Toxic epidermal necrolysis following heart transplantation may caused by cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of heart transplantation is significantly affected by perioperative infections. Individualised immunosuppression strategies are essential to reduce the risk of such infections. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the successful management of a 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent heart transplantation. During the perioperative period, the patient was prescribed cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium, which induced a severe skin reaction: toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The patient was treated with prednisone, immunoglobulins, etanercept, and other active immunomodulatory measures, together with an individualised anti-rejection regimen and physical therapy. The systemic rash resolved within a month, and the patient was successfully discharged after surgery. CONCLUSION: Effective management of heart transplantation necessitates balancing immunosuppression and infection prevention. Individualised immunosuppressive strategies are critical for optimal clinical outcomes.

Development and internal validation of a model for predicting cefoperazone/sulbactam-associated coagulation disorders in Chinese inpatients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The use of cefoperazone/sulbactam (CPZ/SAM) could commonly cause vitamin K-dependent coagulation disorders and even hemorrhage sometimes. However, there is a lack of prediction tools estimating the risk for this. This study aimed at developing and internally validating a model for predicting CPZ/SAM-associated coagulation disorders in Chinese inpatients. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in 11,092 adult inpatients admitted to a Chinese general hospital between 2020 and 2021 and treated with CPZ/SAM. Patients with CPZ/SAM-associated coagulation disorders were identified through the Adverse Drug Events Active Surveillance and Assessment System-II and subsequent manual evaluation. Controls were selected from eligible patients who didn't develop coagulation disorders after CPZ/SAM therapy, with a 1:1 propensity score matching. The final predictors were obtained by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Internal validation and calibration for the model were performed using 1000 bootstrap resamplings. RESULTS: 258 patients were identified as CPZ/SAM-associated coagulation disorders in 2184 patients eligible for inclusions and exclusions and the incidence was 11.8%. A final population of 252 cases and 252 controls was included for model development and validation. Malnutrition (OR = 2.41 (1.56-3.77)), history of recent bleeding (OR = 1.95 (1.32-2.90)), treatment duration (OR = 1.10 (1.07-1.14)), combination with carbapenems (OR = 4.43 (1.85-11.88)), and serum creatinine (OR = 1.01 (1.00-1.01)) were identified as final predictors. The model showed good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicality, with the validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being 0.723 (0.683-0.770). CONCLUSIONS: The model with good performance quantifies the risk for CPZ/SAM-associated coagulation disorders, and may support individual assessment and interventions to mitigate the risk after external validation.

Multicenter study on clinical outcomes and poor prognostic factors in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia receiving cefoperazone/sulbactam treatment.

BACKGROUND: Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are common and result in high mortality rates. In vitro studies demonstrated the potency of cefoperazone/sulbactam (CPZ/SUL) against Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, the clinical efficacy of CPZ/SUL for the treatment of K. pneumoniae bacteremia has not been studied. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to associate the clinical outcomes of patients with bacteremia with the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CPZ/SUL against the causative K. pneumoniae isolates. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in Taiwan between July 2017 and April 2021. Patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia treated with CPZ/SUL were enrolled in this study. CPZ/SUL MICs were determined using the agar dilution method. Data on the patients' clinical outcomes and characteristics were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 201 patients were enrolled. Among the causative K. pneumoniae isolates, 180 (89.5%) were susceptible to CPZ/SUL. Most patients (n = 156, 77.6%) had favorable outcomes. The 30-day mortality rate was 11.9% (n = 24). Multivariate risk analyses showed that higher APACHE II score (Odds Ratio [OR], 1.14; Confidence Interval [CI], 1.07-1.21; p < 0.001), metastatic tumors (OR, 5.76; CI, 2.31-14.40; p < 0.001), and causative K. pneumoniae CPZ/SUL MICs > 16 µg/ml (OR, 4.30; CI, 1.50-12.27; p = 0.006) were independently associated with unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia treated with CPZ/SUL at a ratio 1:1 had favorable outcomes when the CPZ/SUL MICs were ≤ 16 µg/ml. Patients with higher APACHE II scores and metastatic tumors had unfavorable outcomes.

Alterations in gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines after administration of antibiotics in mice.

Antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial infection and reduce the mortality rate, while antibiotic overuse can cause gut microbiota dysbiosis. The impact of antibiotics on gut microbiota is not fully understood. In our study, four commonly used antibiotics (ceftazidime, cefoperazone-sulbactam, imipenem-cilastatin, and moxifloxacin) were given subcutaneously to mice, and their impacts on the gut microbiota composition and serum cytokine levels were evaluated through 16S rRNA analysis and a multiplex immunoassay. Antibiotic treatment markedly reduced gut microbiota diversity and changed gut microbiota composition. Antibiotic treatment significantly increased and decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota, respectively. The antibiotic treatments increased the abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Enterococcus and decreased that of Lachnospiraceae and Muribaculaceae. For moxifloxacin, the significantly high abundance of Enterococcus and Klebsiella was observed after 14 and 21 days of treatment. However, a relatively low abundance of opportunistic pathogens was found after 14 days of imipenem-cilastatin treatment. Additionally, the serum levels of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1ß, IL-12 (p70), and IL-17, significantly increased after 21 days of antibiotic treatments. Overall, these results provide a guide for rational use of antibiotics in clinical settings: short-term use of moxifloxacin is recommended with regard to gut microbiota health, and the 14-day use of imipenem-cilastatin may have a less severe impact than other antibiotics.IMPORTANCEAntibiotic treatments are directly associated with changes in gut microbiota and are effective against both pathogens and beneficial bacteria. Gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by antibiotic treatment could increase the risk of some diseases. Therefore, an adequate understanding of gut microbiota changes after antibiotic use is crucial. In this study, we investigated the effects of continuous treatment with antibiotics on gut microbiota, serum cytokines, and intestinal inflammatory response. Our results suggest that short-term use of moxifloxacin is recommended, and the 14-day use of imipenem-cilastatin may have a less severe effect on gut microbiota health than cefoperazone-sulbactam. These results provide useful guidance on the rational use of antibiotics with regard to gut microbiota health.

Role of the gut microbiota in cefoperazone/sulbactam-induced epilepsy in mice with chronic renal failure.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanism of cefoperazone/sulbactam-induced epilepsy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is not yet clear. We hypothesized that cefoperazone/sulbactam-induced epilepsy could be based on two main factors: neurotoxicity caused by drug accumulation after renal failure and an abnormal gut microbiota (GM). METHODS: A chronic renal failure (CRF) model in mice was established, and then different doses of cefoperazone/sulbactam were injected to induce epilepsy in mice. Normal mouse feces for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) were collected. We observed the changes in feces, mental state, and activity of each group of mice. After killing, we collected kidneys and colon for H&E staining. We collected mouse feces for the 16S RNA sequencing of bacteria. RESULTS: All CRF mice injected with different concentrations of cefoperazone/sulbactam experienced grade-V seizures and eventually died, whereas normal control mice did not. However, after FMT intervention, the time of epilepsy onset and death in mice was delayed. Early FMT intervention resulted in more mice surviving (p = .0359). Moreover, the villi in the mucosal of group-CS layer fell off, goblet cells missed, and crypts disappeared. The mucosal layer and submucosa were clearly separated. The morphology of intestinal tissue of the CFS and FS group was improved. After FMT, the changes of the GM were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The GM may be involved in the epilepsy induced by cefoperazone/sulbactam in CRF mice. FMT can delay the onset of epilepsy in CRF mice induced by cefoperazone/sulbactam, and the earlier the intervention, the better the effect.

A Rare Cause of Coagulopathy in the Emergency Department: Cefoperazone Use.

Cefoperazone (CPZ) is an antibiotic widely used for moderate to severe infections, especially in countries where resources are difficult to access. This case report aimed to draw attention to coagulopathy, a potential side effect of CPZ. This side effect can cause high mortality and morbidity in patients. In the mechanism of CPZ causing coagulopathy, it is reported that effects such as binding to vitamin K, disrupting vitamin K metabolism, and preventing platelet aggregation are responsible. In this presentation, a case who came to the emergency department with the complaint of hematuria caused by coagulopathy after the use of CPZ-containing antibiotics (CPZ + sulbactam) is presented.

Nomogram Based on Clinical Characteristics to Predict 28-Day Mortality Among Patients with CRAB-BSI.

BACKGROUND: The drug resistance of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections (CRAB-BSI), especially hospital-acquired infections, has promoted their rapid and vast spread. It is necessary to use reliable methods to establish better prediction models. According to Cox proportional hazards regression, a nomogram was established. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study among patients who were diagnosed with CRAB-BSI was performed from January 2020 to December 2022. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine independent prognostic factors regarding CRAB-BSI. Then, nomograms were used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC), C-index, and calibration curve to determine the predictive accuracy and dis-criminability. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was employed to further confirm the clinical effectiveness of the nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 98 cases were included in the comparison between the 28-day mortality group consisting of 32 patients and the 28-day survival group with 66 patients. The use of cefoperazone-sulbactam was significantly higher among patients who survived than among those who died. Univariable analysis revealed that factors such as primary diagnosis, time to inadequate antimicrobial therapy, and high serum creatinine and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were more prevalent in the mortality group. However, only primary diagnosis, time to inadequate antimicrobial therapy, and high PCT levels emerged as statistically significant risk factors for death in multivariate analysis and were used to construct the nomogram. The nomogram validation exhibited excellent performance. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram was sufficiently accurate to predict the risk and prognostic factors of CRAB-BSI, allowing for individualized clinical decisions for future clinical work. The cefoperazone-sulbactam did have an effect, but more studies are needed to interpret it.

Spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial keratitis: a retrospective analysis of eight years in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Southwest China.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, distribution of isolates, prevailing patterns, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial keratitis (BK) in a Tertiary Referral Hospital located in Southwest China. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 660 cases of bacterial keratitis occurring between January 2015 and December 2022. The demographic data, predisposing factors, microbial findings, and antibiotic sensitivity profiles were examined. Results: Corneal trauma emerged as the most prevalent predisposing factor, accounting for 37.1% of cases. Among these cases, bacterial culture results were positive in 318 cases, 68 species of bacteria were identified. The most common Gram-Positive bacteria isolated overall was the staphylococcus epidermis and the most common Gram-Negative bacteria isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci accounted for 18.1% of all Gram-Positive bacteria. The detection rate of P. aeruginosa showed an increasing trend over time (Rs=0.738, P=0.037). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of Gram-Negative microorganisms over time (Rs=0.743, P=0.035). The sensitivity of Gram-Positive bacteria to linezolid, vancomycin, tigecycline, quinupristin/dalfopristin, and rifampicin was over 98%. The sensitivity rates of Gram-Negative bacteria to amikacin, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, ceftazidime, and cefepime were all above 85%. In patients with a history of vegetative trauma, the possibility of BK should be taken into account in addition to the focus on fungal keratitis. Conclusion: The microbial composition primarily consists of Gram-Positive cocci and Gram-Negative bacilli. Among the Gram-Positive bacteria, S. epidermidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most frequently encountered, while P. aeruginosa is the predominant Gram-Negative bacteria. To combat Gram-Positive bacteria, vancomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin are considered excellent antimicrobial agents. When targeting Gram-Negative pathogens, third-generation cephalosporins exhibit superior sensitivity compared to first and second-generation counterparts. As an initial empirical treatment for severe cases of bacterial keratitis and those unresponsive to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones in community settings, the combination therapy of vancomycin and tobramycin is a justifiable approach. Bacterial keratitis can be better managed by understanding the local etiology and antibacterial drug susceptibility patterns.

Clinical pharmacist intervention in contraindications of the co-administration of cefoperazone and ambroxol hydrochloride injection.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pharmacists identified contraindications in two cases concerning the co-administration of cefoperazone and ambroxol hydrochloride injection, prompting a thorough investigation. CASE PRESENTATION: Clinically, two cases of contraindications for the co-administration of cefoperazone and ambroxol hydrochloride injection were discovered. After the intervention and analysis by clinical pharmacists, the possible reason could be the precipitation of free alkali due to the immediate administration of ambroxol after the infusion of cefoperazone. Clinical pharmacists suggested avoiding the co-administration of the two and recommended flushing the intravenous lines with 5% glucose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection during intravenous infusion to prevent direct drug interaction causing precipitation, thereby reducing the occurrence of adverse events. No adverse events occurred after the intervention, and no harm was caused to the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The co-administration of cefoperazone and ambroxol hydrochloride injection can lead to the precipitation of free alkali, posing a risk of adverse events. Clinical pharmacists' intervention could prevent this interaction. This practice has been shown to be effective, with no subsequent adverse events reported.

Efficacy of cefoperazone/sulbactam for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteraemia and the factors associated with poor outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the efficacy of cefoperazone/sulbactam (CPZ/SUL) in extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales infections and identify factors influencing outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre study was conducted in Taiwan (January 2015 to December 2020) and examined the efficacy of CPZ/SUL treatment in ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar dilution; ESBL/AmpC genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction. The primary outcome was clinical success, whereas the secondary outcome was 30-day mortality. Clinical success was defined as the complete resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of K. pneumoniae or E. coli infection, with no evidence of persistent or recurrent bacteraemia. The factors influencing outcomes were identified using a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: CPZ/SUL demonstrated a clinical success rate of 82.7% (91/110) in treating ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia, with a 30-day mortality rate of 9.1% (10/110). Among 110 ESBL-producing isolates, a high clinical success rate was observed at an MIC of ≤32/32 mg/L. Multivariate analysis revealed that a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) of ≥6 was associated with lower clinical success [odds ratio (OR): 5.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-29.14, P = 0.033]. High Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (≥6) were significantly associated with increased 30-day mortality (OR: 14.34, 95% CI: 1.45-141.82, P = 0.023). DISCUSSION: CPZ/SUL demonstrated a clinical success rate of 82.7% (91/110) in treating ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteraemia. Treatment success was evident when the CPZ and SUL MIC was ≤32/32 mg/L. Comorbidities (CCI ≥6) were associated with lower clinical success, while disease severity (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥6) correlated with higher mortality.

In-depth analysis of the treatment effect and synergistic mechanism of TanReQing injection on clinical multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antibiotic resistance is a recognized and concerning public health issue. Gram-negative bacilli, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), are notorious for their rapid development of drug resistance, leading to treatment failures. TanReQing injection (TRQ) was chosen to explore its pharmacological mechanisms against clinical multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDR-PA), given its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. We revealed the expression of proteins and genes in P. aeruginosa after co-culture with TRQ. This study developed an assessment method to evaluate clinical resistance of P. aeruginosa using MALDI-TOF MS identification and Biotyper database searching techniques. Additionally, it combined MIC determination to investigate changes in MDR-PA treated by TRQ. TRQ effectively reduced the MICs of ceftazidime and cefoperazone and enhanced the confidence scores of MDR-PA as identified by mass spectrometry. Using this evaluation method, the fingerprints of standard P. aeruginosa and MDR-PA were compared, and the characteristic peptide sequence (Seq-PA No. 1) associated with flagellum was found. The phenotypic experiments were conducted to confirm the effect of TRQ on the motility and adhesion of P. aeruginosa. A combination of co-immunoprecipitation and proteome analysis was employed, and 16 proteins were significantly differentially expressed and identified as potential candidates for investigating the mechanism of inhibiting resistance in P. aeruginosa treated by TRQ. The candidates were verified by quantitative real-time PCR analysis, and TRQ may affect these core proteins (MexA, MexB, OprM, OprF, OTCase, IDH, and ASL) that influence resistance of P. aeruginosa. The combination of multiple methods helps elucidate the synergistic mechanism of TRQ in overcoming resistance of P. aeruginosa.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen closely associated with various life-threatening acute and chronic infections. The presence of antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance in P. aeruginosa infections significantly complicates antibiotic treatment. The expression of ß-lactamase, efflux systems such as MexAB-OprM, and outer membrane permeability are considered to have the greatest impact on the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa. The study used a method to assess the clinical resistance of P. aeruginosa using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry identification and Biotyper database search techniques. TanReQing injection (TRQ) effectively reduced the MICs of ceftazidime and cefoperazone in multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDR-PA) and improved the confidence scores for co-cultured MDR-PA. The study found a characteristic peptide sequence for distinguishing whether P. aeruginosa is resistant. Through co-immunoprecipitation and proteome analysis, we explored the mechanism of TRQ overcoming resistance of P. aeruginosa.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Coagulation Dysfunction Caused by Cefoperazone/Sulbactam.

Objective: To evaluate associations between patient characteristics and cefoperazone/sulbactam-associated coagulation dysfunction. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 821 cases of bacterial infection treated with cefoperazone/sulbactam for more than three days in the Sixth Hospital of Wuhan, Affiliated Hospital of Jianghan University, from January 2018 to June 2022. The patients were divided into normal coagulation function group (NCFG) (781 cases) and abnormal coagulation function group (ACFG) (40 cases) according to their coagulation function. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis used the general data of the two groups of patients to investigate the risk factors of abnormal coagulation function caused by cefoperazone/sulbactam. Results: The incidence of abnormal coagulation function caused by cefoperazone/sulbactam was 4.87% (40/821). There was no significant difference in gender, body mass index (BMI), marriage, educational background, and concurrent medical conditions between the two groups (all P > .05). The patients in ACFG were older, the dosage and duration of cefoperazone/sulbactam were more prolonged, and the liver and kidney functions were more abnormal than those in NCFG, with significant differences (all P < .05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (≥ 65 years old) (OR=1.293, 95%CI:0.897-1.287), duration of therapy (>10d) (OR=1.765, 95%CI:1.052-3.761), daily dosage (>6g) (OR=3.291, 95%CI:1.732-6.871), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (≥ 23.98U/L) (OR=3.281, 95%CI:1.009-6.981), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (≥ 24.03U/L) (OR=2.109, 95%CI:1.276-3.298), and serum creatinine (SCR) (>107 µ mol/L) (OR=2.716, 95%CI:1.023-4.398), prothrombin time (PT) (≥ 13.9U/L) (OR=1.571, 95%CI:1.287-1.945) were the risk factors (P < .05). Conclusion: Elderly patients, time of use, daily dose of use, liver and kidney function, and PT are the risk factors of cefoperazone/sulbactam leading to abnormal coagulation function.

Accuracy of antibiotic concentrations in drug dispensing in neonates: a laboratory-based study.

BACKGROUND: Antibacterial therapy plays a crucial role in neonatal infections. The efficacy of antibacterial agents is closely related to the actual dose given to neonates. So we evaluated factors potentially affecting the actual dose of intravenous antibiotics during dispensing process in neonates. METHODS: Meropenem, cefoperazone/sulbactam and piperacillin/tazobactam with two strengths were used to evaluate three methods. Method A (MA) was diluted once and the volumes of 5% glucose for MA were meropenem 4.00 mL, cefoperazone/sulbactam 3.00 mL, piperacillin/tazobactam 9.00 mL. Method B (MB) differed by doubling the volume of 5% glucose. The difference in method C (MC) involved diluting with 5% glucose twice. The concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Relative error (RE) was used to evaluate the preparation accuracy. RESULTS: The RE values using MA/MB/MC were: (1) meropenem 0.5 g: 15.1%, 8.0%, 10.4%; 0.25 g: 7.8%, 3.1%, 6.0%; (2) cefoperazone/sulbactam 1.5 g: 13.6%, 4.2%, 3.4%; 0.75 g: 8.8%, 3.5%, 4.0%; (3) piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 g: 18.2%, 8.7%, 6.3%; 562.5 mg: 8.1%, 2.8%, 6.1%. MB was better than MA in all three drugs. No difference in RE values was found between single and double dilution, except meropenem with 0.25 g. Using MB, meropenem and piperacillin/tazobactam with small drug strength had higher accuracy in preparation. CONCLUSIONS: MB was suitable for neonatal drug dispensing because of its high accuracy and simple operation. Drugs with small strength were promoted due to the high accuracy.

A case of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica septicemia. / 脑膜脓毒性伊丽莎白金菌败血症一例.

A 82-year-old man was admitted to hospital with fever, unresponsiveness, elevated hypersensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophile granulocyte. Ceftriaxone was administrated by intravenous dripping in the emergency room, but the effect was not satisfactory. Following his admission to the ward, cefoperazone sulbactam were given. Elizabethkingia meningoseptica was identified by blood culture and further confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The lumbar puncture showed that cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 80 mmH2O (1 mmH2O=0.0098 kPa) and biochemical results were normal. After 11 days of cefoperazone sulbactam treatment, the patient was discharged with negative blood culture. The hypersensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophile granulocyte had also declined. The patient received levofloxacin tablets for anti-infection treatment for 14 d after discharge. No signs of infection were observed in three months' following up.

Case report: A rare multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli causes fatal neonatal meningoencephalitis.

Neonatal meningitis is rare but devastating disease. Multidrug-resistant (MDR, multi-drug resistant) bacteria are a major global health risk. We report an Escherichia coli meningitis isolate with multiple resistance patterns and unusual serotype (O75) that caused sudden neonatal death. The isolate was resistant to antibiotics other than cefoperazone/sulbactam and imipenem, challenging the combination of antibiotics commonly used in the empirical treatment of neonatal sepsis. Despite aggressive symptomatic and supportive treatment of the infant based on laboratory tests and clinical practice, the infant eventually died. This is the first case of meningoencephalitis due to serotype O75 reported in China. The presence of highly pathogenic multidrug-resistant microorganisms isolated in neonates underscores the need to implement rapid resistance diagnostic methods and should prompt consideration of alternatives to empiric treatment of neonatal bacterial meningitis.

The canonical Brucella species-host dependency is changing, however, the antibiotic susceptibility profiles remain unchanged.

Brucellosis is a chronic disease caused by Brucella species with a wide range of hosts, from marine mammals to terrestrial species, but with strict host preferences. With the zoonotic character, the prevalence of human brucellosis cases is a reflection of animal infections. This study aimed to identify 192 Brucella isolates obtained from various sources by Bruce-ladder PCR and to determine their antibiotic susceptibilities by gradient diffusion method (E-test). As a result of the PCR, all human isolates (n = 57) were identified as B. melitensis. While 58 (82.9%) of the cattle isolates were identified as B. abortus, 59 (90.8%) of the sheep isolates were identified as B. melitensis. In addition, 12 (17.1%) of the cattle isolates and 6 (9.2%) of the sheep isolates were determined as B. melitensis and B. abortus, respectively. The primary host change behavior of B. melitensis was 1.9 times higher than that of B. abortus. While gentamicin and ciprofloxacin susceptibilities of Brucella isolates were 100%, tetracycline, doxycycline, streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin susceptibilities were 99%, 99%, 97.4%, 91.7% and 83.9%, respectively. The lowest sensitivity of the isolates was determined against to cefoperazone as 26%. A triple-drug resistance was detected in 1 B. abortus isolate that included simultaneous resistance to cefoperazone, rifampicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The high susceptibility profiles we found against to antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, used widely in treatment, are encouraging. However, the change in the canonical Brucella species-primary host preference suggests the need to reconsider eradication program, including updating vaccine formulations.

The clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam versus piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam with piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). The retrospective study was conducted from March 1, 2018 to May 30, 2019. Clinical outcomes were compared for patients who received either cefoperazone-sulbactam or piperacillin-tazobactam in the treatment of SCAP. A total of 815 SCAP patients were enrolled. Among them, 343 received cefoperazone-sulbactam, and 472 received piperacillin-tazobactam. Patients who received cefoperazone-sulbactam presented with higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. (6.20 ± 2.77 vs 5.72 ± 2.61; P = .009). The clinical cure rates and effectiveness for patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam were 84.2% versus 80.3% (P = .367) and 85.4% versus 83.3% (P = .258), respectively. In addition, the overall mortality rate of the cefoperazone-sulbactam group was 16% (n = 55), which was also comparable to the piperacillin-tazobactam group (17.8%, n = 84, P = .572). The primary clinical outcomes for patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam were superior compared to those receiving piperacillin-tazobactam after adjusting disease severity status. The clinical efficacy of cefoperazone-sulbactam in the treatment of adult patients with SCAP is comparable to that of piperacillin-tazobactam. After adjusting for disease severity, cefoperazone-sulbactam tended to be superior to piperacillin-tazobactam.

Intestinal colonization with Candida auris and mucosal immune response in mice treated with cefoperazone oral antibiotic.

Candida auris, an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen, causes invasive infections in humans. The factors regulating the colonization of C. auris in host niches are not well understood. In this study, we examined the effect of antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis on C. auris intestinal colonization, dissemination, microbiome composition and the mucosal immune response. Our results indicate that mice treated with cefoperazone alone had a significant increase in C. auris intestinal colonization compared to untreated control groups. A significant increase in the dissemination of C. auris from the intestine to internal organs was observed in antibiotic-treated immunosuppressed mice. Intestinal colonization of C. auris alters the microbiome composition of antibiotic-treated mice. Relative abundance of firmicutes members mainly Clostridiales and Paenibacillus were considerably increased in the cefoperazone-treated mice infected with C. auris compared to cefoperazone-treated uninfected mice. Next, we examined the mucosal immune response of C. auris infected mice and compared the results with Candida albicans infection. The number of CD11b+ CX3CR1+ macrophages was significantly decreased in the intestine of C. auris infected mice when compared to C. albicans infection. On the other hand, both C. auris and C. albicans infected mice had a comparable increase of the number of Th17 and Th22 cells in the intestine. A significant increase in Candida-specific IgA was observed in the serum of C. auris but not in the C. albicans infected mice. Taken together, treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotic increased the colonization and dissemination of C. auris from the intestine. Furthermore, findings from this study for the first time revealed the microbiome composition, innate and adaptive cellular immune response to intestinal infection with C. auris.

Characteristics of and antibiotic resistance in urinary tract pathogens isolated from patients with upper urinary tract stones.

To investigate the distribution characteristics and antibiotic resistance patterns of uropathogens in patients with upper urinary calculi and urinary tract infections, data on sex, age, positive midstream urine culture results and drug sensitivity results were collected. The statistical program SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Among the 1414 positive urine samples, the most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (36.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (13.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (7.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.0%), Streptococcus agalactiae (3.4%) and Enterococcus faecium (3.3%). The incidences of E. coli (48.6%), K. pneumoniae (6.3%) and Proteus mirabilis (4.2%) were higher in female patients than in male patients (23.2%, 3.5%, 0.6%, respectively; P<0.05). E. faecalis was detected more frequently in the young group (16.0%) than in the elderly group (11.2%; P<0.01). Most of the isolates were resistant to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, while few were resistant to imipenem, meropenem, cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin. The bacterial spectra in patients with urinary stones varied by sex and age, which should be taken into consideration during treatment. The proportion of E. faecium showed an upward trend, while those of S. epidermidis and S. agalactiae demonstrated downward trends in the study period. Regardless, carbapenems, cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin are good choices for serious cases.

Formulations of essential oils obtained from plants traditionally used as condiments or traditional medicine active against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy cows with mastitis.

The prophylactic and therapeutic overuse of antimicrobials on the farm has contributed to the emergence of hard-to-fight bacterial strains causing bovine mastitis. Aiming at alternative therapies, this study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of 20 essential oils against clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains. Of them, five with strong activities were selected and evaluated for their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) in culture medium and milk, cytotoxicity against bovine mammary cells (MAC-T), antiadhesive properties, and interactions among themselves and with cefoperazone. The oils remained active on milk, were not cytotoxic, and some concentrations stimulated MAC-T cells growth, suggesting healing potential. Subinhibitory concentrations of Coriandrum sativum, Origanum vulgare, Syzygium aromaticum, and Thymus vulgaris reduced biofilm formation by at least 80%. Several oil and cefoperazone combinations displayed additive interaction, with O. vulgare and C. sativum showing the most promising results. We developed formulations for being used as prophylactic postdipping solutions in the field, containing different concentrations (1% or 3%) of the active oils, alone or in combination, with 3% glycerin, 1% Tween 80, and water. The formulations showed strong antimicrobial activity in milk and enhanced antiadhesive properties, specially when two oils were combined in the formula, indicating promising biotechnological and therapeutical applications.