Erratum to: Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13017-016-0089-y.].

Reduced In Vitro Activity of Ceftaroline by Etest among Clonal Complex 239 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Strains from Australia.

A total of 421 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were tested for ceftaroline susceptibility by Etest (bioMérieux). A multidrug resistant phenotype was found in 40.9%, and clonal complex 239 (CC239) was found in 33.5%. Ceftaroline nonsusceptibility (MIC, >1.0 µg/ml) was 16.9% overall. Nonsusceptibility was significantly higher in CC239 (41.1%, 58/141) and in isolates with a multidrug resistant phenotype (35.5%, 61/172) compared with comparators (P < 0.0001). Nonsusceptibility of common multidrug resistant MRSA clones limits the empirical use of ceftaroline for these infections.

Laboratory identification of donor-derived coxsackievirus b3 transmission.

Unexpected donor-to-recipient infectious disease transmission is an important, albeit rare, complication of solid organ transplantation. Greater work and understanding about the epidemiology of these donor-derived transmissions is continually required to further mitigate this risk. Herein we present the first reported case of proven donor-derived transmission of coxsackievirus serogroup-3, an enterovirus, following solid organ transplant. Swift and effective communication between the organ donation agency, treating physicians, laboratory testing and notification ensured a coordinated approach. The resulting clinical syndromes in the organ recipients were mild. This case highlights the requirement for ongoing surveillance over a broad range of infecting pathogens that may present as a donor-derived infection.

Darwin's finches: population variation and natural selection.

Van Valen's model, which relates morphological variation to ecological variation in an adaptive scheme, was investigated with individually marked and measured Darwin's finches on two adjacent Galápagos islands, Santa Cruz and Daphne Major. Results show that environmental heterogeneity is correlated with large continuous, morphological variation: variation in bill dimensions of Geospiza fortis is greater on Santa Cruz than on Daphne, as is environmental heterogeneity. Within populations of this species, different phenotypes distribute themselves in different habitat patches, select foods of different sizes and hardness, and exploit them with efficiencies that are phenotype- (bill size) dependent. These data constitute indirect evidence that natural selection has a controlling influence over the level of phenotypic variation exhibited by a population. Further evidence is that phenotypes did not survive equally well during the study period; on Daphne island G. fortis was apparently subjected to directional selection on bill tip length and G. scandens to normalizing selection on body weight and bill depth. Other factors which may have contributed to the establishment of a difference in variation between Santa Cruz and Daphne populations are the founder effect, genetic drift, and assortative mating. Annual climatic unpredictability is considered a source of environmental heterogeneity which, through its effect upon food supply, favors large morphological variation. It is predicted that species of large individual size are more influenced by this than are small species, and consequently exhibit greater size-corrected variation. The prediction is tested with data from six Geospiza species, and found to be correct.

Finch numbers, owl predation and plant dispersal on Isla Daphne Major, Galápagos.

Populations of 4 geospizine finches were studied on Isla Daphne Major in April and December 1973. Finches were captured, banded, measured and released in both months, and censused in December. 1640±711 finches were estimated to be present in December, of which probably more than 1000 belonged to Geospiza fortis. G. fortis were 4 times more numerous than G. scandens. The overal density at this time was 27-54/ha. This is the first quantitative estimate of finch population sizes for a whole island in the Galápagos Archipelago. Some G. fuliginosa and magnirostris immigrated between study periods, but overall density remained nearly constant. There was no evidence of immigration of fortis and scandens. Survival rates of the two common species, fortis and scandens, from April to December were estimated, from banded birds, to be 86.9% and 91.3%. Up to 300 finches (fortis and scandens) disappeared between study periods. The amount of predation by owls (Asio flammeus), estimated from an analysis of 49 pellets, could account for more than 50% of the finch losses, but is likely to be less. The estimated loss due to predation was less than 10% of the populations in April.The discovery of the remains of house mice, Mus musculus, and black rats, Rattus rattus, in pellets indicates that owls hunt on one island (e.g. Santa Cruz or Baltra) and regurgitate on another (Daphne). Fruits of a Euphorb, Chamaesyce amplexicaulis (Hook. f.) Burch, that finches eat were found in two pellets that also contained finch remains. This suggests that seeds or fruits in the throat of a victim at the time of a kill may be transported unharmed inside an owl from one island to another. Indirect support to this suggestion is given by the results of flotation experiments with seeds and fruits of 22 species of plants. Most did not float, and are too heavy to be transported by normal winds. Many do not have hooks or sticky surfaces, and internal transport by birds (including owls) is therefore strongly suggested.