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Colonizations/Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are of great clinical and epidemiological importance due to their rapid dissemination and high mortality rates. In this scenario, the use of antibiotics intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a great warning on the real impact that this pandemic could have on antimicrobial management programs and long-term antimicrobial resistance rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the increase of New Delhi Metallo β-Lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales cases in COVID-19 units of a complex Brazilian tertiary hospital. This retrospective observational study included all patients admitted to the hospital identified as colonized or infected by NDM-producing Gram negative bacilli (GNB), from January 2017 to April 2021. Forty-two NDM-producing Enterobacterales were identified in 39 patients. The rate of NDM cases per total surveillance cultures increased progressively between 2017 and 2021 (chi-2 for trend, p0.0001) and was associated with a higher occurrence specifically in COVID units (Fisher exact, p0.0001). The molecular investigation of the NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains revealed the emergence of diverse clones during the COVID-19 period, also with possible evidence of horizontal transmission among patients within COVID units. NDM-producing Enterobacterales with multiple and different clonalities in the COVID-19 units also raised questions about the importance of other factors besides horizontal clonal transfer, including the increase of antimicrobial consumption by these patients.

Mounting antimicrobial resistance to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) highlights the need to optimize currently available treatment options. The objective of this study was to explore alternative dosing strategies that limit the emergence of resistance to preserve the utility of last-line antibiotics by: (i) evaluating the pharmacodynamic (PD) killing activity of simulated humanized exposures to monotherapy and two-drug and three-drug combinations against CPKP bacterial isolates with different resistance mechanisms; and (ii) optimizing polymyxin B (PMB) exposure simulated in the three-drug combination regimens to maximize the killing activity. Two CPKP clinical isolates (BAA2146 (NDM-1) and BRKP76 (KPC-2)) were evaluated over 168 hours using a hollow-fiber infection model simulating clinically relevant PMB, fosfomycin, and meropenem dosing regimens. PMB-based three-drug combinations were further optimized by varying the initial exposure (0-24 hours) or maintenance dose received over the duration of treatment. The area under the bacterial load-versus-time curve (AUCFU) was used to determine PD activity. Overall reductions in PMB exposure ranged from 2 to 84%. BAA2146 and BRKP76 had median (range) AUCFUs of 11.0 (10.6-11.6) log10 CFU hour/mL and 7.08 (7.04-11.9) log10 CFU hour/mL, respectively. The PMB "front loaded" 2.5 mg/kg/day + 0.5 mg/kg maintenance dose in combination with meropenem and fosfomycin was a promising regimen against BRKP76, with an overall reduction in PMB exposure of 56% while still eradicating the bacteria. Tailored triple-combination therapy allows for the optimization of dose and treatment duration of last-line agents like PMB to achieve adequate drug exposure and appropriate PD activity while minimizing the emergence of resistance.

Pandoraea spp é um gênero de bactérias Gram-negativas não-fermentadoras mais comumente relatadas em portadores de fibrose cística. Relatamos neste caso paciente com infecção relacionada a dispositivo vascular tunelizado. Trata-se de paciente de 56 anos, portadora de doença renal crônica e hipertensão arterial sistêmica, sem história de doença pulmonar crônica. Necessitou início de hemodiálise (HD) 10 meses antes da internação, com inserção de cateter tunelizado. Cerca de 7 meses após, iniciou episódios de calafrios durante sessões de HD, sem outros sintomas. O cateter foi retirado, sendo inserido cateter não tunelizado. Cerca de um mês após, recorreu com calafrios durante HD, coletado culturas e iniciado terapêutica empírica com ceftazidima e vancomicina. Devido falha de resposta clínica ao esquema, paciente foi encaminhada ao hospital terciário de cardiologia. Após admissão, foi suspenso o esquema antimicrobiano e coletadas hemoculturas seriadas a fim de identificar agente etiológico. Três amostras de cultura de sangue periférico do D1 de internação e duas do D3 resultaram negativas. Três amostras de sangue do D4 resultaram positivas para Pandoraea spp (tempo de positividade em sangue de cateter de 13 horas, e em amostras de sangue periférico, de 27 horas). Posteriormente, recebida notificação de crescimento do mesmo agente em amostra coletada um dia antes da admissão em laboratório externo. Pandoraea sputorum foi identificada pela técnica de MALDI-TOF MS. Realizado perfil de sensibilidade, para o qual se mostrou resistente a amicacina e gentamicina; sensível a imipeném, piperacilina-tazobactam e ciprofloxacino. Critérios para a interpretação do perfil de sensibilidade baseados nos pontos de corte de Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A terapia guiada por cultura foi realizada com imipenem por 14 dias, associada a retirada do cateter, com remissão dos calafrios e tremores nas primeiras 48 horas. Ecocardiograma transesofágico da admissão hospitalar não evidenciou vegetações ou lesões valvulares sugestivas de endocardite. Colhidas hemoculturas periféricas de controle, as quais resultaram negativas três dias após término de antibioticoterapia. Ecocardiograma transtorácico pós tratamento sem sinais de endocardite. Por ser esse o primeiro relato na literatura de infecção da corrente sanguínea relacionada a cateter vascular por Pandoraea sputorum, chamamos atenção para a potencial emergência desse agente em pacientes submetidos a terapia de substituição renal/hemodiálise.

Serological testing is a powerful tool in epidemiological studies for understanding viral circulation and assessing the effectiveness of virus control measures, as is the case of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogenic agent of COVID-19. Immunoassays can quantitatively reveal the concentration of antiviral antibodies. The assessment of antiviral antibody titers may provide information on virus exposure, and changes in IgG levels are also indicative of a reduction in viral circulation. In this work, we describe a serological study for the evaluation of antiviral IgG and IgM antibodies and their correlation with antiviral activity. The serological assay for IgG detection used two SARS-CoV-2 proteins as antigens, the nucleocapsid N protein and the 3CL protease. Cross-reactivity tests in animals have shown high selectivity for detection of antiviral antibodies, using both the N and 3CL antigens. Using samples of human serum from individuals previously diagnosed by PCR for COVID-19, we observed high sensitivity of the ELISA assay. Serological results with human samples also suggest that the combination of higher titers of antiviral IgG antibodies to different antigen targets may be associated with greater neutralization activity, which can be enhanced in the presence of antiviral IgM antibodies

Determining the role of the immune response in preventing antimicrobial resistance and optimising antibiotic regimens against carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is a research gap that exists and needs to be further explored. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacodynamic and immunomodulatory effects of fosfomycin alone and in combination with polymyxin B against KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Six K. pneumoniae isolates were selected (polymyxin B MIC, 0.5-64 mg/L; fosfomycin MIC, 16-128 mg/L) to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of monotherapy and combination therapies in static time-kill studies. A mechanism-based model was used to characterise the joint activity of polymyxin B and fosfomycin. A549 human airway epithelial cells were infected with four isolates to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of treatment. Our mechanism-based model indicated greater bacterial killing efficacy of fosfomycin with polymyxin B compared with monotherapy. In combination, polymyxin B was assumed to exert an outer membrane effect that resulted in an increase in the ability of fosfomycin to reach its target site. The mechanism-based model described the data well across all six strains, with R

Background Bathing with 2% chlorhexidine (CHG) wipes is an important measure regarding infection prevention in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of CHG wipes bath to prevent central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in critically ill patients and determine if such measure is cost-saving. Methods a quasi-experimental study, conducted from July 2017 to April 2019. Daily bath with 2% CHG was used in all patients at the unit in the intervention period. The following were evaluated: CLABSI incidence density in both periods, 30- day mortality, guided antimicrobials used to treat CLABSI and 2% CHG costs. Results CLABSI incidence density dropped from 8.69 to 1.83 per 1.000 central line-days (p = 0.001), mainly by Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenen Resistant (Kp-KPC) (p = 0.05). Costs with guided antimicrobials for the treatment in pre-intervention were US$ 46,114.36, and in the intervention period, US$ 4,177.50. The 2% CHG monthly cost was US$ 2,698.00, achieving 30% savings when comparing both periods. Discussion An expressive reduction of 79% in CLABSI incidence density was observed, mainly due to Kp-KPC infection and also a reduction in guided antimicrobial costs. Conclusions Bathing with 2% CHG led to evident CLABSI reduction.

A retrospective cohort study, were evaluated: polymyxin B plus aminoglycosides or polymyxin B plus other antibiotics. Any degree of acute kidney injury occurred in 26 (86.6%) patients. The median time to acute kidney injury was 6.0 (95% CI 3–14) days in the polymyxin-aminoglycoside containing regimen group, against 27.0 (95% CI 6–42) days in the polymyxin with other antimicrobial combinations group (p = 0.03). Polymyxin B with aminoglycosides group progressed faster to any degree of renal dysfunction. Keywords: AKI, CRE, Polymyxins, Aminoglicosides

Late complications in ascending aortic surgeries are uncommon and may occur by infectious processes, usually caused by gram positive bacteria. We report a case of aortic prosthesis infection by Porphyromonas pogonae, an anaerobic gram-negative coccobacillus that can grow under microaerobic conditions, three years after ascending aortic reconstruction surgery.

Extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (XDR-KP) infections cause high mortality and are disseminating globally. Identifying the genetic basis underpinning resistance allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment. XDR isolates sourced from Greece and Brazil, including nineteen polymyxin-resistant and five polymyxin-susceptible strains, underwent whole genome sequencing. Approximately 90% of polymyxin resistance was enabled by alterations upstream or within mgrB. The most common mutation identified was an insertion at nucleotide position 75 in mgrB via an ISKpn26-like element in the ST258 lineage and ISKpn13 in one ST11 isolate. Three strains acquired an IS1 element upstream of mgrB and another strain had an ISKpn25 insertion at 133 bp. Other isolates had truncations (C28STOP, Q30STOP) or a missense mutation (D31E) affecting mgrB. Complementation assays revealed all mgrB perturbations contributed to resistance. Missense mutations in phoQ (T281M, G385C) were also found to facilitate resistance. Several variants in phoPQ co-segregating with the ISKpn26-like insertion were identified as potential partial suppressor mutations. Three ST258 samples were found to contain subpopulations with different resistance conferring mutations, including the ISKpn26-like insertion colonising with a novel mutation in pmrB (P158R), both confirmed via complementation assays. We also characterized a new multi-drug resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae strain ST2401 which was susceptible to polymyxins. These findings highlight the broad spectrum of chromosomal modifications which can facilitate and regulate resistance against polymyxins in K. pneumoniae.DATA SUMMARYWhole genome sequencing of the 24 clinical isolates has been deposited under BioProject PRJNA307517 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA307517).IMPACT STATEMENTKlebsiella pneumoniae contributes to a high abundance of nosocomial infections and the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance hinders treatment. Polymyxins are predominantly utilized to treat multidrug-resistant infections, however, resistance to the polymyxins is arising. This increasing prevalence in polymyxin resistance is evident especially in Greece and Brazil. Identifying the genomic variations conferring resistance in clinical isolates from these regions assists with potentially detecting novel alterations and tracing the spread of particular strains. This study commonly found mutations in the gene mgrB, the negative regulator of PhoPQ, known to cause resistance in KP. In the remaining isolates, missense mutations in phoQ were accountable for resistance. Multiple novel mutations were detected to be segregating with mgrB perturbations. This was either due to a mixed heterogeneous sample of two polymyxin-resistant strains, or because of multiple mutations within the same strain. Of interest was the validation of novel mutations inphoPQ segregating with a previously known ISKpn26-like element in disrupted mgrB isolates. Complementation of these phoPQ mutations revealed a reduction in minimum inhibitory concentrations and suggests the first evidence of partial suppressor mutations in KP. This research builds upon our current understanding of heteroresistance, lineage specific mutations and regulatory variations relating to polymyxin resistance.

ZTI-01 (fosfomycin for injection) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with a novel mechanism of action and is currently under development in the United States for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. Globally, fosfomycin and polymyxin B are increasingly being used to treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. The objectives were to evaluate the pharmacodynamic activity of polymyxin B and fosfomycin alone and in combination against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and to assess the rate and extent of emergence of resistance to different antibiotic regimens. Two clinical isolates, BRKP26 (MIC of polymyxin B[MIC PMB ], 0.5 mg/liter; MIC of fosfomycin [MIC FOF ], 32 mg/liter) and BRKP67 (MIC PMB , 8 mg/liter; MIC FOF , 32 mg/liter) at an initial inoculum of 10 7 CFU/ml, were evaluated over 168 h in a hollow-fiber infection model simulating clinically relevant polymyxin B (2.5-mg/kg loading dose as a 2 h-infusion followed by 1.5-mg/kg dose every 12 h [q12h] as a 1-h infusion) and fosfomycin (6 g q6h as a 1-h or 3-h infusion) regimens alone and in combination. Population analysis profiles (PAPs) and MIC testing were performed to assess emergence of resistance. Polymyxin B or fosfomycin monotherapy was ineffective and selected for resistance by 24 h. Polymyxin B plus a fosfomycin 1-h infusion demonstrated sustained bactericidal activity by 4 h, with undetectable colony counts beyond 144 h. Polymyxin B plus a fosfomycin 3-h infusion demonstrated bactericidal activity at 4 h, followed by regrowth similar to that of the control by 144 h. PAPs revealed resistant subpopulations by 120 h. The combination of polymyxin B and a fosfomycin 1-h infusion is a promising treatment option for KPC-producing K. pneumoniae and suppresses the emergence of resistance. Further evaluation of novel dosing strategies is warranted to optimize therapy.

SUMMARYA retrospective space–time permutation model with non-Euclidean distance criteria was applied within a high-complexity hospital setting to quantitatively explore cluster patterns of 273 patients infected with or colonized by carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae during 4 years. Results were compared to standard nosocomial active-surveillance methods. Two clusters were identified in the period, suggesting that space–time strategies for cluster quantification within confined environments may be useful.

The multidrug resistance profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) producers have led to increased clinical polymyxin use. Combination therapy with polymyxins may improve treatment outcomes, but it is uncertain which combinations are most effective. Clinical successes with intravenous minocycline-based combination treatments have been reported for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of polymyxin B and minocycline combination therapy against six KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates (minocycline MIC range, 2 to 32 mg/liter). Polymyxin B monotherapy (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 16 mg/liter) resulted in a rapid reduction of up to 6 log in bactericidal activity followed by regrowth by 24 h. Minocycline monotherapy (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg/liter) showed no reduction of activity of >1.34 log against all isolates, although concentrations of 8 and 16 mg/liter prolonged the time to regrowth. When the therapies were used in combination, rapid bactericidal activity was followed by slower regrowth, with synergy (60 of 120 combinations at 24 h, 19 of 120 combinations at 48 h) and additivity (43 of 120 combinations at 24 h, 44 of 120 combinations at 48 h) against all isolates. The extent of killing was greatest against the more susceptible polymyxin B isolates (MICs of ≤0.5 mg/liter) regardless of the minocycline MIC. The pharmacodynamic activity of combined polymyxin B-minocycline therapy against KPC-producing K. pneumoniae is dependent on polymyxin B susceptibility. Further in vitro and animal studies must be performed to fully evaluate the efficacy of this drug combination.

Combination therapy provides a useful therapeutic approach to overcome resistance until new antibiotics become available. In this study, the pharmacodynamics, including the morphological effects, of polymyxin B (PMB) and meropenem alone and in combination against KPC - producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates was examined. Ten clinical isolates were obtained from patients undergoing treatment for mediastinitis. KPCs were identified and MICs were measured using microbroth dilution. Time–kill studies were conducted over 24 h with PMB (0.5–16 mg/L) and meropenem (20–120 mg/L) alone or in combination against an initial inoculum of ca. 10 6 CFU/mL. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyse changes in bacterial morphology after treatment, and the log change method was used to quantify the pharmacodynamic effect. All isolates harboured the bla KPC-2 gene and were resistant to meropenem (MICs ≥8 mg/L). Clinically relevant PMB concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L) in combination with meropenem were synergistic against all isolates except BRKP28 (polymyxin- and meropenem-resistant, both MICs >128 mg/L). All PMB and meropenem concentrations in combination were bactericidal against polymyxin-susceptible isolates with meropenem MICs ≤16 mg/L. SEM revealed extensive morphological changes following treatment with PMB in combination with meropenem compared with the changes observed with each individual agent. Additionally, morphological changes decreased with increasing resistance profiles of the isolate, i.e. increasing meropenem MIC. These antimicrobial effects may not only be a summation of the effects due to each antibiotic but also a result of differential action that likely inhibits protective mechanisms in bacteria.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) cause surgical site infections (SSIs) in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intervention and control measures to reduce CRE colonization and infection rates among patients in the ICU of a cardiac surgery hospital following a CRE outbreak.An observational study of the pre- and postintervention status of a cohort of colonized or infected patients in the postoperative adult cardiac surgery ICU was performed between April 2013 and December 2014. As well as the usual measures of screening and cohort nursing, the control measures were enhanced during the intervention period by providing alcohol gel at the bedside, daily bathing with no-rinse 2% chlorhexidine-impregnated wash cloths, and disinfection of surfaces around the patient three times per day.The rates of CRE colonization (P0.001), primary central-line-associated bloodstream infections (P0.002) and SSIs (P0.003) decreased significantly during the postintervention period.The implemented measures were effective in controlling colonization and infection with CRE in the cardiac surgery ICU.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae is spreading globally and represents a challenge in infection control and treatment. Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are especially at risk for infection by multidrug-resistant bacteria, and little is known about infection with KPC-producing organisms in this setting. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiologic aspects of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infections in SOT recipients. A KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae outbreak was identified in a public teaching tertiary care hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, in June 2009. During the outbreak, cases of KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae infection in SOT recipients occurred between July 2009 and February 2010; these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Overall, 12 episodes of infection with KPC-producing K. pneumoniae occurred in 2 heart, 4 liver, and 6 kidney transplant recipients with incidence rates of 16.7%, 12.9%, and 26.3% in heart, liver, and kidney transplantation, respectively. Infection occurred at a median time of 20 days after transplantation. Primary infection sites were as follows: 4 urinary tract infections, 4 bloodstream infections, 2 pneumonias, and 2 surgical site infections. All patients except one had received antibiotics in the last 30 days, mostly piperacillin-tazobactam or glycopeptides. All strains exhibited susceptibility to amikacin and gentamicin. Patients were treated with tigecycline plus polymyxin B (3 cases), polymyxin B plus carbapenem (3 cases), polymyxin B alone (3 cases), or tigecycline plus imipenem (1 case). In 2 cases, patients received only carbapenem, and death occurred before the final culture result. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 42%. In this series of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infection in SOT recipients, the infection occurrence was high during an institutional outbreak and was potentially life threatening.

This is the description of an investigation into an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC) that involved 22 inpatients in a public Brazilian hospital specialising in cardiac surgery, where these bacteria had never been isolated before. The dissemination of KPC also involved an external patient. This is the first description of a KPC outbreak in a Brazilian hospital.

We reported a case of septicemia by Vibrio cholerae O1, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A 70-year-old male patient, living in an urban area, entered the emergency service having sepsis, dying 12 hours later. Blood culture was positive for Vibrio cholerae O1. This is the first case of bacteremia by Vibrio cholerae O1 reported in South America.

At our institution, we observed an increase in the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) due to Gram-negative bacilli, including three cases of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, among patients who underwent renal transplantation. In addition to strengthening infection control measures, we chose to add gentamycin to the antibiotic prophylaxis regimen of patients undergoing renal transplantation. We assessed the number of HAI occurring within 30 days of renal transplantation during two time periods: (1) the pre-intervention period, between September 2009 and June 2010, and (2) the post-intervention period, between July 2010 and April 2011. The intervention consisted of the addition of gentamycin to the surgical antibiotic prophylaxis regimen. The percentage of patients with HAIs was 31% lower during the post-intervention period (p = 0.03), with the greatest reductions observed for urinary tract infections (p = 0.024). Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae was not isolated during this period. The investigated patients did not exhibit worsening renal function. Further studies are needed to assess antibiotic prophylaxis in renal transplantation patients at institutions where there is a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Keywords: Renal transplantation, Antibiotic prophylaxis, Gentamycin, Health-care associated infections

Herein we report a fatal case of donor-derived transmission of XDR-resistant carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) in cardiac transplantation. A 59-year-old male patient with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy underwent heart transplantation. On day 5 post-operation, blood cultures from the donor were positive for colistin-resistant carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (ColR KPC-Kp) susceptible only to amikacin. Recipient blood cultures were also positive for ColR KPC-Kp with the same sensitivity profile as the donor isolate with an identical PFGE pattern. The patient was treated with double-carbapenems and amikacin. The patient evolved to pericarditis, osteomyelitis, and pulmonary necrosis, all fragment cultures positive for the same agent. The patient developed septic shock, multiple organ failure and died on day 50 post-transplantation. Based on current microbiological scenario worldwide the possibility of transmitting multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms should be considered. Keywords: Cardiac transplantation, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Donor-derived infection, Carbapenem-resistant

We hereby describe the clinical and epidemiological features and, outcomes of nine patients with Elizabethkingia meningoseptica infections in two hospitals over a 2-year period. All infections caused by this pathogen were nosocomial, or healthcare associated infections, in hemodialysis settings whereas none was correlated with hospital outbreaks. Keywords: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, Nosocomial infections, Bloodstream infections