofilm without overt manifestation and is extremely difficult to eradicate. The authors' aim was to establish a novel model for biofilm infection of silicone breast implants in rats.

High prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among residents and staff of long-term care facilities, involving joint and parallel evolution.

Six long-term care facilities were surveyed for methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus (MRSA). Among 191 residents, 14% were carriers; 1 strain predominated (ST5-SCCmec II). Among 132 staff members, 11% were positive; 2 strains predominated (ST5-SCCmec II, ST8-SCCmec IV).

Increase in rhamnolipid synthesis under iron-limiting conditions influences surface motility and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Iron is an essential element for life but also serves as an environmental signal for biofilm development in the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under iron-limiting conditions, P. aeruginosa displays enhanced twitching motility and forms flat unstructured biofilms.