Antibiotics-Basel最新文献

{"title":"Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci: Screening Efficacy and the Risk of Bloodstream Infections in a Specialized Healthcare Setting.","authors":"Assunta Navarra, Stefania Cicalini, Silvia D'Arezzo, Francesca Pica, Marina Selleri, Carla Nisii, Carolina Venditti, Angela Cannas, Antonio Mazzarelli, Antonella Vulcano, Stefania Carrara, Donatella Vincenti, Barbara Bartolini, Paolo Giacomini, Maria Grazia Bocci, Carla Fontana","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030304","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) rectal colonization represents a critical risk factor for subsequent bloodstream infections (BSIs), posing a serious concern in healthcare settings. This study aims to investigate the association between the presence of VRE in rectal swabs and the occurrence of BSIs, highlighting the challenges of rapid detection and patient care implications in an infectious disease hospital setting. <b>Methods</b>: We performed a retrospective analysis of cultural rectal swab screening and molecular assays (MAs) for VRE detection between January 2020 and December 2023. All adult patients admitted with at least one rectal swab screening performed during hospitalization were included. All blood cultures that yielded VRE were identified, and the first Enterococcus-positive blood sample for each patient with at least one prior rectal swab per year was analyzed. <b>Results</b>: The results showed a 15.4% positivity rate for VRE in cultural screening, predominantly <i>Enterococcus faecium</i>. MA showed a higher prevalence of 49.4%, with a significant discordance between MA rectal swab screening and cultural testing. Patients with VRE intestinal colonization by <i>E. faecium</i> were significantly more likely to develop <i>E. faecium</i> BSI, with a risk ratio of 9.78 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> The study identified a strong correlation between VRE rectal colonization and the risk of developing BSI, emphasizing the need for effective screening and infection control measures. The results support the inclusion of molecular testing in VRE detection protocols and highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rare or Unusual Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria: Therapeutic Approach and Antibiotic Treatment Options.","authors":"Nicholas Geremia, Andrea Marino, Andrea De Vito, Federico Giovagnorio, Stefano Stracquadanio, Agnese Colpani, Stefano Di Bella, Giordano Madeddu, Saverio Giuseppe Parisi, Stefania Stefani, Giuseppe Nunnari","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030306","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) are a heterogeneous group of opportunistic pathogens increasingly associated with healthcare-associated infections. While <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii,</i> and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> are well known, rarer species such as <i>Burkholderia cepacia</i> complex, <i>Achromobacter</i> spp., <i>Chryseobacterium</i> spp., <i>Elizabethkingia</i> spp., <i>Ralstonia</i> spp., and others pose emerging therapeutic challenges. Their intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms limit effective treatment options, making targeted therapy essential. <b>Objectives</b>: This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of rare and unusual NFGNB, their clinical significance, resistance profiles, and evidence-based therapeutic strategies. <b>Methods</b>: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies on the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and treatment approaches to rare NFGNB. <b>Results</b>: Rare NFGNB exhibits diverse resistance mechanisms, including β-lactamase production, efflux pumps, and porin modifications. Treatment selection depends on species-specific susceptibility patterns, but some cornerstones can be individuated. Novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors and combination therapy approaches are being explored for multidrug-resistant isolates. However, clinical data remain limited. <b>Conclusions</b>: The increasing incidence of rare NFGNB requires heightened awareness and a tailored therapeutic approach. Given the paucity of clinical guidelines, antimicrobial stewardship and susceptibility-guided treatment are crucial in optimizing patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939765/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of New Synthetic Tricyclic Flavonoids.","authors":"Laura Gabriela Sarbu, Irina Rosca, Mihail Lucian Birsa","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030307","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> The discovery of new molecules to which bacteria have not yet developed resistance is a significant medical priority. Synthetic flavonoids are good candidates for developing new antimicrobials. Our study investigates a series of newly synthesized tricyclic flavonoids with several different substituents on the flavonoid core. <b>Methods:</b> By varying the nature of the substituents on rings <b>A</b> and <b>B,</b> a structure-activity relationship study using different microbial strains has been performed. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of these compounds have been investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and several <i>Candida</i> strains. <b>Results:</b> All seven tested compounds have been found to exhibit the highest antimicrobial activity against <i>S. aureus</i>, with an inhibition zone of up to 23 mm. The tricyclic flavonoids <b>5c</b>, <b>5e</b>, and <b>5f</b> showed good antifungal properties against <i>C. parapsilosis</i>, with an inhibition zone of around 17 mm. <b>Conclusions:</b> All the data support the idea that flavonoids <b>5</b> are reliable candidates for developing effective antimicrobial agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Commensal <i>Escherichia coli</i> Isolates from Turkeys in Hungarian Poultry Farms Between 2022 and 2023.","authors":"Ákos Jerzsele, Ádám Kerek, Franciska Barnácz, Bence Csirmaz, Ábel Szabó, László Kovács","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030305","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has prompted the critical importance of regular monitoring. <i>Escherichia coli</i>, a widely distributed facultative anaerobic pathogen, is significant both in terms of the clinical diseases that it causes and as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, with notable implications for both animal and public health. Within the poultry industry, the turkey sector is an emerging and internationally significant branch. <b>Methods</b>: Our objective was to assess the antimicrobial resistance profile of commensal <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains isolated from large-scale turkey flocks in Hungary using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. <b>Results</b>: A total of 470 isolates were analyzed, revealing that 61.5% of the strains were resistant to amoxicillin, while 18.5% were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The resistance observed against enrofloxacin (62.8%) and ceftriaxone (24%) is concerning. Comparison with human resistance data showed a similar resistance rate for amoxicillin and ampicillin, as well as amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cephalosporins. However, for other active substances, the situation was significantly worse in veterinary medicine. <b>Conclusions</b>: The lower resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid indicates that most strains are β-lactamase producers. Our findings underscore the necessity of regular and comprehensive surveillance, which can establish temporal trends over time. Incorporating data on antibiotic usage into future studies could facilitate the exploration of relevant correlations. Additionally, the next-generation sequencing of multidrug-resistant strains could help elucidate the genetic basis of resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic Usage and Healthcare-Associated <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> in Patients with and Without COVID-19: A Tertiary Hospital Experience.","authors":"Darko Zdravkovic, Ljiljana Markovic-Denic, Vladimir Nikolic, Zoran Todorovic, Marija Brankovic, Aleksandra Radojevic, Dusan Radovanovic, Borislav Toskovic","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030303","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Data about the relationship between COVID-19 and healthcare-associated <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (HA-CDI) occurrence are still controversial. This study examines antibiotics associated with CDI in patients with and without COVID-19 infection. <b>Methods</b>: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the University Clinical Center Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2019 to December 2021. Patients with the first episode of HA-CDI without and with COVID-19 were included. Results of bacteriology analyses, demographic and clinical data, and data on antibiotic usage and daily defined doses (DDD) were collected by the hospital Infection Control Team. <b>Results</b>: Out of 547 HA-CDI cases, 341 (62.3%) had COVID-19 infection. HA-CDI patients with COVID-19 were significantly younger (<i>p</i> = 0.017) with fewer comorbidities (<0.001). Two or more antibiotics in therapy were more frequently used by those patients (<i>p</i> = 0.03). COVID-19 patients were treated significantly more by third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and macrolides (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Ceftriaxone had a higher median DDD in COVID-19 patients (6.00, range 1.00-20.00) compared to non-COVID-19 patients (4.00, range 1.00-14.00), (<i>p</i> = 0.007). Conversely, meropenem showed a lower median DDD in COVID-19 patients. Multivariate analysis identified the use of fourth-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones as independent risk factors for HA-CDI in COVID-19 patients. <b>Conclusions</b>: Patients with HA-CDI and COVID-19 more frequently received two or more antibiotics before the onset of HAI-CDI. The third and fourth generations of cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and macrolides were administered significantly more often in these patients. More frequent administration of ceftriaxone was observed, but the lower DDD associated with meropenem needed additional analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotics and Opportunities of Their Alternatives in Pig Production: Mechanisms Through Modulating Intestinal Microbiota on Intestinal Health and Growth.","authors":"Jung Yeol Sung, Zixiao Deng, Sung Woo Kim","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030301","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotics at subtherapeutic levels have been used in pig diets as antimicrobial growth promoters. However, concerns about antibiotic resistance have increased the demand for alternatives to these antimicrobial growth promoters. This review paper explores the mechanisms through which antimicrobial growth promoters and their alternatives exert their antimicrobial effects. Additionally, this systemic review also covers how modulation of intestinal microbiota by antimicrobial growth promoters or their alternatives affects intestinal health and, subsequently, growth of pigs. The mechanisms and effects of antimicrobial growth promoters and their alternatives on intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth are diverse and inconsistent. Therefore, pig producers should carefully assess which alternative is the most effective for optimizing both profitability and the health status of pigs in their production system.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resistance of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> to Antibiotics During Long-Term Persistence in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.","authors":"Natalia Belkova, Uliana Nemchenko, Elizaveta Klimenko, Nadezhda Smurova, Raisa Zugeeva, Marina Sukhoreva, Viacheslav Sinkov, Evgenij Savilov","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030302","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> is one of the leading causes of nosocomial respiratory tract infections, significantly affecting morbidity and mortality. It can persist in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) for extended periods because of its adaptive capacity. The main aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics of clinical isolates of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> that persist in patients with CF receiving long-term antimicrobial therapy. The study included nine strains of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> isolated from the sputum of patients with CF admitted to the hospital. Susceptibility to antibiotics was determined using the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) criteria. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for phylogeny, sequence typing, and to identify antibiotic-resistant genes. The study showed that during long-term persistence in the lungs of patients receiving antibacterial therapy, the restoration of susceptibility to antibiotics occurred in some cases. Multilocus sequence typing and phylogeny revealed six sequence types. Functional annotation identified 72 genes responsible for resistance to antibacterial and chemical substances, with either chromosomal or plasmid localisation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community Pharmacists' Responses Toward Antimicrobial Prescriptions in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Ma'en Al-Odat, Shadi Mustafa, Yousef Al-Hajaya, Anwar Kandari, Amane Alaroud, Ahmad Alenezi, Haitham Qaralleh, Yasmeen Hazaimeh","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030300","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Globally, community pharmacists worldwide have prescribed more over-the-counter systemic antibiotics, posing significant issues for international organizations tackling antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a major global threat, due to the accessibility in pharmacies. <b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to examine the Jordanian pharmacists' antibiotic selection and over-the-counter antibiotic prescriptions. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 244 community pharmacists participated in an online standardized survey, which examined five essential domains including sources and trust of pharmacy antibiotic prescription information, category and frequency of permitted antimicrobials, prescription-free antimicrobials, interactions, antimicrobial prescription issues for pharmacists, and pharmacy staff's knowledge of non-prescription antimicrobial questions and answers. <b>Results:</b> This study found that 1-pharmacists are confident in prescribing antibiotics and they use various tools to improve their skills. 2-Antibiotics were the most sought antimicrobials without a prescription, followed by antifungals and antivirals. 3-Throat, urinary tract, chest, and otitis media are the most common infections that require antibiotics. Pharmacists prescribe penicillin for 75% of throat infections, Fluoroquinolones for 48.2% of urinary tract infections, and cephalosporins for 35.9%. Macrolides are the most prevalent otitis media treatment (43.2%). 4-Some people obtain antimicrobial prescriptions without a valid reason or diagnosis. 5-Many pharmacists (171/244, 70%) agree or strongly believe that antibiotic prescription information is difficult to obtain. 6-Many pharmacists (183/200, 91.5%) aimed to educate patients on the risks and correct use of antimicrobials without prescriptions. <b>Conclusions:</b> These results show that Jordanian community pharmacists follow clinical antibiotic prescribing guidelines and conduct antimicrobial stewardship, yet they demand antimicrobials without prescriptions and lack decision support tools. Antibiotic classes address most diseases, and pharmacists emphasize antimicrobial misuse.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939746/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rosaceae Honey: Antimicrobial Activity and Prebiotic Properties.","authors":"Francesca Coppola, Manar Abdalrazeq, Florinda Fratianni, Maria Neve Ombra, Bruno Testa, Gokhan Zengin, Jesus Fernando Ayala Zavala, Filomena Nazzaro","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030298","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030298","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Flowering members of the globally diffused Rosaceae family include popular plants, such as apple, almond, and cherry, which play a fundamental role as honeybee nectariferous and polleniferous agents. Through the production of honey, these plants can also play an indirect role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including infections, fighting the occurrence of resistant microorganisms, and concurrently stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria. <b>Objectives:</b> This study focused on the effect of some Rosaceae plants' honey, including hawthorn, cherry, raspberry, almond, and apple, against the pathogens <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. <b>Results:</b> Results demonstrated the honey's ability to impair swimming motility. A crystal violet test indicated that honey could inhibit the formation and stabilization of biofilms, with inhibition rates up to 59.43% for immature biofilms (showed by apple honey against <i>A. baumannii</i>) and 39.95% for sessile bacterial cells in mature biofilms (when we used cherry honey against <i>S. aureus</i>). In the test with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, cherry and apple honey were the most effective in inhibiting sessile cell metabolism honey in both immature (56.47% cherry honey vs. <i>K. pneumoniae</i>) and mature biofilms (54.36% apple honey vs. <i>A. baumannii</i>). Honey stimulated the growth of <i>Lactobacillus bulgaricus</i>, <i>Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota</i>, <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i>, <i>Lacticaseibacillus plantarum</i>, and <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i>; hawthorn, raspberry, and almond honey significantly increased the in vitro adhesion capacity of <i>L. bulgaricus</i> and <i>L. casei</i> Shirota. Tests with probiotic supernatants demonstrated honey's ability to inhibit the biofilm formation and metabolism of the pathogens. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our results encourage further studies to assess the potential application of Rosaceae honey for food preservation and in the health field, as it could fight the antimicrobial resistance of food and clinical pathogens, and potentially enhance the host's gut wellness. The use of honey for nanotechnological and biotechnological approaches could be suggested too.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939206/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Simple In Vitro Method to Determine Bactericidal Activity Against <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> Under Hypoxic Conditions.","authors":"Ruth Feilcke, Robert Eckenstaler, Markus Lang, Adrian Richter, Peter Imming","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics14030299","DOIUrl":"10.3390/antibiotics14030299","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Non-replicating persisters (NRPs) of <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> are a bacterial subpopulation that can survive in the host under unfavorable conditions, such as hypoxia or nutrient starvation. The eradication of these bacteria is difficult, which is one reason for the long treatment duration and treatment failure. The drug discovery process should therefore contain methods to screen activity against NRPs. <b>Methods</b>: A hypoxic environment is used to generate NRPs of <i>M. abscessus</i> that are termed low-oxygen persisters (LOPs). For this, an oxidation process is used to transition a replicating culture of <i>M. abscessus</i> distributed in microtiter plates within a sealable box into LOPs. Colony counting, automated object counting, bactericidal activity determination of known agents, and confocal laser scanning microscopy are used to study the obtained culture. <b>Results</b>: The obtained culture shows typical attributes of non-replicating cells, such as significantly reduced replication, the reversibility of the LOP state under aerobic conditions, delayed regrowth on solid medium, altered morphological patterns on a single-cell level, and phenotypical resistance against a variety of clinically relevant antimycobacterial compounds. The study reveals metronidazole and niclosamide as bactericidal against <i>M. abscessus</i> LOPs. These compounds can be used as LOP verification compounds within the described model. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our model is easily implemented and quickly identifies compounds that are inactive under hypoxic conditions. It can therefore accelerate the identification of clinically effective antimycobacterial drug substances, and can be a helpful tool during the drug development process.</p>","PeriodicalId":54246,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics-Basel","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}