Real-world effectiveness and safety of cefiderocol in critically ill patients with MDR Gram-negative infections: Results from a retrospective study.

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria, particularly (), represents a major clinical challenge, especially in critically ill patients. Cefiderocol, a siderophore cephalosporin, has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organisms. The present study aimed to evaluate the real-life efficacy and safety of cefiderocol in a high-risk hospital population.

A scoping review about smoking, smoking cessation and their effects on anti-tuberculosis agents: insights into drug metabolisms, safety, and effectiveness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks tuberculosis (TB) as one of the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide. Notably, tobacco smoking represents a significant promoting factor in TB progression, being associated with poorer treatment outcomes, delayed conversion to negative smear or culture, and higher dropout rates from treatment plans. Remarkably, high rates of smoking and TB frequently overlaps in the same countries, warranting the need for targeted public health interventions.

Restoring Control: Real-World Success with Imipenem-Relebactam in Critical MDR Infections-A Multicenter Observational Study.

: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative infections, particularly those caused by carbapenem-resistant (CRE) and difficult-to-treat (DTR-Pa), present a growing global healthcare challenge, especially in critically ill populations. Imipenem-relebactam (I/R), a novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination, has shown efficacy in clinical trials, but real-world data remain limited. : We conducted a multicenter, retrospective-prospective observational study across tertiary-care hospitals in Italy between January 2020 and May 2025.

CD4/CD8 Ratio Increase in Female Living with HIV Switching to Cabotegravir-Rilpivirine: A Real-Life 24 Weeks Evaluation.

In 2022, 20 million women globally were living with HIV, yet they remain underrepresented in clinical trials, including those for antiretroviral treatments (ART). This study assesses the safety and efficacy of the long-acting cabotegravir-rilpivirine (CAB-RPV) regimen in a cohort of 54 women living with HIV (WLWH) over 24 weeks. A retrospective cohort study from the Sardinian HIV Network and Sicilian HIV Cohort (SHiNe-SHiC) included WLWH who switched to CAB-RPV.

Antibiotic Therapy Duration for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections: An Evidence-Based Review.

Determining the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) is a critical challenge in clinical medicine, balancing therapeutic efficacy against the risks of adverse effects and antimicrobial resistance. This narrative review synthesises current evidence and guidelines regarding antibiotic duration for MDR-GNB infections, emphasising bloodstream infections (BSI), hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP/VAP), complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), and intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). Despite robust evidence supporting shorter courses (3-7 days) in uncomplicated infections caused by more susceptible pathogens, data guiding optimal therapy duration for MDR-GNB remain limited, particularly concerning carbapenem-resistant (CRE), difficult-to-treat (DTR-), and carbapenem-resistant (CRAB).

in the Spermatic Cord of a 5-Year-Old Boy: A Rare Pediatric Case in Italy.

We report the case of a 5-year-old boy from a Sri Lankan migrant family in Catania, Italy, diagnosed with a infection in the spermatic cord. The child presented with pain and swelling in the left inguinal area. Initial evaluation suggested orchiepididymitis, which was treated unsuccessfully with amoxicillin/clavulanate and NSAIDs.

Diagnosis and outcomes of fever of unknown origin cases with an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 100 mm/h or more: An International ID-IRI (Infectious Diseases - International Research Initiative) Observational Retrospective Cohort Study.

Herein, we aimed to analyze the final diagnosis in a well-defined cohort of fever of unknown origin (FUO) cases whose erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 100 mm/h or more during the admission. The subgroup of the FUO patients with an ESR of 100 mm/h or more during the FUO evaluation, was extracted from the study database of a previously published multicenter study (European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. April 15, 2023;42 (4):387-98).

Dynamics of plant community structure in a semiarid Patagonian natural reserve: relationships with guanaco grazing and climate.

Disturbance by native herbivores is generally low due to co-evolution with vegetation. However, it is unclear whether overgrazing can occur at high population densities. In a wildlife reserve of northeastern Patagonia, we predicted that guanaco overgrazing would be evidenced by: 1) guanaco density over the environmental carrying capacity; 2) decrease in the cover of total canopy, perennial grasses, plant bases, biological soil crusts, and litter, and increase in the proportion of bare soil and desert pavement, and 3) temporal trends of plant and soil variables will be negatively associated with guanaco density, while remaining little affected by climatic variation.

Impact of multidrug resistance in cancer patients with bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli: results from a multicentre study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multidrug resistance (MDR) on the mortality of cancer patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB).

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective observational multicentre study including cancer patients with BSI caused by GNB (June 2018-January 2020). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

The Global Burden of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

This narrative review provided a broad synthesis of recent epidemiological trends, priority resistance mechanisms, and public health implications of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. We focused on the most clinically significant MDR pathogens, regional differences in resistance, and the effectiveness of containment strategies. Our goal was to synthesize current knowledge and propose research directions.

Management of methicillin-resistant bloodstream infections: a comprehensive narrative review of available evidence focusing on current controversies and the challenges ahead.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by are common worldwide, representing one of the most relevant issues in clinical infectious diseases practice. In particular, BSIs by methicillin-resistant (MRSA-BSI) are still today a challenge since mortality burden remains elevated although decades of research.

Areas Covered: The following topics regarding MRSA-BSI were reviewed and discussed by resorting to best available evidence retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE up to October 2024: i) epidemiology; ii) microbiology; iii) classification, with a focus on complicated and not complicated forms; iv) the structured approach to the patient; v) pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the main antimicrobial options; vi) controversies regarding the best therapeutic approach.

Rare or Unusual Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria: Therapeutic Approach and Antibiotic Treatment Options.

Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) are a heterogeneous group of opportunistic pathogens increasingly associated with healthcare-associated infections. While , and are well known, rarer species such as complex, spp., spp.

Comparing large language models for antibiotic prescribing in different clinical scenarios: which performs better?

Objectives: Large language models (LLMs) show promise in clinical decision-making, but comparative evaluations of their antibiotic prescribing accuracy are limited. This study assesses the performance of various LLMs in recommending antibiotic treatments across diverse clinical scenarios.

Methods: Fourteen LLMs, including standard and premium versions of ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Le Chat, Grok, Perplexity, and Pi.

Antipseudomonal cephalosporins versus piperacillin/tazobactam or carbapenems for the definitive antibiotic treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia: new kids on the ICU block?

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections (Pa-BSIs) are still a major cause of mortality in ICUs, posing many treatment uncertainties.

Methods: This multicentre, retrospective study analysed data from 14 Italian hospitals, including all consecutive adults developing Pa-BSI in ICU during 2021-22 and treated with antibiotics for at least 48 h. The primary aim was to identify predictors of 30 day mortality using Cox regression.

Critical Care Pharmacology of Antiretroviral Therapy in Adults.

The clinical pharmacology of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in critical care presents unique challenges due to the complex interplay between HIV infection, critical illness, and drug management. This comprehensive review examines the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of antiretroviral drugs in critically ill patients, where altered absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion significantly impact drug effectiveness and safety. Critical illness can substantially modify drug pharmacokinetics through various mechanisms, including impaired gastrointestinal motility, fluid shifts, hypoalbuminemia, hepatic dysfunction, and altered renal function.

Tetanus Vaccination in Agricultural Workers: A Retrospective Study on Seroprevalence over 10 Years.

Background/objectives: Tetanus is a serious, non-contagious infection caused by , which remains a global health threat despite the availability of an effective vaccine. The current state of immunization for agricultural workers in Italy reveals significant disparities, reflecting a non-homogeneous distribution of vaccination coverage across regions and subgroups. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of tetanus antibodies in a cohort of agricultural workers in Eastern Sicily in order to evaluate possible public health strategies for improving vaccination coverage.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as Life Support in Neonatal Respiratory Failure: A Single-Center Cohort Study and a Systematic Review.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life support in newborns with severe respiratory failure. Our main objective was to evaluate the mortality of patients and define positive and negative predictive factors of survival.

Methods: We performed a Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-conformed retrospective observational study and a systematic review, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

Bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacilli: results from the nationwide ALARICO study in Italy.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) and to compare them to patients with NP caused by carbapenem-susceptible (CS)-GNB.

Methods: Prospective observational multicenter study including patients with bacteremic NP caused by GNB from the ALARICO Network (June 2018-January 2020). The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality.

Viro-Immunological Efficacy and Safety of Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide among Women Living with HIV: A 96-Week Post-Switch Analysis from the Real-Life SHiNe-SHiC Cohort.

: Out of 39.9 million adults living with HIV in 2022, 20 million were women. Despite bearing a significant burden, women remain underrepresented in clinical trials, including those for antiretroviral treatments (ART).