Infectoforum

The search for novel antimicrobial agents to combat microbial pathogens is intensifying in response to bioterrorism and rapid drug resistance development to current antibiotic therapeutics. Respiratory failure and septicemia are the leading causes of mortality among hospitalized patients. Here, we report the development of a novel engineered cyclotide with effective broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against several ESKAPE bacterial strains and clinical isolates. The most active antibacterial…

CONCLUSIONS: Our results from real-world data demonstrated that PCT dynamics remain intact despite immunosuppressive therapy, in contrast to other biomarkers such as CRP, WBC, and ANC. In addition, higher PCT levels are associated with systemic infections and reflect disease severity.

CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of comments in the laboratory information system decreased call volume, but targeted comments were less effective than anticipated.

An optimal antimicrobial dose provides enough drug to achieve a clinical response while minimizing toxicity and development of drug resistance. There can be considerable variability in pharmacokinetics, for example, owing to comorbidities or other medications, which affects antimicrobial pharmacodynamics and, thus, treatment success. Although current approaches to antimicrobial dose optimization address fixed variability, better methods to monitor and rapidly adjust antimicrobial dosing are…

An increase in antibiotic usage is considered to contribute to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Although experts are counting on the antimicrobial stewardship programs to reduce antibiotic usage, their effect remains uncertain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of antibiotic usage and forecast the prevalence of hospital-acquired extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) using time-series analysis. Antimicrobial culture information of E. coli…

CONCLUSION: Age between 26-45 years old, previously treated cases and TB/HIV co-infection were identified as the determinants of MDR-TB. Special attention should be given to age between 26-45 years old, previous history of TB treatment and TB/HIV co-infection to prevent and control MDR-TB in the local context.

Undue exposure to antimicrobials has led to the acquisition and development of sophisticated bacterial resistance mechanisms, such as efflux pumps, which are able to expel or reduce the intracellular concentration of various antibiotics, making them ineffective. Therefore, inhibiting this mechanism is a promising way to minimize the phenomenon of resistance in bacteria. In this sense, the present study sought to evaluate the activity of the Carvacrol (CAR) and Thymol (THY) terpenes as possible…

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The predominance of the mixed microbiota, represented by various associations of opportunistic and common pathogens, was identified in infertile women with the past history of STIs as a result of microbial culturing of the samples from the uterine cavity. Chronic inflammation in endometrium is caused by a persistent viral-bacterial infection in the uterine cavity, which differs in the species composition from the microbiota of the lower genital tract.