Improving Efficiency in Active Surveillance for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus at Hospital Admission
Morgan DJ et al. – Electronic medical record documentation of antibiotic use during the year prior to admission identifies most Methicillin–Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and nearly all Vancomycin–Resistant Enterococcus transmission risk with surveillance culture sampling of only 51% of patients. This approach has substantial cost savings compared with the practice of universal active surveillance. read more
Tissue Penetration and Pharmacokinetics of Tigecycline in Diabetic Patients with Chronic Wound Infections Described by Using In Vivo Microdialysis
Bulik CC et al. – Tissue penetration of systemic antibiotics is an important consideration for positive outcomes in diabetic patients. Herein the authors describe the exposure profile and penetration of tigecycline in the interstitial fluid of wound margins versus that of uninfected thigh tissue in 8 adult diabetic patients intravenously (IV) administered 100 mg and then 50 mg of tigecycline twice daily for 3 to 5 doses. read more
Impact of Silver-Containing Wound Dressings on Bacterial Biofilm Viability and Susceptibility to Antibiotics during Prolonged Treatment
Kostenko V et al. – The long–term antimicrobial efficacy of silver dressings against bacterial biofilms was investigated in a 7–day treatment in vitro model where the protein–rich medium was refreshed daily in order to mimic the conditions found in a wound bed. The use of plate–to–plate transfer assays demonstrated measurable differences in the effectivenesses of several silver dressings on the viability of biofilm bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics. read more
Staphylococcus aureus Hijacks a Skin Commensal to Intensify Its Virulence: Immunization Targeting beta-Hemolysin and CAMP Factor
Lo C–W et al. – The combination of CAMP factor neutralization and beta–hemolysin immunization cooperatively suppressed the skin lesions caused by coinfection of Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. These observations suggest a previously unreported immunotherapy targeting the interaction of Staphylococcus aureus with a skin commensal. read more
Prevalence of Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens in Canadian Hospitals: Results of the Canadian Ward Surveillance Study (CANWARD 2008)
Zhanel GG et al. – A total of 5,282 bacterial isolates obtained between 1 January and 31 December 31 2008, inclusive, from patients in 10 hospitals across Canada as part of the Canadian Ward Surveillance Study (CANWARD 2008) underwent susceptibility testing. The 10 most common organisms, representing 78.8% of all clinical specimens, were as follows: Escherichia coli (21.4%), methicillin–susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA; 13.9%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.0%), coagulase–negative staphylococci/Staphylococcus epidermidis (5.4%), methicillin–resistant S. aureus (MRSA; 5.1%), Haemophilus influenzae (4.1%), Enterococcus spp. (3.3%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.2%). Zhanel GG et al. – A total of 5,282 bacterial isolates obtained between 1 January and 31 December 31 2008, inclusive, from patients in 10 hospitals across Canada as part of the Canadian Ward Surveillance Study (CANWARD 2008) underwent susceptibility testing. The 10 most common organisms, representing 78.8% of all clinical specimens, were as follows: Escherichia coli (21.4%), methicillin–susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA; 13.9%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.0%), coagulase–negative staphylococci/Staphylococcus epidermidis (5.4%), methicillin–resistant S. aureus (MRSA; 5.1%), Haemophilus influenzae (4.1%), Enterococcus spp. (3.3%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.2%). read more
