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Carbapenem susceptibility test results widely variable, study finds

A study by Italian investigators in Clinical Microbiology and Infection has found that commercial methods for testing carbapenem susceptibility produced widely variable results in a sample of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli, with none satisfying the criteria for acceptable antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) performance.

Study finds poor treatment outcomes for MDR- and XDR-TB patients in China

A study today in BMC Infectious Diseases reports that patients with multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR- and XDR-TB) in China's Hunan province had low rates of treatment success.

Data show gaps in antifungal susceptibility testing at US hospitals

A new study by researchers with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that availability of antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) at US hospitals has improved in recent years, but substantial gaps remain.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Data show gaps in antifungal susceptibility testing at US hospitals

A new study by researchers with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that availability of antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) at US hospitals has improved in recent years, but substantial gaps remain.

Dutch study find MCR-1 gene in a quarter of retail chicken meat samples

Dutch investigators have identified the colistin resistance gene MCR-1 in nearly 25% of samples of Dutch retail chicken meat, according to a new study in Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control.

For the study, the investigators bought 214 chicken meat samples from four supermarket chains throughout the Netherlands in 2015. They collected 53 or 54 samples from each chain.

Saudi Arabia reports new MERS case linked to camels

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) announced a new case of MERS-CoV yesterday, in a patient who had contact with camels, a known risk factor for contracting the virus.

Study shows strong promise for fecal transplants for severe C difficile

A study today involving 111 patients found that early fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) dramatically improves survival in severe Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs).

Tularemia investigation links Arizona's woman's illness to dog

An investigation into a 73-year-old Arizona woman's death related to a Francisella tularensis infection (tularemia) in June 2016 revealed that she probably contracted the bacterium, classified by federal health officials as a tier 1 select agent, from her pet dog.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Microbes living at lower densities develop resistance faster, study says

UK researchers have discovered that microbes living at low populations densities—dubbed "lonely" microbes—have higher rates of mutations that cause antibiotic resistance, according to their study yesterday in PLoS Biology.

Rare, resistant bacteria linked to chronic ear infections in Angola

Researchers have discovered that more than 10% of patients with chronic ear infections at an ear, nose, and throat clinic in Angola were co-colonized with a fluoroquinolone-resistant bacterium commonly found in bird feces.

Study: Respiratory viral testing has small effect on antibiotics for pneumonia

Molecular respiratory viral testing had minimal impact on reducing antibiotic utilization among viral pneumonia patients, according to a study yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Supplement details group B Streptococcus, resistance risks

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria cause at least 147,000 stillbirths and infant deaths worldwide each year, but providing effective treatment brings up antibiotic resistance and stewardship issues, according to a supplement to Clinical Infectious Diseases published today.

Most MDR-TB isolates in central China resistant to key MDR-TB drug

Chinese scientists have found that 62% of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates they tested were also resistant to pyrazinamide (PZA), a key drug in treating MDR-TB, according to a study published yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases.

VHA study notes rise in community-associated C diff infections

A study of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals has found that cases of community-associated Clostridium difficile infection (CA-CDI) are on the rise, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin reported yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Increased sepsis risk found in patients previously treated with antibiotics

A significant increase in cases of severe sepsis and septic shock within 90 days of hospital discharge was observed among patients exposed to antibiotics during their previous hospital stay, researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Increased sepsis risk found in patients previously treated with antibiotics

Originally published by CIDRAP News Nov 9

HHS report notes stewardship, resistance progress in the US

Almost two thirds of US hospitals now have full-scale antibiotic stewardship programs and the incidence of several antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections are declining in the country, according to a progress report on 2 years of US efforts to combat AMR, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said today.

FDA launches Resistome Tracker to monitor antibiotic resistance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today launched an interactive research tool called Resistome Tracker to track antibiotic-resistance genes.

ECDC publishes guidance on reducing CRE infections

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today published guidelines on screening for and prevention of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that include hospital stay, chemotherapy treatment, and link to a CRE carrier as risk factors.

More AFM cases in Illinois, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, New York

The health departments of Illinois and Washington state have reported nine and five cases of acute flaccid myelitis, respectively, and local media in Texas, New Jersey, and New York are also highlighting cases of the polio-like illness.

Study examines shorter IV antibiotics for group B strep bacteremia

A study yesterday in Pediatrics has found that, contrary to national guidelines, a portion of infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia are being treated with shortened intravenous (IV) antibiotic courses, with low rates of recurrence and treatment failure.

Study examines shorter IV antibiotics for group B strep bacteremia

A study yesterday in Pediatrics has found that, contrary to national guidelines, a portion of infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia are being treated with shortened intravenous (IV) antibiotic courses, with low rates of recurrence and treatment failure.

Study finds standard washing doesn't remove C diff from hospital sheets

A team of researchers from the United Kingdom report that Clostridioides difficile spores can survive on hospital sheets even after being washed with high-temperature water and industrial detergents, and that those spores could be contributing to outbreaks of C difficile infection (CDI) in hospitals.

MERS superspreader study highlights risk in cardiac, renal patients

Difficulty distinguishing pneumonia from volume overload in a patient with renal failure delayed a MERS-CoV diagnosis at a Riyadh hospital last year, which led to a superspreading event that sickened 44 people at three health facilities, Saudi researchers reported in the American Journal of Infection Control.

New MERS cases, deaths reported in Saudi Arabia

After several days without updates, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed three new cases of MERS-CoV today and one death. The MOH has issued only sporadic updates this month; this is the first update since Apr 9.