Clinical Microbiology and Infection

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic malaria infections are highly prevalent in endemic areas. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of malaria parasites in migrants screened in non-endemic areas. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE-Ovid, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Lilacs, Cochrane, and MedRxiv. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Cross-sectional studies and observational prospective or retrospective cohort studies conducted in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, or New-Zealand regardless of language or publication status...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a combined SARS-CoV-2/influenza rapid antigen test (SIRAT) and to evaluate a SIRAT-based hospital isolation policy awaiting RT-PCR results for patients presenting at the emergency department (ED). METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study including all adult patients presenting with influenza-like symptoms at the ED of two hospitals from 2022-10-31 to 2023-03-31. A SIRAT and SARS-CoV-2 and influenza RT-PCR were performed on upper respiratory samples...

BACKGROUND: Blackwater fever (BWF) is a severe syndrome occurring in patients with malaria upon antimalarial treatment, characterized by massive intravascular haemolysis and haemoglobinuria. BWF is a neglected condition and management recommendations are unavailable. OBJECTIVES: We performed a scoping review to appraise available data on clinical picture, treatment and physiopathology of BWF, which could guide rationally its clinical management. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, and the reference list of relevant publications, were searched...

OBJECTIVES: An endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) graft is a catheter-implanted vascular prosthesis and is the preferred treatment for patients with aortic aneurysm. If an EVAR graft becomes the focus of infection, the treatment possibilities are limited as it is technically difficult to remove the graft to obtain source control. This study examines whether Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus form biofilm on EVAR prostheses. METHODS: EVAR graft sections were exposed to bacteria at 102 or 108 colony forming units (CFU)/ml in lysogeny broth and Krebs-Ringer at 37°C, bacterial biofilm formation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and counting CFU on the graft sections following antibiotic exposure at x10 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)...

BACKGROUND: Early identification of extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) is critical for timely therapy. Rapid phenotypic tests identifying these resistance mechanisms from pure bacterial colonies have been developed. OBJECTIVES: To determine the operating characteristics of available rapid phenotypic tests when applied directly to positive blood cultures. METHODS: Data Sources: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, BIOSIS, and Scopus from inception to March 16, 2021...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Historically, human mpox was predominantly a zoonotic disease occurring more frequently in rural children in Africa and characterized by a largely self-limiting febrile centrifugal monomorphic rash illness. However, the 2022 mpox global outbreak has shown that the disease is changing in many ways, including sustained human-to-human transmission via sexual contact, novel clinical presentations, and adverse associations between mpox and advanced HIV. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to review the traditional and emerging clinical aspects of human mpox and provide updated information on the clinical course and outcome of the disease...

BACKGROUND: Current practice guidelines favour fidaxomicin over vancomycin and exclude metronidazole from the recommended standard regimen for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), based on lower recurrence rates with fidaxomicin, giving little weight to mortality or the clinical implications of recurrences. OBJECTIVES: To compile the effects of metronidazole, glycopeptides (vancomycin or teicoplanin) and fidaxomicin for CDI on mortality and other patient-relevant outcomes...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of Dientamoeba fragilis (DF) and Blastocystis species (Bs) in human stool. METHODS: Observational study of patients ≥18 years, who were tested by stool multiplex PCR for bacteria and parasites between April 2019 and March 2022. While DF and Bs are part of the PCR kit, these results are not routinely reported to the patient or the ordering physician. The main outcomes were: the incidence of symptoms during 14 days before the referral to stool PCR test, and the incidence of several clinical outcomes during 60 days following the PCR test (symptoms, referrals to further evaluation, prescription of symptomatic or antibiotic treatment)...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of Aspergillus-specific IgG antibodies for diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) by using a cohort of patients with histologically proven CPA as a reference gold standard. METHODS: We collected Aspergillus-specific IgG antibody titres from histologically proven CPA patients in collaboration with CPAnet study sites in Denmark, Germany, Belgium, India, Moldova, and Pakistan (N=47). Additionally, sera from diseased- and healthy controls were prospectively collected at the Medical Clinic of the Research Center Borstel, Germany (n=303)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is widely known as a frequent cause of respiratory distress among adults, particularly older people. Recent years have witnessed several improvements in respiratory virus detection, leading to more questions about therapeutic management strategies. OBJECTIVES: This narrative review focuses on the RSV burden in older people and adults with risk factors and provides an update on the main recent developments regarding managing this infection...

BACKGROUND: Cefiderocol is a last resort option for carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria, especially metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and CR Acinetobacter baumannii. Monitoring global levels of cefiderocol non-susceptibility (CFDC-NS) is important. OBJECTIVES: To systematically collate and examine studies investigating in-vitro CFDC-NS and estimate the global prevalence of CFDC-NS against major Gram-negative pathogens...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine how mutations in CpERG11 and CpTAC1 contribute to fluconazole resistance in a collection of clinical isolates. METHODS: Sequences of CpERG11 and CpTAC1 were determined for thirty-five resistant C. parapsilosis clinical isolates. A plasmid-based CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to introduce mutations leading to amino acid substitution in CpTac1 and CpErg11. Triazole susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution and E-test...

OBJECTIVES: To report five-year persistence and avidity of antibodies produced by the live-attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) expressing the Zaire Ebolavirus (ZEBOV) glycoprotein (GP), known as rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo®). METHODS: Healthy adults vaccinated with 300,000 or 10-50 million plaque-forming units of rVSV-ZEBOV in the WHO-coordinated trials of 2014-5 were followed for up to four (Lambaréné, Gabon) and five (Geneva, Switzerland) years...

BACKGROUND: Patients with bacteremia caused by gram positive bacteria are at risk for infective endocarditis (IE). Since IE needs long antibiotic treatment and sometimes heart valve surgery, it is very important to identify patients with IE. OBJECTIVES: In this narrative review we present and discuss how to determine which investigations to detect IE that are needed in individual patients with gram positive bacteremia. SOURCES: Published original studies and previous reviews in English, within the relevant field are used...