Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide, also in Belgium. A few examples to illustrate this problem: S. pneumoniae are becoming increasingly resistant to penicillin and erythromycin; resistance of S. pyogenes to erythromycin is increasing year-by-year; Salmonella and Campylobacter are becoming more and more resistant to the fluoroquinolones. In hospitals, the problem of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus appears to be decreasing, but two clones of ceftazidime-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes are spreading throughout the Belgian hospitals. Antibiotic resistance has become a serious health care issue both in hospitals and in the community. The popular press has termed some of the multiresistant organisms "killer bugs" or "superbugs". Infection with such organisms has been associated with treatment failures, higher morbidity and mortality and increased costs. In this paper, we will review the problems of antibiotic resistance in the community setting. We will briefly discuss those pathogens with important consequences of morbidity and mortality in the community, such as: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, the enteric pathogens Salmonella and Campylobacter, and the urinary tract pathogen E. coli. This resistance has in response to various conditions and opportunities, such as: clustering and overcrowding, increased number of immunodeficient patients, increased elderly population, population mobility, increased use of (broad-spectrum) antibiotics, over-the-counter sale and self-dosing with antibiotics, inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and lack of compliance, fewer resources for education and infection control, decreased funding for public health surveillance. In Belgium, we should be able to develop, implement and evaluate a good antibiotic policy. Our country has a wealth of information on antibiotic consumption in hospitals and the community. This information has been used for benchmarking of antibiotic consumption in hospitals. A unique system for reimbursement of prophylactic use of antibiotics in surgery was developed which resulted in a more adequate use of antibiotics. However, a policy should not be limited to the human ecosystem. Therefore, a Coordination Commission for Antibiotic Policy was installed recently by the Ministers of Social Affairs, Public Health and Agriculture.
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Plant Foods Hum Nutr
December 2024
Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Periférico Norte Km. 33.5, Tablaje Catastral 13615, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo Inn, Mérida, 97203, Yucatán, México.
The increasing concern over microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents used in food preservation has led to growing interest in plant-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternative solutions. In this study, the antimicrobial mechanisms of chia seed-derived peptides YACLKVK, KLKKNL, KLLKKYL, and KKLLKI were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli (EC). Fluorometric assays and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the peptides disrupt bacterial membranes, with propidium iodide (PI) uptake reaching 72.
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Cancer Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, Zhejiang, China.
Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent major challenges in healthcare system. Despite numerous studies have assessed environmental and patient samples, very few studies have explored the microbiome and resistome profiles of medical staff including nursing workers. This cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary hospital in China and involved 25 nurses (NSs), 25 nursing workers (NWs), and 55 non-medical control (NC).
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Department of Computer Sciences and Industries, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating advanced predictive models to support clinical decision-making. In this study, we explore multi-label classification as a novel approach to predict antibiotic resistance across four clinically relevant bacteria: E. coli, S.
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Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) face elevated risks of infections. Additionally, patients colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are at higher risk of infection with ARB and other infections. Therefore, patients colonized with ARB before auto-SCT should present with an exceptionally high incidence of infections.
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December 2024
State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen, causing infections ranging from superficial to bloodstream infections. The limited antifungal options and rising drug resistance challenge clinical treatment. We screened 98 essential oils and identified 48 with antifungal activity against Candida albicans at 1% concentration, determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC).
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