{"title":"Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance in Pediatric Infections: A Romanian Case Study on Pathogen Prevalence and Effective Treatments","authors":"Maria Madalina Singer, Renata Maria Văruț, Cristina Popescu, Kristina Radivojevic, Luciana Teodora Rotaru, Damian Roni Octavian, Banicioiu Mihai-Covei, Mihaela Popescu, Oancea Andreea Irina, Dragos Oancea, Alin Iulian Silviu Popescu, Cristina Elena Singer","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090879","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090879","url":null,"abstract":"Antibiotic misuse in Romania has exacerbated the issue of antibiotic resistance, as patients often use antibiotics without proper medical consultation. This study aimed to assess the resistance of prevalent bacteria to different antibiotics. In this observational study conducted over six months, we analyzed 31 pediatric patients aged from 12 days to 13 years using the disk diffusion method. We identified 31 bacterial isolates, including 8 Gram-negative and 8 Gram-positive strains, with the most common being Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, and Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. Our findings revealed that the most effective antibiotics were linezolid, ertapenem, and teicoplanin. In contrast, nearly all tested bacteria exhibited resistance to penicillin, followed by oxacillin and ampicillin. Resistance to cephalosporins varied with generation, showing higher resistance to lower-generation cephalosporins. The study highlights significant antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens in Romanian pediatric patients, emphasizing the urgent need for controlled antibiotic use and alternative treatment strategies to combat this growing issue. Effective antibiotics such as linezolid and ertapenem offer potential solutions, whereas reliance on penicillin and lower-generation cephalosporins is increasingly futile.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090878
Mirna Giselle Moreira, Anna Gabriella Guimarães Oliveira, Ihtisham Ul Haq, Tatiana Flávia Pinheiro de Oliveira, Wadi B. Alonazi, Antônio Augusto Fonseca Júnior, Vandack Alencar Nobre Junior, Simone Gonçalves dos Santos
{"title":"Droplet Digital PCR for Acinetobacter baumannii Diagnosis in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples from Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia","authors":"Mirna Giselle Moreira, Anna Gabriella Guimarães Oliveira, Ihtisham Ul Haq, Tatiana Flávia Pinheiro de Oliveira, Wadi B. Alonazi, Antônio Augusto Fonseca Júnior, Vandack Alencar Nobre Junior, Simone Gonçalves dos Santos","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090878","url":null,"abstract":"Advanced diagnostic technologies have made accurate and precise diagnosis of pathogens easy. Herein, we present a new diagnostic method, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), to detect and quantify Acinetobacter baumannii in mini bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) samples. A. baumannii causes ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a severe healthcare infection affecting patients’ lungs. VAP carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, making its timely diagnosis crucial for prompt and effective management. Methodology. The assay performance was evaluated by comparing colonization data, quantitative culture results, and different generations of PCR (traditional PCR and Real-Time PCR—qPCR Taqman® and SYBR® Green). The ddPCR and qPCR Taqman® prove to be more sensitive than other molecular techniques. Reasonable analytical specificity was obtained with ddPCR, qPCR TaqMan®, and conventional PCR. However, qPCR SYBR® Green technology presented a low specificity, making the results questionable in clinical samples. DdPCR detected/quantified A. baumanni in more clinical samples than other methods (38.64% of the total samples). This emerging ddPCR technology offers promising advantages such as detection by more patients and direct quantification of pathogens without calibration curves.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090881
Elisabete Muchagato Maurício, Patrícia Branco, Ana Luiza Barros Araújo, Catarina Roma-Rodrigues, Katelene Lima, Maria Paula Duarte, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Helena Albergaria
{"title":"Evaluation of Biotechnological Active Peptides Secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Potential Skin Benefits","authors":"Elisabete Muchagato Maurício, Patrícia Branco, Ana Luiza Barros Araújo, Catarina Roma-Rodrigues, Katelene Lima, Maria Paula Duarte, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Helena Albergaria","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090881","url":null,"abstract":"Biotechnological active peptides are gaining interest in the cosmetics industry due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-collagenase (ACE) effects, as well as wound healing properties, making them suitable for cosmetic formulations. The antimicrobial activity of peptides (2–10 kDa) secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ethanol-Red was evaluated against dermal pathogens using broth microdilution and challenge tests. ACE was assessed using a collagenase activity colorimetric assay, antioxidant activity via spectrophotometric monitoring of nitrotetrazolium blue chloride (NBT) reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects by quantifying TNF-α mRNA in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-exposed dermal fibroblasts. Wound healing assays involved human fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and dermal keratinocytes. The peptides (2–10 kDa) exhibited antimicrobial activity against 10 dermal pathogens, with the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) ranging from 125 µg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus to 1000 µg/mL for Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes. In the challenge test, peptides at their MICs reduced microbial counts significantly, fulfilling ISO 11930:2019 standards, except against Aspergillus brasiliensis. The peptides combined with MicrocareⓇ SB showed synergy, particularly against C. albicans and A. brasilensis. In vitro, the peptides inhibited collagenase activity by 41.8% and 94.5% at 250 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively, and demonstrated antioxidant capacity. Pre-incubation with peptides decreased TNF-α expression in fibroblasts, indicating anti-inflammatory effects. The peptides do not show to promote or inhibit the angiogenesis of endothelial cells, but are able to attenuate fibrosis, scar formation, and chronic inflammation during the final phases of the wound healing process. The peptides showed antimicrobial, antioxidant, ACE, and anti-inflammatory properties, highlighting their potential as multifunctional bioactive ingredients in skincare, warranting further optimization and exploration in cosmetic applications.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090883
Maria Paz Ventero, Clara Marin, Lourdes Migura-Garcia, Carla Tort-Miro, Noemi Giler, Inmaculada Gomez, Isabel Escribano, Ana Marco-Fuertes, Laura Montoro-Dasi, Laura Lorenzo-Rebenaque, Santiago Vega, Maria Teresa Pérez-Gracia, Juan Carlos Rodríguez
{"title":"Identification of Antimicrobial-Resistant Zoonotic Bacteria in Swine Production: Implications from the One Health Perspective","authors":"Maria Paz Ventero, Clara Marin, Lourdes Migura-Garcia, Carla Tort-Miro, Noemi Giler, Inmaculada Gomez, Isabel Escribano, Ana Marco-Fuertes, Laura Montoro-Dasi, Laura Lorenzo-Rebenaque, Santiago Vega, Maria Teresa Pérez-Gracia, Juan Carlos Rodríguez","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090883","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090883","url":null,"abstract":"Antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to global health and food security and is primarily driven by antimicrobial use in human and veterinary medicine. Understanding its epidemiology at farm level is crucial for effective control measures. Despite the significant reduction in antibiotic use in conventional livestock production, the swine sector traditionally has a higher level of antibiotic use in veterinary medicine. Consequently, multidrug resistance (MDR) among microbial isolates of swine origin has been relatively frequent. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, enteric pathogens and resistance genes to the main antibiotics used in clinical practice, both within the environment and in animals across pig farms characterized by varying degrees of sanitary status. A total of 274 samples were collected. Of these, 34 samples were collected from the environment (wall swabs, slat swabs and slurry pit), and 240 samples were collected from animals (sows’ and piglets’ rectal faeces). All samples were analysed for MDR bacteria and enteric pathogens. The study revealed a high frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales and Campylobacter spp., with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales predominating in high health status farms (environment and animals) and Campylobacter spp. in both high health status and low health status environments. Additionally, a high percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found, mainly in environmental samples from high health status farms, and Clostridioides difficile was distributed ubiquitously among farms and samples. Furthermore, though less frequently, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) was isolated only in high health status farms, and Gram-negative bacilli resistant to carbapenems were isolated only in environmental samples of high health status and low health status farms. This study underscores the importance of surveillance for MDR bacteria in farm animals and their environment, including their waste. Such ecosystems serve as crucial reservoirs of bacteria, requiring national-level surveillance to promote responsible antibiotic use and pandemic control.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090877
Mary Garvey
{"title":"Neonatal Infectious Disease: A Major Contributor to Infant Mortality Requiring Advances in Point-of-Care Diagnosis","authors":"Mary Garvey","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090877","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090877","url":null,"abstract":"Neonatal infectious disease continues to result in high rates of infant morbidity and mortality. Early- and late-onset disease represent difficult to detect and difficult to treat illnesses, particularly when antimicrobial resistant pathogens are present. Newborns are immunodeficient and are at increased risk of vertical and horizontal infection, with preterm infants increasingly susceptible. Additional risk factors associated with infection include prolonged use of a central catheter and/or ventilation, congenital abnormalities, admittance to intensive care units, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. There is increasing recognition of the importance of the host microbiome and dysbiosis on neonatal infectious disease, including necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis in patients. Current diagnostic methods rely on blood culture, which is unreliable, time consuming, and can result in false negatives. There is a lack of accurate and reliable diagnostic tools available for the early detection of infectious disease in infants; therefore, efficient triage and treatment remains challenging. The application of biomarkers, machine learning, artificial intelligence, biosensors, and microfluidics technology, may offer improved diagnostic methodologies. Point-of-care devices, such diagnostic methodologies, may provide fast, reliable, and accurate diagnostic aids for neonatal patients. This review will discuss neonatal infectious disease as impacted by antimicrobial resistance and will highlight novel point-of-care diagnostic options.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090880
Verica Aleksic Sabo, Dušan Škorić, Suzana Jovanović-Šanta, Petar Knezevic
{"title":"Exploring Biofilm-Related Traits and Bile Salt Efficacy as Anti-Biofilm Agents in MDR Acinetobacter baumannii","authors":"Verica Aleksic Sabo, Dušan Škorić, Suzana Jovanović-Šanta, Petar Knezevic","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090880","url":null,"abstract":"Acinetobacter baumannii has been designated as a critical priority pathogen by the World Health Organization for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to investigate both the phenotypic and genotypic traits of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii strains, along with the effects of natural bile salts on biofilm formation. The research analyzed phenotypic traits, including autoaggregation, hydrophobicity, twitching motility, lectin production, and biofilm formation, as well as genotypic traits such as the presence of bap and blaPER-1 genes in twenty wound and eight environmental MDR A. baumannii isolates. While all strains were identified as good biofilm producers, no statistically significant correlation was detected between the examined traits and biofilm formation. However, differences in biofilm production were observed between environmental and wound isolates. The natural bile salts Na-cholate, Na-deoxycholate, and Na-chenodeoxycholate demonstrated effective anti-A. baumannii activity (MIC = 0.25–10 mg mL−1), with significant anti-biofilm effects. Na-deoxycholate and Na-chenodeoxycholate inhibited 94–100% of biofilm formation at super-MIC concentrations (8–32 mg mL−1). This study underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in A. baumannii, highlighting the potential of natural bile salts as promising biofilm inhibitors and encouraging further research into their modification and combination with other antimicrobials.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090884
Chen Wang, Junxin Zhao, Yunzhi Lin, Su Zar Chi Lwin, Mohamed El-Telbany, Yoshimitsu Masuda, Ken-ichi Honjoh, Takahisa Miyamoto
{"title":"Characterization of Two Novel Endolysins from Bacteriophage PEF1 and Evaluation of Their Combined Effects on the Control of Enterococcus faecalis Planktonic and Biofilm Cells","authors":"Chen Wang, Junxin Zhao, Yunzhi Lin, Su Zar Chi Lwin, Mohamed El-Telbany, Yoshimitsu Masuda, Ken-ichi Honjoh, Takahisa Miyamoto","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090884","url":null,"abstract":"Endolysin, a bacteriophage-derived lytic enzyme, has emerged as a promising alternative antimicrobial agent against rising multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Two novel endolysins LysPEF1-1 and LysPEF1-2 derived from Enterococcus phage PEF1 were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli to test their antimicrobial efficacy against multidrug-resistant E. faecalis strains and their biofilms. LysPEF1-1 comprises an enzymatically active domain and a cell-wall-binding domain originating from the NLPC-P60 and SH3 superfamilies, while LysPEF1-2 contains a putative peptidoglycan recognition domain that belongs to the PGRP superfamily. LysPEF1-1 was active against 89.86% (62/69) of Enterococcus spp. tested, displaying a wider antibacterial spectrum than phage PEF1. Moreover, two endolysins demonstrated lytic activity against additional gram-positive and gram-negative species pretreated with chloroform. LysPEF1-1 showed higher activity against multidrug-resistant E. faecalis strain E5 than LysPEF1-2. The combination of two endolysins effectively reduced planktonic cells of E5 in broth and was more efficient at inhibiting biofilm formation and removing biofilm cells of E. faecalis JCM 7783T than used individually. Especially at 4 °C, they reduced viable biofilm cells by 4.5 log after 2 h of treatment on glass slide surfaces. The results suggest that two novel endolysins could be alternative antimicrobial agents for controlling E. faecalis infections.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-13DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090882
Xiaojia Liu, Yuan Liu, Meirong Song, Kui Zhu, Jianzhong Shen
{"title":"A Rhein-Based Derivative Targets Staphylococcus aureus","authors":"Xiaojia Liu, Yuan Liu, Meirong Song, Kui Zhu, Jianzhong Shen","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090882","url":null,"abstract":"The rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlights the need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study presents the design and synthesis of a series of rhein (RH)-derived compounds with improved antimicrobial properties. The lead compound, RH17, exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 8 to 16 μg/mL. RH17 disrupted bacterial membrane stability, hindered metabolic processes, and led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These mechanisms were confirmed through bacterial growth inhibition assays, membrane function assessments, and ROS detection. Notably, RH17 outperformed the parent compound RH and demonstrated bactericidal effects in S. aureus. The findings suggest that RH17 is a promising candidate for further development as an antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive pathogens, addressing the urgent need for new therapies.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-11DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090871
Oscar Mencía-Ares, Eva Ramos-Calvo, Alba González-Fernández, Álvaro Aguarón-Turrientes, Ana Isabel Pastor-Calonge, Rubén Miguélez-Pérez, César B. Gutiérrez-Martín, Sonia Martínez-Martínez
{"title":"Insights into the Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus hyicus Isolates from Spanish Swine Farms","authors":"Oscar Mencía-Ares, Eva Ramos-Calvo, Alba González-Fernández, Álvaro Aguarón-Turrientes, Ana Isabel Pastor-Calonge, Rubén Miguélez-Pérez, César B. Gutiérrez-Martín, Sonia Martínez-Martínez","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090871","url":null,"abstract":"Staphylococcus hyicus is a significant pathogen in swine, primarily causing exudative epidermitis. Addressing S. hyicus infections requires both the characterization of virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in farm-recovered isolates. This study aimed to characterize the virulence, AMR, and biofilm formation of S. hyicus isolates from Spanish swine farms. A total of 49 isolates were analyzed, originating from animals with cutaneous, reproductive, and systemic clinical signs. Half of the isolates (49.0%) were positive for at least one virulence factor (VF) gene, with SHETA being the most frequent (28.6%). A high frequency of multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates was observed (83.7%), with significant resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, including lincosamides (83.7%), pleuromutilins (81.6%), penicillins (75.5%), and tetracyclines (73.5%). All isolates exhibited robust in vitro biofilm formation capacity (DC = 15.6 ± 7.0). Significant associations were found between VFs, biofilm formation, and AMR patterns, highlighting the link between the resistance to lincosamides and pleuromutilins (p < 0.001; Φ = 0.57) and macrolides (p < 0.001; Φ = 0.48), and the association of AMR with the ExhC and ExhD VF genes. These findings underscore the need for targeted diagnostics to improve management and therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of S. hyicus on swine production.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AntibioticsPub Date : 2024-09-11DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13090869
Jozsef Kelemen, Marton Sztermen, Eva Krisztina Dakos, Jozsef Budai, Jozsef Katona, Zsuzsanna Szekeressy, Laszlo Sipos, Zoltan Papp, Balazs Stercz, Zsuzsanna A. Dunai, Bela Kocsis, Janos Juhasz, Fruzsina Michelisz, Zsuzsanna Daku, Judit Domokos, Dora Szabo, Lorand Eross
{"title":"Complex Infection-Control Measures with Disinfectant Switch Help the Successful Early Control of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Outbreak in Intensive Care Unit","authors":"Jozsef Kelemen, Marton Sztermen, Eva Krisztina Dakos, Jozsef Budai, Jozsef Katona, Zsuzsanna Szekeressy, Laszlo Sipos, Zoltan Papp, Balazs Stercz, Zsuzsanna A. Dunai, Bela Kocsis, Janos Juhasz, Fruzsina Michelisz, Zsuzsanna Daku, Judit Domokos, Dora Szabo, Lorand Eross","doi":"10.3390/antibiotics13090869","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090869","url":null,"abstract":"A carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) outbreak in an intensive care unit (ICU) was contained by an improved infection-control measure that included a disinfectant policy. In our retrospective cohort study, we describe the epidemiological investigations and infection-control measures during this outbreak. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize patient demographics, neurological diseases, surgical treatment, underlying diseases, infection, and outcomes. In December 2023, two CARB-positive patients were observed in the ICU, and four more patients became CRAB-positive in January. During this outbreak, there was an overlap of hospitalization periods among the CRAB-positive patients, and CRAB was isolated from the environment; the isolated CRAB strain was identical. Infection-control measures, including hand hygiene, contact precautions and isolation, surveillance, decolonization, environmental cleaning, and disinfection, were reviewed and modified. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular background of the effectiveness of the disinfectant shift used during successful outbreak control. Experiments were carried out to study the phenotypic sensitivity and genetic background of different disinfectant agents. A thorough analysis of the detected CRAB strain included whole-genome sequencing (WGS), investigation of the qacE and qacEΔ1 genes’ relative expression by qPCR after exposure to different disinfectant solutions, as well as an analysis of biofilm formation. WGS analysis of the CRAB strain identified that an ST2 high-risk clone was responsible for the outbreak, which produced OXA-83 and ADC-30 beta-lactamases; in addition, qacE and qacEΔ1 genes were also detected, which confer resistance to disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). A qPCR analysis demonstrated that after exposure to different disinfectants, the gene expression levels of qacE and qacEΔ1 increased and correlated with concentrations of QACs of disinfectants. During the outbreak, the standard-of-care QAC-based disinfectant was changed to a mainly alcohol-based agent in the ICU, which contributed to the successful control of this outbreak, and no additional patients were identified with CRAB. We conclude that continuous surveillance and hand hygiene training combined with fast identification and reaction to new cases, as well as an in-depth analysis of multidrug-resistant outbreak strains and investigation of their disinfectant tolerance/resistance during an outbreak, are essential to effectively control the spread of nosocomial pathogens. The smart policy of disinfectant agent selection played a crucial role in controlling the outbreak and ensuring patient safety in the ICU.","PeriodicalId":8151,"journal":{"name":"Antibiotics","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142196103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}