115 results match your criteria: "Aristotle University School of Health Sciences[Affiliation]"

Acquired resistance in fungi: how large is the problem?

Clin Microbiol Infect

July 2019

Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.

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Invasive Aspergillosis in Pediatric Leukemia Patients: Prevention and Treatment.

J Fungi (Basel)

February 2019

Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

The purpose of this article is to review and update the strategies for prevention and treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in pediatric patients with leukemia and in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The major risk factors associated with IA will be described since their recognition constitutes the first step of prevention. The latter is further analyzed into chemoprophylaxis and non-pharmacologic approaches.

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This paper reviews recent advances in three selected areas of pediatric invasive candidiasis: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Although the epidemiological trends of pediatric invasive candidiasis illustrate a declining incidence, this infection still carries a heavy burden of mortality and morbidity that warrants a high index of clinical suspicion, the need for rapid diagnostic systems, and the early initiation of antifungal therapy. The development of non-culture-based technologies, such as the T2Candida system and (1→3)-β-d-glucan detection assay, offers the potential for early laboratory detection of candidemia and CNS candidiasis, respectively.

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Dose-Dependent Synergistic Interactions of Colistin with Rifampin, Meropenem, and Tigecycline against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Biofilms.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

March 2019

Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

Carbapenem-resistant (CR-) can cause biofilm-related bloodstream infections associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We investigated the bactericidal activities of colistin (CST), rifampin (RIF), meropenem (MEM), gentamicin (GEN), and tigecycline (TGC) alone and that of CST in combination with RIF, MEM, GEN, or TGC against CR- mature biofilms. Twenty CR- blood isolates were derived from an equal number of bloodstream infections in adult patients.

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Molecular Epidemiology of Endemic Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in an Intensive Care Unit.

Microb Drug Resist

June 2019

1 Infectious Disease Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant bacteria (CRKP, CRPA, and CRAB) in a high-resistance intensive care unit.
  • - A new strain of CRPA was identified that produces both VIM and KPC enzymes, marking the first detection of this combination in an endemic region.
  • - CRKP strains, mainly from the "hyperepidemic Greek clone," were the most prevalent, while CRAB strains producing OXA-23-like enzymes displayed various pulsotypes.
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Background: Treatment with an echinocandin is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with invasive candidiasis (ICC) including candidemia. Little is known about the efficacy and safety of anidulafungin in children with ICC.

Methods: Eligible patients with ICC 2 to <18 years old were enrolled into this prospective, open-label, noncomparative, international study (NCT00761267) and received anidulafungin for 10-35 days (3 mg/kg on day 1, 1.

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Advances in the Treatment of Mycoses in Pediatric Patients.

J Fungi (Basel)

October 2018

Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Article Synopsis
  • - The review covers the major uses of antifungal drugs in pediatrics, focusing on prophylaxis and treatment of fungal infections in neonates and children with immune deficiencies.
  • - Fluconazole is commonly used for preventing invasive candidiasis in high-risk infants, but growing resistance in certain Candida species is a concern that could affect treatment strategies.
  • - Other antifungal options include Amphotericin B for severe infections, Voriconazole for mold infections, and newer agents like posaconazole and isavuconazole are being considered for use in more difficult cases.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates and children: a systematic analysis of diagnostic methods and prevention.

Future Microbiol

September 2018

Infectious Disease Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece.

Aim: While ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains frequent in Pediatric ICU, there is no gold standard for diagnosis.

Methodology: We conducted a systematic PUBMED analysis (January 1990-January 2017) searching original, full-length studies addressing only pediatric patients; for VAP diagnosis, only those comparing different diagnostic methods and for VAP prevention those implementing preventive measures.

Results: Among 367 articles, 17 and 16 were analyzed for diagnosis and prevention, respectively.

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Invasive Candidiasis in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: More Challenges.

Pediatr Infect Dis J

December 2018

From the Infectious Disease Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

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Background: Accurate diagnosis of mucormycosis, a life-threatening fungal infection, remains a challenge for physicians.

Objectives: To identify the causative Mucorales in fresh clinical samples and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of patients with proven mucormycosis by molecular method.

Patients/methods: Fresh clinical samples of patients with proven mucormycosis according to the EORTC/MSG criteria admitted between 2015 and 2017 and histopathologically proven FFPE archives collected during 2004-2007 and 2015-2017 from Mazandaran University-affiliated hospitals of northern Iran were included.

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Intravenous fosfomycin in patients with liver disease for extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

J Infect

November 2018

Infectious Diseases Unit, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece; 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address:

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Recent Advances in the Treatment of Scedosporiosis and Fusariosis.

J Fungi (Basel)

June 2018

Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Departments of Pediatrics, and Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Scedosporiosis and fusariosis are invasive fungal diseases caused by emerging opportunistic pathogens, mainly affecting immunocompromised patients but also seen in healthy individuals.
  • The clinical symptoms can range from mild superficial infections to severe, multi-organ invasions that can be fatal.
  • Although diagnostic techniques like PCR and MALDI-TOF MS have improved, delays in diagnosis still lead to high morbidity and mortality, while treatment typically involves antifungals, addressing immune issues, and sometimes surgery.
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Impact of active surveillance and infection control measures on carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial colonization and infections in intensive care.

J Hosp Infect

August 2018

Infectious Disease Unit, 3(rd) Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; Infection Control Committee, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address:

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGNB) infections constitute a global threat for critically ill patients and the outcome of their hospitalization. Early identification of CRGNB through rectal surveillance cultures and routine infection control measures including contact precautions, use of appropriate disinfectants, staff education on cleaning, and hand hygiene may reduce the dissemination of CRGNB.

Aim: To assess the impact of enhanced infection control measures on CRGNB infections in a nine-bed polyvalent intensive care unit in a tertiary level hospital in an endemic area.

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Invasive mold infections associated with species are a significant cause of mortality in immunocompromised patients. The most frequently occurring aetiological pathogens are members of the section followed by members of the section . The frequency of and related (cryptic) species in clinical specimens, as well as the percentage of azole-resistant strains remains to be studied.

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Background: Echinocandins are recommended for the treatment of suspected or confirmed invasive candidiasis (IC) in adults. Less is known about the use of echinocandins for the management of IC in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the overall efficacy and safety of echinocandin class in neonatal and pediatric patients with IC.

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Diagnosis and management of Aspergillus diseases: executive summary of the 2017 ESCMID-ECMM-ERS guideline.

Clin Microbiol Infect

May 2018

First Department of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) partner site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany; CECAD Cluster of Excellence, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Clinical Trials Center Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; ESCMID Fungal Infection Study Group (EFISG); European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM); ESCMID European Study Group for Infections in Compromised Hosts (ESGICH). Electronic address:

The European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the European Respiratory Society Joint Clinical Guidelines focus on diagnosis and management of aspergillosis. Of the numerous recommendations, a few are summarized here. Chest computed tomography as well as bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with suspicion of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IA) are strongly recommended.

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The diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis are challenging. The incidence of the disease seems to be increasing. Hematological malignancies are the most common underlying disease in countries with high income and uncontrolled diabetes in developing countries.

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Congenital Cytomegalovirus: A European Expert Consensus Statement on Diagnosis and Management.

Pediatr Infect Dis J

December 2017

From the *Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's University, London, United Kingdom; †Centre for Virology, University College Medical School, London; ‡Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; §The Hague Medical Center (HMC), Department of Pediatrics and Sophia Children's hospital, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases; ¶Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; ∥Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency and Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; **Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, UCD School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland; ††Department of Obstetrical, Gynaecological and Paediatric Sciences, Operative Unit of Neonatology, Polyclinic St. Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; ‡‡Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; §§Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne & Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; ¶¶NICU and Neonatal Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy; ∥∥Infectious Diseases Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece; ***Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London, and the Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom; †††NICU and Neonatal Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy; ‡‡‡Imperial College NHS Healthcare, London, United Kingdom; §§Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland; ¶¶¶Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; ∥∥∥National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; ****Children's Hospital of Geneva, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland; ††††Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Gregorio Marañón Hospital, Madrid, Spain; and ‡‡‡‡Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

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Diagnostic Imaging and Invasive Fungal Diseases in Children.

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc

September 2017

Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program and Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Article Synopsis
  • - Invasive fungal disease (IFD) poses a serious risk to immunocompromised children and requires effective diagnostic imaging for detection and management.
  • - Diagnostic imaging contributes to multiple aspects of IFD care, such as initial detection, assessing the spread of infection, monitoring treatment response, and checking for relapses.
  • - This review aims to compile and analyze existing literature on different imaging techniques used for diagnosing and managing IFD in pediatric patients.
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Background: Antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) is recommended in at-risk hematology-oncology patients. We evaluated the safety of AFP with voriconazole (VRC) in pediatric hematology/oncology patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of VRC AFP in children with malignancies hospitalized in all 7 Greek pediatric hematology/oncology centers during 2008 to 2012 was conducted.

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Solid-organ transplant recipients may display high rates of colonization and/or infection by multidrug-resistant bacteria. We analysed and compared the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of carbapenem-resistant (CR) strains of , and isolated from patients in the Solid Organ Transplantation department of our hospital. Between March 2012 and August 2013, 56 CR strains from various biological fluids underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing with VITEK 2, molecular analysis by PCR amplification and genotypic analysis with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

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