Anaerobic bacteria play an important role in human infections. Bacteroides spp. are some of the 15 most common pathogens causing nosocomial infections. We present antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results of 114 Gram-positive anaerobic isolates and 110 Bacteroides-fragilis-group-isolates (BFGI). Resistance profiles were determined by MIC gradient testing. Furthermore, we performed disk diffusion testing of BFGI and compared the results of the two methods. Within Gram-positive anaerobes, the highest resistance rates were found for clindamycin and moxifloxacin (21.9% and 16.7%, respectively), and resistance for beta-lactams and metronidazole was low (<1%). For BFGI, the highest resistance rates were also detected for clindamycin and moxifloxacin (50.9% and 36.4%, respectively). Resistance rates for piperacillin/tazobactam and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were 10% and 7.3%, respectively. Two B. fragilis isolates were classified as multi-drug-resistant (MDR), with resistance against all tested beta-lactam antibiotics. The comparative study of 109 BFGI resulted in 130 discrepancies in 763 readings (17%) with a high number of Very Major Errors (VME) and Major Errors (ME). In summary, resistance rates, with the exception of clindamycin and moxifloxacin, are still low, but we are facing increasing resistance rates for BFGI. Surveillance studies on a regular basis are still recommended.
Background: Nursing homes and long-term care facilities (LTCF) caring for elderly and chronically ill residents are at high risk to experience SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. We report an outbreak of COVID-19 in three LTCFs of the Geriatric Health Centres of Graz, Austria lasting from 22nd March to 14th April, 2020.
Aim: The objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate contributing factors and transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2, (2) to analyse symptoms of COVID-19 in the residents and health care workers.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective outbreak analysis.
Findings: 36/277 residents of 3 LTCFs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Only a quarter of COVID-19 cases among residents had fever ≥ 38.1°C and 19% suffered from cough. 6/36 residents remained asymptomatic. Hospitalization rate was 58% in residents. Overall, 33% (12/36) residents infected with SARS-CoV-2 died. 19/214 health care workers were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Universal rt-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 of all residents and health care workers as well as infection control measures contributed to ending the outbreaks.
Conclusion: Delayed recognition of possible COVID-19 cases due to either mild symptoms or symptoms that were perceived as atypical early in the pandemic contributed to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs. This emphasizes the importance of low-threshold testing in LTCF residents.
We investigated why a clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate yielded false-negative results with some commercial PCR tests for MRSA detection. We found that an epidemic European CC1-MRSA-IV clone generally exhibits this behaviour. The failure of the assays was attributable to a large insertion in the orfX/SCCmec integration site. To ensure the reliability of molecular MRSA tests, it is vital to monitor emergence of new SCCmec types and junction sites.
Background: A variety of rapid molecular PCR tests has been developed and commercialised that interrogate the junction site between the staphylococcal core genome, and the mobile genetic element (SCCmec) which harbours the gene responsible for methicillin-/beta-lactamresistance.Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate why a clinical MRSA isolate yielded false negative test results with widely used, commercial orfX/SCCmec junction site PCR tests.Methods: A collection of isolates that belonged to the same epidemic strain as the index isolate were investigated with commercial MRSA assays and all isolates were sequenced in order to explain this observation.
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