The impact of antibiotic prescription rates on the incidence of MRSA bloodstream infections: a county-level, U.S.-wide analysis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 80,641 severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections occur every year, leading to 11,285 deaths [1], while the healthcare cost of a single MRSA infection may be as high as $34,657 [2]. In turn, these challenges are largely attributed to an increase in multi-drug resistance among S. aureus strains due, at least in part, to inappropriate antibiotic use [3]. The increase of multi-drug resistant MRSA strains [4-6] has led the CDC to classify MRSA as a “serious” public health threat [1], given that MRSA infections are as...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 12, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Nikolaos Andreatos, Fadi Shehadeh, Elina Eleftheria Pliakos, Eleftherios Mylonakis Source Type: research

Trends in hepatitis B virus resistance to nucleoside/nucleotide analogues in North China from 2009 –2016: A retrospective study
Globally, an estimated 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1] and are at an increased risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. HBV infection is endemic in China, where more than 120 million people carry hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and ca. 300 000 die annually of liver cirrhosis or HCC [3]. Both interferon (IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) are currently used to treat HBV infection [4]. NAs are more widely used as they have fewer adverse effects than IFN [4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Xianghua Guo, Jushan Wu, Feili Wei, Yabo Ouyang, Qing Li, Kai Liu, Yanjun Wang, Yulin Zhang, Dexi Chen Source Type: research

Molecular β-lactamase characterization of gram-negative pathogens recovered from patients enrolled in the ceftazidime-avibactam phase 3 trials (RECAPTURE 1 and 2) for complicated urinary tract infections: Efficacies analysed against susceptible and resistant subsets
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are categorized as complicated or uncomplicated. Complicated UTIs (cUTI) are associated with factors that compromise the urinary tract or host defense (structural or functional abnormalities), including urinary obstruction; urinary retention; immunosuppression; renal failure; renal transplantation; pregnancy; patients with medical or surgical comorbidities; and the presence of foreign bodies such as calculi, indwelling catheters, or other drainage devices [1, 2]. The latter, catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI), accounted for 37.8% of health care-associated infections in the United States (US), wh...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Rodrigo E. Mendes, Mariana Castanheira, Leah N. Woosley, Gregory G. Stone, Patricia A. Bradford, Robert K. Flamm Source Type: research

Trends in Hepatitis B Virus Resistance to Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogs in North China from 2009 to 2016: A Retrospective Study
Globally, an estimated 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1], and they are at an increased risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. HBV infection is endemic in China, where more than 120 million people carry hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and approximately 300,000 of them die annually of liver cirrhosis or HCC [3]. Both interferon (IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) are currently used to treat HBV infection [4]. NAs are more widely used due to having fewer adverse effects than IFN [4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Xianghua Guo, Jushan Wu, Feili Wei, Yabo Ouyang, Qing Li, Kai Liu, Yanjun Wang, Yulin Zhang, Dexi Chen Source Type: research

Hospital outbreak due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 clonal strain co-producing KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases in a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Greece#
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains have emerged during the last years as one of the most challenging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens worldwide. The spread of such strains is associated with high mortality rates, limited treatment options and rapid dissemination of successful bacterial clones in the hospital setting. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Efthymia Protonotariou, Aggeliki Poulou, Lida Politi, Ioannis Sgouro-poulos, Simeon Metallidis, Melania Kachrimanidou, Spyros Pournaras, Athanasios Tsakris, Lemonia Skoura Source Type: research

Molecular β-lactamase characterization of gram-negative pathogens recovered from patients enrolled in the ceftazidime-avibactam phase 3 trials (RECAPTURE 1 and 2) for complicated urinary tract infections: Efficacies analysed against susceptible and resistant subsets
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are categorized as complicated or uncomplicated. Complicated UTIs (cUTI) are associated with factors that compromise the urinary tract or host defense (structural or functional abnormalities), including urinary obstruction; urinary retention; immunosuppression; renal failure; renal transplantation; pregnancy; patients with medical or surgical comorbidities; and the presence of foreign bodies such as calculi, indwelling catheters, or other drainage devices [1, 2]. The latter, catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI), accounted for 37.8% of health care-associated infections in the United States (US), wh...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Rodrigo E. Mendes, Mariana Castanheira, Leah N. Woosley, Gregory G. Stone, Patricia A. Bradford, Robert K. Flamm Source Type: research

Trends in Hepatitis B Virus Resistance to Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogs in North China from 2009 to 2016: A Retrospective Study
Globally, an estimated 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1], and they are at an increased risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. HBV infection is endemic in China, where more than 120 million people carry hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and approximately 300,000 of them die annually of liver cirrhosis or HCC [3]. Both interferon (IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) are currently used to treat HBV infection [4]. NAs are more widely used due to having fewer adverse effects than IFN [4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Xianghua Guo, Jushan Wu, Feili Wei, Yabo Ouyang, Qing Li, Kai Liu, Yanjun Wang, Yulin Zhang, Dexi Chen Source Type: research

Hospital outbreak due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 clonal strain co-producing KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases in a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Greece#
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains have emerged during the last years as one of the most challenging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens worldwide. The spread of such strains is associated with high mortality rates, limited treatment options and rapid dissemination of successful bacterial clones in the hospital setting. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 11, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Efthymia Protonotariou, Aggeliki Poulou, Lida Politi, Ioannis Sgouro-poulos, Simeon Metallidis, Melania Kachrimanidou, Spyros Pournaras, Athanasios Tsakris, Lemonia Skoura Source Type: research

Nephrotoxicity of piperacillin/tazobactam combined with vancomycin: should it be a concern?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported in 8 –60% of hospitalised patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality [1]. Nephrotoxic drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), amphotericin B, aminoglycosides and acyclovir are among the most common causes of AKI in hospitalised patients [2]. Although the use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs is inevitable in most cases, drug-induced nephrotoxicity is frequently overlooked as a preventable cause of AKI. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cafer Balc ı, Ömrüm Uzun, Mustafa Arıcı, Sibel Aşçıoğlu Hayran, Deniz Yüce, Serhat Ünal Source Type: research

A novel tool against multiresistant bacterial pathogens: lipopeptide modification of the natural antimicrobial peptide ranalexin for enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved pharmacokinetics
Prior to the introduction of antibiotics into medicine ca. 70 years ago, bacterial infections represented a major cause of death. Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance has developed and is now spreading more quickly than the launch of new effective antimicrobial drugs into the market, potentially leading to a health crisis in the near future [1]. Nowadays, increasing numbers of infections occur caused by bacteria that are resistant to most of the antibacterial treatments currently available [2]. It is estimated that more than 2 000 000 illnesses and 23 000 deaths are caused by antibiotic-resistant infections in the USA per ...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cornelius Domhan, Philipp Uhl, Anna Meinhardt, Stefan Zimmermann, Christian Kleist, Thomas Lindner, Karin Leotta, Walter Mier, Michael Wink Source Type: research

A novel tool against multiresistant bacterial pathogens – lipopeptide modification of the natural antimicrobial peptide ranalexin for enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved pharmacokinetics
Prior to the introduction of antibiotics into medicine about 70 years ago, bacterial infections represented a major cause of death. Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance developed and is now spreading faster than the launch of new effective antimicrobial drugs into the market, potentially leading to a health crisis in the near future [1]. Nowadays, increasing numbers of infections occur caused by bacteria which are resistant to most of the antibacterial treatments currently available [2]. It is estimated that more than 2,000,000 illnesses and 23,000 deaths are caused by antibiotic resistance in the United States per year [3...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cornelius Domhan, Philipp Uhl, Anna Meinhardt, Stefan Zimmermann, Christian Kleist, Thomas Lindner, Karin Leotta, Walter Mier, Michael Wink Source Type: research

Nephrotoxicity of piperacillin-tazobactam combined with vancomycin: Should it be a concern?
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has been reported in 8% to 60% of hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality [1]. Nephrotoxic drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), angiotensin receptor blocking agents (ARBs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, amphotericin B, aminoglycosides and acyclovir are among the most common causes of AKI in hospitalized patients [2]. Although the use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs is inevitable in most cases, drug-induced nephrotoxicity is frequently overlooked as a preventable cause of AKI. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cafer Balc ı, Ömrüm Uzun, Mustafa Arıcı, Sibel Aşçıoğlu Hayran, Deniz Yüce, Serhat Ünal Source Type: research

A novel tool against multiresistant bacterial pathogens – lipopeptide modification of the natural antimicrobial peptide ranalexin for enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved pharmacokinetics
Prior to the introduction of antibiotics into medicine about 70 years ago, bacterial infections represented a major cause of death. Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance developed and is now spreading faster than the launch of new effective antimicrobial drugs into the market, potentially leading to a health crisis in the near future [1]. Nowadays, increasing numbers of infections occur caused by bacteria which are resistant to most of the antibacterial treatments currently available [2]. It is estimated that more than 2,000,000 illnesses and 23,000 deaths are caused by antibiotic resistance in the United States per year [3...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cornelius Domhan, Philipp Uhl, Anna Meinhardt, Stefan Zimmermann, Christian Kleist, Thomas Lindner, Karin Leotta, Walter Mier, Michael Wink Source Type: research

Nephrotoxicity of piperacillin-tazobactam combined with vancomycin: Should it be a concern?
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) has been reported in 8% to 60% of hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality [1]. Nephrotoxic drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), angiotensin receptor blocking agents (ARBs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, amphotericin B, aminoglycosides and acyclovir are among the most common causes of AKI in hospitalized patients [2]. Although the use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs is inevitable in most cases, drug-induced nephrotoxicity is frequently overlooked as a preventable cause of AKI. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - April 9, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Cafer Balc ı, Ömrüm Uzun, Mustafa Arıcı, Sibel Aşçıoğlu Hayran, Deniz Yüce, Serhat Ünal Source Type: research