Is ampicillin plus cephalosporins a therapeutic option for Ampicillin-Susceptible Enterococcus faecium?

Objectives: Enterococcus faecium, a significant hospital associated pathogen, poses substantial treatment challenges. While combinations of ampicillin with cephalosporins are first-line therapies to treat Enterococcus faecalis high-mortality-rates infections, their efficacy against ampicillin-susceptible E. faecium (ASEfm) is less clear.

Symptomatic Mycoplasma genitalium infections in men who have sex with men and trans women: Should we skip macrolides?

Background: Mycoplasma genitalium is an emerging sexually transmitted infection (STI) with increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and antibiotic resistance patterns of M. genitalium among symptomatic MSM and transgender women (TGW) attending a specialized STI clinic in Barcelona, Spain.

Epidemiological shifts of invasive fungal infections in the current era of haematology.

We aim to describe the epidemiology and risk factors for invasive fungal infections (IFI) and invasive mould infections (IMI) in hospitalized hematologic patients within the context of current hematologic therapies. Retrospective observational cohort study conducted on consecutive hematologic patients admitted to a tertiary hospital (2020-2023). Two populations were analysed: the full cohort of hospitalized patients (FC) and the subset of patients for whom mycological testing was specifically requested to rule out an IFI (SC).

Detection of septic metastases in catheter-related Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia using 18FDG-PET/CT: a before-and-after study.

Purpose: To evaluate the detection rate of septic metastases in catheter-related S. aureus bacteremia (CR-SAB) episodes by using [18F]FDG-PET/CT.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, before-and-after, single-center study of a prospectively identified catheter-related SAB (CR-SAB) cohort at Hospital Clínic Barcelona.

Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

Background/objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are rising, particularly those by complex (MAC) and complex (MAB). Treating NTM infections is challenging due to their poor response to antibiotics. This study aimed to optimize the treatment of NTM infection by selecting antibiotics with bactericidal activity for combination therapy.

Analysis of intrahospital and global dissemination and resistome dynamics of NDM-1-producing ST773 high-risk clone.

Objectives: To analyse the intrahospital and global dissemination and resistome dynamics of the concerning NDM-1 MBL-producing ST773 high-risk clone.

Methods: A total of 17 NDM-1-producing isolates recovered in 2022-24 from 10 patients at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (HCB), Spain, were studied through susceptibility testing and WGS. Expression of resistance genes was analysed through quantitative (real-time) RT-PCR.

Mapping antimicrobial resistance landscape at a city scale sewage network.

Wastewater is a valuable source for monitoring contaminants of biotic or abiotic origin. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a public health threat that consists of the ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of antimicrobial compounds, rendering them very difficult or impossible to eradicate in case of infection. Considering the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) to a wide number of ecosystems, there is a need for the identification of hotspots that concentrate antimicrobial resistance determinants.

Time to positivity as a predictor of catheter-related bacteremia and mortality in adults with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection.

Background: Time to positivity (TTP) and differential TTP (DTP) emerge as diagnostic and prognostic tools for bloodstream infections (BSI) though specific cut-off values need to be determined for each pathogen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa BSI (PAE-BSI) is of critical concern, particularly in immunocompromised patients, due to high mortality rates. Catheter-related infections are a common cause, necessitating rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for effective management (source-control).

Clostridioides difficile infection and recurrence in cancer patients (CIRCA): A multicentre, international study.

Objectives: We aimed to describe the characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in cancer patients, analysing risk factors for 90-day recurrence and attributable mortality.

Methods: Retrospective analysis on all CDI episodes from 2020 to 2022 in three Australian hospitals and one Spanish hospital. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

Diverse genomic and epidemiological landscapes of redundant pbp5 genes in Enterococcus spp.: Insights into plasmid mobilization, ampicillin susceptibility, and environmental interactions.

Genetic redundancy in bacteria plays a crucial role in enhancing adaptability and accelerating evolution in response to selective pressures, particularly those associated with rapid environmental changes. Aminopenicillins like ampicillin are important therapeutic options for Enterococcus infections in both humans and animals, with resistance mostly associated with pbp5 gene mutations or overexpression. While the occurrence of redundant pbp5 genes has been occasionally reported, the advantages for the host bacteria have not been explored in detail.

Impact of Empirical Treatment Recommendations From 2017 European Guidelines for Nosocomial Pneumonia.

Background: The management of nosocomial pneumonia represents a major challenge in the ICU. European guidelines from 2017 proposed an algorithm for the prescription of empirical antimicrobial treatment based on medical history, local ecology, and severity (ie, presence or absence of septic shock). We assessed this algorithm's usefulness by comparing outcomes with and without guideline adherence in a population at high risk of multiresistance and mortality.

Early identification of the nosocomial spread of vancomycin-resistant by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and performance comparison with PFGE and WGS.

Early detection of disseminating vancomycin-resistant (VREfm) in ICU wards is crucial for outbreak identification and the implementation of prompt infection control measures. Genotypic methods like pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) are costly and time-consuming, hindering rapid response due to batch dependency. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) offers the potential for real-time outbreak detection and reliable strain typing.

: a novel automated system for malaria diagnosis by using artificial intelligence tools and a universal low-cost robotized microscope.

Introduction: Malaria is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with 247 million cases reported worldwide in 2021 according to the World Health Organization. Optical microscopy remains the gold standard technique for malaria diagnosis, however, it requires expertise, is time-consuming and difficult to reproduce. Therefore, new diagnostic techniques based on digital image analysis using artificial intelligence tools can improve diagnosis and help automate it.

Viral epidemic preparedness: a perspective from five clinical microbiology laboratories in Europe.

Background: Pandemic preparedness is critical to respond effectively to existing and emerging/new viral pathogens. Important lessons have been learned during the last pandemic at various levels. This revision discusses some of the major challenges and potential ways to address them in the likely event of future pandemics.

Validation of N Protein Antibodies to Diagnose Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Large Cohort of Healthcare Workers: Use of Roche Elecsys Immunoassay in the S Protein Vaccination Era.

The aim of this study was to validate the detection of anti-nucleocapsid protein (N protein) antibodies for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in light of the fact that most COVID-19 vaccines use the spike (S) protein as the antigen. Here, 3550 healthcare workers (HCWs) were enrolled from May 2020 (when no S protein vaccines were available). We defined SARS-CoV-2 infection if HCWs were found to be positive by RT-PCR or found to be positive in at least two different serological immunoassays.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Vaccine-Induced Immune Imprinting Reduces Nucleocapsid Protein Antibody Response in SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Immune imprinting or original antigenic sin (OAS) is the process by which the humoral memory response to an antigen can inhibit the response to new epitopes of that antigen originating from a second encounter with the pathogen. Given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple vaccines have been developed against SARS-CoV-2 infection. These vaccines are directed to the spike protein (S protein) of the original variant of Wuhan D614G.

Antibody Response Induced by BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 in a Cohort of Healthcare Workers.

The aim of this study was to characterize the antibody response induced by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in a cohort of healthcare workers. A total of 2247 serum samples were analyzed using the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-test (Roche Diagnostics International Ltd., Rotkreuz, Switzerland).

Multilocus sequence typing of subsp. in Barcelona.

To implement the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) methodology in syphilis samples previously characterized by enhanced CDC typing (ECDCT) and macrolide resistance. MLST was performed on genital ulcer and blood samples by analyzing a region of the and using Sanger sequencing. Up to 59/85 (69.

Drassanes Exprés: a public and confidential testing service for asymptomatic STIs with same-day result notification.

Background: STIs are a major public health concern. Screening programmes for asymptomatic users are key components of STI control. Traditional limitations of screening programmes include low population coverage and delays in treatments, thus reducing the expected impact on STI control.