Infectious disease hotlines to provide advice to general practitioners: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Telephone hotlines in infectious diseases (ID) are part of antimicrobial stewardship programs designed to provide support and expertise in ID and to control antibiotic resistance. The aim of the study was to characterize the activity of the ID hotlines and estimate their usefulness for general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study in different French regions. ID teams involved in antimicrobial stewardship with a hotline for GPs were asked to record their advice from April 2019 to June 2022. In these regions, all GPs were informed of the ID hotline's operating procedures. The main outcome was usage rate of the hotlines by GPs. RESULTS: Ten volunteer ID teams collected 4138 requests for advice from 2171 GPs. The proportion of GPs using the hotline varied pronouncedly by region, from 54% in the Isere department, to less than 1% in departments with the lowest usage. These differences were associated with the number of physicians in ID teams and with the age of the hotline. These results highlighted the value of working time as a means of ensuring the permanence of expertise. The main reasons for calling were: a diagnostic question (44%); choice of antibiotic (31%). The ID specialist provided advice on antibiotic therapy (43%) or a proposal for specialized consultation or hospitalization (11%). CONCLUSIONS: ID hotlines could help to strengthen cooperation between primary care and hospital medicine. However, the deployment and perpetuation of this activity require reflection concerning its institutional and financial support.

Increasing rates of extended-spectrum B-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in uncomplicated and complicated acute pyelonephritis and evaluation of empirical treatments based on culture results.

Increasing rates of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae over time made empirical treatment complicated. Knowing local antimicrobial resistance patterns of common pathogens can make it easier to decide on empirical antibiotics. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of ESBL positivity of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains in uncomplicated and complicated pyelonephritis acquired in community and healthcare associations and to evaluate the appropriateness of empirical treatment. Adult patients hospitalized with diagnosis of community-acquired or healthcare-associated uncomplicated/complicated pyelonephritis initiated empirical antimicrobial therapy were included in the study. Appropriateness of empirical treatment at 48-72 h based on culture results and treatment modifications were evaluated. A total of 369 uncomplicated (94) and complicated (275) episodes of pyelonephritis were evaluated. The most common agents were E. coli (71.0%) and K. pneumoniae (17.7%), and the ESBL-production rate was 64.4%, and higher in healthcare-associated pyelonephritis (P 0.013). Being of healthcare-associated infection, previous antibiotic use, and presence of urinary catheters were independent risk factors for ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae (P 0.009, < 0.001, and 0.024, respectively). The treatment inappropriateness was mostly associated with use of ceftriaxone (56.3%) (P < 0.001). Treatment has escalated in 41.5% of ceftriaxone-initiated patients, in only 8.8% and 9.5% ertapenem and piperacillin-tazobactam-initiated patients, respectively. ESBL-production rates are quite high even in community-acquired infections. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics covering ESBL-producing pathogens to increase the appropriateness of empirical treatment and then narrowing treatment based on culture results appears a better and life-saving choice.

Maternal antibiotic exposure during pregnancy is a risk factor for community-acquired urinary tract infection caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in infants.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive bacteria in infants. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of infants aged < 1 year with first UTI from 2018 to 2019 at two tertiary centers in Korea. Data analyzed included clinical findings, birth history, delivery mode, milk type, use of postpartum care center, and previous use of antibiotics both in the patient and mother. RESULTS: Of 265 patients, 62 (23.4%) were diagnosed with first UTI caused by ESBL-positive bacteria at the median age of 3.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 2.3-5.4) months. Maternal use of antibiotics during pregnancy (29.0 vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001) and Klebsiella species (19.4% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with ESBL-positive UTIs and remained valid in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR], 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61-7.19, p = 0.001, and OR 5.26; 95% CI 2.03-13.13, p = 0.001, respectively). Previous antibiotic exposure of patients, previous hospitalization, prematurity, delivery mode, milk type, and use of postpartum care center were not significantly different between ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative groups. With respect to the clinical course of UTI, the ESBL-positive group presented a higher number of blood leukocytes (p = 0.041) and longer hospital stay (p < 0.001) than the ESBL-negative group. CONCLUSIONS: About one-fourth of infantile UTI cases were ESBL-positive. Prenatal antibiotic exposure of mothers and Klebsiella species were associated with community-acquired UTI caused by ESBL-positive bacteria.

No Change in Risk for Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonellosis from Beef, United States, 2002-2010.

Restricting antibiotic use in food production animals is a target for reducing antimicrobial drug-resistant infections in humans. We used US surveillance data to estimate the probability of antibiotic-resistant nontyphoidal salmonellosis per meal made with beef during 2002-2010. Applying data for nontyphoidal Salmonella in raised-without-antibiotics cattle, we tested the effect of removing antibiotic use from all beef cattle production. We found an average of 1.2 (95% credible interval 0.6-4.2) antibiotic-resistant nontyphoidal salmonellosis cases per 1 million beef meals made with beef initially contaminated with antibiotic-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella at slaughter or retail and 0.031 (95% credible interval 0.00018-0.14) cases per 1 million meals irrespective of beef contamination status. Neither outcome showed sustained change except for increases in 2003 and 2009 (>98% confidence) when larger or more outbreaks occurred. Switching all beef production to a raised-without-antibiotics system may not have a significant effect on antibiotic-resistant nontyphoidal salmonellosis (94.3% confidence).

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Blood Culture Isolates at a Tertiary Hospital, Uganda.

We summarize antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) patterns from blood cultures at a tertiary hospital in Uganda. High rates of resistance to first-line antibiotic drugs were observed among Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative organisms. Microbiology services with susceptibility testing should be strengthened to support standardized reporting of AMR data in sub-Saharan Africa.

Occurrence and Antibiotic Resistance of Enterobacteriaceae in Acute Leukemia Patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute leukemia (AL) is a heterogeneous group of malignant hematopoietic diseases and is divided into two basic types: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients with these diseases are highly immunosuppressed and therefore at a high risk of serious infections. This study aimed to perform active surveillance of enterobacteria, which cause these infections, and to determine their antibiotic resistance in patients with AL who were hospitalized at the Hemato-Oncology Center of University Hospital Olomouc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 49 patients with AL, of whom 37 had AML (16 women and 21 men) and 12 had ALL (6 women and 6 men). The mean age of the patients was 50.5 years. Samples of clinical material were obtained over 12 months (September 2015 to August 2016) and subjected to standard microbiological examinations. Bacterial strains were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, and their antibiotic susceptibility was established by microdilution method. RESULTS: A total of 292 samples were obtained from patients with AL. Some of these samples were excluded from analysis to prevent the inclusion of identical strains from the same patient. Consequently, 146 clinical samples obtained from the following nine types of clinical materials were analyzed - throat swabs (n = 47), stools (n = 40), urine (n = 33), hemocultures (n = 11), buccal swabs (n = 5), perianal swabs (n = 4), wound swabs (n = 3), sputum (n = 2), and puncture fluid (n = 1). The most prevalent enterobacteria was Escherichia coli (n = 42), followed by Klebsiella spp. (n = 46), specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 34) and Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 12), and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 19). The most of enterobacteria were highly resistant to many tested antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic-resistant enterobacteria colonize patients with hemato-oncological diseases and can cause serious infections. These antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are a serious and frequent problem. These findings together with the high level of immunosuppression mean that patients with hemato-oncological diseases are at a high risk of developing serious infections and consequently active surveillance is crucial.

Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of the CA-MRSA isolated from healthcare workers, Tehran, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become as a nosocomial pathogen worldwide. Considering the importance of MRSA typing for understanding the evolution and dissemination of these strains, we studied the molecular characteristics of MRSA colonized healthcare workers (HCWs). METHODOLOGY: All MRSA isolated from HCWs, were genotyped using staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) with multiplex PCR assay, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and spa typing. Then antibiotic susceptibility pattern and presence of pvl genes were evaluated in MRSA isolates. RESULTS: Cluster analysis by eBURSTv3 showed that MRSA isolates belonged to two major clonal complexes (CC); CC88 (ST88, ST825, ST859) and CC30 (ST39, ST2, ST24) and five singletons. The most prevalent SCCmec type was type IV (70.59%) followed by type V (29.41%). Totally 11 different spa types were discriminated among which type t186 was predominant. All of the MRSA tested (100%) were susceptible to teicoplanin, linezolid and fusidic acid. Totally 52.94% of isolates were positive for pvl genes. CONCLUSIONS: The ST88-MRSA-IV accounted for most colonized MRSA isolates. We documented a different molecular epidemiology of MRSA nasal colonization in hospitals under studied, due to the introduction of epidemic clones (ST88, ST39, ST2235, ST80, ST813, ST398, ST825, ST24, ST22, ST859 and ST2).

[Outpatient consumption of antibiotics with a bacterial resistance risk in 2014 in France]. / Consommation ambulatoire des antibiotiques à risque de résistances bactériennes en 2014 en France.

AIM: This article proposes a description of French regional consumption of antibiotics with a bacterial resistance risk (amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, third-generation cephalosporins [C3G] and fluoroquinolones). METHODS: Antibiotics reimbursements data were obtained by Open Medic website. The antibiotic consumption profile has been established using some indicators of the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) in daily-defined dose per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) or in percentage. RESULTS: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur-Corse (34.4 DID) and Midi-Pyrénées-Languedoc-Roussillon (33.5 DID) consume the most of both, systemic antibiotics and antibiotics with a bacterial resistance risk. Pays-de-la-Loire (26.7 DID), Bretagne (29.1 DID), Centre-Val-de-Loire (29.7 DID) et Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (29.7 DID) consume the less of both, systemic antibiotics and antibiotics with a bacterial resistance risk. CONCLUSION: Even if some environmental and socioeconomic factors could explain variabilities between regions, a link between consumption intensity and misuse is not excluded.

Dose-response relationship between antimicrobial drugs and livestock-associated MRSA in pig farming.

The farming community can be a vehicle for introduction of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in hospitals. During 2011-2013, an 18-month longitudinal study aimed at reducing the prevalence of LA-MRSA was conducted on 36 pig farms in the Netherlands. Evaluations every 6 months showed a slight decrease in MRSA prevalence in animals and a stable prevalence in farmers and family members. Antimicrobial use, expressed as defined daily dosages per animal per year, decreased 44% during the study period and was associated with declining MRSA prevalence in pigs. MRSA carriage in animals was substantially higher at farms using cephalosporins. Antimicrobial use remained strongly associated with LA-MRSA in humans regardless of the level of animal contact. A risk factor analysis outlined potential future interventions for LA-MRSA control. These results should encourage animal and public health authorities to maintain their efforts in reducing antimicrobial use in livestock and ask for future controlled intervention studies.

Hierarchical nested trial design (HNTD) for demonstrating treatment efficacy of new antibacterial drugs in patient populations with emerging bacterial resistance.

In the last decade or so, pharmaceutical drug development activities in the area of new antibacterial drugs for treating serious bacterial diseases have declined, and at the same time, there are worries that the increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, especially the increase in drug-resistant Gram-negative infections, limits available treatment options . A recent CDC report, 'Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States', indicates that antimicrobial resistance is one of our most serious health threats. However, recently, new ideas have been proposed to change this situation. An idea proposed in this regard is to conduct randomized clinical trials in which some patients, on the basis of a diagnostic test, may show presence of bacterial pathogens that are resistant to the control treatment, whereas remaining patients would show pathogens that are susceptible to the control. The control treatment in such trials can be the standard of care or the best available therapy approved for the disease. Patients in the control arm with resistant pathogens can have the option for rescue therapies if their clinical signs and symptoms worsen. A statistical proposal for such patient populations is to use a hierarchical noninferiority-superiority nested trial design that is informative and allows for treatment-to-control comparisons for the two subpopulations without any statistical penalty. This design can achieve in the same trial dual objectives: (i) to show that the new drug is effective for patients with susceptible pathogens on the basis of a noninferiority test and (ii) to show that it is superior to the control in patients with resistant pathogens. This paper addresses statistical considerations and methods for achieving these two objectives for this design. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Transition metal homoeostasis is key to metabolism and drug tolerance of Mycobacterium abscessus.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major challenges humans are facing this century. Understanding the mechanisms behind the rise of AMR is therefore crucial to tackling this global threat. The presence of transition metals is one of the growth-limiting factors for both environmental and pathogenic bacteria, and the mechanisms that bacteria use to adapt to and survive under transition metal toxicity resemble those correlated with the rise of AMR. A deeper understanding of transition metal toxicity and its potential as an antimicrobial agent will expand our knowledge of AMR and assist the development of therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial effect of two transition metal ions, namely cobalt (Co2+) and nickel (Ni2+), on the non-tuberculous environmental mycobacterium and the opportunistic human pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of Co2+ and Ni2+ on M. abscessus were first quantified and their impact on the bacterial intracellular metallome was investigated. A multi-omics strategy that combines transcriptomics, bioenergetics, metabolomics, and phenotypic assays was designed to further investigate the mechanisms behind the effects of transition metals. We show that transition metals induced growth defect and changes in transcriptome and carbon metabolism in M. abscessus, while the induction of the glyoxylate shunt and the WhiB7 regulon in response to metal stresses could be the key response that led to higher AMR levels. Meanwhile, transition metal treatment alters the bacterial response to clinically relevant antibiotics and enhances the uptake of clarithromycin into bacterial cells, leading to increased efficacy. This work provides insights into the tolerance mechanisms of M. abscessus to transition metal toxicity and demonstrates the possibility of using transition metals to adjuvant the efficacy of currently using antimicrobials against M. abscessus infections.

Understanding Public Knowledge and Behavior Regarding Antibiotic Use in Indonesia.

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a prominent factor contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance, which subsequently increases healthcare costs and heightens mortality rates. Objective: This study sought to evaluate the level of knowledge and behavior pertaining to antibiotic usage within the Indonesian population. Methods: This observational study was conducted in Indonesia between December 2019 and June 2020 and employed a validated questionnaire to survey 582 respondents. A comparative analysis was performed to investigate the differences in mean scores across various respondent characteristics, specifically related to their knowledge and practice regarding antibiotic usage. Regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing the adoption of appropriate behavior in antibiotic utilization. Results: Study participants comprised 68.2% males and 31.8% females. Participants achieved an average score of 4.86 ± 2.40 out of eight points for knowledge and behavior with an average score of 5.29 ± 1.85 out of seven points. Approximately 57.7% and 56.0% of the respondents have knowledge and behavior scores above the average score of the total population, respectively. The findings indicated notable variations in average knowledge scores associated with educational attainment and employment status regarding antibiotic use. Similarly, differences were observed in gender and employment status concerning behavior. Regression analysis highlighted that employment status, trust in physicians, and possessing sound knowledge of antibiotic usage were significant predictors of good behavior in utilizing antibiotics. Some misconceptions were identified, such as using antibiotics to kill viruses and believing antibiotics are effective for any kind of disease. Conclusion: Less than 60% of the respondents have knowledge and behavior scores above the average score of the total population; however, there are some misconceptions regarding antibiotic utilization. This underscores the importance of implementing targeted strategies, such as health education and public health campaigns, to improve the population's understanding of the correct antibiotic use.

Modelling interventions and contact networks to reduce the spread of carbapenem-resistant organisms between individuals in the ICU.

BACKGROUND: Contact precautions are widely used to prevent the transmission of carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) in hospital wards. However, evidence for their effectiveness in natural hospital environments is limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine which contact precautions, healthcare worker (HCW)-patient interactions, and patient and ward characteristics are associated with greater risk of CRO infection or colonization. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: CRO clinical and surveillance cultures from two high-acuity wards were assessed through probabilistic modelling to characterize a susceptible patient's risk of CRO infection or colonization during a ward stay. User- and time-stamped electronic health records were used to build HCW-mediated contact networks between patients. Probabilistic models were adjusted for patient (e.g. antibiotic administration) and ward (e.g. hand hygiene compliance, environmental cleaning) characteristics. The effects of risk factors were assessed by adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% Bayesian credible intervals (CrI). EXPOSURES: The degree of interaction with CRO-positive patients, stratified by whether CRO-positive patients were on contact precautions. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The prevalence of CROs and number of new carriers (i.e. incident CRO aquisition). RESULTS: Among 2193 ward visits, 126 (5.8%) patients became colonized or infected with CROs. Susceptible patients had 4.8 daily interactions with CRO-positive individuals on contact precautions (vs 1.9 interactions with those not on contact precautions). The use of contact precautions for CRO-positive patients was associated with a reduced rate (7.4 vs 93.5 per 1000 patient-days at risk) and odds (aOR 0.03, 95% CrI 0.01-0.17) of CRO acquisition among susceptible patients, resulting in an estimated absolute risk reduction of 9.0% (95% CrI 7.6-9.2%). Also, carbapenem administration to susceptible patients was associated with increased odds of CRO acquisition (aOR 2.38, 95% CrI 1.70-3.29). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this population-based cohort study, the use of contact precautions for patients colonized or infected with CROs was associated with lower risk of CRO acquisition among susceptible patients, even after adjusting for antibiotic exposure. Further studies that include organism genotyping are needed to confirm these findings.

Interventions to Improve Antibiotic Use in Hospitals with Different Levels of Complexity in Colombia: Findings from a Before-and-After Study and Suggestions for the Future.

BACKGROUND: In the collaborative efforts to control bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the challenge for many low- and middle-income countries currently lies in the adequate design and successful implementation and operation of different strategies aimed at improving antibiotic use during hospital care. This study aims to provide data on these different strategies in three hospitals with different levels of complexity and geographic locations in Colombia. METHODS: This before-and-after study describes and analyzes the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), continuing education courses, quick consultation tools, and antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) with the use of telemedicine. This includes measuring indicators in the ASP framework such as adherence to CPGs and antibiotic consumption. RESULTS: We used five CPGs developed in the Colombian context. We designed and developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and a mobile application (app) as strategies for dissemination and implementation. The ASP was designed and implemented according to each institution's level of complexity. In the three hospitals, a progressive increase in adherence to the antibiotic recommendations proposed in the CPGs was observed, and there was a lower use of antibiotics with the ASPs, both in the general wards and ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that in medium-complexity hospitals located in small rural cities, successful development of ASPs is possible when they are well-planned, implemented, and supported by the organization. It is necessary that Colombia and other Latin American countries continue activities that reduce AMR by designing, implementing, and improving these interventions throughout the national territory.

Isolation and Detection of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens in Postoperative Wound Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs), especially when caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, are a major healthcare concern worldwide. For optimal treatment and prevention of antimicrobial resistance, it is important for clinicians to be aware of local drug-resistant bacterial pathogens that cause SSIs. Objective: To determine the frequency patterns of drug-resistant bacterial strains causing SSIs at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and included wound swab samples from all cases of SSI between January 01, 2017, and December 31, 2021. The swabs were processed for the identification of bacterial strains and their resistance pattern to antibiotics according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: A total of 5409 wound swabs were analyzed, of which 3604 samples (66.6%) were from male. Most samples were from the Department of Surgery (43.3%). A total of 14 bacterial strains were isolated, of which 9 were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). In terms of MDR in 2021, the highest rate of carbapenem-resistance was in A. baumannii (97%). MDR was as follows: A. baumannii, 97%; K. pneumoniae, 81%; E. coli, 71%; MRSA, 60%; P. aeruginosa, 33%; VRE, 22%; and VRSA, 2%. Conclusion: This study showed that in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the rates of MDR bacteria are high, with the majority being Gram-negative.

Perspectives on Non-Prescription Antibiotic Use among Hispanic Patients in the Houston Metroplex.

BACKGROUND: Non-prescription antibiotic use includes taking an antibiotic without medical guidance (e.g., leftovers, from friends/relatives, or purchased without a prescription). Non-prescription use contributes to antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug reactions, interactions, superinfection, and microbiome imbalance. Qualitative studies exploring perspectives regarding non-prescription use among Hispanic patients are lacking. We used the Kilbourne Framework for Advancing Health Disparities Research to identify factors influencing patients' non-prescription use and organize our findings. METHODS: Our study includes Hispanic primary care clinic patients with different types of health insurance coverage in the Houston metroplex who endorsed non-prescription use in a previous survey. Semistructured interviews explored the factors promoting non-prescription use in Hispanic adults. Interviews were conducted remotely, in English or Spanish, between May 2020 and October 2021. Inductive coding and thematic analysis identified motives for non-prescription use. RESULTS: Participants (n = 35) were primarily female (68.6%) and aged 27 to 66. Participants reported obtaining antibiotics through trusted persons, sold under-the-counter in US markets, and purchased without a prescription abroad. Factors contributing to non-prescription use included beliefs that the doctor visit was unnecessary, limited access to healthcare (due to insurance constraints, costs, and clinic wait times), and communication difficulties (e.g., language barriers with clinicians and perceived staff rudeness). Participants expressed confidence in medical recommendations from pharmacists and trusted community members. CONCLUSIONS: Patient, healthcare system, and clinical encounter factors contribute to non-prescription use in Hispanic communities. Antibiotic stewardship interventions that involve pharmacists and trusted persons, improve access to care, and address communication barriers and cultural competency in the clinic may help reduce non-prescription use in these communities.

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in Pediatric Deep Neck Space Infection.

Introduction Neck space infection in the pediatric age group is common but can be life-threatening if not diagnosed properly. Since it is a polymicrobial disease, antibiotic usage should be guided by culture sensitivity pattern. Objectives To assess the microbiology, antibiotic resistance pattern and the outcome of the medical and surgical management of deep neck space infection in children. Methods This was a prospective study of children admitted for management of neck space infection from August 2017 to August 2018. The age, gender, organisms isolated, sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics, length of hospital stay, complications, and recurrence were noted. The descriptive data were analyzed. Results Out of 108 cases, there were 51 males (47.2%) and 57 females (52.8%) ranging from 1 month to 15 years, with a mean age of 5.32 +/- 4.35 years. The mean period of hospitalization was 6.98 days. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated with less coagulase-negative staphylococci and streptococci. Clindamycin was the most sensitive drug (82.35%) followed by vancomycin and cloxcillin, while amoxicillin/ampicillin, a commonly used drug, was the least sensitive (20.58%). The abscess recurrence rate was 9.28%. The outcomes of either medical treatment or a combined medical or surgical treatment in properly selected cases were comparable. Conclusion Clindamycin or cloxacillin can be used as a first-line option for neck infection in children. Ampicillin/amoxicillin alone has a small role in neck abscess because of high resistance to this type of antibiotic.

Novel Effective Fluorinated Benzothiophene-Indole Hybrid Antibacterials against S. aureus and MRSA Strains.

Increasing antibacterial drug resistance threatens global health, unfortunately, however, efforts to find novel antibacterial agents have been scaled back by the pharmaceutical industry due to concerns about a poor return on investment. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to find novel antibacterial compounds to combat antibacterial drug resistance. The synthesis of novel drugs from natural sources is mostly cost-intensive due to those drugs' complicated structures. Therefore, it is necessary to find novel antibacterials by simple synthesis to become more attractive for industrial production. We succeeded in the discovery of four antibacterial compound (sub)classes accessible in a simple one-pot reaction based on fluorinated benzothiophene-indole hybrids. They have been evaluated against various S. aureus and MRSA strains. Structure- and substituent-dependent activities have been found within the (sub)classes and promising lead compounds have been identified. In addition, bacterial pyruvate kinase was found to be the molecular target of the active compounds. In conclusion, simple one-pot synthesis of benzothiophene-indoles represents a promising strategy for the search of novel antimicrobial compounds.

Distribution and Molecular Characterization of Functional Class 2 Integrons in Clinical Proteus mirabilis Isolates.

BACKGROUND: Integrons are the main mode of horizontal transmission of drug-resistance genes and are closely related to drug resistance in clinical bacteria. In this study, the distributions of class 1, 2, and 3 integron gene cassettes were investigated in 150 Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) isolates from patients, and molecular characterization of functional class 2 integrons was further analyzed. METHODS: Class 1, 2, and 3 integrons were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 150 clinical P. mirabilis isolates. The variable regions of the integrons were determined by restriction analysis and sequencing. Internal stop codons mutations in class 2 integrons and their common promoters were also determined by sequencing. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) was used to analyze the phylogenetic relations of class 2 integron-positive isolates. RESULTS: Class 1 integrons were detected in 69 (46%) of 150 P. mirabilis isolates, and six different gene cassette arrays were detected, with the most prevalent being dfrA32-aadA2. Class 2 integrons were detected in 61 (40.7%) of 150 P. mirabilis isolates, and three different gene cassette arrays were detected, including sat2-aadA1, which was detected for the first time in a class 2 integron. Nearly similar ERIC-PCR fingerprinting patterns were detected in 45 (73.8%) of 61 class 2 integron-positive isolates. The functional class 2 integron was detected in three P. mirabilis isolates having the same gene cassette, dfrA1-sat2-aadA1, in the variable region and four novel open reading frames with unknown functions. Same PintI2 and Pc promoters were detected in these three functional class 2 integron isolates, as was found in other class 2 integron isolates. However, these three strains did not totally show identical homology and drug sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Although functional class 2 integrons have low distribution and relatively conserved molecular characteristics, they can still form clinical dissemination and drug resistance expression.