Major differences exist in frequencies of virulence factors and multidrug resistance between community and nosocomial Escherichia coli bloodstream isolates
Cooke NM et al. – The community, healthcare–associated or nosocomial origin of E. coli bacteremia determines isolates’ virulence capacity better than phylogenetic group. This study provides new insights into the relationships between pathogenesis and epidemiology of E. coli bacteremia. read more
The role of keratinocytes in defense against infection
Schroder JM et al. – There is better understanding of the keratinocyte’s role in the skin’s innate defense system, and these data can help to generate therapeutics that can activate this defense system. read more
Significantly more MRSA is recovered from polymicrobial respiratory and wound sites using chromogenic primary media compared to conventional culture
Harrington AT et al. – The data support the focused use of chromogenic selective media for the increased detection of MRSA, which could have an impact on both clinical treatment and infection control, in polymicrobial wound and respiratory specimens. read more
Assessing the role of undetected colonization and isolation precautions in reducing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission in intensive care units
Kypraios T et al. – Screening consistently detected >80% of colonized–patient–days. Estimates of the effectiveness of barrier precautions showed considerable uncertainty, but in all units except burns/general surgery and one cardiac surgery ICU, the best estimates were consistent with reductions in transmission associated with barrier precautions. read more
Transmission of HIV-1 Drug-Resistant Variants: Prevalence and Effect on Treatment Outcome
Jakobsen MR et al. – The authors found the prevalence of TDR in recently infected ART-naive patients to be higher than that estimated by ViroSeq genotyping alone. Follow-up of patients after treatment initiation showed a trend toward there being more clinical complications for patients carrying TDR, although a significant effect on treatment outcome could not be demonstrated. Therefore, the clinical relevance of low-abundance resistant quasispecies in early infection is still in question. read more
