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Microb Pathog 2020 Jul 3:104366. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiryah University, Iraq.

Many enterocins were produced from the lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, they belonged to different types of bacteriocins and have different characteristics. The present study aimed to search for another enterocin and test its ability to inhibit Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm as compared with the most effective antibacterial agent. E. Read More

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Crustacean Fisheries Division, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Ernakulam North, P.B. No. 1603, Cochin, India.

Intertidal red algae Hypnea valentiae associated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716 revealed potential inhibitory effects on the growth of drug-resistant pathogens. In the genome of B. amyloliquefaciens MTCC 12716, biosynthetic gene clusters encoding antibacterial metabolites were predicted, which might be expressed and contributed to the broad-spectrum anti-infective activity. Read More

Anim Health Res Rev 2020 Jun 19:1-15. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Sub-Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.

Bacteriophages are the most abundant form of life on earth and are present everywhere. The total number of bacteriophages has been estimated to be 1032 virions. The main division of bacteriophages is based on the type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and on the structure of the capsid. Read More

World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020 Jul 1;36(7):101. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic.

Pterostilbene (PTE), a dimethylated analogue of resveratrol, mostly contained in Vitis vinifera leaves or in other plant sources is well-known for its antioxidant activity. Due to its bioavailability, low hydrophilicity and thus ability to penetrate hydrophobic biological membranes it was found to be an antimicrobial agent. These properties of PTE offer the possibility of its use in the treatment of microbial infections. Read More

Jpn J Infect Dis 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Toho University School of Medicine, Japan.

High-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) limits treatment options for invasive enterococcal infections. We examined the prevalence of HLAR by disk diffusion method, carriage of genes for aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes by PCR, and production of β-lactamase by nitrocefin-based test in Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolated from patients at a university hospital in Tokyo in 2010. Of the 100 E. Read More

J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2020 Apr-Jun;38(2):145-151

Department of Drugs Control, Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Complete elimination of microorganisms from the root canals is the important key for the successful endodontic treatment. Constant emergence of resistant strains and adverse effects of synthetic drugs has led to the search of effective herbal alternatives. Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is one such spice used for its various medicinal activities. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2020 Jul 1:e13397. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, USA.

Introduction: Studies have suggested that in addition to antimicrobials, some non-antibiotics may alter the gut microbiome. This systematic review sought to determine if there is an association between immunosuppressive agents used in recipients of solid organ transplants (SOT) and alterations in the gut microbiome.

Methods: English language PubMed and Scopus searches were conducted to identify relevant articles. Read More

Crit Rev Microbiol 2020 Jul 1:1-20. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Iasi, Romania.

The emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens is a great challenge to the medical field and a major global health threat requiring novel therapeutic strategies. Among plant products, essential oils have significant antimicrobial properties that make them promising agents in the fight against drug resistant human pathogens. The aim of the present review was to highlight the most important essential oil-based antimicrobial strategies as revealed by recent studies. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Objectives: poxtA is the most recently described gene conferring acquired resistance to linezolid, a relevant antibiotic for treating enterococcal infections. We retrospectively screened for poxtA in diverse enterococci and aimed to characterize its genetic/genomic contexts.

Methods: poxtA was screened by PCR in 812 enterococci from 458 samples (hospitals/healthy humans/wastewater/animals/retail food) obtained in Portugal/Angola/Tunisia (1996-2019). Read More

mBio 2020 Jun 30;11(3). Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Microbial Bioactive Compounds, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

Antibiotic acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) deregulate ClpP, the proteolytic core of the bacterial Clp protease, thereby inhibiting its native functions and concomitantly activating it for uncontrolled proteolysis of nonnative substrates. Importantly, although ADEP-activated ClpP is assumed to target multiple polypeptide and protein substrates in the bacterial cell, not all proteins seem equally susceptible. In , the cell division protein FtsZ emerged to be particularly sensitive to degradation by ADEP-activated ClpP at low inhibitory ADEP concentrations. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH. UK; North West London Pathology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Fulham Palace Road. London. W6 8RF. UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London. W12 0NN. UK.

Objectives: We investigate the incidence of bacterial and fungal co-infection of hospitalised patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in this retrospective observational study across two London hospitals during the first UK wave of COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective case-series of hospitalised patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by PCR was analysed across two acute NHS hospitals (February 20-April 20; each isolate reviewed independently in parallel). This was contrasted to a control group of influenza positive patients admitted during 2019/20 flu season. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Clinical Pharmacology Department, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.

Background: Amoxicillin is the first-line treatment for streptococcal or enterococcal infective endocarditis (IE) with a dose regimen adapted to weight.

Objectives: Covariates influencing pharmacokinetics (PK) of amoxicillin were identified in order to develop a dosing nomogram based on identified covariates for individual adaptation.

Patients And Methods: Patients treated with amoxicillin administered by continuous infusion for IE were included retrospectively. Read More

Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020 12;8:506. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for the majority of living organisms, and it has been identified as selenocysteine in the active site of several selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase, and deiodinases. Se deficiency in humans is associated with viral infections, thyroid dysfunction, different types of cancer, and aging. In several European countries as well as in Argentina, Se intake is below the recommended dietary Intake (RDI). Read More

Front Microbiol 2020 12;11:1250. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Yaks provide necessities such as meat and milk for Tibetans living at high altitudes on and around the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Enterococci are ubiquitous members of the animal gut microbiota that can cause biofilm-associated opportunistic infections. Meanwhile, multidrug-resistant also poses a serious threat to public health. Read More

J Vasc Access 2020 Jun 26:1129729820934354. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Background: Central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection is an important adverse event in health care. Molecular methods are not yet substitutive of microbiological in the detection of the pathogens responsible for the infection, but they can help in the epidemiological characterization.

Aim: To detect bacteria by polymerase chain reaction, from material extracted from the tip of central catheters of patients suspected of infection at the intensive care unit. Read More

Molecules 2020 Jun 23;25(12). Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 20002, Palestine.

The discovery of antibiotics has created a turning point in medical interventions to pathogenic infections, but unfortunately, each discovery was consistently followed by the emergence of resistance. The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria has generated a great challenge to treat infections caused by bacteria with the available antibiotics. Today, research is active in finding new treatments for multidrug-resistant pathogens. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Anti-Infective Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States

Concerns regarding increased prevalence of daptomycin (DAP)-resistant strains necessitate novel therapies for infections. Obligately lytic bacteriophages are viruses that target, infect, and kill bacterial cells. Limited studies have evaluated phage-antibiotic combinations against Following an initial screen of eight strains, three strains with varying DAP/phage susceptibility were selected for further experiments. Read More

BMC Immunol 2020 Jun 22;21(1):38. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.

Background: Oral fibroblast immunological responses to bacterial stimuli are well known. However, there are few studies about pulp fibroblasts from deciduous teeth (HDPF) responses, which are important for the treatment of pulp infections in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression and production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by HDPF when challenged with bacterial antigens normally present in advanced caries lesions. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2020 Jun 18;9(6). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant strains and novel viruses have motivated the search for new anti-infectious agents. In this study, the chemical compositions and cytotoxicity, as well as the antibacterial, antifungal, antitrichomonas, and antiviral activities of essential oils from the leaves, rhizomes, and whole plant of were investigated. The GC/MS analysis showed that β-pinene, -β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene were found at high concentrations in the essential oils. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 18;21(12). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Área de Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje de Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain.

is a commensal bacterium with specific strains involved in opportunistic and nosocomial infections. Therefore, it is important to know how the strains of this species are selected in the gut. In this study, fifteen strains, isolated over twelve weeks from the faeces of mice fed standard chow or one of three high fat diets enriched with extra virgin olive oil, refined olive oil or butter were subjected to a genetic "Multilocus Sequence Typing" study that revealed the presence of mainly two genotypes, ST9 and ST40, the latter one prevailing at the end of the research. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jun;99(25):e20732

Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital.

This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, responsible pathogens, and antibiotic sensitivity of aerobic vaginitis (AV) infection in women in late pregnancy in western China.We enrolled 246 pregnancy with AV (≥35 weeks gestation) and 204 reproductive non-pregnancy with AV from West China between January 2019 and December 2019. Then, bacterial culture, identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were performed. Read More

J Bone Jt Infect 2020 16;5(3):145-150. Epub 2020 May 16.

Institute of Microbiology, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille, France.

A post-operative empirical antibiotic therapy (PEAT) is required in periprosthetic joint infections. It commonly uses broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover most Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli. It is currently continued until first microbiological results are available, no less than five days later. Read More

Vet Med Int 2020 5;2020:6207297. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Unit of Virology, Portici, Italy.

Infectious diseases are a common cause of death in young dogs. Several factors are thought to predispose young dogs to microbiological infections. Identifying the cause of death is often a challenge, and broad diagnostic analysis is often needed. Read More

Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2020 4;2020:2967260. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Microbiology Department, Unidad de Patología Clínica, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect up to 150 million individuals annually worldwide, mainly due to () and . The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are increasing, representing one of the biggest threats for human health. The objective of our study was to describe antimicrobial patterns of resistance and identify risk factors associated with MDR uropathogens. Read More

Infect Dis Health 2020 Jun 16. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Medicine, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, NSW, 2444, Australia; UNSW Medicine Phase 2 Convener Rural Clinical School, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444, Australia.

Background: Enterococcal infection poses a major clinical problem due to increasing antibiotic resistance and rising numbers of health care related infections. It is also associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to examine demographic characteristics, co-morbidities and clinical outcomes of the patients as well as susceptibility spectrum of all Enterococcal bacteraemia and endocarditis. Read More

J Card Surg 2020 Jun 19. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used in patients with advanced heart failure. Infections are common complications following device placement; however, the efficacy of chronic antimicrobial suppression therapy for deep-seated infections is not well characterized. We report the case of a 49-year-old male with a HeartMate II LVAD who presented with a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus pump pocket infection that was subsequently treated with antibiotics and HeartMate III pump exchange. Read More

Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.

Pathogens develop resistance to antibiotics at a rate much faster than the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds. Reports of multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from broilers, and the possibility that these strains may spread diseases amongst humans, prompted many European countries to ban the inclusion of antibiotics in feed. Probiotics added to broiler feed controlled a number of bacterial infections. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2020 18;13:1465-1477. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, 1871, Ethiopia.

Background: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common health problems during pregnancy. It is most commonly reported among pregnant women and is a known reason of morbidity during pregnancy worldwide, predominantly in developing countries. The etiological agents include and others. Read More

Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2020 Jun 16;9(1):87. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Objective: To describe the containment of a widespread silent outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE-fm) in the Tel-Aviv Medical Center (TASMC) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: Setting - an NICU, participants - 49 cases of VRE-fm-colonized neonatal inpatients.

Results: A newborn was transferred from the TASMC NICU to another hospital and screened positive for VRE-fm upon arrival. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Rm P-311, Chicago, IL 60637-1470.

Different linezolid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methodologies yield varying results. In 2018, we transitioned our linezolid AST methodology from the Etest to Vitek 2. We sought to evaluate the impact of this change on antibiotic use among 181 inpatients with VRE infections. Read More

J Bacteriol 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045

is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing infections including endocarditis and urinary tract infections (UTI). One of the well characterized quorum sensing pathways in involves coordination of the conjugal transfer of pheromone-responsive plasmids by PrgX, a member of the RRNPP protein family. Members of this protein family in various have also been shown to contribute to numerous cellular processes including sporulation, competence, conjugation, nutrient sensing, biofilm formation and virulence. Read More

BMC Microbiol 2020 Jun 15;20(1):159. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK.

Background: Bacteria adapted to live within animals can protect their hosts against harmful infections. Beyond antagonism with pathogens, a 'defensive' bacterial symbiont could engage in additional interactions with other colonizing micro-organisms. A single bacterium might thus have cascading ecological impacts on the whole microbiome that are rarely investigated. Read More

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020 May 30;72:101501. Epub 2020 May 30.

Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to human and animal health. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (MRS) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. Read More

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon 16247, Korea.

Background: The rapid antibiotics treatment targeted to a specific pathogen can improve clinical outcomes of septicemia. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of biliary septicemia caused by cholangitis or cholecystitis according to causative organisms.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study in 151 patients diagnosed with cholangitis or cholecystitis with bacterial septicemia from January 2013 to December 2015. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2020 Jun 20;7(6):ofaa176. Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: It is difficult to select an appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment regimen for patients with culture-negative pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). Having knowledge of the distribution of microorganisms according to patient characteristics can help clinicians make informed choices regarding empirical antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial distribution among individuals with PVO according to their demographic and clinical characteristics. Read More

Front Microbiol 2020 25;11:916. Epub 2020 May 25.

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Endogenous Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.

Opportunistic infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are a significant clinical challenge. Eravacycline (Erava) is a synthetic fluorocycline structurally similar to tigecycline (Tige) that exhibits robust antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity and heteroresistance risk of Eravacycline (Erava) in clinical isolates from China along with the mechanism of Erava resistance. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2020 May;26(20):2498-2513

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy.

Human body is colonized by a huge amount of microorganisms mostly located in the gastrointestinal tract. These dynamic communities, the environment and their metabolites constitute the microbiota. Growing data suggests a causal role of a dysbiotic microbiota in several pathologies, such as metabolic and neurological disorders, immunity dysregulations and cancer, especially the well-studied colorectal cancer development. Read More

Microb Biotechnol 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.

The emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria has induced intense research for novel therapeutic approaches. In this study, the Acinetobacter baumannii bacteriophage D2 (vB_AbaP_D2) was isolated, characterized and sequenced. The endolysin of bacteriophage D2, namely Abtn-4, contains an amphipathic helix and was found to have activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative strains. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2020 May 19;20(1):356. Epub 2020 May 19.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305# East Zhongshan Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, P. R. China.

Background: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) have spread all over the world. The present study aims to investigate the species distribution, specimen type and susceptibilities of Enterococcal species collected from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Read More

Microorganisms 2020 Jun 5;8(6). Epub 2020 Jun 5.

"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari blvd., 050474 Bucharest, Romania.

Considering urinary tract infections (UTIs), a significant public health problem with negligible recent research, especially on the male eastern European population, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance rates of uropathogens for the most commonly used antibiotics in urological practice in our country. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study in two different teaching hospitals in Romania, analyzing urine samples from 7719 patients to determine the frequency of incriminating pathogens and their resistance to different antibiotics, in a comparative approach. We determined (35. Read More

Infect Dis (Lond) 2020 Jun 9:1-6. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Department of Intensive Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Australia.

Although enterococci are common causes of bloodstream infections (BSIs), few studies have examined their epidemiology in non-selected populations. To examine the incidence and risk factors for development of enterococcal BSI. Surveillance for incident enterococcal BSI was conducted among all residents of the western interior of British Columbia, Canada during 2011-2018. Read More

PeerJ 2020 21;8:e9171. Epub 2020 May 21.

Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America.

is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that are commensal to the gastrointestinal tracts of humans but some species have been increasingly implicated as agents of nosocomial infections. The increase in infections and the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains have contributed to renewed interest in the discovery of phages. The aims of this study were (1) the isolation, characterization, and genome sequencing of a phage capable of infecting an antibiotic-resistant strain, and (2) the comparative genomic analysis of publicly-available phages. Read More

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2020 Jan-Apr;24(1):117-124. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Dentistry, BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer reported worldwide. In many cases, the level of aggressiveness of therapy adopted in cancer patients may cause the alteration in oral microbiota; the emergence of potential pathogens may cause opportunistic infections in already immune-compromised individuals leading to increases in morbidity and mortality. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the oral microbial profile in oral cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. Read More

Ann Pharmacother 2020 Jun 8:1060028020932513. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove, IL, USA.

To review the current literature describing pharmacology, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), efficacy, and safety of linezolid and daptomycin for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by vancomycin-resistant (VRE) . A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE databases was conducted (from 1950 to April 2020) utilizing the following key terms: , and . All relevant studies and case reports describing the treatment of VRE from the CNS with linezolid or daptomycin were included. Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2020 Jun 4. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

ATS Milano, Milan, Italy.

Background: For healthy children, attending communities such as nurseries, kindergartens or schools, exposes them to the risk of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and/or upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). We therefore evaluated whether the use of a well-documented probiotic formula could act as prophylaxis for AGE and URTIs, reducing the risk of occurrence.

Methods: In a randomized study, we tested a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis BB-12 and Enterococcus faecium L3 on 94 healthy children, comparing the incidence and duration of episodes of AGE and the incidence of URTIs to those of a control group of 109 healthy, untreated subjects. Read More

J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci 2020 Jun 7. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.

Background: The association between bacterial infection and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Microbiological data for intraoperative bile culture (BC) and drain culture on postoperative day 4 (DC) were collected. The study population was classified into the following three groups: P1 (positive BC and DC), P2 (positive BC and negative DC), and N (negative BC). Read More

J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci 2020 Jun 7. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Few reports describe the relationship between preoperative cholangitis and surgical site infections (SSIs) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We aimed to determine the association between the incidence of preoperative cholangitis and surgical site infection following PD.

Methods: The surgical outcomes of 359 patients who underwent PD were compared between patients with (n = 92) and without (n = 267) preoperative cholangitis. Read More

Emerg Microbes Infect 2020 Dec;9(1):1180-1193

Unit 37: Nosocomial Infections, Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Consumption, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections are of great public health significance due to limited therapeutic options. We investigated epidemiological trends and risk factors of vancomycin resistance in enterococci isolates from patients with bloodstream infections in the EU/EEA from 2012 to 2018. Routine vancomycin susceptibility data of clinical (n = 67,022) and (n = 103,112) blood isolates from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses. Read More

J Int Med Res 2020 Jun;48(6):300060520928780

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Background: We aimed to analyze the epidemiological and drug-resistance trends among bacterial cultures from perioperative infections in patients with primary ovarian cancer.

Methods: Medical and bacteriological records for patients with ovarian cancer patients who developed perioperative infections after primary cytoreductive surgery from 1999 to 2018 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: The incidence of perioperative infections and the culture-positive percentage among patients in the first 10 years were 20. Read More

Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2020 Jun 1;9(1):78. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, W7034G JHSPH EHE, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.

Despite improvements in hospital infection prevention and control, healthcare associated infections (HAIs) remain a challenge with significant patient morbidity, mortality, and cost for the healthcare system. In this review, we use a One Health framework (human, animal, and environmental health) to explain the epidemiology, demonstrate key knowledge gaps in infection prevention policy, and explore improvements to control Gram-positive pathogens in the healthcare environment. We discuss patient and healthcare worker interactions with the hospital environment that can lead to transmission of the most common Gram-positive hospital pathogens - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus - and detail interventions that target these two One Health domains. Read More