Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant complex clinical isolates.

Carbapenem-resistant complex (CR-ECC), which is rapidly increasing as the cause of nosocomial infections, has limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the microbiological and clinical traits and molecular epidemiology of isolates of CR-ECC and provide guidance for antibiotic selection in clinical practice. Clinical CR-ECC isolates (ertapenem MIC ≥ 2 mg/L) were collected from 2021 to 2022.

Synergistic effects of colistin-rifampin-based triple antimicrobial combination therapy against Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a time-kill assay.

Background: Our research aimed to investigate the potential of in vitro triple antimicrobial synergism against carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) as a strategy to overcome antimicrobial resistance.

Methods: We used 12 CRPA blood isolates stocked in the Asian Bacterial Bank between 2016 and 2018. All isolates were tested by multi-locus sequencing and carbapenemase multiplex PCR.

Antimicrobial activity of ceftazidime-avibactam against KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales: a cross-combination and dose-escalation titration study with relebactam and vaborbactam.

Unlabelled: With the introduction of ceftazidime-avibactam worldwide, the antimicrobial activity of new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (BL/BLIs) needs to be investigated. From January 2020 to June 2023, carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacterales were collected. With a broth microdilution test of new BL/BLIs, cross-activity test with nine combinations of BLs and new BLIs and dose-escalation titration test for non-susceptible isolates were conducted to investigate inhibitory activities of new BLIs.

Evaluation of Two Commercial Kits for Qualitative Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Nasopharyngeal Specimens.

Background: Two rapid antigen tests (RATs) for COVID-19 targeting the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 were compared with real-time RT-PCR as the reference method.

Methods: Ninety-six nasopharyngeal swab samples, comprising 56 positive and 40 negative samples confirmed through rRT-PCR were collected and retested to determine the reliability of the two nasopharyngeal RATs.

Results: The overall sensitivity and specificity of both RATs were 64.

Extensively drug-resistant Enterobacter ludwigii co-harbouring MCR-9 and a multicopy of bla in South Korea.

In this study, we describe an Enterobacter ludwigii clinical isolate that is resistant to both carbapenems and colistin in South Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that E. ludwigii CRE2104-31 was non-susceptible to all tested antibiotics except fosfomycin.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes of cytomegalovirus diseases in hematologic malignancy patients without hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the risk factors and prognosis for CMV diseases in hematologic malignancy patients without hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: We performed a case-control study (1:2) between 2012 and 2022. Adults with pathologic-confirmed CMV diseases (n=60) among hematologic malignancy patients were matched and compared to whom without CMV disease.

Markedly Increased Mean Platelet Volume in Bacterial Meningitis.

Background: Differentiating bacterial and viral meningitis is crucial, and this study explored the potential of mean platelet volume (MPV) as a marker for differentiation.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from patients with central nerve system related manifestations, and MPV was tested. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained and bacterial culture and the FilmArray ME panel were performed.

False-positive galactomannan immunoassay in the glucose component of total parenteral nutrition products.

This manuscript describes an occurrence of false-positive GM tests in patients receiving TPN products from a manufacturer who had recently changed the supplier of the glucose component. We describe the clinical presentation of nine false-positive cases and the results of serologic and microbiological investigations of the TPN products suspected of contamination with GM. Attempts to detect GM in parenteral nutrition products were made since the detection of GM in sodium gluconate-containing solutions in 2007, but none of them identified the source of elevated GM indexes in TPN products.

Clinical Utility of Sero-Immunological Responses Against SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein During Subsequent Prevalence of Wild-Type, Delta Variant, and Omicron Variant.

As nucleocapsid protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is immunogenic but not targeted in vaccines, it could be useful in distinguishing natural infection from vaccination. We aimed to investigate the clinical utility of sero-immunological responses against the nucleocapsid protein. Nucleocapsid antibody immunoassay study with 302 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients showed lower titers in immunocompromised patients ( < 0.

Loss of Neutralizing Activity of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld™) Against Omicron BN.1, a Dominant Circulating Strain Following BA.5 During the Seventh Domestic Outbreak in Korea in Early 2023.

Tixagevimab/cilgavimab is a monoclonal antibody used to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 among immunocompromised hosts and maintained neutralizing activity against early omicron variants. Omicron BN.1 became a dominant circulating strain in Korea early 2023, but its susceptibility to tixagevimab/cilgavimab is unclear.

Trend of immunity against measles and varicella zoster virus in healthcare workers in Korea.

Objective: To examine the seroprevalence of measles and varicella zoster virus (VZV) among healthcare workers (HCW) and evaluate the concordance between self-reported history of previous disease or vaccination and seropositivity.

Design: A seroprevalence study and survey.

Setting: A university-affiliated tertiary care hospital.

Efficacy and Safety of SIKD1977 in Combination with Standard Treatment for Postherpetic Neuralgia: Study Protocol for a Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Multicenter, Phase 2 Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common chronic complication of herpes zoster, associated with poor quality of life and increased patient and healthcare resource expenditure. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SIKD1977 (Sogeonjungtang) in combination with standard treatment and estimate an effective dose for treating PHN.

Patients And Methods: This is a protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial.

Impact of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infection on mortality: A retrospective analysis of nationwide surveillance data.

Objectives: It is unclear whether the poor outcome of patients with severe vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is attributable to vancomycin resistance or to Enterococcus faecium (Efm), which predominates among VRE.

Methods: Retrospective study of a prospectively identified cohort from nationwide surveillance. A cohort of consecutive, nonduplicate episodes of monomicrobial bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Efm in 2016 was selected.

Breakthrough invasive fungal infection in patients with myeloid malignancy receiving posaconazole tablet prophylaxis: Clinical features, risk factors, and posaconazole profiles.

Posaconazole (PSC) delayed-release tablet prophylaxis is the standard of care for preventing invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy. The clinical features, risk factors, and PSC profiles of breakthrough IFI (bIFI) in patients receiving PSC tablet prophylaxis were investigated. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted, including adult patients with myeloid malignancy who received prophylactic PSC tablets while undergoing chemotherapy from June 2016 to June 2021.

Triple immune modulator therapy for aberrant hyperinflammatory responses in severe COVID-19.

A dysregulated hyperinflammatory response is a key pathogenesis of severe COVID-19, but optimal immune modulator treatment has not been established. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of double (glucocorticoids and tocilizumab) and triple (plus baricitinib) immune modulator therapy for severe COVID-19, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. For the immunologic investigation, a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was performed in serially collected PBMCs and neutrophil specimens.

Comparing the Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions of Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin Combined with Rifampin against Drug-Resistant : A Time-Kill Assay.

Background: Treatment of device-related infections by drug-resistant can be challenging, and combination therapy has been proposed as a potential solution. We compared the effectiveness of levofloxacin-rifampin and ciprofloxacin-rifampin combinations in killing methicillin-resistant (MRSA) using a time-kill assay.

Methods: We randomly selected 15 vancomycin-susceptible (VSSA) strains, 3 vancomycin-intermediate (VISA) strains, and 12 heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) strains from the Asian Bacterial Bank.

Neutralizing activity against Omicron BA.5 after tixagevimab/cilgavimab administration comparable to those after Omicron BA.1/BA.2 breakthrough infections.

Introduction: The effect of tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld™; AstraZeneca, UK) should be evaluated in the context of concurrent outbreak situations.

Methods: For serologic investigation of tixagevimab/cilgavimab during the BA.5 outbreak period, sera of immunocompromised (IC) hosts sampled before and one month after tixagevimab/cilgavimab administration and those of healthcare workers (HCWs) sampled one month after a 3 shot of COVID-19 vaccines, five months after BA.

Clinical effectiveness of zoster vaccine live in kidney transplant recipients immunized prior to transplantation: a retrospective single-centre cohort study.

Objectives: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients have an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) and its complications. Although recombinant zoster vaccine is favoured over zoster vaccine live (ZVL), ZVL is also recommended to prevent HZ for KT candidates. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of ZVL in KT recipients immunized before transplantation.

Augmented humoral and cellular immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 after breakthrough infection in kidney transplant recipients who received 3 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine.

Diminished immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and breakthrough infection (BI) is a major concern for solid organ transplant recipients. Humoral and cellular immune responses of kidney transplant (KT) recipients after a third COVID-19 vaccination were investigated compared to matched health care workers. Anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein antibody and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 specific interferon-gamma releasing assay (IGRA) were assessed.