A look at staphylococci from the one health perspective.

Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococcal species are resident and transient multihost colonizers as well as conditional pathogens. Especially S. aureus represents an excellent model bacterium for the "One Health" concept because of its dynamics at the human-animal interface and versatility with respect to host adaptation.

Cryptic susceptibility to penicillin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in emerging multidrug-resistant, hospital-adapted Staphylococcus epidermidis lineages.

Global spread of multidrug-resistant, hospital-adapted Staphylococcus epidermidis lineages underscores the need for new therapeutic strategies. Here we show that many S. epidermidis isolates belonging to these lineages display cryptic susceptibility to penicillin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations under in vitro conditions, despite carrying the methicillin resistance gene mecA.

Epidemiology and outcomes of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) cause many infections in the healthcare context. Knowledge regarding the epidemiology and burden of VRE infections, however, remains fragmented. We aimed to summarize recent studies on VRE epidemiology and outcomes in hospitals, long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) and nursing homes worldwide based on current epidemiological reports.

Nosocomial Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance: Modern Challenges and Future Opportunities.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a critical global health emergency in the 21st century, with the greatest burden in resource-limited settings [...

CHROMAgar™ LIN-R as an efficient screening tool to assess the prevalence of linezolid-resistant enterococci in German hospital patients-a multicentre study approach, 2021-2022.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) was recognized at the German National Reference Centre (NRC) for Enterococci. National guidelines on infection prevention recommend screening for LRE in epidemiologically linked hospital settings without referring to a reliable and rapid diagnostic method. Since 2020, CHROMAgar™ provide a chromogenic linezolid screening agar, LIN-R, suitable to simultaneously screen for linezolid-resistant staphylococci and enterococci.

Mandatory Notification of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Methicillin-Resistant in Saxony, Germany: Analysis of Cases from the City of Leipzig in 2019.

In Germany, Saxony is the only federal state where the detection of a Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-positive Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) has to be notified to the local health authority (LHA). The LHA reports the case to the state health authority and introduces concrete infection control measures. We analyzed isolates from the respective cases in 2019, which were collected in local microbiological laboratories and sent to the National Reference Centre (NRC) for Staphylococci and Enterococci for strain characterization and typing.

Investigating a possible link between antiseptic treatment and the increased occurrence of daptomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: Because of a steady increase in the detection of daptomycin-resistant (DAP-R) Staphylococcus aureus at three medical centres in Cologne, Germany, molecular surveillance was established from June 2016 to June 2018 to investigate the causes of the emergence and spread of respective isolates. Seventy-five S. aureus isolates, both DAP-R and DAP-susceptible, were collected from 42 patients for further analysis.

Germany's Burden of Disease of Bloodstream Infections Due to Vancomycin-Resistant between 2015-2020.

In Germany, there is an increasing amount of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) isolates in bloodstream infections (BSIs); however, estimates on recent incidences and disease burden are missing. We aim to estimate the incidence and calculate the annual disease burden in disease-adjusted life years (DALYs) for BSIs due to VREfm in Germany between 2015 and 2020 to support informed decision-making in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We used the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance (ARS) system data to obtain incidence estimates.

Characterization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus From Children at Hospital Admission: Experiences From a Hospital in a German Metropolitan Area.

Background: Since the 1990s, community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are described as emerging independent of health care. CA-MRSA is associated with the colonization and infection of healthy, immunocompetent younger individuals. While skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are predominant, life-threatening syndromes can also occur.

The interplay between community and hospital clones within health-care settings: a genomic analysis.

Background: The genomic relationships among isolates are the subject of ongoing research that seeks to clarify the origins of observed lineages and the extent of horizontal gene transfer between them, and to robustly identify links between genotypes and phenotypes. is considered to form distinct groups-A and B-corresponding to isolates derived from patients who were hospitalised (A) and isolates from humans in the community (B). The additional separation of A into the so-called clades A1 and A2 remains an area of uncertainty.

MRSA surveillance programmes worldwide: moving towards a harmonised international approach.

Multinational surveillance programmes for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are dependent on national structures for data collection. This study aimed to capture the diversity of national MRSA surveillance programmes and to propose a framework for harmonisation of MRSA surveillance. The International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) MRSA Working Group conducted a structured survey on MRSA surveillance programmes and organised a webinar to discuss the programmes' strengths and challenges as well as guidelines for harmonisation.

Evaluation of virulence potential of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a German refugee cohort.

Background: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) seem to be highly transmissible, often infect otherwise healthy humans and frequently occur in hospital outbreaks.

Methods: Refugees, living in accommodations in Germany were screened for nasal carriage of S. aureus.

Low Proportion of Linezolid and Daptomycin Resistance Among Bloodborne Vancomycin-Resistant and Methicillin-Resistant Infections in Europe.

Vancomycin-resistant (VREF) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) are associated with significant health burden. We investigated linezolid and daptomycin resistance among VREF and MRSA in the EU/EEA between 2014 and 2018. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze 6,949 VREF and 35,131 MRSA blood isolates from patients with bloodstream infection.

The global dissemination of hospital clones of Enterococcus faecium.

Background: The hospital-adapted A1 group of Enterococcus faecium remains an organism of significant concern in the context of drug-resistant hospital-associated infections. How this pathogen evolves and disseminates remains poorly understood.

Methods: A large, globally representative collection of short-read genomic data from the hospital-associated A1 group of Enterococcus faecium was assembled (n = 973).

Excellent performance of CHROMagar LIN-R to selectively screen for linezolid-resistant enterococci and staphylococci.

The increasing number of nosocomial pathogens with resistances against last resort antibiotics like linezolid leads to a pressing need for the reliable detection of these drug-resistant bacteria. National guidelines on infection prevention, e.g.

Surgical hand preparation in an equine hospital: Comparison of general practice with a standardised protocol and characterisation of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered.

Presurgical hand asepsis is part of the daily routine in veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, basic knowledge seems to be low, even among specialised veterinary surgeons. The major objectives of our study were to assess current habits for presurgical hand preparation (phase 1) among personnel in a veterinary hospital and their effectiveness in reducing bacteria from hands in comparison to a standardised protocol (phase 2).

Thirty years of VRE in Germany - "expect the unexpected": The view from the National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci.

Enterococci are commensals of the intestinal tract of many animals and humans. Of the various known and still unnamed new enterococcal species, only isolates of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis have received increased medical and public health attention. According to textbook knowledge, the majority of infections are caused by E.

Phylogeographical Analysis Reveals the Historic Origin, Emergence, and Evolutionary Dynamics of Methicillin-Resistant ST228.

Background: Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a common healthcare-associated pathogen that remains a major public health concern. Sequence type 228 (ST228) was first described in Germany and spread to become a successful MRSA clone in several European countries. In 2000, ST228 emerged in Lausanne and has subsequently caused several large outbreaks.

Silence as a way of niche adaptation: mecC-MRSA with variations in the accessory gene regulator (agr) functionality express kaleidoscopic phenotypes.

Functionality of the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system is an important factor promoting either acute or chronic infections by the notorious opportunistic human and veterinary pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Spontaneous alterations of the agr system are known to frequently occur in human healthcare-associated S. aureus lineages.

Long-Lasting Decrease of the Acquisition of and Gram-Negative Bacteria Producing Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) by Transient Application of Probiotics.

Previously it was shown that application of probiotics stopped the acquisition of vancomycin-resistant (VRE) by patients in an early rehabilitation ward. Once the application of probiotics ended, we examined whether acquisition of VRE reoccurred. Furthermore, we examined whether probiotics altered prevalence of vancomycin-susceptible (VSE) and Gram-negative bacteria, which produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL).

Comparative Target Analysis of Chlorinated Biphenyl Antimicrobials Highlights MenG as a Molecular Target of Triclocarban.

Triclocarban (TCC), a formerly used disinfectant, kills bacteria via an unknown mechanism of action. A structural hallmark is its ,-diaryl urea motif, which is also present in other antibiotics, including the recently reported small molecule PK150. We show here that, like PK150, TCC exhibits an inhibitory effect on menaquinone metabolism via inhibition of the biosynthesis protein demethylmenaquinone methyltransferase (MenG).

Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Susceptible and Methicillin-Resistant in Wild, Captive and Laboratory Rats: Effect of Habitat on the Nasal Population.

Rats are a reservoir of human- and livestock-associated methicillin-resistant (MRSA). However, the composition of the natural population in wild and laboratory rats is largely unknown. Here, 144 nasal isolates from free-living wild rats, captive wild rats and laboratory rats were genotyped and profiled for antibiotic resistances and human-specific virulence genes.

Validating a screening agar for linezolid-resistant enterococci.

Background: Linezolid is an alternative treatment option for infections with multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria including vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Some countries report an increasing number of isolates with resistance to linezolid. The recent publication of the Commission for Hospital Hygiene in Germany on enterococci/VRE recommends screening for linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE).

Comparison of VITEK® 2, three different gradient strip tests and broth microdilution for detecting vanB-positive Enterococcus faecium isolates with low vancomycin MICs.

Objectives: In 2018, EUCAST issued a warning regarding unreliable results of gradient strip tests for confirming vancomycin resistance in enterococci. We compared the performance of various diagnostic standard and confirmatory tests to identify and determine vanB-type vancomycin resistance.

Methods: We analysed a collection of vanB-positive Enterococcus faecium isolates (n = 68) with low vancomycin MICs and compared the performance of VITEK® 2 (bioMérieux), broth microdilution and three gradient strip tests from different providers (Oxoid, Liofilchem and bioMérieux).