Exploring variability in antibiograms: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Antibiograms are important tools for guiding empirical antimicrobial prescribing and monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR); however, there are challenges to their implementation and interpretation in practice. Variable formatting may be a contributing factor. This study explores variability in antibiogram data presentation to identify opportunities for improvement.

Treatment and diagnostic challenges associated with the novel and rapidly emerging antifungal-resistant dermatophyte, .

is a recently discovered dermatophyte species that causes recalcitrant dermatophytosis. It was first reported from India and has quickly spread across the globe. The exact prevalence of remains unknown due to limited surveillance.

Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection in Children, 1992-2023.

Importance: The resurgence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections and progress in GAS vaccine development emphasize the importance of understanding current trends in the epidemiology of iGAS.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of pediatric iGAS over a 32-year period.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case series uses population-based surveillance data for iGAS in Toronto and Peel Region, Canada, including emm typing from Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory and population data from Statistics Canada.

Microbiology of bloodstream infections in Ontario, Canada during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Based on an estimate in 2017, the number of BSI incidences in Ontario is 150 per 100,000 population. The epidemiology of BSIs may be affected by many factors, including the social and travel restrictions and increased rates of hospitalizations in Ontario during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Trends in the Rates of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Isolated from Urine Cultures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada.

Worldwide, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) rates are increasing at an alarming level with increasing rates of health care exposures, international travel, and antibiotic usage. In this study, we investigated whether enhanced social isolation, travel restrictions, and the reduced use of antibiotics in Ontario, Canada during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an impact on ESBL rates in urine cultures collected from the community and long-term-care (LTC) facilities across the province. Data from a total of 8.

Emergence of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae, South-Central Ontario, Canada.

We analyzed population-based surveillance data from the Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network to describe carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) infections during 2007-2015 in south-central Ontario, Canada. We reviewed patients' medical records and travel histories, analyzed microbiologic and clinical characteristics of CPE infections, and calculated incidence. Among 291 cases identified, New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase was the predominant carbapenemase (51%).

Evaluating liver fibrosis progression and the impact of antiretroviral therapy in HIV and hepatitis C coinfection using a noninvasive marker.

The effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on progression of hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection with HIV are not well understood and are difficult to measure because of the need for repeated liver biopsy. We evaluated the evolution of a noninvasive measure of liver fibrosis, the alanine aspartyl transferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), longitudinally and determined its predictive value for hepatic outcomes in HIV-positive patients with and without HCV coinfection. A total of 673 HIV-positive patients without liver complications at baseline (540 with HIV only, 133 with HIV-HCV coinfection) were followed between 1991 and 2004 for a median of 4.