Evaluation of FASTinov for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical priority pathogen due to its high resistance rates and limited treatment options. Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (rAST) is essential to optimize therapy, particularly because resistance mechanisms in P. aeruginosa often arise from adaptive genetic expression rather than specific resistance genes.

Phenotypic Ultra-Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Ceftazidime-Avibactam: In Support of Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is a potent broad-spectrum drug combination covering extended-spectrum β-lactamases, AmpC, and carbapenemases of class A and D, OXA-48-type producers. Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing is crucial for the timely de-escalation/escalation of therapy. We evaluate CZA susceptibility using the CE-IVD FASTgramneg kit (FASTinov), a ground-breaking 2 h assay, based on flow cytometry technology for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Rapid Determination of Colistin Susceptibility by Flow Cytometry Directly from Positive Urine Samples-Preliminary Results.

Urinary tract infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are among the most common infections and a significant cause of sepsis. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses challenges to empirical treatment. Colistin may be used a last-resort antibiotic for treating MDR infections, but this requires the rapid determination of susceptibility to colistin.

Performance of Flow Cytometry-Based Rapid Assay in Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales are increasingly being recognized in nosocomial infections. The performance of a flow cytometry-based rapid assay for their detection and differentiation was evaluated. This is a disruptive phenotypic technology, phenotypic and growth-independent, that searches for the lesions produced by drugs acting on cells after a short incubation time.

An improved protocol for bacteria identification by MALDI-TOF MS directly from positive blood cultures.

FASTinov® developed a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test that includes the purification of a bacterial suspension directly from positive blood cultures (BC). In order to streamline laboratory workflow, the use of the bacterial suspension obtained through FASTinov® sample prep was tested for identification (ID) by matrix absorption laser deionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) (Bruker) in 364 positive BC, and its accuracy assessed comparing with the MALDI-TOF MS ID of the next-day subcultured colonies. FASTinov sample prep was highly reliable for rapid ID directly from BC with proportion of agreement of 94.

Rapid Detection of Plasmid AmpC Beta-Lactamases by a Flow Cytometry Assay.

Plasmidic AmpC (pAmpC) enzymes are responsible for the hydrolysis of extended-spectrum cephalosporins but they are not routinely investigated in many clinical laboratories. Phenotypic assays, currently the reference methods, are cumbersome and culture dependent. These methods compare the activity of cephalosporins with and without class C inhibitors and the results are provided in 24-48 h.

The Role of Phage Therapy in Burn Wound Infections Management: Advantages and Pitfalls.

Burn wound infections are often the source of bacteria responsible for systemic infections, including bloodstream infections and pneumonia that ultimately can result in multisystem organ failure and death. Any rapid change in the burn wound appearance or the clinical condition of the burn patient may herald burn wound infection or sepsis. The revival of phage therapy, either in single mode or in combination with conventional antibiotics may represent a valuable alternative, to treat specific bacterial infections such as burn wound infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

Evaluation of FASTinov Ultrarapid Flow Cytometry Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Directly from Positive Blood Cultures.

The FASTinov flow cytometry kit, an ultrarapid antimicrobial susceptibility test, was directly evaluated on positive blood cultures (BC) at two sites: (i) FASTinov, S.A., in Porto, Portugal, using BC spiked with well-characterized bacteria, and (ii) Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, using positive BC from patients.

Gut microbiota changes after metabolic surgery in adult diabetic patients with mild obesity: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is one of the most efficient procedures for the treatment of obesity, also improving metabolic and inflammatory status, in patients with mild obesity. The underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood, but gut microbiota is hypothesized to play a key role. Our aim was to evaluate the association between gut microbiota changes and anthropometric, metabolic and inflammatory profiles after metabolic surgery compared with medical therapy, in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) adults with mild obesity (BMI 30-35 kg/m).

Colistin Update on Its Mechanism of Action and Resistance, Present and Future Challenges.

Colistin has been extensively used since the middle of the last century in animals, particularly in swine, for the control of enteric infections. Colistin is presently considered the last line of defense against human infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms such as carbapenemase-producer , , and . Transferable bacterial resistance like mcr-genes was reported in isolates from both humans and animals.

A Rapid Flow Cytometric Antimicrobial Susceptibility Assay (FASTvet) for Veterinary Use - Preliminary Data.

A rapid flow cytometric antimicrobial susceptibility test for bacteria isolated from companion animals - the FAST assay, developed by FASTinov, was evaluated. Bacterial strains isolated from different biological samples of companion animals with infectious diseases in progress were obtained from several veterinary clinical laboratories across the country. A total of 115 strains, comprising 65 Gram-negative and 50 Gram positive isolates, were incubated with 13 antimicrobial drugs (ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefpodoxime, imipenem, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, amikacin for Gram-negative; penicillin, cefoxitin, enrofloxacin, vancomycin and ampicillin for Gram-positive) at breakpoint concentrations following CLSI protocol (CLSI Vet 01, 2018) for 1 h and analyzed by flow cytometry.

Ultra-rapid flow cytometry assay for colistin MIC determination in Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objectives: Both EUCAST and CLSI recommend broth microdilution for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of colistin, but this method is cumbersome and takes 16-24 h to give results. Our objective was to evaluate a rapid quantitative colistin MIC susceptibility assay based on flow cytometry analysis (FASTcolistin MIC) in comparison with standard broth microdilution assay.

Methods: One hundred and sixteen Gram-negative bacilli (78 Enterobacterales, 28 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 10 Acinetobacter baumannii) were studied in parallel using standard broth microdilution following EUCAST recommendations and FASTcolistin MIC kit.

Evaluation of ultra-rapid susceptibility testing of ceftolozane-tazobactam by a flow cytometry assay directly from positive blood cultures.

The urgent need for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility is broadly apparent from government reports to the lay press. Accordingly, we developed a flow-cytometry assay (FCM) for evaluating ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) susceptibility directly on blood cultures (BC) requiring < 2 h from flag positivity to report. The protocol was optimized with C/T-susceptible and C/T-resistant gram-negative bacilli inoculated in BC aerobic bottles (Becton-Dickinson, USA), and afterward optimized for different C/T concentrations (1/4, 2/4, 4/4, and 8/4 mg/L) for 1 h incubation (37 °C), followed by FCM and software analysis.

Microbes and Cancer: Friends or Faux?

Cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadly diseases in the world, representing the second leading cause of death. It is a multifactorial disease, in which genetic alterations play a key role, but several environmental factors also contribute to its development and progression. Infections induced by certain viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites constitute risk factors for cancer, being chronic infection associated to the development of certain types of cancer.

Hard-to-heal wounds, biofilm and wound healing: an intricate interrelationship.

Hard-to-heal wounds are a major public health problem that incur high economic costs. A major source of morbidity, they can have an overwhelming impact on patients, caregivers and society. In contrast to acute wound healing, which follows an 'orderly and timely reparative process', the healing of hard-to-heal wounds is delayed because the usual biological progression is interrupted.

Antibacterial Action Mechanisms of Honey: Physiological Effects of Avocado, Chestnut, and Polyfloral Honey upon and .

Numerous studies have explored the antibacterial properties of different types of honey from all around the world. However, the data available describing how honey acts against bacteria are few. The aim of this study was to apply a flow cytometry (FC) protocol to examine and characterize the primary effects of three varieties of honey (avocado, chestnut and polyfloral) upon physiological status of and cells to reveal their antibacterial action mechanisms.

Mechanisms of Acquired and Resistance to Voriconazole by Candida krusei following Exposure to Suboptimal Drug Concentration.

Five isolates (susceptible and resistant) recovered from the urine of a kidney transplant patient treated with voriconazole (VRC) 200 mg twice daily for 20 days were studied. Eight unrelated clinical isolates of were exposed to VRC 0.001 μg/ml for 30 days.

Evaluation of Physiological Effects Induced by Manuka Honey Upon and .

Several studies have explored the antimicrobial properties of manuka honey (MkH). However, the data available regarding antibacterial action mechanisms are scarcer. The aim of this study was to scrutinize and characterize primary effects of manuka honey (MkH) upon the physiological status of and (as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria models, respectively), using flow cytometry (FC) to reveal its antibacterial action mechanisms.

Assessing the impact of Medical Microbiology classes using active strategies on short- and long-term retention on medical students: an innovative study.

One of teachers' concerns, with students in general and medical students in particular, is to ensure as much as possible that information goes from students' short-term memories to their long-term memories. The present study focuses on knowledge retention in Medical Microbiology and assesses the effectiveness of some strategies implemented for short- and long-term retention. A pre- and post-test was used to assess student's learning.

Effective Disinfection of a Burn Unit after Two Cases of Sepsis Caused by Multi-Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Background: The healthcare environment is a potential source of microbial pathogens, which may promote infectious cross-transmission. Terminal automated cleaning methods such as hydrogen peroxide systems have proven to be more successful than manual techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an automated aerosolized hydrogen peroxide/silver cations dry-mist system.

Unveiling the Synergistic Interaction Between Liposomal Amphotericin B and Colistin.

Patients with multiple comorbidities are often administered simultaneously or sequentially antifungals and antibacterial agents, without full knowledge of the consequences of drug interactions. Considering the clinical relevance of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB), the association between L-AMB and six antibacterial agents was evaluated against four clinical isolates and one type strain of Candida spp. and two clinical isolates and one type strain of Aspergillus fumigatus.

A Flow Cytometric and Computational Approaches to Carbapenems Affinity to the Different Types of Carbapenemases.

The synergy of carbapenem combinations regarding Enterobacteriaceae producing different types of carbapenemases was study through different approaches: flow cytometry and computational analysis. Ten well characterized Enterobacteriaceae (KPC, verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamases -VIM and OXA-48-like enzymes) were selected for the study. The cells were incubated with a combination of ertapenem with imipenem, meropenem, or doripenem and killing kinetic curves performed with and without reinforcements of the drugs.

Rapid Flow Cytometry Test for Identification of Different Carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae.

A flow cytometry test was developed to identify carbapenemase production by Enterobacteriaceae and to discriminate between the different types of carbapenemases (classes A, B, and D). It is based on the detection of meropenem activity against bacteria, coupled with different carbapenemase inhibitors, which is assessed by flow cytometry. It represents a convenient, fast, and reliable approach (100% sensitivity and 100% specificity) for the detection and characterization of different carbapenemases.

An overview about the medical use of antifungals in Portugal in the last years.

Despite the introduction of new antifungal agents, the frequency of invasive and mucocutaneous fungal infections as well as resistance to antifungal drugs continues to increase. Over 300 million persons are infected annually with fungi. Resistance to antimicrobials is one of today's major health threats.