International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Antibacterial and antivirulence activities of auranofin against Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile is the most common hospital-acquired infectious agent [1]. C. difficile infection (CDI), also known as C. difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), afflicted nearly half a million patients in the United States alone and was associated with over 29,000 deaths in 2011 resulting in a direct cost that exceeds $5 billion (U.S.) annually [2]. Though first discovered in the 1970s, the incidence and severity of CDI has sharply increased over the past two decades [3]. This upsurge in CDI has been attributed to the emergence of hypervirulent strains (e.g. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 28, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ahmed AbdelKhalek, Nader S. Abutaleb, Haroon Mohammad, Mohamed N. Seleem Source Type: research

Resistance to fosfomycin: Mechanisms, Frequency and Clinical Consequences
Fosfomycin was discovered in 1969; it is a low molecular mass (138 Da) derivative of a phosphoric acid isolated from cultures of Streptomyces spp. (Streptomyces fradiae, Streptomyces viridochromogenes, and Streptomyces wedomorensis) [1-3]. It is also a product of a biosynthetic process after a unique combination of carbon and phosphorous [1,3]. When examining its actual structure, two key features can be found: an epoxide group, which is essential for its biologic activity and a phosphonic acid moiety. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 27, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Matthew E. Falagas, Florentia Athanasaki, Georgios L. Voulgaris, Nikolaos A. Triarides, Konstantinos Z. Vardakas Tags: Review Source Type: research

Exploiting a conjugative CRISPR/Cas9 system to eliminate plasmid harbouring the mcr-1 gene from Escherichia coli
The development of antibiotics has saved countless lives; however, over the past several decades, the intensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in medicine and animal agriculture has led to rapid bacterial evolution and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria [1,2]. The polymyxins are a group of cationic polypeptide antibiotics commonly used in clinical veterinary practice to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections [3], and used in humans in limited situations as a last-line option for treating extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 26, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Haisi Dong, Hua Xiang, Dan Mu, Dacheng Wang, Tiedong Wang Source Type: research

Exploiting a conjugative CRISPR/Cas9 system to eliminate plasmid harboring mcr-1 gene from Escherichia coli
The development of antibiotics has saved countless lives, however, over the past several decades, the intensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in medicine and animal agriculture has led to rapid bacterial evolution and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria [1, 2]. Polymyxin, is a group of cationic polypeptide antibiotics commonly used in clinical veterinary to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections [3] and used in humans in limited situations as a last-line option for treating extensively antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 26, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Haisi Dong, Hua Xiang, Dan Mu, Dacheng Wang, Tiedong Wang Source Type: research

In vitro evaluation of dinactin, a potent microbial metabolite against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), still accounts for 1.8 million global deaths annually [1,2]. It has been estimated that about one-third of the global population is latently infected with M. tuberculosis which reflects a big reservoir for developing new active cases [3]. In recent years, the rise in numbers of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates of M. tuberculosis have seriously hampered the treatment of disease [4]. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS epidemic in addition to unwanted drug-drug interactions has further burdened the treatment of TB [5,6]. ...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 26, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Aehtesham Hussain, Muzafar Ahmad Rather, Zubair Shanib Bhat, Aasif Majeeda Mubashir Maqbool, Aabid Manzoor Shah, Mushtaq A Aga, Aiyatullah Shah, Saleem Mushtaq, Payare L Sangwan, Qazi Parvaiz Hassan, Zahoor Ahmad Source Type: research

Current use of daptomycin and systematic therapeutic drug monitoring: clinical experience in a tertiary care institution
Daptomycin, is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic with potent bactericidal activity against most Gram-positive organisms including vancomycin resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphylococci, and “heterodrug-resistant” glycopeptide-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [1]. Daptomycin is indicated for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) caused by susceptible strains of Gram-positive microorganisms and is approved for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus blo odstream infections and right-sided infective endocarditis (IE). (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 19, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Alicia Galar, Patricia Mu ñoz, Maricela Valerio, Emilia Cercenado, Xandra García-González, Almudena Burillo, Mar Sánchez-Somolinos, Miriam Juárez, Eduardo Verde, Emilio Bouza Source Type: research

Antimicrobial susceptibility of non-fermenting Gram-negative pathogens isolated from cystic fibrosis patients
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are regularly colonized by opportunistic microorganisms. In adult patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main pathogen, but in recent years, other non-fermenting bacteria from different genera, such as Stenotrophomonas, Burkholderia, Achromobacter, Ralstonia, and Pandoraea, are increasingly being isolated [1 –3]. This could be potentially due to the aggressive antimicrobial therapy used against P. aeruginosa, to the apparition of new techniques for the bacterial identification and improvement in life expectancy for people with CF [4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 18, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Mar ía Díez-Aguilar, Miquel Ekkelenkamp, María-Isabel Morosini, Irene Merino, Juan de Dios Caballero, Mark Jones, Mireille van Westreenen, Michael M. Tunney, Rafael Cantón, Ad C. Fluit Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

Effects of prophage regions in a plasmid carrying a carbapenemase gene on survival against antibiotic stress
In gram-negative bacteria, carbapenem resistance is primarily mediated by the production of carbapenemases hydrolyzing the β-lactam ring of carbapenem antibiotics. Since the first identification in Klebsiella pneumoniae, the blaNDM-1 gene has been detected in a wide range of bacterial species in many countries worldwide [1,2]. Generally, blaNDM is carried by a plasmid and is horizontally transferred within and between species, contributing to the rapid dissemination of NDM-producing pathogens [3]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 18, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: So Yeon Kim, Kwan Soo Ko Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

An alternative strategy for combination therapy: Interactions between polymyxin B and non-antibiotics
The emergence of antibiotic resistance is an important issue. Annual reports by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that an increasing percentage of infections is caused by resistant pathogens, rendering current drug therapies increasingly ineffective [1]. A September 2017 report by the WHO [2] shows the discovery and development of new antibiotics and antibiotic classes has slowed down substantially. Alternative strategies are necessary to ensure bacterial infections remain treatable. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 18, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Robin G. Otto, Elke van Gorp, Wendy Kloezen, Joseph Meletiadis, Sanne van den Berg, Johan W. Mouton Source Type: research

An update on Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis from the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC)
Staphylococcus aureus remains one of the dominant pathogens in infective endocarditis (IE) causing 25% to 30% of all cases [1,2] including healthcare-associated IE which comprises about 30% of IE [3]. Most IE involve the aortic or mitral valves, with tricuspid valve involvement accounting for fewer than 10% of cases, often in association with injection drug use [1,4,5]. Prosthetic valve IE (PVE) and IE related to cardiovascular implantable electronic devices accounts for approximately one-third of all cases and is most commonly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci [1,5]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 18, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kordo Saeed, Abhijit Bal, Ian M Gould, Michael Z. David, Matthew Dryden, Efthymia Giannitsioti, Karolin Hijazi, Jessica A. Meisner, Silvano Esposito, Francesco Scaglione, Pierre Tattevin, Andreas Voss Tags: Hot Topic Source Type: research

Net emergence of substitutions at position 28 in NS5A of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 in patients failing direct-acting antivirals detected by next-generation sequencing
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the considerable reduction in the number of HCV infections in recent years, there are still ca. 399 000 deaths each year largely due to hepatitis C-related liver disease [1]. Remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of HCV infection, notably with the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, as a highly variable virus with many quasispecies, HCV can select in vitro and in vivo resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) to antivirals, in particular to anti-NS5A owing to their low genetic barrier [2]. (Source: ...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 17, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Thuy Nguyen, Sepideh Akhavan, Fabienne Caby, Luminita Bonyhay, Lucile Larrouy, Anne Gervais, Pascal Lebray, Thierry Poynard, Yvon Calmus, Anne Simon, Marc-Antoine Valantin, Vincent Calvez, Anne-Genevi ève Marcelin, Eve Todesco Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

Bacteriophage therapy as an alternative treatment for human infections. A comprehensive review
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global, increasing and major health problem. The World Health Organization, on its first global report on antibiotic resistance, has highlighted the danger of an upcoming post-antibiotic era, where simple infections could once again be lethal [1]. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that at least 23000 deaths per year in the USA are a result of infection by resistant bacteria [2], while in Europe growing levels of antibiotic resistance are being reported, especially in countries with existing high levels of multi-drug resistance, resulting in the limitation of therapeutic opti...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 17, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Athanasios Kakasis, Gerasimia Panitsa Tags: Review Source Type: research

Predicting antibiotic combination effects on the selection of resistant Staphylococcus aureus: in vitro model studies with linezolid and gentamicin
Global increases in antimicrobial resistance among common bacterial pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus are now threatening successful use of available antibiotics such as linezolid. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 17, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Stephen H. Zinner, Maria V. Golikova, Elena N. Strukova, Yury A. Portnoy, Alexander A. Firsov Source Type: research

Bacteriophage Sb-1 enhances antibiotic activity against biofilm, degrades exopolysaccharide matrix and targets persisters of Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of both community- and hospital-acquired infections and represents a significant burden on the healthcare system. In addition, S. aureus is also involved in infections of medical implants and host tissue due to its ability to form biofilms, which play an important role in the persistence of chronic infections [1, 2]. A biofilm is defined as a sessile microbial community in which microorganisms live attached to a surface in a highly hydrated extracellular matrix [3], which in case of S. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 17, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tamta Tkhilaishvili, Lisa Lombardi, Ann-Brit Klatt, Andrej Trampuz, Mariagrazia Di Luca Source Type: research

Incidence and Risk Factors for Acquisition of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Newborns after Birth in Seville, Spain: a Prospective Cohort Study
Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) confer resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins except cephamycins; bacteria producing ESBL are also frequently resistant to non β-lactam antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and aminoglycosides, and therefore are multidrug-resistant. ESBLs a re mostly produced by Enterobacteriaceae and have spread worldwide over the last 20 years both in the community and in hospitals [1, 2]. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are responsible for an increasing number of cases of nosocomial and community sepsis in newborns, and of outbreaks in ne onatal int...
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - September 17, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Mar ía Jesús Rodríguez-Revuelta, Lorena López-Cerero, Lara Serrano, Salud Luna-Lagares, Alvaro Pascual, Jesús Rodríguez-Baño Source Type: research