The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health.

Efficacy of quality improvement interventions on antibiotic prescription practices for ventilator-associated pneumonia at a tertiary care centre: a prospective pre-post interventional study.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a prevalent nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), significantly increasing patient morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Effective management is essential, particularly in the context of antimicrobial resistance and the frequent use of antibiotics in ICUs.

Methods: This prospective pre-post interventional study was conducted in the medical ICU of a tertiary care centre, over 6 months.

A case of pneumonia caused by infection with Tropheryma whipplei complicated by cryptococcus during treatment with a Janus kinase inhibitor: a case report.

This report describes the case of a 41-year-old male patient complaining of a hacking cough. The patient was treated with a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for psoriasis. Blood tests revealed mild lymphopenia and high levels of serum cryptococcal antigen.

Analysis of lung microbiota in pediatric pneumonia patients using BALF metagenomic next-generation sequencing: A retrospective observational study.

The contribution of the lung microbiota to pneumonia in children of varying severity remains poorly understood. This study utilized metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology to elucidate the characteristics of lung microbiota and their association with disease severity. This retrospective study analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mNGS data of 92 children diagnosed with pneumonia between January 2021 and July 2022.

Intranasal influenza-vectored vaccine expressing pneumococcal surface protein A protects against Influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A virus (IAV) are significant agents of pneumonia cases and severe respiratory infections globally. Secondary bacterial infections, particularly by Streptococcus pneumoniae, are common in IAV-infected individuals, leading to critical outcomes. Despite reducing mortality, pneumococcal vaccines have high production costs and are serotype specific.

Cardiac findings in a phase II double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of combination therapy (HAZDPac) to treat COVID-19 patients.

Objective: Hydroxychloroquine paired with Azithromycin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc (HAZDPac), was used as a multidrug therapy method to treat COVID-19 illness and superimposed secondary bacterial pneumonia. Concerns have been raised though about such combinations regarding cardiac QTc interval prolongation and risks of arrhythmias, which we set out to address in this study.

Design: We evaluated cardiac safety in a Phase II Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Combination Therapy to Treat COVID-19 Infections study, conducted by ProgenaBiome.

Early Antiviral Use and Supplemental Oxygen Decrease the Risk of Secondary Bacterial Infections: A Multicentre Nested Case-Control Study.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment strategies that dictate the host susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Design: Setting and Participants: This nested case-control study was conducted in three general hospitals in China between December 1, 2022, to March 1, 2023. A total of 456 confirmed COVID-19 patients matched 1:2 (152 cases and 304 controls) based on age, sex, disease severity and age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI) using Propensity-Score Matching (PSM) were included.

Sectm1a Depletion Promotes Neutrophil Recruitment during Pneumococcal Pneumonia.

Airway epithelial cells (AECs) play an essential role in the immune response during bacterial pneumonia. Secreted and transmembrane 1a (Sectm1a) is specifically expressed in AECs during early (SP) infection. However, its function remains largely unexplored.

Antimicrobial activities of seasonally collected bee products: honey, propolis, royal jelly, venom, and mellitin.

Ethanolic extracts of seasonally collected natural bee products (honey, propolis, royal jelly (RJ), and bee venom (BV)) were tested for their potential as antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi. These extracts exhibited various inhibitory effects on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, and Haemophilus influenzae) and fungi (Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans), with the exception of S. pneumonia, which was not inhibited by honey and RJ extracts, and P.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGIC PRESENTATIONS OF YERSINIOSIS IN VARIOUS NONDOMESTIC SPECIES: AN INVESTIGATION OF OUTBREAKS FROM FOUR NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.

Yersiniosis due to can be associated with high morbidity and mortality in various species and has been a cosmopolitan management challenge in zoological institutions. This gram-negative, environmental bacterium thrives in cold, wet conditions and poses a risk to zoo species. Outbreaks can be costly and impact conservation efforts through loss of threatened and endangered species.

HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN 10 CASES OF MORTALITY IN CAPTIVE MALAYSIAN FIRE SNAILS ().

Malaysian fire snails , face threats to their environment, including habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade. Captive breeding projects are likely to play a role in the survival of this species; however, mortality in captive populations potentially presents a significant challenge. This paper presents the results of histopathologic examination of tissues from 10 casualties in a captive population at Chester Zoo.

The antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of novel synthetized nitroimidazole compounds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia in vitro and in silico.

The antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens has led to failure in infections elimination. This study aimed to assess the antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of novel synthesized nitroimidazole compounds (8a-8o). In this study, nitroimidazole compounds were synthesized via the A3 coupling reaction of sample substrates in the presence of copper-doped silica cuprous sulfate (CDSCS).

Pulmonary thromboembolism due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children: a case report and literature review.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a common respiratory pathogen in children that can sometimes lead to extrapulmonary manifestations. Among these, pediatric pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) is clinically rare but carries significant implications. However, it is often underrecognized, and its diagnosis and treatment are not well understood.

Risk factors for complications of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in hospitalized children in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common respiratory disease in children. Some patients may develop long-term respiratory issues such as chronic cough and wheezing due to complications. These complications increase the health burden for children with MPP, highlighting the need to understand their risk factors in order to improve disease prognosis.

Lack of an association between spleen volume and risk of pneumococcal infection in cancer patients: a nested case-control study.

Background: The spleen is a key organ in preventing pneumococcal infection, especially in patients with immunocompromised condition such as those with cancer. Previous studies have shown that a small spleen volume in pneumococcal pneumonia patients is associated with severe disease course. However, it is unknown whether a small spleen increases risk of pneumococcal infection.

Factors affecting survival of foals with pneumonia in a referral hospital.

Background: Pneumonia is a common condition in ailing neonatal foals, and it remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this veterinary patient group. Factors affecting the survival of young foals with pneumonia have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to explore the potential prognostic factors associated with survival of these foals.

Antibiotics versus Non-Antibiotic in the treatment of Aspiration Pneumonia: analysis of the MIMIC-IV database.

Background: Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is a common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU), which is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality and has a significant impact on patient prognosis. Antibiotics are commonly used in the clinical treatment of AP. However, the prognostic impact of antibiotics on patients with AP has not been adequately characterized.

Human airway epithelium controls infection via inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Introduction: Airway epithelial cells play a central role in the innate immune response to invading bacteria, yet adequate human infection models are lacking.

Methods: We utilized mucociliary-differentiated human airway organoids with direct access to the apical side of epithelial cells to model the initial phase of respiratory tract infection.

Results: Immunofluorescence of infected organoids revealed that invades the epithelial barrier and subsequently proliferates within the epithelial space.

Armored polymyxin B: a nanosystem for combating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.

Bacterial infections cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria further complicates the treatment of infections. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously develop new treatment methods. Polymyxin B (PMB), as the last line of defense, can combat most aerobic Gram-negative bacilli including common drug-resistant bacteria in clinical practice.

Neurological symptoms and complications of influenza in the elderly.

Background: An in-depth study of neurological symptoms and complications of influenza in elderly patients. This population group is more susceptible to complications of the disease and these complications are more likely to end in death.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patient data was performed.

The pneumococcal bacteriocin streptococcin B is produced as part of the early competence cascade and promotes intraspecies competition.

Unlabelled: is an important human pathogen that normally resides in the human nasopharynx. Competence-mediated bacteriocin expression by plays a major role in both the establishment and persistence of colonization on this polymicrobial surface. Over 20 distinct bacteriocin loci have been identified in pneumococcal genomes, but only a small number have been characterized phenotypically.

Effects of prophylactic nebulized antibiotics on the prevention of ICU-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic nebulized antibiotics in preventing intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired pneumonia through a meta-analysis.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the potential reduction in the incidence of ICU-acquired pneumonia through prophylactic nebulized antibiotics were collected by searching the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to January 23, 2024. The primary endpoint was the incidence of ICU-acquired pneumonia, while the secondary endpoints included mortality, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation days, and nebulization-related side effects.

The causal association of smoking, alcohol intake, and coffee intake with the risk of bacterial pneumonia: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: At present, the association of smoking, alcohol intake, and coffee intake with the risk of bacterial pneumonia (BP) remains controversial. In this study, we used a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to estimate the association of smoking, alcohol intake, and coffee intake with the risk of BP.

Methods: We extracted genetic variants associated with smoking initiation and cigarettes per day from the Genome-Wide Association Study and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine Use database (944,625 individuals).

HIV-1 Tat Protein and Cigarette Smoke Mediated ADAM17 Upregulation Can Lead to Impaired Mucociliary Clearance.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) associated comorbidities account for the majority of poor health outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH) in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Lung-related comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bacterial pneumonia are primarily responsible for increased morbidity and mortality in PLWH, even when compensated for smoking. Smokers and COPD patients demonstrate cilia shortening, attenuated ciliary beat frequency (CBF), dysfunctional ciliated cells along with goblet cell hyperplasia, and mucus hypersecretion.

From Binary to Multi-Class Classification: A Two-Step Hybrid CNN-ViT Model for Chest Disease Classification Based on X-Ray Images.

Background/objectives: Chest disease identification for Tuberculosis and Pneumonia diseases presents diagnostic challenges due to overlapping radiographic features and the limited availability of expert radiologists, especially in developing countries. The present study aims to address these challenges by developing a Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) system to provide consistent and objective analyses of chest X-ray images, thereby reducing potential human error. By leveraging the complementary strengths of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and vision transformers (ViTs), we propose a hybrid model for the accurate detection of Tuberculosis and for distinguishing between Tuberculosis and Pneumonia.