STRUCTURAL AND STEREOSPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NUCLEOSIDE-TRIGGERED GERMINATION OF BACILLUS-CEREUS SPORES

A selection of adenosine analogues was tested for their ability to trigger germination of Bacillus cereus NCIB 8122 spores. The germination-inducing activity was governed by the structural properties of the sugar rather than the base moieties of the nucleosides. Among the sugar-modified analogues, only those containing a 2'-deoxy-D-ribose moiety promoted spore germination. Requirements for a specific molecular structure of the base were not clearly identified, although the highest activity was observed when substituents were inserted at position 6 of the purine ring. All the base-modified analogues, even those such as coformycin and 2'-deoxycoformycin with an expanded base ring, retained the germination-inducing activity of adenosine. However, of the two 2'-deoxycoformycin diastereoisomers characterized by an asymmetric carbon atom at position 8 of the homopurine ring, only the 8S-isomer induced germination, thus indicating that stereospecific configuration of the inducer, at least in the case of 2'-deoxycoformycin, appears to be essential for the initiation of spore germination. The differences in the germination-inducing activity of the various analogues tested were not affected significantly by spore activation at different temperatures, although the higher the activation temperature, the lower was the concentration of each analogue required for maximum germination

Meropenem-Vaborbactam as Salvage Therapy for Ceftazidime-Avibactam-, Cefiderocol-Resistant ST-512 Klebsiella pneumoniae-Producing KPC-31, a D179Y Variant of KPC-3

A 68-year-old man had recurrent bacteremia by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam and cefiderocol. The sequencing of a target region showed that it harbored a KPC-3 variant enzyme (D179Y; KPC-31), which confers resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam and restores meropenem susceptibility. The patient was successfully treated with meropenem-vaborbactam

Evaluation of a modified cleaning procedure in the prevention of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clonal spread in a burn intensive care unit using a high-sensitivity luminometer

Background: Enhanced environmental cleaning practices are among the most accepted measures for controlling the spread of carbapenem-resistant . Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-Ab). Aim: To evaluate the impact of heightened cleaning on an ongoing CR-Ab outbreak in a burn intensive care unit (BICU) of an Italian teaching hospital, where chlorhexidine-60% isopropyl alcohol was applied as a complementary disinfectant on high-touch surfaces. Methods: Compliance with the microbial limit proposed for the BICU by AFNOR-NF-S90-351 (20 colony-forming units/100cm2) was assessed by plate count, and compared with the results obtained with intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection. Genotyping was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Findings: During the standard cleaning regimen, three out of 23 samples (13%) gave results over the AFNOR limit and five (21.7%) showed unacceptable ATP levels with 100 relative light units/100cm2 as the benchmark limit (sensibility 86.4%, specificity 92.2%). Following improvement of the cleaning procedure, only two samples out of 50 (4%) did not satisfy the microbiological criteria and seven (14%) exceeded the ATP limit. In a successive phase, eight of 30 samples collected showed unacceptable results (27%). Conclusions: Adding chlorhexidine-60% isopropyl alcohol as complementary disinfectant proved to be effective for reducing environmental microbial contamination, ATP levels and CR-Ab infection/colonization in patients admitted to the BICU. Real-time monitoring by ATP assay was useful for managing the cleaning schedule and reducing hospital infections, although the calculated values must be interpreted as cleanliness indicators rather than risk indicators

Increased risk of acquisition of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (Ndm-cre) among a cohort of covid-19 patients in a teaching hospital in Tuscany, Italy

We describe the epidemiology of New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) colonization/infection in a cohort of COVID-19 patients in an Italian teaching hospital. These patients had an increased risk of NDM-CRE acquisition versus the usual patients (75.9 vs. 25.3 cases/10,000 patient days). The co-infection significantly increased the duration of hospital stay (32.9 vs. 15.8 days)

Time to appropriate antibiotic therapy is a predictor of outcome in patients with bloodstream infection caused by KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) are associated with high mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between time to administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy and the outcome of patients with BSI due to KPC-Kp hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: An observational study was conducted in the ICUs of two academic centers in Italy. Patients with KPC-Kp bacteremia hospitalized between January 2015 to December 2018 were included. The primary outcome was the relationship between time from blood cultures (BC) collection to appropriate antibiotic therapy and 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the association of different treatment regimens with 30-day mortality and a composite endpoint (30-day mortality or nephrotoxicity). A Cox regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with 30-day mortality was performed. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients with KPC-Kp BSI were included. The most common sources of infection were intra-abdominal (23.5%), urinary tract (20.6%), and skin and skin structure (17.6%). The 30-day mortality was 45%. Median time to appropriate antibiotic therapy was shorter in patients who survived (8.5\u2009h [IQR 1-36]) versus those who died (48\u2009h [IQR 5-108], p\u2009=\u20090.014). A propensity score matching showed that receipt of an in vitro active therapy within 24\u2009h from BC collection was associated with lower 30-day mortality (HR\u2009=\u20090.36, 95% CI: 0.188-0.690, p\u2009=\u20090.0021). At Cox regression analysis, factors associated with 30-day mortality were primary bacteremia (HR 2.662 [95% CI 1.118-6.336], p\u2009=\u20090.027), cardiovascular disease (HR 2.196 [95% CI 1.082-4.457], p\u2009=\u20090.029), time (24-h increments) from BC collection to appropriate therapy (HR 1.382 [95% CI 1.132-1.687], p\u2009=\u20090.001), SOFA score (HR 1.122 [95% CI 1.036-1.216], p\u2009=\u20090.005), and age (HR 1.030 [95% CI 1.006-1.054], p\u2009=\u20090.012). Ceftazidime-avibactam-containing regimens were associated with reduced risk of composite endpoint (30-day mortality OR nephrotoxicity) (HR 0.231 [95% CI 0.071-0.745], p\u2009=\u20090.014) compared to colistin-containing regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Time to appropriate antibiotic therapy is an independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with KPC-Kp BSI. Appropriate antibiotic therapy should begin within 24\u2009h from the collection of BC

Bloodstream infections in patients with rectal colonization by Klebsiella pneumoniae producing different type of carbapenemases: a prospective, cohort study

Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that intestinal colonization by different types of carbapenemase-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) leads to different risks for bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by the same colonizing organism. Methods: Prospective observational study including consecutive CR-Kp rectal carriers admitted to the Pisa University Hospital (December 2018 to December 2019). Patients underwent rectal swabbing with molecular testing for the different carbapenemases at hospital admission and during hospitalization. Rectal carriers were classified as: NDM, KPC, VIM and OXA-48. The primary end point was the rate of BSI by the same colonizing organism in each study group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with the risk for BSI by the colonizing organism. Results: Of 677 rectal carriers, 382/677 (56.4%) were colonized by NDM, 247/677 (36.5%) by KPC, 39/677 (5.8%) by VIM and 9/677 (1.3%) by OXA-48. Dissemination of NDM-Kp was mostly sustained by ST147, while KPC-Kp belonged to ST512. A higher rate of BSI was documented in NDM rectal carriers compared with KPC rectal carriers (59/382, 15.4% versus 20/247, 8.1%, p 0.004). Incidence rates of BSI per 100 patients/month were significantly higher in the NDM group (22.33, 95% CI 17.26-28.88) than in the KPC group (9.56, 95% CI 6.17-14.82). On multivariate analysis, multi-site extraintestinal colonization, solid organ transplantation, invasive procedures, intravascular device, admission to intensive care unit, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolones and NDM rectal colonization (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.73-6.18, p < 0.001) were independently associated with BSI. Conclusions: NDM-Kp was associated with increased risk of BSI compared with KPC-Kp. This finding seems to be strongly related to the high-risk clone ST147

Evaluation of a new Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility system for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bloodstream infections: speed and accuracy of Alfred 60AST.

BACKGROUND: Blood stream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The time from taking blood cultures to obtain results of antibiotic sensitivity can be up to five days which impacts patient care. The Alfred 60 AST™ can reduce laboratory time from positive culture bottle to susceptibility results from 16 to 25 h to 5-6 h, transforming patient care. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid antimicrobial susceptibility system, the Alfred 60 AST™, in clinical isolates from patients with BSIs and confirm time to results. 301 Gram-negative and 86 Gram-positive isolates were analysed directly from positive blood culture bottles following Gram staining. Antimicrobial susceptibility results and time-to-results obtained by rapid Alfred 60 AST system and BD Phoenix were compared . RESULTS: A total of 2196 antimicrobial susceptibility test results (AST) were performed: 1863 Gram-negative and 333 Gram-positive. AST categorical agreement (CA) for Alfred 60 AST™ was 95% (1772/1863) for Gram-negative and 89% (295/333) for Gram-positive isolates. Gram-negative CA: ampicillin 96% (290/301); ciprofloxacin 95% (283/297); ceftriaxone 96% (75/78); meropenem 97% (288/297); piperacillin-tazobactam 95% (280/295); gentamicin 94% (279/297) and amikacin 93% (277/298). The median time to susceptibility results from blood culture flagging positive was 6.3 h vs 20 h (p < 0.01) for Alfred system vs BD Phoenix™. CONCLUSION: Alfred 60 AST system greatly reduced time to antimicrobial susceptibility results in Gram-negative and Gram-positive BSIs with good performance and cost, particularly for Gram-negative bacteraemia