Teresa Fasciana - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Teresa Fasciana

BMC Infectious Diseases

Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been du... more Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been due principally to the clonal expansion of CC258 isolates; however, recent studies suggest an ongoing epidemiological change in this geographical area. Methods 50 K. pneumoniae strains, 25 carbapenem-resistant (CR-Kp) and 25 susceptible (CS-Kp), collected from march 2014 to march 2016 at the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Paolo Giaccone Polyclinic University hospital of Palermo, Italy, were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility and fully sequenced by next generation sequencing (NGS) for the in silico analysis of resistome, virulome, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes Results MLST in silico analysis of CR-Kp showed that 52% of isolates belonged to CC258, followed by ST395 (12%), ST307 (12%), ST392 (8%), ST348 (8%), ST405 (4%) and ST101 (4%). In the CS-Kp group, the most represented isolate was ST405 (20%), followed by ST392 an...

Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of (a) harvest season (summer and late crop),... more The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of (a) harvest season (summer and late crop), (b) fruit ripening stage at harvest and (c) time of storage, on the quality of minimal processed cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). Fresh cut peeled cactus pears harvested at commercial harvest stage or when ripe on tree in August (summer crop) and October (late crop), were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 d at 5 C and 95% RH in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages under passive atmosphere conditions. Visual quality and crunchiness score, flesh color, microbiological analysis, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), total phenolics, ascorbic acid and b-carotene contents were measured. TSS content in fruit flesh did not change during storage, but late crop fruit harvested fully ripe had the highest content. The CO 2 concentration inside the package was higher for summer than late fruit and for fully ripe fruit than commercial harvest stage. Fresh cut summer cactus pears lost their marketability and crunchiness after 3 d, while those from the late crop retained good marketability after 5 or 7 d at 5 C, depending on their ripeness stage at harvest. Fresh cut fruit of the summer crop had twice the ascorbic acid content than late cop fruit until 5 d after storage. Fully ripe fresh cut fruit of the summer crop had the lowest b-carotene content. The mesophilic aerobic microorganisms did not change significantly with treatments, until 12 d after storage, when fully ripe fresh cut fruit had the highest count. Mold content was higher in fully ripe than in fruit harvested at commercial ripeness. Ultimately, late fruit, manually peeled and stored at 5 C under passive atmosphere, retained their original quality longer than fully ripe fruit of the same season or summer fruit harvested at either ripeness stage.

Imported and Indigenous cases of Invasive Meningocococcal Disease W:P1.5,2:F1-1:ST-11 in migrants’ reception centers. Italy, June-November 2014

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2015

We report about three unliked cases of meningococcal meningitis caused by the ST-11/ET-37 strain ... more We report about three unliked cases of meningococcal meningitis caused by the ST-11/ET-37 strain of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W. Two of the three cases, detected in Sicily on June and July 2014, were migrants from Mali and Eritrea. The third case was a fatal meningitis occurred on November 2014 in a 37 years old man, working in an immigrant center in Calabria. This report suggests that tetravalent conjugate vaccines (ACYW) should be actively offered to the staff of migrants' reception centers.

Biofilm production in Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, isolated from the skin of hospitalized patients: genetic and phenotypic characteristics

The new microbiologica, Jan 20, 2015

A major virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis is its ability to form biofilms, permittin... more A major virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis is its ability to form biofilms, permitting it to adhere to a surface and, in turn, to form a mucoid layer on polymer surfaces. Multiple factors have been found to influence bacterial attachment. Currently, this bacteria is commonly associated with hospital infections as a consequence of its ability to colonize, albeit accidentally, medical devices. In this study we will investigate the genetic and phenotypic formation of biofilm in 105 S. epidermidis strains, which had been isolated from the skin of hospitalized patients. Fifty-eight of these patients were positive for the mecA gene (MRSE) and 47 were found to be negative (MSSE). Genetic characterizations were performed for the detection of the mecA, icaADBC, atlE, aap, bhp, IS256 and agr groups by PCR. Biofilm production was examined by culturing the strains in TBS medium and TBS with 0.5 and 1% respectively of glucose, and a semiquantitative assay on tissue culture plates was...

Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever in Young Migrants, Sicily, Italy, July–September 2015

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2016

Resistance to clarithromycin and genotypes in Helicobacter pylori strains, isolated in Sicily

Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2015

The resistance of H. pylori strains to clarithromycin is increasing in several developed countrie... more The resistance of H. pylori strains to clarithromycin is increasing in several developed countries and their association with a genetic pattern circulation has been variously explained as related to different geographical areas. In this study we have reported: the prevalence of the resistance of H. Pylori, isolated in Sicily, to clarithromycin; the principal point of mutation associated with this resistance; and the more frequent association between resistance to clarithromycin and cagA, motif EPIYA, and the vacA and oipA genes. Resistance to clarithromycin was detected in 25% of cases, the main genetic mutation involved being A2143G. The cagA gene was present in 48% of cases and the distribution of the EPIYA motif was: ABC in 35 cases; ABCC in 8 cases; ABCCC in 2 cases; ABC-ABCC in 2 cases; and ABC-ABCC-ABCCC in 1 case. Regarding the vacA allele, an s1i1m1 combination was detected in 35% of cases, s1i1m2 in 12% of cases, s1i2m2 in 12% of cases, s2i2m2 in 40% of cases and a double s1m1-m2 mosaic was detected in 1% of cases. The status of the oipA gene was OFF in 45% of cases and ON in 55% of cases. Resistance to clarithromycin was found to be high in Sicily but no correlation was found among resistance to clarithromycin, the vacA gene and oipA status; a higher correlation was observed between resistant strains and cagA negative strains.

PLOS ONE, 2015

In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly... more In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly endemic and KPC producing CC258 is reported as the widely predominating clone. In Palermo, Italy, previous reports have confirmed this pattern. However, recent preliminary findings suggest that an epidemiological change is likely ongoing towards a polyclonal KPC-Kp spread. Here we present the results of molecular typing of 94 carbapenem non susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates detected during 2014 in the three different hospitals in Palermo, Italy.

Polyclonal non multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from clinical cases of infection occurring in Palermo, Italy, during a one-year surveillance period

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy

Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2011

In this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care u... more In this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the bla(OXA-23-like) and the bla(OXA-58-like) genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed field gel electrophoresis group ST2/A included 33 isolates, and ST78/B the remaining 12. ST2 clone proved to be predominant, but a frequent involvement of the ST78 clone was evident.

The new microbiologica, 2013

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major antimicrobial drug-resistant pathog... more Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogen causing serious infections. It was first detected in healthcare settings, but in recent years it has also become disseminated in the community. Children and young adults are most susceptible to infection by community-acquired (CA) MRSA strains. In this study 25 MRSA isolates implicated in infections of neonates and children admitted to an Algiers hospital during an 18 month period were characterized by molecular methods including staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing, PCR amplification of pvl genes, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Fifteen out of 25 isolates were from hospital-acquired infections. Twenty-four isolates carried SCCmec type IVc and belonged to the sequence type (ST) 80, one isolate carried SCCmec type II and was ST 39. Twenty-two out of 24 ST80-MRSA-IVc isolates carried pvl genes. Our results suggest that the Pa...

Is the monoclonal spread of the ST258, KPC-3-producing clone being replaced in southern Italy by the dissemination of multiple clones of carbapenem-nonsusceptible, KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae?

Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2014

Two genetically unrelated OXA-163-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were identified from two... more Two genetically unrelated OXA-163-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were identified from two infection cases in June 2009 and May 2010 in Cairo, Egypt. OXA-163-producing Enterobacteriaceae had been previously reported in Argentina only. Both patients had no history of travel abroad. The emergence of this newly recognized OXA-48-related ␤-lactamase able to hydrolyze cephalosporins and carbapenems is especially worrying in a geographic area where OXA-48 is endemic and effective surveillance for antibiotic resistance is largely unaffordable.

A Fatal Bloodstream Infection by Staphylococcus pettenkoferi in an Intensive Care Unit Patient

Case Reports in Critical Care, 2011

Coagulase negative staphylococci are increasingly recognized as leading pathogens in bacteremia, ... more Coagulase negative staphylococci are increasingly recognized as leading pathogens in bacteremia, with incidence peaking in intensive care units. Interpretation of blood cultures that are positive for CoNS is often doubtful. We describe a fatal case of bacteremia by a newly recognized species of CoNS, Staphylococcus pettenkoferi, in an ICU patient.

BMC Infectious Diseases, 2014

Background: We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis comp... more Background: We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, by characterizing 183 isolates identified in the years 2004-2012. A comparison with 104 MTBC strains identified in the same geographic area in the years 1994-2000 was also carried out. Methods: One hundred eighty-three MTBC isolates identified in Palermo, Italy, in the years 2004-2012 were analyzed by spoligotyping and the 24 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU)-variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) method typing. Susceptibility testing to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was also performed. Furthermore, the spoligotyping dataset obtained from 104 MTBC isolates identified from 1994 to 2000 was reanalyzed. Distribution into lineages and clustering of isolates in the two periods was compared.

Microbiology and Immunology, 2013

Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study,... more Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study, 32 cephalosporin resistant E. coli isolates identified from cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt in 2009-2010 were analyzed. Twenty-three were of phylogenetic group D, seven A and one each B1 and B2. By rep-PCR 15 phylogroup D isolates were grouped in four clusters, one with sequence type (ST) 405 and three ST68. Seventeen isolates showed single patterns. bla CTX-M-15 and aac(6')-Ib-cr were the most common resistance determinants. bla OXA-48 and bla VIM were also detected. Multidrug resistant E. coli seriously affects healthcare, especially in immunocompromised hosts, such as cancer patients.

Colonization of pressure ulcers by multidrug-resistant microorganisms in patients receiving home care

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2011

Colonization and/or infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) of pressure ulcers i... more Colonization and/or infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) of pressure ulcers in patients receiving care at home have seldom been investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of MDRO colonization in pressure ulcers of patients receiving home care in Palermo, Italy. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRGN) were isolated, identified, and characterized from pressure ulcers and selected home environment surfaces. Thirty-two patients were enrolled, of whom 12 were under antimicrobial therapy. Five patients had been admitted to hospital in the preceding year. Nineteen patients tested positive for 1 or more MDROs. In particular, 1 patient was colonized by a vanA-containing strain of VRE, 5 by MRSA, and 17 by MDRGN of different species. Our findings suggest that pressure ulcers in home care patients could play a role in bringing MDROs into the community setting.

In vitro activities of tetracyclines against different clones of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from two Iranian hospitals

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2014

Sequence type 101 (ST101) as the predominant carbapenem-non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae clone in an acute general hospital in Italy

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2012

BMC Research Notes, 2012

Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor cl... more Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor clinical relevance, is frequently isolated from infection cases in intensive care units. We describe the epidemiology of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) in a general ICU in Palermo, Italy, from October 2010 to March 2011. Findings: 58 of 61 isolates exhibited MICs for meropenem or imipenem ≥16 mg/L. Forty-nine carried bla OXA-23 and two bla OXA-58 genes. Five subtype clusters were detected by rep-PCR. Clusters D and E included 10 isolates that tested negative for the carbapenem resistance genes. MLST attributed all isolates, but two, with sequence type (ST)2, whereas the two remaining isolates with ST78. The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection (26 out of 36 cases. 72.2%). A high infection related mortality rate was observed (18 out of 35 patients, 51.4%). Nineteen patients tested positive for other multidrug resistant organisms in addition to CRAB. In eight cases isolates belonging to distinct subtype clusters and/or with distinct carbapenemase profiles were identified.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been du... more Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been due principally to the clonal expansion of CC258 isolates; however, recent studies suggest an ongoing epidemiological change in this geographical area. Methods 50 K. pneumoniae strains, 25 carbapenem-resistant (CR-Kp) and 25 susceptible (CS-Kp), collected from march 2014 to march 2016 at the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Paolo Giaccone Polyclinic University hospital of Palermo, Italy, were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility and fully sequenced by next generation sequencing (NGS) for the in silico analysis of resistome, virulome, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes Results MLST in silico analysis of CR-Kp showed that 52% of isolates belonged to CC258, followed by ST395 (12%), ST307 (12%), ST392 (8%), ST348 (8%), ST405 (4%) and ST101 (4%). In the CS-Kp group, the most represented isolate was ST405 (20%), followed by ST392 an...

Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of (a) harvest season (summer and late crop),... more The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of (a) harvest season (summer and late crop), (b) fruit ripening stage at harvest and (c) time of storage, on the quality of minimal processed cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). Fresh cut peeled cactus pears harvested at commercial harvest stage or when ripe on tree in August (summer crop) and October (late crop), were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 d at 5 C and 95% RH in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages under passive atmosphere conditions. Visual quality and crunchiness score, flesh color, microbiological analysis, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), total phenolics, ascorbic acid and b-carotene contents were measured. TSS content in fruit flesh did not change during storage, but late crop fruit harvested fully ripe had the highest content. The CO 2 concentration inside the package was higher for summer than late fruit and for fully ripe fruit than commercial harvest stage. Fresh cut summer cactus pears lost their marketability and crunchiness after 3 d, while those from the late crop retained good marketability after 5 or 7 d at 5 C, depending on their ripeness stage at harvest. Fresh cut fruit of the summer crop had twice the ascorbic acid content than late cop fruit until 5 d after storage. Fully ripe fresh cut fruit of the summer crop had the lowest b-carotene content. The mesophilic aerobic microorganisms did not change significantly with treatments, until 12 d after storage, when fully ripe fresh cut fruit had the highest count. Mold content was higher in fully ripe than in fruit harvested at commercial ripeness. Ultimately, late fruit, manually peeled and stored at 5 C under passive atmosphere, retained their original quality longer than fully ripe fruit of the same season or summer fruit harvested at either ripeness stage.

Imported and Indigenous cases of Invasive Meningocococcal Disease W:P1.5,2:F1-1:ST-11 in migrants’ reception centers. Italy, June-November 2014

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2015

We report about three unliked cases of meningococcal meningitis caused by the ST-11/ET-37 strain ... more We report about three unliked cases of meningococcal meningitis caused by the ST-11/ET-37 strain of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W. Two of the three cases, detected in Sicily on June and July 2014, were migrants from Mali and Eritrea. The third case was a fatal meningitis occurred on November 2014 in a 37 years old man, working in an immigrant center in Calabria. This report suggests that tetravalent conjugate vaccines (ACYW) should be actively offered to the staff of migrants' reception centers.

Biofilm production in Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, isolated from the skin of hospitalized patients: genetic and phenotypic characteristics

The new microbiologica, Jan 20, 2015

A major virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis is its ability to form biofilms, permittin... more A major virulence factor of Staphylococcus epidermidis is its ability to form biofilms, permitting it to adhere to a surface and, in turn, to form a mucoid layer on polymer surfaces. Multiple factors have been found to influence bacterial attachment. Currently, this bacteria is commonly associated with hospital infections as a consequence of its ability to colonize, albeit accidentally, medical devices. In this study we will investigate the genetic and phenotypic formation of biofilm in 105 S. epidermidis strains, which had been isolated from the skin of hospitalized patients. Fifty-eight of these patients were positive for the mecA gene (MRSE) and 47 were found to be negative (MSSE). Genetic characterizations were performed for the detection of the mecA, icaADBC, atlE, aap, bhp, IS256 and agr groups by PCR. Biofilm production was examined by culturing the strains in TBS medium and TBS with 0.5 and 1% respectively of glucose, and a semiquantitative assay on tissue culture plates was...

Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever in Young Migrants, Sicily, Italy, July–September 2015

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2016

Resistance to clarithromycin and genotypes in Helicobacter pylori strains, isolated in Sicily

Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2015

The resistance of H. pylori strains to clarithromycin is increasing in several developed countrie... more The resistance of H. pylori strains to clarithromycin is increasing in several developed countries and their association with a genetic pattern circulation has been variously explained as related to different geographical areas. In this study we have reported: the prevalence of the resistance of H. Pylori, isolated in Sicily, to clarithromycin; the principal point of mutation associated with this resistance; and the more frequent association between resistance to clarithromycin and cagA, motif EPIYA, and the vacA and oipA genes. Resistance to clarithromycin was detected in 25% of cases, the main genetic mutation involved being A2143G. The cagA gene was present in 48% of cases and the distribution of the EPIYA motif was: ABC in 35 cases; ABCC in 8 cases; ABCCC in 2 cases; ABC-ABCC in 2 cases; and ABC-ABCC-ABCCC in 1 case. Regarding the vacA allele, an s1i1m1 combination was detected in 35% of cases, s1i1m2 in 12% of cases, s1i2m2 in 12% of cases, s2i2m2 in 40% of cases and a double s1m1-m2 mosaic was detected in 1% of cases. The status of the oipA gene was OFF in 45% of cases and ON in 55% of cases. Resistance to clarithromycin was found to be high in Sicily but no correlation was found among resistance to clarithromycin, the vacA gene and oipA status; a higher correlation was observed between resistant strains and cagA negative strains.

PLOS ONE, 2015

In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly... more In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly endemic and KPC producing CC258 is reported as the widely predominating clone. In Palermo, Italy, previous reports have confirmed this pattern. However, recent preliminary findings suggest that an epidemiological change is likely ongoing towards a polyclonal KPC-Kp spread. Here we present the results of molecular typing of 94 carbapenem non susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates detected during 2014 in the three different hospitals in Palermo, Italy.

Polyclonal non multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from clinical cases of infection occurring in Palermo, Italy, during a one-year surveillance period

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units and home care patients in Palermo, Italy

Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2011

In this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care u... more In this study 45 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii identified from patients in intensive care units of three different hospitals and from pressure ulcers in home care patients in Palermo, Italy, during a 3-month period in 2010, were characterized. All isolates were resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics, but susceptible to colistin and tygecycline. Forty isolates were non-susceptible to carbapenems. Eighteen and two isolates, respectively, carried the bla(OXA-23-like) and the bla(OXA-58-like) genes. One strain carried the VIM-4 gene. Six major rep-PCR subtype clusters were defined, including isolates from different hospitals or home care patients. The sequence type/pulsed field gel electrophoresis group ST2/A included 33 isolates, and ST78/B the remaining 12. ST2 clone proved to be predominant, but a frequent involvement of the ST78 clone was evident.

The new microbiologica, 2013

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major antimicrobial drug-resistant pathog... more Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogen causing serious infections. It was first detected in healthcare settings, but in recent years it has also become disseminated in the community. Children and young adults are most susceptible to infection by community-acquired (CA) MRSA strains. In this study 25 MRSA isolates implicated in infections of neonates and children admitted to an Algiers hospital during an 18 month period were characterized by molecular methods including staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing, PCR amplification of pvl genes, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Fifteen out of 25 isolates were from hospital-acquired infections. Twenty-four isolates carried SCCmec type IVc and belonged to the sequence type (ST) 80, one isolate carried SCCmec type II and was ST 39. Twenty-two out of 24 ST80-MRSA-IVc isolates carried pvl genes. Our results suggest that the Pa...

Is the monoclonal spread of the ST258, KPC-3-producing clone being replaced in southern Italy by the dissemination of multiple clones of carbapenem-nonsusceptible, KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae?

Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 2014

Two genetically unrelated OXA-163-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were identified from two... more Two genetically unrelated OXA-163-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were identified from two infection cases in June 2009 and May 2010 in Cairo, Egypt. OXA-163-producing Enterobacteriaceae had been previously reported in Argentina only. Both patients had no history of travel abroad. The emergence of this newly recognized OXA-48-related ␤-lactamase able to hydrolyze cephalosporins and carbapenems is especially worrying in a geographic area where OXA-48 is endemic and effective surveillance for antibiotic resistance is largely unaffordable.

A Fatal Bloodstream Infection by Staphylococcus pettenkoferi in an Intensive Care Unit Patient

Case Reports in Critical Care, 2011

Coagulase negative staphylococci are increasingly recognized as leading pathogens in bacteremia, ... more Coagulase negative staphylococci are increasingly recognized as leading pathogens in bacteremia, with incidence peaking in intensive care units. Interpretation of blood cultures that are positive for CoNS is often doubtful. We describe a fatal case of bacteremia by a newly recognized species of CoNS, Staphylococcus pettenkoferi, in an ICU patient.

BMC Infectious Diseases, 2014

Background: We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis comp... more Background: We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy, by characterizing 183 isolates identified in the years 2004-2012. A comparison with 104 MTBC strains identified in the same geographic area in the years 1994-2000 was also carried out. Methods: One hundred eighty-three MTBC isolates identified in Palermo, Italy, in the years 2004-2012 were analyzed by spoligotyping and the 24 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU)-variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) method typing. Susceptibility testing to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol was also performed. Furthermore, the spoligotyping dataset obtained from 104 MTBC isolates identified from 1994 to 2000 was reanalyzed. Distribution into lineages and clustering of isolates in the two periods was compared.

Microbiology and Immunology, 2013

Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study,... more Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has been increasingly reported worldwide. In this study, 32 cephalosporin resistant E. coli isolates identified from cancer patients in Cairo, Egypt in 2009-2010 were analyzed. Twenty-three were of phylogenetic group D, seven A and one each B1 and B2. By rep-PCR 15 phylogroup D isolates were grouped in four clusters, one with sequence type (ST) 405 and three ST68. Seventeen isolates showed single patterns. bla CTX-M-15 and aac(6')-Ib-cr were the most common resistance determinants. bla OXA-48 and bla VIM were also detected. Multidrug resistant E. coli seriously affects healthcare, especially in immunocompromised hosts, such as cancer patients.

Colonization of pressure ulcers by multidrug-resistant microorganisms in patients receiving home care

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2011

Colonization and/or infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) of pressure ulcers i... more Colonization and/or infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) of pressure ulcers in patients receiving care at home have seldom been investigated. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of MDRO colonization in pressure ulcers of patients receiving home care in Palermo, Italy. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRGN) were isolated, identified, and characterized from pressure ulcers and selected home environment surfaces. Thirty-two patients were enrolled, of whom 12 were under antimicrobial therapy. Five patients had been admitted to hospital in the preceding year. Nineteen patients tested positive for 1 or more MDROs. In particular, 1 patient was colonized by a vanA-containing strain of VRE, 5 by MRSA, and 17 by MDRGN of different species. Our findings suggest that pressure ulcers in home care patients could play a role in bringing MDROs into the community setting.

In vitro activities of tetracyclines against different clones of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from two Iranian hospitals

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2014

Sequence type 101 (ST101) as the predominant carbapenem-non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae clone in an acute general hospital in Italy

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2012

BMC Research Notes, 2012

Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor cl... more Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, initially considered as having a poor clinical relevance, is frequently isolated from infection cases in intensive care units. We describe the epidemiology of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) in a general ICU in Palermo, Italy, from October 2010 to March 2011. Findings: 58 of 61 isolates exhibited MICs for meropenem or imipenem ≥16 mg/L. Forty-nine carried bla OXA-23 and two bla OXA-58 genes. Five subtype clusters were detected by rep-PCR. Clusters D and E included 10 isolates that tested negative for the carbapenem resistance genes. MLST attributed all isolates, but two, with sequence type (ST)2, whereas the two remaining isolates with ST78. The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection (26 out of 36 cases. 72.2%). A high infection related mortality rate was observed (18 out of 35 patients, 51.4%). Nineteen patients tested positive for other multidrug resistant organisms in addition to CRAB. In eight cases isolates belonging to distinct subtype clusters and/or with distinct carbapenemase profiles were identified.