Explore the vast range of titles available.

Multidrug resistant Enterobacterales have become a serious global health problem, with extended hospital stay and increased mortality. Antibiotic monotherapy has been reported ineffective against most drug resistant bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae , thus encouraging the use of multidrug therapies as an alternative antibacterial strategy. The present works assessed the antibacterial activity of colistin against K . pneumoniae isolates. Resistant isolates were tested against 16 conventional antibiotics alone and in combination with colistin. The results revealed that all colistin resistant isolates demonstrated multidrug resistance against the tested antibiotics except amikacin. At sub-inhibitory concentrations, combinations of colistin with amikacin, or fosfomycin showed synergism against 72.72% (8 of 11 isolates). Colistin with either of gentamicin, meropenem, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, moxifloxacin, minocycline, or piperacillin exhibited synergism against 81.82% (9 of 11 isolates). Combinations of colistin with either of tobramycin or ciprofloxacin showed synergism against 45.45% (5 in 11 isolates), while combinations of colistin with imipenem or ceftolozane and tazobactam displayed 36.36% (4 of 11 isolates) and 63.64% (7 of 11 isolates) synergism. In addition, combinations of colistin with levofloxacin was synergistic against 90.91% (10 of 11 isolates). The results revealed that combinations of colistin with other antibiotics could effectively inhibit colistin resistant isolates of K . pneumoniae , and thus could be further explore for the treatment of multidrug resistant pathogens.

The efficacy of adjunctive therapy with cefoperazone-sulbactam (CEP-SUL) for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic effect of adding CEP-SUL to standard regimens for VAP due to CRAB. Patients with VAP due to CRAB strains that were susceptible to CEP-SUL were enrolled into the study. The patients were divided into two groups: those who receive cefoperazone-sulbactam (CEP-SUL ), and those who did not receive cefoperazone-sulbactam (CEP-SUL). Mortality rates and resource utilization of these two groups were compared. Factors associated with mortality were explored. Eighty patients were enrolled into the study, 52 CEP-SUL and 28 CEP-SUL . The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable, except for median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score which was significantly higher for CEP-SUL . Thirty-day, and in-hospital mortality rates for CEP-SUL were significantly lower than CEP-SUL with values of 35%, 39% and 61%, 68%, for CEP-SUL and CEP-SUL , respectively. The survival rate for CEP-SUL was significantly higher compared with CEP-SUL ( < 0.001). The number of hospital days, ventilator days since diagnosis of VAP and hospital costs were lower for CEP-SUL . Overall results suggested that patients with VAP due to CRAB strains who received adjunctive therapy with CEP-SUL had lower mortality rates and resource utilization compared with CEP-SUL .

The spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens and the lagging pace in the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents warrant the use of combination therapy as a reliable, cost-effective interim option. In this study, the synergistic effects of fosfomycin in combination with other antibiotics were assessed. Of the 193 isolates, 90.6% were non-susceptible to fosfomycin, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ≥128 µg/mL. Antibacterial evaluation of fosfomycin-resistant isolates indicated multi-drug resistance to various antibiotic classes. Combinations of fosfomycin with 12 commonly used antibiotics synergistically inhibited most fosfomycin-resistant isolates. The fractional inhibitory concentration index indicated that combining fosfomycin with either aminoglycosides, glycylcyclines, fluoroquinolones, or colistin resulted in 2- to 16-fold reduction in the MIC of fosfomycin. Time-kill kinetics further confirmed the synergistic bactericidal effects of fosfomycin in combination with either amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, minocycline, tigecycline, or colistin, with more than 99.9% reduction in bacterial cells. Fosfomycin-based combination therapy might serve as an alternative option for the treatment of MDR A. baumannii. Further steps including in vivo efficacy and toxicity in experimental models of infection are required prior to clinical applications.

Non-absorbable sutures provide a site for bacterial attachment and increase the risk of surgical site infections. An alternative prevention of infections requires plant-extract coatings on sutures. The objectives of this study were to develop P. betle leaf extract-coated non-absorbable sutures and to investigate their activities on staphylococci. P. betle leaves were extracted and analyzed for the phytochemicals. P. betle extract was coated on sutures, including polyester and polypropylene. The stability of hydroxychavicol on coated sutures was evaluated. Four treatments were designed, including (1) uncoated, (2) antibiotic/extract-free-coated, (3) extract-coated, and (4) gentamicin-coated sutures. Each treatment was tested for antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesion activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. In addition, the cytotoxicity of extract-coated sutures was tested. Analysis of the extract identified hydroxychavicol (40.07%) as the primary phytochemical. Stability tests indicated higher hydroxychavicol on Day 1 of extract-coated polyester compared to polypropylene, and the levels decreased on the subsequent days (p < 0.05). Antibacterial activity of extract-coated polyester showed antibacterial effects during the experiment period (5.16 ± 2.35 mm), while polypropylene showed no effectiveness. Additionally, biofilm inhibition was found to be 36.63 ± 27.08% and 37.34 ± 26.98% in tested staphylococci for extract-coated polyester and polypropylene, respectively. Anti-adhesion showed that the extract-coated sutures had a higher ability to decrease tested bacteria attachment (56.25–60.42% living cell reduction). The cytotoxicity study revealed that extract-coated sutures of ≤1.5 mg/1.5 cm had a 99% survival rate. The findings indicate that the coated sutures showed antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesion effects against staphylococci causing canine skin infections and might lead to alternative surgical use in veterinary medicine.

As the burden of antibacterial resistance worsens and treatment options become narrower, rhodomyrtone—a novel natural antibiotic agent with a new antibacterial mechanism—could replace existing antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by multi-drug resistant Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, rhodomyrtone was detected within the cell by means of an easy an inexpensive method. The antibacterial effects of rhodomyrtone were investigated on epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thin-layer chromatography demonstrated the entrapment and accumulation of rhodomyrtone within the bacterial cell wall and cell membrane. The incorporation of radiolabelled precursors revealed that rhodomyrtone inhibited the synthesis of macromolecules including DNA, RNA, proteins, the cell wall, and lipids. Following the treatment with rhodomyrtone at MIC (0.5–1 µg/mL), the synthesis of all macromolecules was significantly inhibited (p ≤ 0.05) after 4 h. Inhibition of macromolecule synthesis was demonstrated after 30 min at a higher concentration of rhodomyrtone (4× MIC), comparable to standard inhibitor compounds. In contrast, rhodomyrtone did not affect lipase activity in staphylococci—both epidemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. aureus ATCC 29213. Interfering with the synthesis of multiple macromolecules is thought to be one of the antibacterial mechanisms of rhodomyrtone.

Purpose: Compared with non-carbapenemase producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (non-CP-CRE), carbapenemase- producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) are associated with considerable mortality. However, given that the patients are treated with various therapeutic options, it remains unclear whether differences in types of carbapenemase genes yield different mortality rates. Therefore, this study aims to identify carbapenemase genes and identify whether clinical outcomes differ according to the prevalence of genotype and phenotype of carbapenemase among Enterobacterales clinical isolated. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine whether types of carbapenemase genes have an impact on clinical outcomes. Carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates were collected at a tertiary care university hospital in Songkhla, Thailand, between June 2018 and February 2020. Demographic and microbiological data such as antimicrobial susceptibility, carbapenemase genes, and overall mortality were evaluated. Results: A total of 121 Enterobacterales clinical isolated were evaluated. The [bla.sub.NDM-1] gene was detected in 44% of the isolates, followed by [bla.sub.OXA-48] (28%) and [bla.sub.NDM-1/OXA-48] (28%). NDM-1- or NDM-1/OXA-48- producing isolates were more likely to require meropenem MICs of [greater than or equal to] 16 mg/L, while OXA-48-producing isolates were more likely to require meropenem MICs of <16 mg/L. The patients with NDM-1 or NDM-1/OXA-48 had a higher 14 days mortality rate than those with OXA-48 after treating with carbapenem-containing regimens (P-value 0.001) or colistin-containing regimens (P-value < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the mortality for CP-CRE infection in patients with NDM-1 or NDM-1/OXA-48 was higher than the mortality in those with OXA-48, which It seems that the type of carbapenemase gene may affect meropenem MIC levels. Hence, in treatment decisions involving the use of either carbapenem-containing regiment or colistin-containing regiment in patients with CP-CRE infection, especially those in the NDM-1 and NDM-1/OXA-48 groups, the patient symptoms should be closely monitored. Keywords: carbapenemase, carbapenem resistance Enterobacterales, NDM-1, OXA-48, NDM-1/OXA-48

Background/Objectives: Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen that causes infections in pigs and humans, leading to significant economic losses. S. suis can evade the immune system of hosts and induce persistent infections. Early detection and vaccination are crucial for controlling the disease in swine industries. This study aimed to investigate candidate recombinant protein for antibodies against S. suis detection and subunit vaccine development. Methods: The whole genome of S. suis BM407 was analyzed using bioinformatic tools to predict suitable proteins and genes for recombinant protein expression. Partial extracellular factor protein (epf) genes of S. suis serotype 2 DMST18783 were amplified. A 3301 bp amplicon was digested, and a specific 615 bp fragment was inserted into a pQE81L-KAN vector. Then, the constructed plasmid was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli DH10β. Purified protein was analyzed using SDS-PAGE. In addition, translated amino acid sequences were analyzed for immune response properties, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and epitope prediction. Results: The amino acid sequence of recombinant extracellular factor protein (rEF) was revealed as a promising antigen containing putative protective regions as linear epitopes. Furthermore, the rEF was expressed as a histidine-tagged recombinant protein, and its properties were nearly similar to the predicted rEF using bioinformatic tools. Binding of the recombinant EF (rEF) protein was found to reduce fluctuations in the swine toll-like receptor 2. Furthermore, the rEF contained several regions that were predicted to be epitopes for both B-cells and T-cells. Conclusions: This study indicates that the recombinant EF fragment is a promising candidate for detecting antibodies against S. suis and as a component of a subunit vaccine.

Fruits and vegetables are essential sources of nutrient and bioactive compounds that confer beneficial effects on human health. However, their short shelf-life at room temperature causes losses and waste during all phases of the supply chain and handling. In this study, a porous biodegradable sodium alginate composite fortified with Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyx extract was fabricated by freeze-drying and evaluated for multifarious applications. Scanning electron micrograph of composite with or without extract indicated uniformly distributed porous structure, whereas contact angles of 18.47º and 34.43º for control and test composite, respectively indicated that the samples were hydrophilic. Cytotoxicity assay indicated that the composites were compatible with renal cells (Vero) and human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) , yielding a > 80% viability. Furthermore, the H. sabdariffa L. extract fortified composite delayed the spoilage of climacteric fruits during storage and showed improved human keratinocyte cells migration. The results of the blood coagulation assessment showed a dose-dependent hemostasis activity for the test composite suggesting its potential biological efficacy. Thus, the composite can be further explored as a multifarious functional stick-fresh composite for the shelf-life extension of climacteric fruits and vegetables.

ObjectiveSilver nanoparticles synthesized using Rhodomyrtus tomentosa leaf extract and silk sericin were used to functionalize carbopol 940 gel for topical applications.ResultsUV–vis spectra presented surface plasmon resonance at 426 nm, transmission electron microscopy revealed that nanoparticles were spherical with an average size of 25–50 nm. X-ray diffraction presented crystalline silver nanoparticles with zeta potential of ≈ − 30 mV. FTIR spectra showed a reduction of silver nitrate indicated by the shift in –OH at 2958 cm–1. The silver nanoparticle demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungi with MIC ranging between 0.26 and 2.10 μg mL−1, respectively. MIC of hydrogel ranged between 1.05–2.10 μg mL−1 with cell viability of 89%. Spreadability and extrudability of gel were 9.3 ± 0.85 s and 19.85 ± 0.03%, respectively with first order of fickian diffusion.ConclusionsThe silver nanoparticle gel exhibited an effective antimicrobial property, hence can be exploited for topical applications.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) incorporated antibacterial cosmeceutical peel-off mask was formulated by co-polymerization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with sodium alginate (NaAlg), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and characterized. Scanning electron micrograph indicated entrapped nanoparticles with a diameter of 26.71–51.82 nm, while EDX showed AgNPs concentration of 0.7 Wt%. The test gel exhibited a high degree of moisture retention, hydrophilicity with contact angle values of ≈ 35 ° and surface energy of ≈ 160 mN m− 1. Diffusion study indicated AgNPs release of 0.10 µg mL− 1, 0.09 µg mL− 1, and 0.12 µg mL− 1 for PVA-NaAlg, PVA-HPMC, and PVA-HEC with gel strength of 1.79 ± 1.84 (N), 0.94 ± 1.21 (N), and 1.16 ± 0.79 (N), respectively. Antibacterial efficacy of the peel-off gel demonstrated > 99 % growth reduction for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, the gel demonstrated biocompatibility with human red blood cells and fibroblast L929 cells, with ≈ 90% viability. Freeze-thaw stability studies showed that the AgNPs peel-off mask formulations were consistent and stable. The study revealed that the polymers used were suitable for gel formulation, and the incorporation of silver nanoparticles could act as antibacterial component of facial peel-off gel without altering the properties of polymeric gel.