Impact of Open Access status on journal metrics in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology - A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: While Open Access (OA) journals provide free access to articles, they entail high article processing charges (APC), limiting opportunities for young researchers and those from low-middle income countries to publish OA. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, evaluating APC and academic impact of full OA (FOA) journals in infectious diseases (ID) and clinical microbiology (CM) compared to hybrid journals. Data were collected from Journal Citation Reports and journals' websites. RESULTS: Among 255 journals, median APC was 2850 (interquartile range [IQR] 1325-3654$). Median APC for 120 FOA journals was significantly lower than for 119 hybrid journals (2000, IQR 648-2767$ versus 3550, IQR 2948-4120$, p < 0.001). FOA journals had lower citation numbers and impact metrics compared to hybrid journals. CONCLUSION: While FOA ID/CM journals have lower APCs, they also lower academic impact compared to hybrid journals. These findings highlight the need for reforms in the publication process in view of achieving equitable data dissemination.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae-related bacteremia in intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) bloodstream infections (BSI) have rarely been reported in critically ill patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of KP-BSI between January 2016 and December 2020 in an adult medical intensive care unit (ICU) of our tertiary care hospital. Hypervirulent phenotype was defined by the detection of both rmpA and iutA. RESULTS: Seventy patients diagnosed with K. pneumonia BSI were included, of whom 9 (13 %) had hvKP infection. Pneumonia accounted for 56 % of hvKP-BSI and for 28 % of those with cKP. Fifty-six percent of patients with hvKP-BSI were homeless, versus 2 % of those with cKP-BSI (p < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate reached 44 % for hvKP-BSI and 34 % for cKP-BSI (p = 0.7) and did not appear related to the hypervirulent phenotype in multivariable analysis. DISCUSSION: We here evidenced a new clinical entity of hvKP-BSI associated with pulmonary infection in homeless patients, which exhibits high mortality.