Impact of Bacillus licheniformis from yaks following antibiotic therapy in mouse model.

Gut microorganism (GM) is an integral component of the host microbiome and health system. Abuse of antibiotics disrupts the equilibrium of the microbiome, affecting environmental pathogens and host-associated bacteria alike. However, relatively little research on Bacillus licheniformis alleviates the adverse effects of antibiotics. To test the effect of B. licheniformis as a probiotic supplement against the effects of antibiotics, cefalexin was applied, and the recovery from cefalexin-induced jejunal community disorder and intestinal barrier damage was investigated by pathology, real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The result showed that A group (antibiotic treatment) significantly reduced body weight and decreased the length of jejunal intestinal villi and the villi to crypt (V/C) value, which also caused structural damage to the jejunal mucosa. Meanwhile, antibiotic treatment suppressed the mRNA expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, claudin, occludin, and Ki67 and elevated MUC2 expression more than the other Groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). However, T group (B. licheniformis supplements after antibiotic treatment) restored the expression of the above genes, and there was no statistically significant difference compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Moreover, the antibiotic treatment increased the relative abundance of 4 bacterial phyla affiliated with 16 bacterial genera in the jejunum community, including the dominant Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria in the jejunum. B. licheniformis supplements after antibiotic treatment reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Epsilonbacteraeota, Lactobacillus, and Candidatus Stoquefichus. This study uses mimic real-world exposure scenarios by considering the concentration and duration of exposure relevant to environmental antibiotic contamination levels. We described the post-antibiotic treatment with B. licheniformis could restore intestinal microbiome disorders and repair the intestinal barrier. KEY POINTS: • B. licheniformis post-antibiotics restore gut balance, repair barrier, and aid health • Antibiotics harm the gut barrier, alter structure, and raise disease risk • Long-term antibiotics affect the gut and increase disease susceptibility.

Doxycycline versus cephalexin treatment of presumed streptococcal skin and soft tissue infection among adults presenting to the emergency department.

Among 100 propensity score-matched emergency department patients receiving ≤14 days doxycycline versus cephalexin monotherapy for outpatient treatment of nonpurulent (presumed streptococcal) skin and soft tissue infection, a low rate of 14-day clinical failure was observed [6% each group; odds ratio (OR), 1.34 (0.21-8.69); P = 0.745], defined as hospital admission, i.v. antibiotic therapy, or change in oral antibiotic. Doxycycline may represent a reasonable therapeutic alternative for this indication in regions with low tetracycline resistance.

Improving bone regeneration with electrospun antibacterial polycaprolactone/collagen/polyvinyl pyrrolidone scaffolds coated with hydroxyapatite and cephalexin delivery capability.

Electrospinning is a facile popular method for the creation of nano-micro fibers tissue engineering scaffolds. Here, polycaprolactone (PCL)/collagen (COL): polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) scaffolds (PCL/COL: PVP) were fabricated for bone regeneration. Various concentrations of Cephalexin (CEF) (0.5, 1, 1.5 wt. %) were added to PCL/COL: PVP scaffold to provide an antibacterial scaffold, and different concentrations of hydroxyapatite (HA) (1, 2, 5 wt. %) was electrospray on the surface of the scaffolds. The PCL/COL: PVP scaffold contained 1.5% CEF and coated with 2% HA was introduced as the best sample and in-vitro tests were performed on this scaffold based on the antibacterial and MTT test results. Morphology observations demonstrated a bead-free uniform combined nano-micro fibrous structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction tests confirmed the successful formation of the scaffolds and the wettability, swelling, and biodegradability evaluations of the scaffolds confirmed the hydrophilicity nature of the scaffold with high swelling properties and suitable biodegradation ratio. The scaffolds supported cell adhesion and represented high alkaline phosphatase activity. CEF loading led to antibacterial properties of the designed scaffolds and showed a suitable sustained release rate within 48 h. It seems that the electrospun PCL/COL: PVP scaffold loaded with 1.5% CEF and coated with 2% HA can be useful for bone regeneration applications that need further evaluation in the near future.

Streamlined fabrication of AuPtRh trimetallic nanoparticles supported on Ti3C2MXene for enhanced photocatalytic activity in cephalosporins degradation.

The escalating prevalence of cephalosporin antibiotics in wastewater poses a serious threat to public health and environmental balance. Thus, it is crucial to develop effective methods for removing cephalosporin antibiotics from water sources. Herein, we propose the use of AuPtRh trimetallic nanoparticles supported on Ti3C2MXene as a photocatalyst for the degradation of cephalosporin antibiotics. Initially, AuPtRh nanoparticles were uniformly grown onto Ti3C2MXene sheets using one-step reduction technique. The prepared AuPtRh/Ti3C2MXene exhibited a complete degradation of cefixime and ceftriaxone sodium, while an impressive degradation efficiency of 91.58 % for cephalexin was achieved after 60 min of exposure to visible light, surpassing the performance of its individual AuPtRh nanoparticles and Ti3C2MXene. The enhanced photoactivity of AuPtRh/Ti3C2MXene was resulted from improved light absorption capacity and efficient generation, separation, and transfer of charge carriers driven by the formation of heterojunction between AuPtRh and Ti3C2MXene. Electron paramagnetic resonance and radicals trapping experiments results revealed that •O2- and h+ are the principal reactive species governing the degradation of cephalosporins. The photocatalyst exhibited excellent stability and could be reused four times without significant loss in efficiency. Our study highlights the potential of MXene composites for environmental remediation, offering insights into designing sustainable AuPtRh/Ti3C2MXene photocatalyst for water pollutant degradation.

Quantitative analysis of cephalexin in solid dosage form by Raman spectroscopy and chemometric tools.

OBJECTIVE: To use Raman Spectroscopy for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of pharmaceutical formulations of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Cephalexin. SIGNIFICANCE: Raman Spectroscopy is a noninvasive, nondestructive, reliable and rapid detection technique used for various pharmaceutical drugs quantification. The present study explores the potential of Raman Spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical drugs. METHOD: For qualitative and quantitative analysis of Cephalexin API, various standard samples containing less and more concentration of API than commercial tablet was prepared. To study spectral differences, the mean plot of all the samples was prepared. For qualitative analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and for quantitative analysis Partial Least Square Regression analysis (PLSR) was used. Both of these are Multivariate data analysis techniques and give reliable results as published in previous literature. RESULTS: PCA model distinguished all the Raman Spectral data related to the various Cephalexin solid dosage formulations whereas the PLSR model was used to calculate the concentration of different unknown formulations. For the PLSR model, RMSEC and RMSEP were determined to be 3.3953 and 3.8972, respectively. The prediction efficiency of this built PLSR model was found to be very good with a goodness of the model value (R2) of 0.98. The PLSR model also predicted the concentrations of Cephalexin formulations in the blind or unknown sample. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the Raman spectroscopy coupled to PLSR analysis could be regarded as a fast and effectively reliable tool for quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical drugs.

BACTERIAL PROFILE, ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AT HOSANNA TOWN HEALTH FACILITIES, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA.

Urinary tract infection in pregnancy is a common microbial infection. Antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens is becoming a major health problem worldwide. The antimicrobial agents used to manage urinary tract infections during pregnancy should be carefully chosen. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the bacterial profile, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and factors associated with urinary tract infection among pregnant women at Hosanna town public health facilities. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2022 on a total of 312 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at Hosanna Town public health facilities. Sociodemographic, clinical data, and related information were collected by using a pre-tested questionnaire. In addition, mid-stream urine specimens were collected from study participants. Bacterial pathogens were identified by standard bacteriological techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 25. Chi-square and odds ratios were calculated and a P-value≤0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. The results were presented with words and tables. Of a total of pregnant women, 59/312(18.9%) (95% CI: 14.7-23.7) were found to have significant bacteriuria. The predominant isolates were Escherichia coli (E. coli) 22(34.4%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) 10(15.6%), Staphylococci aureus (S. aureus) 7(10.9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) 6(9.4%). Overall, 78.1% of these isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to meropenem (97.6%), gentamicin (85.7%), nitrofurantoin (82.1%), ciprofloxacin (73.8%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (73.8%) and ceftriaxone (71.8%), but highly resistant to ampicillin (95.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (74.4%), doxycycline (71.8%), cefuroxime (69.2%), and cephalexin (69.2%). The gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to gentamicin (86.4%), erythromycin (81.8%), and nitrofurantoin (77.3%): whereas they showed a high level of resistance to penicillin (72.7%), doxycycline (54.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (52.9%), and cefoxitin (52.9%). No formal education for the participant (AOR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.03-7.98, p=0.044), family monthly income <1500 birr (AOR: 3.19, 95% CI: 1.48-6.89, p=0.003), and previous history of UTI (AOR: 4.52, 95% CI: 2.04-10.03, p=0.001) were significantly associated with bacteriuria. This study revealed a high prevalence of bacterial urinary tract infection among pregnant women and low susceptibility to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefuroxime, and cephalexin. Therefore, regularly, culture-based bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed. Alternatively, empiric antibiotic therapy should consider the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant uropathogens and the factor that may increase the urinary tract infection occurrence due to multi-drug resistant uropathogens.

Phage-antibiotic synergy: Cell filamentation is a key driver of successful phage predation.

Phages are promising tools to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and as for now, phage therapy is essentially performed in combination with antibiotics. Interestingly, combined treatments including phages and a wide range of antibiotics lead to an increased bacterial killing, a phenomenon called phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS), suggesting that antibiotic-induced changes in bacterial physiology alter the dynamics of phage propagation. Using single-phage and single-cell techniques, each step of the lytic cycle of phage HK620 was studied in E. coli cultures treated with either ceftazidime, cephalexin or ciprofloxacin, three filamentation-inducing antibiotics. In the presence of sublethal doses of antibiotics, multiple stress tolerance and DNA repair pathways are triggered following activation of the SOS response. One of the most notable effects is the inhibition of bacterial division. As a result, a significant fraction of cells forms filaments that stop dividing but have higher rates of mutagenesis. Antibiotic-induced filaments become easy targets for phages due to their enlarged surface areas, as demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry techniques. Adsorption, infection and lysis occur more often in filamentous cells compared to regular-sized bacteria. In addition, the reduction in bacterial numbers caused by impaired cell division may account for the faster elimination of bacteria during PAS. We developed a mathematical model to capture the interaction between sublethal doses of antibiotics and exposition to phages. This model shows that the induction of filamentation by sublethal doses of antibiotics can amplify the replication of phages and therefore yield PAS. We also use this model to study the consequences of PAS on the emergence of antibiotic resistance. A significant percentage of hyper-mutagenic filamentous bacteria are effectively killed by phages due to their increased susceptibility to infection. As a result, the addition of even a very low number of bacteriophages produced a strong reduction of the mutagenesis rate of the entire bacterial population. We confirm this prediction experimentally using reporters for bacterial DNA repair. Our work highlights the multiple benefits associated with the combination of sublethal doses of antibiotics with bacteriophages.

Condition optimization of eco-friendly RP-HPLC and MCR methods via Box-Behnken design and six sigma approach for detecting antibiotic residues.

A precise, Eco-friendly, and highly sensitive RP-HPLC method was employed using quality-by-design principles to concurrently identify cephalexin and cefixime residues in the manufacturing machines using a hypersil BDS C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) at wavelength 254 nm. The Box-Behnken design was applied to obtain the best chromatographic conditions with the fewest possible trials. Three independent factors viz organic composition, flow rate, and pH were used to assess their effects on the responses' resolution and retention time. Overlay plot and desirability functions were implemented to predict responses of the high resolution and relatively short retention time using a mobile phase composed of acidic water: acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) at pH 4.5 adjusted by phosphoric acid with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min. The spectral overlapping of the drugs was successfully resolved by the mean centering ratio (MCR) spectra approach at 261 nm and 298 nm for cephalexin and cefixime, respectively. Good linearity results were obtained for the suggested HPLC and MCR methods over the concentration range of (0.05-10 ppm) and (5-30 ppm) with a detection limit of 0.003, 0.004, 0.26, and 0.23 ppm, and quantitation limits of 0.008, 0.013, 0.79, and 0.68 ppm for cephalexin and cefixime, respectively, with a correlation coefficient of ≥ 0.9998 and good swab recovery results of 99-99.5%. A process capability index was accomplished for chemical and micro results, illustrating that both are extremely capable. The suggested method was effectively validated using ICH recommendations.

The effects of cephalexin on fracture healing in a rat femur fracture model.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cephalexin on the fracture union histomorphometrically, radiologically, biomechanically, immunohistochemically, and histopathologically in a rat femur fracture model and to evaluate the effects of the antibiotics to be used in the prophylaxis of fracture infection on the union of the fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups as two-week control (C2) and cephalexin (CEP2) and four-week control (C4) and cephalexin (CEP4). After establishment of standard fracture model on right femurs, 60 mg/kg/day of cephalexin was applied to CEP2 and CEP4 by oral gavage. Radiological, biomechanical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and histomorphometric examinations were performed on amputated femurs. RESULTS: Callus volume of CEP4 group significantly increased compared to CEP2 group (p=0.005), while no significant difference was found in the bone mineral density and callus/bone volume among the groups (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in flexural strength between the C4 and CEP4 groups (p=0.093). Histological healing scores increased from Week 2 to Week 4 (p=0.002) and inflammation scores decreased in both control and cephalexin groups (p=0.010 and p=0.008); however, no significant difference was found in healing and inflammation scores (p>0.05). The CD34+ immunoreactivity in the CEP2 group was significantly higher than the C2 group (p=0.029). Collagen type III level was significantly lower in the CEP2 and CEP4 groups compared to the corresponding control groups (p=0.008 and p=0.016, respectively). CONCLUSION: Cephalexin did not exert any radiological, histopathological, histomorphometric, biomechanical, and immunohistochemical adverse effects on the femoral fracture healing model in rats; however, it showed positive effects on CD34 and Collagen type III levels. Based on these findings, antibiotherapy with cephalexin may be considered as a safe treatment for fracture union.

Irinotecan-induced gastrointestinal damage alters the expression of peptide transporter 1 and absorption of cephalexin in rats.

Irinotecan causes severe gastrointestinal damage, which may affect the expression of intestinal transporters. However, neither the expression of peptide transporter 1 (Pept1) nor the pharmacokinetics of Pept1 substrate drugs has been investigated under irinotecan-induced gastrointestinal damage. Therefore, the present study quantitatively investigated the effects of irinotecan-induced gastrointestinal damage on the intestinal expression of Pept1 and absorption of cephalexin (CEX), a typical Pept1 substrate, in rats. Irinotecan was administered intravenously to rats for 4 days to induce gastrointestinal damage. The expression of Pept1 mRNA and the Pept1 protein in the upper, middle, and lower segments of the small intestine of irinotecan-treated rats was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting, respectively. The pharmacokinetic profile of CEX was examined after its oral or intravenous administration (10 mg/kg). In irinotecan-treated rats, ∼2-fold increases in Pept1 protein levels were observed in all three segments, whereas mRNA levels remained unchanged. The oral bioavailability of CEX significantly decreased to 76% of that in control rats. The decrease in passive diffusion caused by intestinal damage may have overcome the increase in Pept1-mediated uptake. In conclusion, irinotecan may decrease the intestinal absorption of Pept1 substrate drugs; however, it increased the expression of intestinal Pept1.

In vitro and in vivo susceptibility to cefalexin and amoxicillin/clavulanate in canine low-level methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) lineages harbouring staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec types IV, V and ΨSCCmec57395 usually display low oxacillin MICs (0.5-2 mg/L). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how oxacillin MICs correlate with PBP mutations and susceptibility to ß-lactams approved for veterinary use. METHODS: Associations between MICs and PBP mutations were investigated by broth microdilution, time-kill and genome sequence analyses in 117 canine MRSP strains harbouring these SCCmec types. Clinical outcome was retrospectively evaluated in 11 MRSP-infected dogs treated with ß-lactams. RESULTS: Low-level MRSP was defined by an oxacillin MIC <4 mg/L. Regardless of strain genotype, all low-level MRSP isolates (n = 89) were cefalexin susceptible, whereas no strains were amoxicillin/clavulanate susceptible according to clinical breakpoints. Exposure to 2× MIC of cefalexin resulted in complete killing within 8 h. High (≥4 mg/L) oxacillin MICs were associated with substitutions in native PBP2, PBP3, PBP4 and acquired PBP2a, one of which (V390M in PBP3) was statistically significant by multivariable modelling. Eight of 11 dogs responded to systemic therapy with first-generation cephalosporins (n = 4) or amoxicillin/clavulanate (n = 4) alone or with concurrent topical treatment, including 6 of 7 dogs infected with low-level MRSP. CONCLUSIONS: Oxacillin MIC variability in MRSP is influenced by mutations in multiple PBPs and correlates with cefalexin susceptibility. The expert rule recommending that strains with oxacillin MIC ≥0.5 mg/L are reported as resistant to all ß-lactams should be reassessed based on these results, which are highly clinically relevant in light of the shortage of effective antimicrobials for systemic treatment of MRSP infections in veterinary medicine.

Transfer of ß-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics from spiked bovine milk to Dambo-type cheese, whey, and whey powder.

The aim of this study was to investigate the transfer of residues of five ß-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, penicillin G, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and cephalexin) and two tetracyclines (tetracycline and oxytetracycline) in the processing of cheese and whey powder, evaluating the effect of the processes and the final concentration in each product generated. Raw milk was fortified at two concentration levels with the seven antibiotics. The first concentration level (C1) was chosen according to the maximum residue limit (MRL) of each antibiotic (ampicillin and penicillin G: 4 µg kg-1; cloxacillin and dicloxacillin: 30 µg kg-1; cephalexin, tetracycline and oxytetracycline: 100 µg kg-1). The second concentration level (C2) was spiked as follows according to each antibiotic: 0.5 MRL (cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, cephalexin), 0.1 MRL (tetracycline and oxytetracycline) and 3 MRL (ampicillin and penicillin G). The antibiotics were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. No ampicillin or penicillin G residues were found in cheese or whey powder, although they were detected in whey at concentrations similar to those added to raw milk. Cephalexin was mostly distributed in whey between 82% and 96%, being the antibiotic that presented the highest concentration in whey powder (784 ± 98 µg kg-1) when milk was spiked at the MRL. The whey distribution of cloxacillin and dicloxacillin ranged from 57% to 59% for cloxacillin and from 46% to 48% for dicloxacillin, and both concentrated in whey powder. Tetracyclines were the antibiotics that concentrated in cheese, with retentions between 75% and 80% for oxytetracycline and between 83% and 87% for tetracycline. The distribution of antibiotics in the dissimilar stages of the cheese and whey powder production processes, as well as their concentration in the final products, depend on each type of antibiotic. Knowledge of the transfer of antibiotic residues during the process and final disposal is an input for the risk assessment of their consumption.

Drug-Induced Liver Injury with Commonly Used Antibiotics in the All of Us Research Program.

Antibiotics are a known cause of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the five most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the United States are azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, cephalexin, amoxicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. We quantified the frequency of acute DILI for these common antibiotics in the All of Us Research Program, one of the largest electronic health record (EHR)-linked research cohorts in the United States. Retrospective analyses were conducted applying a standardized phenotyping algorithm to de-identified clinical data available in the All of Us database for 318,598 study participants. Between February 1984 and December 2022, more than 30% of All of Us participants (n = 119,812 individuals) had been exposed to at least 1 of our 5 study drugs. Initial screening identified 591 potential case patients that met our preselected laboratory-based phenotyping criteria. Because DILI is a diagnosis of exclusion, we then used phenome scanning to narrow the case counts by (i) scanning all EHRs to identify all alternative diagnostic explanations for the laboratory abnormalities, and (ii) leveraging International Classification of Disease 9th revision (ICD)-9 and ICD 10th revision (ICD)-10 codes as exclusion criteria to eliminate misclassification. Our final case counts were 30 DILI cases with amoxicillin-clavulanate, 24 cases with azithromycin, 24 cases with ciprofloxacin, 22 cases with amoxicillin alone, and < 20 cases with cephalexin. These findings demonstrate that data from EHR-linked research cohorts can be efficiently mined to identify DILI cases related to the use of common antibiotics.

Effectiveness of oral cephalexin in antibiotic-course completion for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus-induced bacteremic vertebral osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) is the most common causative microorganism of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). Although oral antimicrobial therapy with first-generation cephalosporins can treat MSSA infection, data on PVO are scarce. This study evaluated the treatment efficacy of cephalexin as oral antibiotic therapy for MSSA-induced PVO. METHODS: This retrospective study included adult patients treated with oral cephalexin as the completing treatment for PVO with MSSA bacteremia from 2012 to 2020. Treatment effectiveness of cephalexin was evaluated by comparing improvement (5-point scale; score ≥ 4/5 indicates treatment success) in symptoms and laboratory and imaging results between intravenous antimicrobial and oral cephalexin treatment. RESULTS: Among 15 participants (8 [53%] women; median [interquartile range, IQR], age 75 [67.5-80.5] years; Charlson Comorbidity Index 2 [0-4]), 10 (67%) had lumbar spine lesions, 12 (80%) had spinal abscesses, and 4 (27%) had remote abscesses; no patients had concomitant endocarditis. In 11 patients with normal renal function, cephalexin 1,500-2,000 mg/day was administered. Five patients (33%) underwent surgery. Median (IQR; range) duration (days) of intravenous antibiotics, cephalexin, and total treatment was 36 (32-61; 21-86), 29 (19-82; 8-251), and 86 (59-125; 37-337), respectively. Cephalexin had an 87% treatment success rate without recurrence during a median follow-up of 119 (IQR, 48.5-350) days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MSSA bacteremia and PVO, antibiotic treatment completion with cephalexin is a reasonable option, even in cases with spinal abscess, if at least 3 weeks of effective intravenous antimicrobial therapy is provided.

Mn anchored zeolite molecular nest for enhanced catalytic ozonation of cephalexin.

The molecular nest structured catalysts have demonstrated better performance than the traditional supported catalysts. However, they have not been tried in antibiotics or other organic pollutants removal from water by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Here we synthesized Mn anchored zeolite molecular nest (Mn@ZN) for the catalytic ozonation of cephalexin (CLX), which is the widely used antibiotic and also a refractory pollutant in water. The ozonation catalyzed by Mn@ZN achieves 97% of CLX degradation in only 2 min and a reaction rate constant of 0.2454 L·mg-1·s-1, which is 79.2 times higher than that of the non-catalytic ozonation. Even after ten cycles, the 0.46Mn@ZN/O3 still achieves a CLX degradation efficiency higher than 88% in 2 min, presenting an excellent stability. Mn ions stabilized by the molecular nests facilitate Lewis acid sites and oxygen vacancies, providing active sites for O3 sorption and decomposition into ·O2- and 1O2 through electrons transfer for the radical reaction with CLX. DFT calculation indicates that both the oxygen vacancy formation energy and the O3 adsorption energy of Mn@ZN are reduced by the Mn species introduction. This study finds a fascinating catalyst of Mn@ZN for the catalytic ozonation of antibiotics, and also a smart design strategy for zeolite confined metals catalysts for water treatment.

Grayken lessons: between a rock and a hard place? A 37-year-old man with acute liver injury while enrolled in a managed alcohol program for severe alcohol use disorder.

Managed alcohol programs aim to reduce health and social harms associated with severe alcohol use disorder. Here, we describe a young man with severe alcohol use disorder enrolled in a managed alcohol program, who was admitted to hospital with acute liver injury. Fearing that alcohol was contributing, the inpatient care team discontinued the managed alcohol dose in hospital. He was ultimately diagnosed with cephalexin-induced liver injury. After consideration of risks, benefits, and alternative options, the patient and care team jointly decided to restart managed alcohol after hospital discharge. With this case, we describe managed alcohol programs and summarize the emerging evidence-base, including eligibility criteria and outcome measures; we explore clinical and ethical dilemmas in caring for patients with liver disease within managed alcohol programs; and we emphasize principles of harm reduction and patient-centered care when establishing treatment plans for patients with severe alcohol use disorder and unstable housing.

Longitudinal trends in community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand over 10 years (2012-2021): an observational study.

AIMS: To investigate community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand across 2012-2021. METHODS: This observational study was based on antibiotic dispensing data from Waitaha Canterbury. Outcome measures included number of dispensings/1,000 inhabitants per year and defined daily doses/1,000 inhabitants per day (DIDs), expressed as average annual change (AAC). We stratified antibiotic dispensing per antibiotic group, and per the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRE (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification. RESULTS: Across 2012-2021, antibiotic dispensing decreased from 867 to 601 dispensings/1,000 inhabitants (AAC -4.2% [95%CI -4.3 to -4.2]). In the pre-COVID period of 2012 to 2019, antibiotic dispensings decreased with AAC of -3.5% (95%CI -3.6 to -3.5). Considering number of dispensings, the largest reductions were observed in quinolones (-14.6%), macrolides/lincosamides (-8.5%) and penicillins with extended spectrum (-4.8%). The number of dispensings increased for nitrofurans (6.0%) and first generation cephalosporins (28.1%), of which 98% comprised cefalexin dispensing. The proportion of Watch antibiotics decreased from 22.0% to 11.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Community antibiotic consumption decreased in Waitaha Canterbury Aotearoa New Zealand from 2012 to 2021, as did use of Watch antibiotics. These changes concord with increasing antimicrobial stewardship guidance for more judicious use of antibiotics. Further research should investigate the factors driving the observed 10-fold rise in cefalexin dispensing.

High-dose cephalexin for cellulitis: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Up to 3% of all Emergency Department (ED) visits are due to skin and soft tissue infections such as non-purulent cellulitis. The current treatment failure rate is approximately 20%. Evidence is lacking regarding the optimal outpatient management of cellulitis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of a randomized trial comparing high-dose (1000 mg) to standard-dose (500 mg) cephalexin to treat ED patients with cellulitis. METHODS: A parallel arm double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial conducted at two EDs in Canada. Eligible participants were adults (age ≥ 18 years) presenting to the ED with non-purulent cellulitis and determined by the treating emergency physician to be eligible for outpatient management with oral antibiotics. Participants were randomized to high-dose or standard-dose cephalexin four times daily for 7 days. The primary feasibility outcome was participant recruitment rate (target ≥ 35%). The preliminary primary effectiveness outcome was oral antibiotic treatment failure. RESULTS: Of 134 eligible participants approached for trial participation, 69 (51.5%, 95% CI 43.1 to 59.8%) were recruited and randomized. After excluding three randomized participants due to an alternate diagnosis, 33 participants were included in each arm. Nineteen eligible cases (14.2%) were missed. Loss to follow-up was 6.1%. Treatment failure occurred in four patients (12.9%) in the standard-dose arm versus one patient (3.2%) in the high-dose arm. A greater proportion had minor adverse events in the high-dose arm. No patients had an unplanned hospitalization within 14 days. CONCLUSION: This pilot randomized controlled trial comparing high-dose to standard-dose cephalexin for ED patients with cellulitis demonstrated a high participant recruitment rate and that a full-scale trial is feasible. High-dose cephalexin had fewer treatment failures but with a higher proportion of minor adverse effects. The findings of this pilot will be used to inform the design of a future large trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04471246).

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: Jusqu'à 3% de toutes les visites aux urgences sont dues à des infections de la peau et des tissus mous, comme la cellulite non purulente. Le taux actuel d'échec du traitement est d'environ 20%. Il manque des données probantes sur la gestion optimale de la cellulite en consultation externe. OBJECTIFS: Évaluer la faisabilité d'un essai randomisé comparant la céfalexine à dose élevée (1000 mg) à la céfalexine à dose normale (500 mg) pour traiter les patients des urgences atteints de cellulite. MéTHODES: Un essai pilote contrôlé randomisé en double aveugle à bras parallèles mené dans deux services d'urgence au Canada. Les participants éligibles étaient des adultes (âge ≥ 18 ans) se présentant aux urgences avec une cellulite non purulente et déterminés par l'urgentiste traitant comme pouvant bénéficier d'une prise en charge ambulatoire par antibiotiques oraux. Les participants ont été randomisés entre la céfalexine à dose élevée et la céfalexine à dose normale, quatre fois par jour pendant 7 jours. Le résultat primaire de faisabilité était le taux de recrutement des participants (objectif ≥ 35%). Le résultat primaire préliminaire d'efficacité était l'échec du traitement antibiotique oral. RéSULTATS: Sur les 134 participants éligibles sollicités pour participer à l'essai, 69 (51,5%, IC à 95% 43,1% à 59,8%) ont été recrutés et randomisés. Après avoir exclu trois participants randomisés en raison d'un autre diagnostic, 33 participants au total ont été inclus dans chaque bras. Au total, 19 cas éligibles (14,2%) ont été manqués. Le taux de perte au suivi était de 6,1%. L'échec du traitement est survenu chez quatre patients (12,9%) dans le groupe à dose standard contre un patient (3,2%) dans le groupe à dose élevée. Une plus grande proportion de patients ont eu des effets indésirables mineurs dans le groupe à forte dose. Aucun patient n'a été hospitalisé de façon imprévue dans les 14 jours. CONCLUSION: Cet essai pilote randomisé et contrôlé comparant la céphalexine à dose élevée à la céfalexine à dose normale pour les patients des urgences atteints de cellulite a démontré un taux élevé de recrutement de participants et la faisabilité d'un essai à grande échelle. La céfalexine à forte dose a entraîné moins d'échecs thérapeutiques, mais avec une proportion plus élevée d'effets indésirables mineurs. Les résultats de ce projet pilote serviront de base à la conception d'un futur essai à grande échelle. INSCRIPTION à L'ESSAI: Cet essai a été enregistré sur ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04471246).