Reviewing explore/exploit decision-making as a transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety.

In many everyday decisions, individuals choose between trialling something novel or something they know well. Deciding when to try a new option or stick with an option that is already known to you, known as the "explore/exploit" dilemma, is an important feature of cognition that characterises a range of decision-making contexts encountered by humans. Recent evidence has suggested preferences in explore/exploit biases are associated with psychopathology, although this has typically been examined within individual disorders. The current review examined whether explore/exploit decision-making represents a promising transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety. A systematic search of academic databases was conducted, yielding a total of 29 studies. Studies examining psychosis were mostly consistent in showing that individuals with psychosis explored more compared with individuals without psychosis. The literature on anxiety and depression was more heterogenous; some studies found that anxiety and depression were associated with more exploration, whereas other studies demonstrated reduced exploration in anxiety and depression. However, examining a subset of studies that employed case-control methods, there was some evidence that both anxiety and depression also were associated with increased exploration. Due to the heterogeneity across the literature, we suggest that there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether explore/exploit decision-making is a transdiagnostic target for psychosis, depression, and anxiety. However, alongside our advisory groups of lived experience advisors, we suggest that this context of decision-making is a promising candidate that merits further investigation using well-powered, longitudinal designs. Such work also should examine whether biases in explore/exploit choices are amenable to intervention.

Safety and tolerability of ertapenem versus ceftriaxone in a double-blind study performed in children with complicated urinary tract infection, community-acquired pneumonia or skin and soft-tissue infection.

The carbapenem antibiotic ertapenem has been shown to be safe, well tolerated and effective in treating adults with complicated urinary tract infection, skin and soft-tissue infection and community-acquired pneumonia. In this study, we evaluated ertapenem for treating these infections in children in a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial. The primary outcome was the incidence of clinical and laboratory drug-related serious adverse events (AEs). Children were randomised in a 3:1 ratio (ertapenem:ceftriaxone) stratified by index infection and age to receive ertapenem or ceftriaxone; 303 children received ertapenem and 100 children received ceftriaxone. The median duration of parenteral therapy was 4 days for both treatments. The most commonly reported drug-related clinical AEs during parenteral therapy were diarrhoea (5.9% ertapenem, 10% ceftriaxone), infusion site erythema (3% ertapenem, 2% ceftriaxone) and infusion site pain (5% ertapenem, 1% ceftriaxone). One child in each group reported a serious drug-related clinical AE. No serious drug-related laboratory AEs were reported. In children aged 3 months to 17 years, ertapenem was well tolerated and had a comparable safety profile to that of ceftriaxone.

In vitro susceptibilities of aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections in the Asia-Pacific region: 2004 results from SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends).

In the 2004 Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART), 14 centres from six countries in Asia-Pacific collected 1198 unique aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli from intra-abdominal infections for susceptibility testing to 12 antimicrobial agents. Enterobacteriaceae comprised 82% of the total isolates. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated species (43%). Resistance rates were generally higher in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from Asian centres than those isolated from Oceania centres. There was little difference in susceptibility rates between community- and hospital-acquired Enterobacteriaceae for carbapenems. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producers typically had a more resistant profile than non-ESBL-producers, but were usually susceptible to carbapenems. Of the antimicrobial agents tested, carbapenems were the most reliably active in vitro against Enterobacteriaceae recovered from patients in Asia-Pacific with intra-abdominal infections.

In vitro susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections worldwide in 2002-2004: results from SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends).

BACKGROUND: Since 2002, the worldwide Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) has tracked resistance patterns among aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections. Escherichia coli has been by far the most frequently isolated species. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibilities for consecutive non-duplicate isolates of aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli recovered from intra-abdominal infections were determined by standard broth microdilution techniques. A subanalysis was performed for E. coli isolates from the first three years of the study. RESULTS: A total of 7,002 E. coli isolates were recovered, most commonly from the peritoneal cavity followed by the biliary tract. Susceptibility rates to the 12 antimicrobial agents tested differed among geographic regions, with isolates from Asia/Pacific generally having the highest resistance rates. Overall, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producers had a more antibiotic-resistant profile than non-ESBL-producers but usually were susceptible to the carbapenems and amikacin. Community-acquired E. coli strains comprised slightly more than one-half of the isolates and were susceptible to the agents tested more frequently than were hospital-acquired E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among E. coli isolated from intraabdominal infections is not inconsequential, especially in the Asia/Pacific region. The carbapenems and amikacin were consistently active in vitro against E. coli isolates worldwide, including ESBL-producers.

In vitro susceptibilities of aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections worldwide: the 2002 Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART).

BACKGROUND: The Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) was begun in 2002 to monitor international drug-resistance patterns among aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections. METHODS: In 2002, 40 medical centers from 17 countries collected consecutive non-duplicate isolates from intra-abdominal infections for susceptibility testing against 12 antimicrobial agents using the broth microdilution methods recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards). RESULTS: A total of 3,134 aerobic and facultative gram-negative bacilli were isolated. Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 82% of the total and were most consistently susceptible to amikacin and the carbapenems. Escherichia coli (45%) and Klebsiella spp. (17%) were the most common species. The susceptibility rates of these organisms to the 12 antimicrobial agents differed among geographic regions, with isolates from the Asia/Pacific and Latin American regions usually having the highest rates of resistance. Ampicillin/sulbactam was the agent least frequently active against E. coli (56% susceptible) and Klebsiella spp. (73% susceptible). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were detected phenotypically in 7% of E. coli, 13% of Klebsiella spp., and 18% of Enterobacter spp. Producers of ESBL overall had a more antibiotic-resistant profile than non-producers but were usually susceptible to carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance rates among gram-negative bacilli isolated from intra-abdominal infections differed among geographic regions. The carbapenems were consistently active in vitro against Enterobacteriaceae worldwide, including ESBL producers.

In vitro susceptibilities of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections worldwide: 2004 results from SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends).

OBJECTIVES: SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) is an ongoing study to monitor worldwide antimicrobial resistance trends among aerobic and facultatively anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) isolated from intra-abdominal infections. This 2004 report summarizes the most recently completed annual data from SMART. METHODS: During 2004, 81 medical centres from 28 countries in five global regions collected intra-abdominal GNB for antimicrobial susceptibility testing using broth microdilution according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 6156 unique aerobic and facultatively anaerobic GNB were isolated from intra-abdominal infections. Enterobacteriaceae composed 86% of the total isolates. Among the 12 antimicrobial agents tested, the carbapenems and amikacin were the most consistently active against the Enterobacteriaceae. Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated species (48%), and the susceptibility rate to the quinolones was lowest in Asia/Pacific and Latin America. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were detected phenotypically in 10% of E. coli, 17% of Klebsiella spp. and 22% of Enterobacter spp. worldwide, representing a slight increase over the two previous years. ESBL producers typically had a more antibiotic-resistant profile than non-ESBL producers but were usually susceptible to the carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance among GNB isolated from intra-abdominal infections continued to be a problem worldwide in 2004, with the highest rates of resistance overall in the Asia/Pacific region. The carbapenems and amikacin were the most consistently active agents in vitro against Enterobacteriaceae isolated from intra-abdominal infections worldwide.

In vitro susceptibilities of aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with intra-abdominal infections worldwide: the 2003 Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART).

OBJECTIVES: The SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) surveillance programme was begun in 2002 to monitor antimicrobial resistance trends among aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) isolated from intra-abdominal infections worldwide. METHODS: In 2003, 74 medical centres from 23 countries collected isolates for testing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using broth microdilution according to the NCCLS guidelines for MIC testing. RESULTS: A total of 5658 aerobic and facultative GNB were isolated from intra-abdominal infections. Enterobacteriaceae composed 84% of the total isolates. Among the agents tested, the carbapenems were the most consistently active against the Enterobacteriaceae. E. coli was the most common isolate (46%), and the susceptibility rate to the quinolone (70-90% susceptible), cephalosporin (80-97% susceptible), aminoglycoside (77-100% susceptible) and carbapenem (99-100% susceptible) agents tested varied among geographic regions, with isolates from the Asia/Pacific region generally being the most resistant. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were detected phenotypically in 9% of E. coli, 14% of Klebsiella spp., and 14% of Enterobacter spp. worldwide. ESBL producers generally had a more antibiotic-resistant profile than non-ESBL producers. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial resistance among GNB isolated from intra-abdominal infections is a problem worldwide, especially in the Asia/Pacific region. The carbapenems ertapenem, meropenem and imipenem are highly active in vitro against Enterobacteriaceae isolated from intra-abdominal sites, including organisms that produce ESBLs.