Tracking Multidrug Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria in Alexandria, Egypt (2020-2023): An Integrated Analysis of Patient Data and Diagnostic Tools.

Background: The rise in carbapenem-resistant (CRE) in Egypt, particularly in hospital settings, poses a significant public health challenge. This study aims to develop a combined epidemiological surveillance tool utilizing the Microreact online platform (version 269) and molecular microarray technology to track and analyze carbapenem-resistant strains in Egypt. The objective is to integrate molecular diagnostics and real-time data visualization to better understand the spread and evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

Biomarkers troponin and procalcitonin in addition to CRB-65 enhance risk stratification in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of infectious disease mortality globally, necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission for ∼10% of hospitalised patients. Accurate prediction of disease severity facilitates timely therapeutic interventions.

Methods: Our study aimed to enhance the predictive capacity of the clinical CRB-65 score by evaluating eight candidate biomarkers: troponin T high-sensitive (TnT-hs), procalcitonin (PCT), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, angiopoietin-2, copeptin, endothelin-1, lipocalin-2 and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin.

Changes in Attitudes towards Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination during the Subsiding COVID-19 Pandemic-Results of a Longitudinal Survey Study among Risk Groups in Germany between 2021 and 2023.

Background: In many countries, an increase in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined how attitude, risk perception and knowledge towards influenza and pneumococcal vaccines of at-risk patients developed when the COVID-19 pandemic subsided and if COVID-19 vaccination attitude (VA) was still associated with the attitudes towards the two other vaccines.

Methods: We used longitudinal data from two surveys conducted in Germany in 2021 and 2023 among persons with chronic diseases.

Diversification of Biofilm Populations under Repeated Phage Exposures Decreases the Efficacy of the Treatment.

Phage therapy has been proposed as a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of chronic, biofilm-related infections. To gain a deeper insight into the complex biofilm-phage interactions, we investigated in the present study the effect of three successive exposures to lytic phages of biofilms formed by the reference strains PAO1 and PA14 as well as of two sequential clinical isolates from the sputum of a patient with cystic fibrosis (CF). The Calgary device was employed as a biofilm model and the efficacy of phage treatment was evaluated by measurements of the biomass stained with crystal violet (CV) and of the cell density of the biofilm bacterial population (CFU/mL) after each of the three phage exposures.

Functional dependence following intensive care unit-treated sepsis: three-year follow-up results from the prospective Mid-German Sepsis Cohort (MSC).

Background: Surviving sepsis can lead to chronic physical, psychological and cognitive impairments, which affect millions of patients worldwide, including survivors after COVID-19 viral sepsis. We aimed to characterize the magnitude and trajectory of functional dependence and new impairments post-sepsis.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study including sepsis survivors who had been discharged from five German intensive care units (ICUs), until 36 months post-discharge.

Evaluating the potential of vancomycin-modified magnetic beads as a tool for sample preparation in diagnostic assays.

Vancomycin-functionalized micro- or nanoparticles are frequently used for isolation and enrichment of bacteria from various samples. Theoretically, only Gram-positive organisms should adhere to the functionalized surfaces as vancomycin is an antibiotic targeting a peptidoglycan precursor in the cell wall, which in Gram-negative bacteria is shielded by the outer cell membrane. In the literature, however, it is often reported that Gram-negative bacteria also bind efficiently to the vancomycin-modified particles.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Long-Acting Rilpivirine and Cabotegravir for Treatment of HIV-1 Infection-A Case Series of Five Patients With One Virologic Failure After Development of Two-Class Resistance.

Virologic failure of long-acting rilpivirine/cabotegravir is rare but may result in severely limited treatment options. Known risk factors cannot predict all cases. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may help identify patients at risk, but reliable thresholds are missing.

How are Long-Covid, Post-Sepsis-Syndrome and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome related? A conceptional approach based on the current research literature.

Long-Covid (LC), Post-Sepsis-Syndrome (PSS) and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome (PICS) show remarkable overlaps in their clinical presentation. Nevertheless, it is unclear if they are distinct syndromes, which may co-occur in the same patient, or if they are three different labels to describe similar symptoms, assigned on the basis on patient history and professional perspective of the treating physician. Therefore, we reviewed the current literature on the relation between LC, PSS and PICS.

Biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus on various implants used for surgical treatment of destructive spondylodiscitis.

The incidence of spondylodiscitis has witnessed a significant increase in recent decades. Surgical intervention becomes necessary in case of bone destruction to remove infected tissue and restore spinal stability, often involving the implantation of a cage. Despite appropriate treatment, relapses occur in up to 20 percent of cases, resulting in substantial economic and social burdens.

An Evaluation of the Lineage of Isolates in Turkey by a Whole-Genome Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis.

Brucellosis is a disease caused by the () species. It is a zoonotic disease that affects farm animals and causes economic losses in many countries worldwide. has the ability to persist in the environment and infect the host at low doses.

Retrospective, Observational Analysis on the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron in Hospitalized Immunocompromised Patients in a German Hospital Network-The VISAGE Study.

Aims: Endemic SARS-CoV-2 infections still burden the healthcare system and represent a considerable threat to vulnerable patient cohorts, in particular immunocompromised (IC) patients. This study aimed to analyze the in-hospital outcome of IC patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study, analyzed administrative data from inpatient cases ( = 146,324) in 84 German Helios hospitals between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 with regard to in-hospital outcome and health care burden in IC patients during the first 12 months of Omicron dominance.

Human Placental Schistosomiasis-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background: Schistosome egg deposition in pregnant women may affect the placenta of infected mothers and cause placental schistosomiasis (PS). Histopathological examination of placental tissue is an inadequate detection method due to low sensitivity. So far, there has not been any systematic review on PS.

Resurgence of common respiratory viruses in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)-A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major global cause of death and hospitalization. Bacteria or community-acquired viruses (CARVs) cause CAP. COVID-19 associated restrictions effectively reduced the circulation of CARVs.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia in a prospective observational cohort study.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and non-COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia (NC-CAP) often result in hospitalization with considerable risks of mortality, ICU treatment, and long-term morbidity. A comparative analysis of clinical outcomes in COVID-19 CAP (C-CAP) and NC-CAP may improve clinical management.

Methods: Using prospectively collected CAPNETZ study data (January 2017 to June 2021, 35 study centers), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of clinical outcomes including in-hospital death, ICU treatment, length of hospital stay (LOHS), 180-day survival, and post-discharge re-hospitalization rate.

Exploring secretory proteome and cytokine kinetic of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to methicillin-resistant biofilms and planktonic bacteria.

is a highly successful pathogen infecting various body parts and forming biofilms on natural and artificial surfaces resulting in difficult-to-treat and chronic infections. We investigated the secreted cytokines and proteomes of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers exposed to methicillin-resistant (MRSA) biofilms or planktonic bacteria. Additionally, the cytokine profiles in sera from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by were investigated.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of resistance and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from poultry farms in Egypt using whole genome sequencing.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an ESKAPE pathogen that can quickly develop resistance to most antibiotics. This bacterium is a zoonotic pathogen that can be found in humans, animals, foods, and environmental samples, making it a One-Health concern.

Experience with PCR Testing for Enteric Bacteria and Viruses of Emergency Department Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis: Are There Implications for the Early Treatment of Infection?

Early identification of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) pathogens via PCR may improve the management of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). In this study, we evaluated the implementation of a testing algorithm for ED patients with AGE using the BD MAX automated PCR system. Data from 133 patients were analyzed.

Costs and resource utilization patterns in surgical site infections: a pre-COVID-19 perspective from France, Germany, Spain, and the UK.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs), mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, pose a significant economic burden in Europe, leading to increased hospitalization duration, mortality, and treatment costs, particularly with drug-resistant strains such as meticillin-resistant S. aureus.

Aim: To conduct a case-control study on the economic impact of S.

Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis—Indications and Modalities for the Prevention of Postoperative Wound Infection.

Background: Postoperative surgical site infections (SSI) account for almost 25% of all nosocomial infections in Germany and are a source of increased morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on national and international guidelines.

Results: The individual risk factors for SSI must be assessed before any surgical procedure.