-
Auris, Nasus, Larynx Jun 2024Knowledge about voice prosthesis microbial colonization is vital in laryngectomized patients' quality of life (QoL). Herein, we aimed to explore the relationship between...
OBJECTIVE
Knowledge about voice prosthesis microbial colonization is vital in laryngectomized patients' quality of life (QoL). Herein, we aimed to explore the relationship between oral microbial patterns, demographic variables and voice prosthesis performance.
METHODS
Thirty laryngectomy patients were assessed for microbial colonization in their voice prostheses and oral cavities. Factors like age, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage, and alcohol consumption were considered.
RESULTS
Participants' average age was 74.20 ± 7.31 years, with a majority on PPIs. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterium in prostheses (53 %), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27 %). Candida albicans was the primary fungal colonizer (67 %). A statistically significant moderate correlation was found between fungal species before and after oral rinsing (p = 0.035, Phi=0.588, Cramer's V = 0.416). Voice prosthesis and oral cavity microbiota profiles showed significant concordance (kappa=0.315, p < 0.004). Among subgroup analyses, bacterial patterns of colonization did not significantly influence VHI (p = 0.9555), VrQoL (p = 0.6610), or SF-36 (p = 0.509) scores. Conversely, fungal patterns of VP colonization significantly impacted subjective voice scores, with Candida krusei demonstrating better VHI (35.25 ± 3.63 vs. 44.54 ± 6.33; p = 0.008), VrQoL (7.13 ± 1.69 vs. 10.73 ± 2.00; p = 0.001), and SF-36 (69.36 ± 7.09 vs. 76.50 ± 7.73; p = 0.051) scores compared to C. albicans.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant correlation between the oral microbiota and voice prosthesis colonization. These insights can inform improved care strategies for voice prostheses, enhancing patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38943902
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2024.06.006 -
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Jun 2024Nanomaterial-based synergistic antibacterial agents are considered as promising tools to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Herein,...
Prussian blue-decorated indocyanine green-loaded mesoporous silica nanohybrid for synergistic photothermal-photodynamic-chemodynamic therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Nanomaterial-based synergistic antibacterial agents are considered as promising tools to combat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Herein, multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based nanocomposites were fabricated for synergistic photothermal/photodynamic/chemodynamic therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MSN loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) as a core, while Prussian blue (PB) nanostructure was decorated on MSN surface via in situ growth method to form a core-shell nanohybrid (MSN-ICG@PB). Upon a near infrared (NIR) laser excitation, MSN-ICG@PB (200 μg mL) exhibited highly efficient singlet oxygen (O) generation and hyperthermia effect (48.7℃). In the presence of exogenous HO, PB with peroxidase-like activity promoted the generation of toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) to achieve chemodynamic therapy (CDT). PTT can greatly increase the permeability of bacterial lipid membrane, facilitating the generated O and •OH to kill bacteria more efficiently. Under NIR irradiation and exogenous HO, MSN-ICG@PB (200 μg mL) with good biocompatibility exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect against MRSA with high bacterial killing efficiency (>98 %). Moreover, due to the synergistic bactericidal mechanism, MSN-ICG@PB with satisfactory biosafety makes it a promising antimicrobial agent to fight against MRSA.
PubMed: 38943768
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114065 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Jun 2024Biofilm-associated infections remain a tremendous obstacle to the treatment of microbial infections globally. However, the poor penetrability to a dense extracellular...
Biofilm-associated infections remain a tremendous obstacle to the treatment of microbial infections globally. However, the poor penetrability to a dense extracellular polymeric substance matrix of traditional antibacterial agents limits their antibiofilm activity. Here, we show that nanoaggregates formed by self-assembly of amphiphilic borneol-guanidine-based cationic polymers (BGN-) possess strong antibacterial activity and can eliminate mature () biofilms. The introduction of the guanidine moiety improves the hydrophilicity and membrane penetrability of BGN-. The self-assembled nanoaggregates with highly localized positive charges are expected to enhance their interaction with negatively charged bacteria and biofilms. Furthermore, nanoaggregates dissociate on the surface of biofilms into smaller BGN- polymers, which enhances their ability to penetrate biofilms. BGN- nanoaggregates that exhibit superior antibacterial activity have the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 62.5 μg·mL against and eradicate mature biofilms at 4 × MIC with negligible hemolysis. Taken together, this size-variable self-assembly system offers a promising strategy for the development of effective antibiofilm agents.
PubMed: 38943568
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02818 -
Technology and Health Care : Official... Jun 2024The formation of biofilms, characterized by cell aggregation and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, is a common feature of periprosthetic joint...
BACKGROUND
The formation of biofilms, characterized by cell aggregation and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, is a common feature of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI).
OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to investigate the development of biofilm features in vitro within less than 3 weeks by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from PJIs.
METHODS
Biofilms were grown on sandblasted titanium discs, and fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy were used to observe biofilm maturation for 21 days.
RESULTS
DNA mass decreased initially, then increased from day 5 onwards, and decreased again after day 7. The proportion of living to dead bacteria oscillated until day 7 and increased at day 10 for strain A and day 14 for strain B. EPS mass decreased initially and then continuously increased. Multilayer bacterial organization was observed at day 7.
CONCLUSION
Cell aggregation occurred during the first week, followed by EPS production in the second week, and characteristic biofilm features were observed within 1 to 2 weeks.
PubMed: 38943411
DOI: 10.3233/THC-232041 -
Molecular Imaging and Biology Jun 2024There is currently no ideal radiotracer for imaging bacterial infections. Radiolabelled D-amino acids are promising candidates because they are actively incorporated...
PURPOSE
There is currently no ideal radiotracer for imaging bacterial infections. Radiolabelled D-amino acids are promising candidates because they are actively incorporated into the peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall, a structural feature which is absent in human cells. This work describes fluorine-18 labelled analogues of D-tyrosine and D-methionine, O-(2-[F]fluoroethyl)-D-tyrosine (D-[F]FET) and S-(3-[F]fluoropropyl)-D-homocysteine (D-[F]FPHCys), and their pilot evaluation studies as potential radiotracers for imaging bacterial infection.
PROCEDURES
D-[F]FET and D-[F]FPHCys were prepared in classical fluorination-deprotection reactions, and their uptake in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated over 2 h. Heat killed bacteria were used as controls. A clinically-relevant foreign body model of S. aureus infection was established in Balb/c mice, as well as a sterile foreign body to mimic inflammation. The ex vivo biodistribution of D-[F]FPHCys in the infected and inflamed mice was evaluated after 1 h, by dissection and gamma counting. The uptake was compared to that of [F]FDG.
RESULTS
In vitro uptake of both D-[F]FET and D-[F]FPHCys was specific to live bacteria. Uptake was higher in S. aureus than in P. aeruginosa for both radiotracers, and of the two, higher for D-[F]FPHCys than D-[F]FET. Blocking experiments with non-radioactive D-[F]FPHCys confirmed specificity of uptake. In vivo, D-[F]FPHCys had greater accumulation in S. aureus infection compared with sterile inflammation, which was statistically significant. As anticipated, [F]FDG showed no significant difference in uptake between infection and inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
D-[F]FPHCys uptake was higher in infected tissues than inflammation, and represents a fluorine-18 labelled D-AA with potential to detect a S. aureus reference strain (Xen29) in vivo. Additional studies are needed to evaluate uptake of this radiotracer in clinical isolates.
PubMed: 38942967
DOI: 10.1007/s11307-024-01929-7 -
Mikrochimica Acta Jun 2024The engineering of a home-made portable double-layer filtration and concentration device with the common syringe for rapid analysis of water samples is reported. The...
The engineering of a home-made portable double-layer filtration and concentration device with the common syringe for rapid analysis of water samples is reported. The core elements of the device were two installed filtration membranes with different pore sizes for respective functions. The upper filtration membrane was used for preliminary intercepting large interfering impurities (interception membrane), while the lower filtration membrane was used for collecting multiple target pathogens (enrichment membrane) for determination. This combination can make the contaminated environmental water, exemplified by surface water, filtrated quickly through the device and just retained the target bacteria of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes on the lower enrichment membrane. Integrating with surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS) platform to decode the SERS-Tags (SERS-Tag, SERS-Tag, and SERS-Tag) already labeled on each of the enriched bacteria based the antibody-mediated immuno-recognition effect, fast separation, concentration, and detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria from the bulk of contaminated environmental water were realized. Results show that within 30 min, all target bacteria in the lake water can be simultaneously and accurately measured in the range from 10 to 10 CFU mL with detection limit of 10.0 CFU mL without any pre-culture procedures. This work highlights the simplicity, rapidness, cheapness, selectivity, and the robustness of the constructed method for simultaneous detecting multiple pathogens in aqueous samples. This protocol opens a new avenue for facilitating the development of versatile analytical tools for drinking water and food safety monitoring in underdeveloped or developing countries.
Topics: Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Drinking Water; Filtration; Staphylococcus aureus; Listeria monocytogenes; Limit of Detection; Escherichia coli O157; Metal Nanoparticles; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 38942915
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06492-0 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) has been associated with neonatal infections, with colonization of the anovaginal tract being the main source of vertical...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) has been associated with neonatal infections, with colonization of the anovaginal tract being the main source of vertical transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the frequency of antibiotic usage, potentially contributing to changes in the dynamics of bacterial agents colonizing humans. Here we determined MRS colonization rates among pregnant individuals attending a single maternity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before (January 2019-March 2020) and during (May 2020-March 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Anovaginal samples (n = 806 [521 samples before and 285 during the pandemic]) were streaked onto chromogenic media. Colonies were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Detection of mecA gene and SCCmec typing were assessed by PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done according to CLSI guidelines. After the onset of the pandemic, MRS colonization rates increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 8.6% (45) to 54.7% (156). Overall, 215 (26.6%) MRS isolates were detected, of which S. haemolyticus was the most prevalent species (MRSH, 84.2%; 181 isolates). SCCmec type V was the most frequent among MRS (63.3%; 136), and 31.6% (68) of MRS strains had a non-typeable SCCmec, due to new combinations of ccr and mecA complexes. Among MRS strains, 41.9% (90) were resistant to at least 3 different classes of antimicrobial agents, and 60% (54) of them were S. haemolyticus harboring SCCmec V. MRS colonization rates and the emergence of multidrug-resistant variants detected in this study indicate the need for continuing surveillance of this important pathogen within maternal and child populations.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; COVID-19; Staphylococcal Infections; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Adult; Brazil; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Anti-Bacterial Agents; SARS-CoV-2; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pandemics; Vagina
PubMed: 38942787
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64422-9 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024This study presents an innovative and environmentally friendly method to produce fibrous cellulose beads by mechanically stirring natural fibers in an aqueous medium....
This study presents an innovative and environmentally friendly method to produce fibrous cellulose beads by mechanically stirring natural fibers in an aqueous medium. Date palm fibers are transformed into uniform beads with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 mm through chemical treatment and mechanical agitation. These beads are then decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag0 NPs) in a one-step synthesis, giving them catalytic capabilities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and antibacterial activities. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and TGA confirmed the successful synthesis and deposition of Ag0 NPs on the cellulose beads. Tests showed complete conversion of 4-NP to 4-AP in just 7 min, with pseudo-first-order kinetics and a Kapp of 0.590 min-1. Additionally, Ag0@CB demonstrated exceptional recyclability and stability over five cycles, with minimal silver release. The beads also showed strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, effectively eradicating bacterial colonies in 30 min. In summary, Ag0@CB exhibits multifunctional capabilities for degrading organic pollutants and biomedical applications, offering promising potential for large-scale production and practical use in water treatment and antibacterial coatings.
PubMed: 38942667
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133078 -
Journal of Microbiology, Immunology,... Jun 2024The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens leads to delays in adequate antimicrobial treatment in intensive care units (ICU). The real-world influence of the...
The real-world impact of the BioFire FilmArray blood culture identification 2 panel on antimicrobial stewardship among patients with bloodstream infections in intensive care units with a high burden of drug-resistant pathogens.
BACKGROUND
The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens leads to delays in adequate antimicrobial treatment in intensive care units (ICU). The real-world influence of the BioFire FilmArray Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) panel on pathogen identification, diagnostic concordance with conventional culture methods, and antimicrobial stewardship in the ICU remains unexplored.
METHODS
This retrospective observational study, conducted from July 2021 to August 2023, involved adult ICU patients with positive blood cultures who underwent BCID2 testing. The concordance between BCID2 and conventional culture results was examined, and its impact on antimicrobial stewardship was assessed through a comprehensive retrospective review of patient records by intensivists.
RESULTS
A total of 129 blood specimens from 113 patients were analysed. Among these patients, a high proportion of drug-resistant strains were noted, including carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) (57.1%), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex (100%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (70%), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) (100%). The time from blood culture collection to obtaining BCID2 results was significantly shorter than conventional culture (46.2 h vs. 86.9 h, p < 0.001). BCID2 demonstrated 100% concordance in genotype-phenotype correlation in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for CRKP, carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli, MRSA, and VRE. A total of 40.5% of patients received inadequate empirical antimicrobial treatment. The antimicrobial regimen was adjusted or confirmed in 55.4% of patients following the BCID2 results.
CONCLUSIONS
In the context of a high burden of drug-resistant pathogens, BCID2 demonstrated rapid pathogen and AMR detection, with a noticeable impact on antimicrobial stewardship in BSI in the ICU.
PubMed: 38942661
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.06.004 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024Conventional wound dressings are monolithically designed to cover the injured areas as well as absorb the exudates at injured site. Furthermore, antibacterial drugs and...
Conventional wound dressings are monolithically designed to cover the injured areas as well as absorb the exudates at injured site. Furthermore, antibacterial drugs and growth prompting factors are additionally appended to realize sensible and omnibearing wound management, exhibiting long and tedious treatment process in practice. Consequently, the creation of multifunctional wound dressings that combines wound repair enhancement with antibacterial properties turns out to be significant for simplifying wound managements. In our investigation, electronegative human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was combined with the positively charged Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (Zn-Al LDHs) via electrostatic interaction while the obtained hEGF/LDH was integrated with sodium hyaluronate hydrogel (SH) hydrogel, forming a composite hydrogel with synergistic benefits for wound management. The innovative hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel equipped with fine biocompatibility was designed to optimize wound healing in which hEGF stimulates epithelial cell growth while LDH released antibacterial factor Zn against Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) under acidic wound environment. Additionally, the SH hydrogel constructed a three-dimensional structure that not only safeguarded the wound area but also maintained a moist environment conducive to recovery. The synthesized hEGF/LDH was confirmed via fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermo-gravimetry (TG) measurements. The release of Zn from Zn-Al LDH under acid circumstance was detected via inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and the in vitro bactericidal experiments endowed the antibacterial property of hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel. In vitro drug release experiments illustrated the controlled-release of hEGF from hEGF/LDH which promoted the long-term affect of hEGF at wound site. In vitro cell experiments verified that the hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel motivated the promotion on cell proliferation and migration without cytotoxicity. An in vivo study of the repairing of MRSA-infected wound in mice indicated that hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel serves as a simple and novel, innoxious and efficient wound healing approach. This brand new hydrogel possesses properties of promoting the regeneration of skin tissue, achieving antimicrobial therapy without any accessional antibacterial drugs as well as realizing controlled release of hEGF.
PubMed: 38942404
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133423