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Epidemiology and molecular characterization of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from immunocompromised patients in Tunisia
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important pathogen involved in nosocomial outbreaks. Increased resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents including β-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones is associated to this microorganism. Outbreaks of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae have been extensively reported worldwide [1]. Thus, carbapenems were used for infections caused by ESBL-producing pathogens leading to the emerg ence of resistant carbapenem K. pneumoniae [2]. Consequently, carbapenem resistance emerged and become a significant problem in terms of public health and clinical outcome [3]. (Source...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 31, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Farah Ben Tanfous, Anis Raddaoui, Yosra Chebbi, Wafa Achour Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

Inactivation of multidrug-resistant pathogens and Y. enterocolitica with cold atmospheric pressure plasma on stainless steel surfaces
The use of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a new nonthermal decontamination method. Plasma is the fourth state of matter and includes a lot of different bactericidal species such as NO, NO2, N2O, CO, CO2, H2O2 and ozone [1, 2]. Plasma is generated by applying an electric field to a working gas, in our study to the inexpensive ambient air. The generated plasma-species cause oxidative stress and damage bacterial cells [3]. If the amount of reactive species exceeds the capacity of cellular repair mechanisms, cell death occurs. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 31, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Karolina A. Lis, Corinna Kehrenberg, Annika Boulaaba, Maren von K öckritz-Blickwede, Sylvia Binder, Yangfang Li, Julia L. Zimmermann, Yvonne Pfeifer, Birte Ahlfeld Source Type: research

Implementation of a two-point pharmacokinetic AUC-based vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring approach in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the leading causes of community-onset and nosocomial bacteremia worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality [1-3]. Nearly 65,000 cases of MRSA bacteremia (MRSA-B) are reported annually in the United States alone with mortality rates often in excess of 25% [4,5]. While vancomycin remains a mainstay of treatment for MRSA-B [6], concern has been raised regarding suboptimal outcomes for patients in whom the pharmacodynamic target of therapy is not achieved [7,8]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 31, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Bryan T. Mogle, Jeffrey M. Steele, Robert W. Seabury, Utkarsh J. Dang, Wesley D. Kufel Source Type: research

Carbapenems and alternative beta-lactams for the treatment of infections due to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae: what impact on intestinal colonization resistance?
The incidence of infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE) is globally on the rise owing to the successful spread of these pathogens in both community-based and healthcare-associated ecosystems [1]. This situation drives a dramatic increase in carbapenem consumption in high prevalence areas [2, 3], which is suspected to contribute to the on-going pandemic of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) [4]. Hence, and although clinical data are lacking to convincingly support a prominent role of carbapenem exposure on the hazard of CPE acquisition, restraining the consumpti...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 31, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Paul-Louis Woerther, Rapha ël Lepeule, Charles Burdet, Jean-Winoc Decousser, Étienne Ruppé, François Barbier Tags: Review Source Type: research

Corrigendum to ‘In vitro activity of artemisone and artemisinin derivatives against extracellular and intracellular Helicobacter pylori’ [International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 48/1 (2016) 101–105]
The authors regret that there was an error in the Table 1: The Metronidazole MIC value for the strain E17 should be 2 microg/ml. This is now corrected online. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 30, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Francesca Sisto, Maria Maddalena Scaltrito, Carla Masia, Arianna Bonomi, Valentina Cocc è, Giuseppe Marano, Richard K. Haynes, Alessandro Miani, Giampietro Farronato, Donatella Taramelli Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: research

Insights into a novel Tn4401 deletion (Tn4401i) in a multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strain belonging to the high-risk clonal group 258 producing KPC-2
In Brazil and other lower- and middle-income countries, the emergence and spread of high-risk clones of CTX-M-15- and KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has been observed in clinical settings at increasingly alarming frequencies [1,2]. The potential for global dissemination of resistance genes in K. pneumoniae is of concern because it is related to high-risk clones, i.e. clonal group 258 (CG258), and the presence of mobilised plasmids carrying Tn4401 [2]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 27, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Bruna Fuga Ara újo, Sabrina Royer, Paola Amaral Campos, Melina Lorraine Ferreira, Iara Rossi Gonçalves, Luiz Gustavo Machado, Nilton Lincopan, Miriam Rodriguez Fernandes, Louise Teixeira Cerdeira, Deivid William da Fonseca Batistão, Paulo P. Gontijo-Fi Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Insights into a novel Tn4401  deletion (Tn4401i) in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strain belonging to the high-risk Clonal Group 258 producing KPC-2
Sir, (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 27, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Bruna Fuga Ara újo, Sabrina Royer, Paola Amaral Campos, Melina Lorraine Ferreira, Iara Rossi Gonçalves, Luiz Gustavo Machado, Nilton Lincopan, Miriam Rodriguez Fernandes, Louise Teixeira Cerdeira, Deivid William da Fonseca Batistão, Paulo P. Gontijo-Fi Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

The ‘Eat me cake’ theory, or genetic cannibalism of the enemy: A cause of vanishing antimicrobial resistance
L évi-Strauss, quoted by M. Foucault [1], explained that in primitive civilisations, the way to fight against enemies was either to eat their strength by cannibalism or to exile them by ostracism. This analogy is also applicable to the immune defences of individuals and populations, complementing our analogy with another new punishment against enemies in humans which is jail, created to keep enemies in a situation in which they cannot act/interact or multiply (dormant virus or bacteria). The first, and probably the oldest, defence of microbial populations against competing populations (enemies) was genetic cannibalism, wi...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 24, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Didier Raoult Tags: Hot Topic Source Type: research

High mortality impact of Staphylococcus argenteus on patients with community-onset staphylococcal bacteraemia
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human commensal bacterium with the potential for invasive infection as well as significant infection-associated morbidity and mortality [1-3]. The epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, clinical characteristics and outcomes of S. aureus infections, therefore, have been extensively elaborated in numerous studies for the best treatment results [1-6]. Recently, this issue has been complicated by the recognition of an early branching, divergent lineage with approximately 10% nucleotide divergence compared to traditional S. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 24, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Shey-Ying Chen, Hao Lee, Xiao-Mei Wang, Tai-Fen Lee, Chun-Hsing Liao, Lee-Jene Teng, Po-Ren Hsueh Source Type: research

The theory of "Eat me cake", or the genetic cannibalism of the enemy: a cause of vanishing antibiotic resistance
L évi-Strauss, quoted by M. Foucault (1), explained that in primitive civilizations, the way to fight against the enemies was either to eat their strength by cannibalism, or to exile them by ostracism. This analogy is also applicable to the immune defenses of individuals and populations, complementin g our analogy with another new punishment against enemies in humans which is jail, created to keep the enemies in a situation in which they cannot act-interact, or multiply (dormant virus or bacteria). (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 24, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Didier Raoult Tags: Hot Topic Source Type: research

Are there any challenges left in hepatitis C virus therapy of HIV-infected patients?
The introduction of highly-active antiretroviral therapy has dramatically reduced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated morbidity and mortality. Indeed, near-to-normal life expectancy can be expected in HIV infections if antiviral therapy is started before the onset of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or advanced immunodeficiency. Therefore, concomitant diseases are increasingly gaining importance. Coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is of substantial concern, as HIV is known to accelerate the progression of HCV-related liver disease, which has emerged as a leading cause of death in HIV-infected indi...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Jenny Bischoff, J ürgen K. Rockstroh Tags: Themed Issue: Therapeutics of hepatitis viruses Source Type: research

Clinical characteristics of patients with bacteraemia due to the emergence of mcr-1-harbouring Enterobacteriaceae in humans and pigs in Taiwan
In the era of widespread antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, the number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria has been continuously increasing [1 –4]. Antimicrobial resistance in species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family is no exception. The emergence of carbapenem resistance has been observed among Enterobacteriaceae and it is recognised as a global public-health issue [5–7]. Therapeutic options for MDR micro-organisms are limit ed, and colistin is considered as the last drug of choice [8–14]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Chih-Cheng Lai, Yi-Tsung Lin, Yu-Tzu Lin, Min-Chi Lu, Zhi-Yuan Shi, Yao-Shen Chen, Lih-Shinn Wang, Shu-Hui Tseng, Chao-Nan Lin, Yen-Hsu Chen, Wen-Chien Ko, Fu-Der Wang, Po-Ren Hsueh, Infection Control Society of Taiwan Source Type: research

Exploring the relationship between primary care antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections, Escherichia coli bacteraemia incidence and antibiotic resistance: an ecological study
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem within the UK and globally. Optimising the use of antibiotics is a high priority as one of the main drivers of AMR is their misuse [1,2]. For this reason, Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes (ASPs) in secondary care [3,4] and in primary care [5,6] have been put in place in in the UK and globally in recent years. One component of ASPs is the provision of evidence-based guidelines for antimicrobial prescribing. The link between antibiotic exposure and antibiotic resistance (for urinary and respiratory tract infections) in primary care has been widely demonstrated in recent...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Hannah Lishman, C éire Costelloe, Susan Hopkins, Alan P Johnson, Russell Hope, Rebecca Guy, Berit Muller-Pebody, Alison Holmes, Paul Aylin Source Type: research

Antibacterial activity of rhodomyrtone on Clostridium difficile vegetative cells and spores in vitro
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis, and is associated with high mortality and soaring healthcare costs [1]. The recommended treatment of adults with severe CDI is oral vancomycin or oral fidaxomicin [2]. Oral vancomycin is also recommended for children with severe or fulminant CDI [2]. However, the rising incidence of CDI since 2000, together with the frequency of relapses and emergence of hypervirulent and antibiotic-resistant strains, has increased the urgency for new treatments [3,4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Sutthirat Srisuwan, Kate E. Mackin, Dianna Hocking, Dena Lyras, Vicki Bennett-Wood, Supayang P. Voravuthikunchai, Roy M. Robins-Browne Source Type: research

Clinical characteristics of patients with bacteraemia due to the emergence of mcr-1-harboring Enterobacteriaceae in humans and pigs in Taiwan
In the era of widespread antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria has been continuously increasing [1-4]. Drug resistance in species belonging to Enterobacteriaceae is no exception, and the emergence of carbapenem resistance has been found among Enterobacteriaceae, and it is recognized as a global public health issue [5-7]. The therapeutic option for MDR organism is limited, and colistin is considered as the last drug of choice [11-14]. However, since the first identified mcr-1-encoding plasmid-mediated colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in China [11], many regions, i...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - August 23, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Chih-Cheng Lai, Yi-Tsung Lin, Yu-Tzu Lin, Min-Chi Lu, Zhi-Yuan Shi, Yao-Shen Chen, Lih-Shinn Wang, Shu-Hui Tseng, Chao-Nan Lin, Yen-Hsu Chen, Wen-Chien Ko, Fu-Der Wang, Po-Ren Hsueh, Infection Control Society of Taiwan Source Type: research