Detection of Phage's Lytic Activity Against Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Using a High-Throughput Microbroth Growth Inhibition Assay.

Introduction: The host range of phages is usually assessed with the agar overlay method. However, this method is both cumbersome and subjective. Therefore, a microbroth assay was developed to assess host range and lytic activity patterns of phages in the agar overlay method against a collection of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates.

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.

Multiple regional outbreaks caused by global and local VIM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clones in Poland, 2006-2019.

Purpose: This study was aimed at comprehensive genomic analysis of VIM-type carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) in Poland.

Methods: All non-duplicate 214 VIM-producing KpSC isolates reported in Poland in 2006-2019 were short-read sequenced and re-identified by the average nucleotide identity scoring. Their clonality/phylogeny was assessed by cgMLST and SNP in comparison with genomes from international databases.

Bacterial contamination of mobile handwashing stations in hospital settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: As part of the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile handwashing stations (mHWS) were deployed in healthcare facilities in low-resource settings. We assessed mHWS in hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for contamination with Gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: Water and soap samples of in-use mHWS in hospitals in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi were quantitatively cultured for Gram-negative bacteria which were tested for antibiotic susceptibility.

Tracking cryptic SARS-CoV-2 hospital outbreak through quasispecies analysis.

Background: Since the beginning of the pandemic, contact tracing has been one of the most relevant issues to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics and, in this context, the analysis of quasispecies may turn out to be a useful tool for outbreak investigations. Analysis of the intra-host single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) found in the nsp2, ORF3, and ORF7 genes of SARS-CoV-2 was conducted in order to correctly identify virus transmission chain among patients hospitalized in Brescia Civic Hospital.

Methods: During the period between August and October 2023, 13 nasopharyngeal specimens, collected from patients admitted to Brescia Civic Hospital, were tested for SARS-CoV-2 positivity and molecularly characterized.

The role of inflammatory gene polymorphisms in severe COVID-19: a review.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has profoundly impacted global healthcare systems and spurred extensive research efforts over the past three years. One critical aspect of the disease is the intricate interplay between the virus and the host immune response, particularly the role of inflammatory gene expression in severe COVID-19. While numerous previous studies have explored the role of genetic polymorphisms in COVID-19, research specifically focusing on inflammatory genes and their associations with disease severity remains limited.

Clinical and metagenomic predicted antimicrobial resistance in pediatric critically ill patients with infectious diseases in a single center of Zhejiang.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to pediatric health; therefore, precise identification of pathogens as well as AMR is imperative. This study aimed at comprehending antibiotic resistance patterns among critically ill children with infectious diseases admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and to clarify the impact of drug-resistant bacteria on the prognosis of children.

Methods: This study retrospectively collected clinical data, identified pathogens and AMR from 113 children's who performed metagenomic next-generation sequencing for pathogen and antibiotic resistance genes identification, and compared the clinical characteristic difference and prognostic effects between children with and without AMR detected.

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.

CRISPR-Cas12a2-based rapid and sensitive detection system for target nucleic acid.

Infectious diseases are extremely important public health issues, where the design of effective, rapid, and convenient detection platforms is critical. In this study, we coupled SuCas12a2, a novel Cas12 family RNA-targeting nuclease, with conventional PCR and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), respectively, to develop novel detection approaches, named PCR-SuCas12a2 and RPA-SuCas12a2. SuCas12a2 possesses collateral cleavage activity and cuts the additional single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) added to the reaction system once the ternary complex RNA-SuCas12a2-CRISPR RNA (crRNA) is formed.

Serotype distribution of remaining invasive pneumococcal disease after extensive use of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis.

Background: Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has reduced vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We describe the serotype distribution of IPD after extensive use of ten-valent PCV (PCV10; Synflorix, GSK) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13; Prevenar 13, Pfizer) globally.

Methods: IPD data were obtained from surveillance sites participating in the WHO-commissioned Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project that exclusively used PCV10 or PCV13 (hereafter PCV10 and PCV13 sites, respectively) in their national immunisation programmes and had primary series uptake of at least 70%.

Global impact of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that are ten-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent (PCV13) became available in 2010. We evaluated their global impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence in all ages.

Methods: Serotype-specific IPD cases and population denominators were obtained directly from surveillance sites using PCV10 or PCV13 in their national immunisation programmes and with a primary series uptake of at least 50%.

Acute mastoiditis: 30 years review in a tertiary hospital.

Objective: Acute mastoiditis, the most common complication of acute otitis media, is approached in our study, focused on children from the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Spain. The aim is to analyze its clinical-epidemiological characteristics and propose diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

Study Design/setting: We conducted a 30-year retrospective study on patients under 18 years of age diagnosed with acute mastoiditis in Cantabria.

HYPERVIRULENT KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE OSTEOMYELITIS IN A CHILD.

An 18-month-old boy presented with septic arthritis and osteomyelitis caused by Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring cardinal virulence genes. The condition necessitated several surgical interventions, and a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy to effectively manage the severe infection and prevent complications, highlighting the challenges posed by Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in pediatric cases.

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.

Evaluation of elderly patients with bacteremia in the cardiology intensive care unit.

In this study, the blood culture results of patients aged >65 years who were admitted to the cardiology intensive care unit in a training and research hospital and who had positive blood cultures within the first 48 hours were evaluated. This was a retrospective, observational and nonrandomized study. Patient data at the time of the blood culture were included in the study.

Comparing the safety of a single balloon catheter to dinoprostone for inducing labor in pregnant women with group B Streptococcus vaginal colonization: An observational study.

Group B Streptococcus is a bacterium that colonizes in approximately 20% of pregnant women and can be vertically transmitted to newborns, leading to maternal-neonatal adverse outcomes, such as chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and pneumonia. However, there is currently no agreement on the optimal induction method for this specific population. This study aims to evaluate the safety of a single balloon catheter (BC) in comparison to dinoprostone for labor induction in term pregnant women with group B Streptococcus colonization.

A bacterial methyltransferase that initiates biotin synthesis, an attractive anti-ESKAPE druggable pathway.

The covalently attached cofactor biotin plays pivotal roles in central metabolism. The top-priority ESKAPE-type pathogens, and , constitute a public health challenge of global concern. Despite the fact that the late step of biotin synthesis is a validated anti-ESKAPE drug target, the primary stage remains fragmentarily understood.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in children and adults in 2021 and 2022.

Purpose: We aimed to describe SARS-CoV-2 lineages and diversity in children and adults in Estonia and similarity to travel-related cases and neighbouring countries.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 sequences in 2021-2022 from a nationwide study were included. The proportion of predominant lineages in Estonian regions and among travel-related cases was described by multinomial logistic regression.

Airway interfere with and infection and express secreted factors selectively targeting each pathogen.

The composition of the respiratory track microbiome is a notable predictor of infection-related morbidities and mortalities among both adults and children. Species of which are largely present as commensals in the upper airway and other body sites, are associated with lower colonization rates of opportunistic bacterial pathogens such as and . In this study, -mediated protective effects against and were directly compared using and models.

PCR-based characterization of nasal and ocular surface flora and functional analysis of bacterial metabolic pathways in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Serratia marcescens, and Moraxella catarrhalis in the nasal and ocular surface flora, along with their metabolic activities in children with unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).

Methods: Swabs were taken from the bilateral inferior meatus and ocular surface of 26 children with unilateral CNLDO before probing. Nasal and ocular surface swabs from non-operated eyes of children who underwent unilateral blepharoptosis or strabismus surgery formed the control group.

Identification and characterization of the functional tetrameric UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from .

In all kingdoms of life, the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) occupies a central role in metabolism, as its reaction product uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc) is involved in various crucial cellular processes. Pathogens, including fungi, parasites, and bacteria, depend on UGP for the synthesis of virulence factors; in particular, various bacterial species utilize UDP-Glc and its derivatives for the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and biofilm exopolysaccharides. UGPs have, therefore, gained attention as anti-bacterial drug target candidates, prompting us to study their structure-function relationships to provide a basis for the rational development of specific inhibitors.

Bacteriophage treatment is effective against carbapenem-resistant (KPC) in a neutropenic murine model of gastrointestinal translocation and renal infection.

Carbapenemase-producing (KPC) are globally emerging pathogens that cause life-threatening infections. Novel treatment alternatives are urgently needed. We therefore investigated the effectiveness of three novel bacteriophages (Spivey, Pharr, and Soft) in a neutropenic murine model of KPC gastrointestinal colonization, translocation, and disseminated infection.

Perforin-2 is dispensable for host defense against and .

Unlabelled: Myeloid phagocytes are essential for antifungal immunity against pulmonary and systemic infections. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal clearance by phagocytes remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Perforin-2 () in antifungal immunity.