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Papers by Vincenzina Monzillo
Microorganisms, Jan 7, 2024
Journal of Hospital Infection, Aug 1, 2020
BACKGROUND Since 2000, the National Health System has adopted international guidelines for assess... more BACKGROUND Since 2000, the National Health System has adopted international guidelines for assessing Legionella spp. in hospital water systems. The control of water contamination by Legionella spp. is still a matter of research concerning the most effective method in preventing nosocomial infections. AIM To compare three different decontamination methods by monitoring colony-forming unit count and number of hospital-acquired legionellosis cases. A secondary objective was to evaluate the long-term effects of the preventive measures on the water pipes. METHODS A protocol was developed for the selection of high-risk sampling sites and for the testing of three disinfection methods over the course of 19 years: hyperchlorination and thermal shock (period A, 2000-2005); copper-silver ionization (period B, 2006-2010); and integration of pre-filtering, filtering, pipe-protecting products, and remote control with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) (period C, 2011-2018). FINDINGS The use of shock disinfection and hyperchlorination led to a decrease in contamination level immediately after the procedure, but then it rose again to the previous level in two months. Both copper-silver ionization and ClO2 disinfection showed a stable and durable decrease in contamination level. Throughout these three phases, six cases of Legionella spp. occurred during period A, six cases during period B, and three cases during period C. With regard to the damage of water pipes, effective copper-silver levels caused corrosion and calcification in water pipes. CONCLUSION Both copper-silver ionization and ClO2 properly controlled Legionella spp. contamination. ClO2 significantly reduced the number of positive sites (P < 0.001) without damaging the pipelines.
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia, May 1, 1985
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia
Microbiologica, 1987
The in vitro activity of antibiotic combination of teicoplanin and gentamicin (or netilmicin) and... more The in vitro activity of antibiotic combination of teicoplanin and gentamicin (or netilmicin) and teicoplanin and cephalotin on Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using the checkerboard method and time-kill curves. With few exceptions neither antagonism nor synergism was seen for the combination of teicoplanin and aminoglycosides using the checkerboard method. Using time-kill curves synergism was often found for the combination of teicoplanin and netilmicin (even at sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of netilmicin) and for the combination of teicoplanin and cephalotin. No antagonistic interactions occurred.
Journal of Chemotherapy, 1998
Drugs under experimental and clinical research, 1990
Synergy between cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was evaluated against 12 strains (9 Enterobac... more Synergy between cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was evaluated against 12 strains (9 Enterobacteriaceae and 3 Bacteroides fragilis) by the chequerboard technique. A 1:1 combination of cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was synergistic against two-thirds of the 12 strains tested. The in vitro activity of the combination was compared with that of four other beta-lactam antibiotics against 96 recent clinical isolates: 78 Enterobacteriaceae, 8 Haemophilus influenzae, 10 B. fragilis. The MICs of the combination for Gram-negative bacilli were similar to those of ceftazidime. Cefotaxime/desacetyl-cefotaxime was more active than cefotetan, cefonicid and piperacillin against Enterobacteriaceae and H. influenzae.
Microorganisms
Mycobacterium chimaera (MC) is an environmental, slowly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (N... more Mycobacterium chimaera (MC) is an environmental, slowly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which recently has been linked to severe cardiovascular infections following open heart and vascular surgery. The majority of the diagnostic laboratory tests used in routine are not able to distinguish MC from M. intracellulare (MI), because of the great genetic similarity existing between these two species. The Genotype Mycobacterium NTM-DR™ represents a valid method to differentiate between these species, but it is expensive, requiring also specialized personnel. Recently, MALDI-TOF MS has been proposed to identify relevant NTM. However, a software implementation is required to distinguish between MC and MI, presenting the two microorganisms’ overlapping spectra. The present study evaluates the feasibility of applying a MALDI-TOF logarithmic-based analysis in the routine of a clinical microbiology laboratory, and proposes an easy-to-u...
The widescale use of antibiotics in the preven-tion and treatment of bacterial infections has led... more The widescale use of antibiotics in the preven-tion and treatment of bacterial infections has led to the emergence and spread of resistant microorganisms requiring the constant discov-
The new microbiologica, 2012
The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro activity and the impact on bacterial adhesion o... more The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro activity and the impact on bacterial adhesion of two different catheters, one impregnated with chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (C-SS) and the other not impregnated with antibacterial agents. The antimicrobial coating prevented the bacterial colonization by slime positive Staphylococcus epidermidis in the first two days. The antibacterial activity of the effluents from catheters impregnated with C-SS dissipated by day seven. Our results demonstrated that the surface treatment modified the composition of impregnated catheters and determined different contact angle values of the two catheters (impregnated and not impregnated). Examination of coated and uncoated catheter segments by scanning electron microscopy showed a good correlation with the results of adherence experiments. In conclusion, the findings suggest that C-SS coated catheters prevent in vitro bacterial adhesion.
The new microbiologica, 2021
Nocardia has always been considered a pathogen of the immunocompromised host, but recent evidence... more Nocardia has always been considered a pathogen of the immunocompromised host, but recent evidence has also highlighted its role as a pathogen in the immunocompetent. We aim to assess the role of immunosuppression in the disease. We reviewed all the cases of infections due to Nocardia spp. in our center that occurred from 1 January 2012 to 30 September 2019. Patients were divided into three groups: typical immunocompromised (PLWHIV, solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, individuals under immunosuppressive drugs), atypical immunocompromised (ongoing chronic diseases involving the lung, kidney, liver and diabetes) and immunocompetent. We identified 53 patients with an infection by Nocardia spp. Thirty-four (60.4%) of them were immunocompromised, 22 (64.7%) typical and 12 (35.3%) atypical immunocompromised. Nineteen (35.8%) were immunocompetent. The two conditions most frequently associated with infection were chronic lung disease (41.5%) and ongoing treatment with im...
Current Therapeutic Research-clinical and Experimental, 1989
Giornale di malattie infettive e parassitarie, 1993
The role of antibiotics in the treatment of Shiga-like toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli infection is... more The role of antibiotics in the treatment of Shiga-like toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli infection is still controversial. This study investigated the effects of colistin on Vero cell cytotoxicity caused by the enterohemorrhagic EC O157:H7, and the effects of colistin on Stx and endotoxin release by EC O157:H7. Vero cells were incubated with supernatant collected from EC O157:H7 cultured for 18 h without (control) or with various concentrations of colistin. In the absence of colistin, Vero cell viability after 48 h was 29.1±6.5%. Under the same conditions, the overnight presence of colistin reduced cytotoxicity to Vero cells (viability: 97±3.5 to 56.5±14.4% for colistin concentrations ≥MIC). Sub-MIC concentrations of colistin also provided partial protection (viability: 38.8±12.5 to 36.6±14% for 0.125 and 0.06 mcg/ml colistin, respectively). Endotoxins contributed to the cytotoxic effects on Vero cells since lower but still significant protection was observed when colistin was added dir...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE When administered for severe infections in intravenous drug users (IDUs)... more BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE When administered for severe infections in intravenous drug users (IDUs) at a daily dose of 6 mg/kg, daptomycin displayed abnormal pharmacokinetic parameters compared with those seen in healthy volunteers; specifically, decreased trough and maximum concentrations (Ctrough; Cmax) and increased clearance (CL). The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of daptomycin administered at a daily dosage of 12 mg/kg for Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (IE) in patients concomitantly treated with methadone, and to compare the results with those published in the literature for healthy controls treated with the same daily dose. METHODS Antibiotic treatment included daptomycin (12 mg/kg daily) in combination with an antistaphylococcal β-lactam (cefazolin 2 g three times a day). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated through blood cultures was used to calculate pharmacokinetic and ...
Microorganisms, Jan 7, 2024
Journal of Hospital Infection, Aug 1, 2020
BACKGROUND Since 2000, the National Health System has adopted international guidelines for assess... more BACKGROUND Since 2000, the National Health System has adopted international guidelines for assessing Legionella spp. in hospital water systems. The control of water contamination by Legionella spp. is still a matter of research concerning the most effective method in preventing nosocomial infections. AIM To compare three different decontamination methods by monitoring colony-forming unit count and number of hospital-acquired legionellosis cases. A secondary objective was to evaluate the long-term effects of the preventive measures on the water pipes. METHODS A protocol was developed for the selection of high-risk sampling sites and for the testing of three disinfection methods over the course of 19 years: hyperchlorination and thermal shock (period A, 2000-2005); copper-silver ionization (period B, 2006-2010); and integration of pre-filtering, filtering, pipe-protecting products, and remote control with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) (period C, 2011-2018). FINDINGS The use of shock disinfection and hyperchlorination led to a decrease in contamination level immediately after the procedure, but then it rose again to the previous level in two months. Both copper-silver ionization and ClO2 disinfection showed a stable and durable decrease in contamination level. Throughout these three phases, six cases of Legionella spp. occurred during period A, six cases during period B, and three cases during period C. With regard to the damage of water pipes, effective copper-silver levels caused corrosion and calcification in water pipes. CONCLUSION Both copper-silver ionization and ClO2 properly controlled Legionella spp. contamination. ClO2 significantly reduced the number of positive sites (P < 0.001) without damaging the pipelines.
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia, May 1, 1985
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia
Giornale italiano di chemioterapia
Microbiologica, 1987
The in vitro activity of antibiotic combination of teicoplanin and gentamicin (or netilmicin) and... more The in vitro activity of antibiotic combination of teicoplanin and gentamicin (or netilmicin) and teicoplanin and cephalotin on Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated using the checkerboard method and time-kill curves. With few exceptions neither antagonism nor synergism was seen for the combination of teicoplanin and aminoglycosides using the checkerboard method. Using time-kill curves synergism was often found for the combination of teicoplanin and netilmicin (even at sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of netilmicin) and for the combination of teicoplanin and cephalotin. No antagonistic interactions occurred.
Journal of Chemotherapy, 1998
Drugs under experimental and clinical research, 1990
Synergy between cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was evaluated against 12 strains (9 Enterobac... more Synergy between cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was evaluated against 12 strains (9 Enterobacteriaceae and 3 Bacteroides fragilis) by the chequerboard technique. A 1:1 combination of cefotaxime and desacetyl-cefotaxime was synergistic against two-thirds of the 12 strains tested. The in vitro activity of the combination was compared with that of four other beta-lactam antibiotics against 96 recent clinical isolates: 78 Enterobacteriaceae, 8 Haemophilus influenzae, 10 B. fragilis. The MICs of the combination for Gram-negative bacilli were similar to those of ceftazidime. Cefotaxime/desacetyl-cefotaxime was more active than cefotetan, cefonicid and piperacillin against Enterobacteriaceae and H. influenzae.
Microorganisms
Mycobacterium chimaera (MC) is an environmental, slowly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (N... more Mycobacterium chimaera (MC) is an environmental, slowly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), which recently has been linked to severe cardiovascular infections following open heart and vascular surgery. The majority of the diagnostic laboratory tests used in routine are not able to distinguish MC from M. intracellulare (MI), because of the great genetic similarity existing between these two species. The Genotype Mycobacterium NTM-DR™ represents a valid method to differentiate between these species, but it is expensive, requiring also specialized personnel. Recently, MALDI-TOF MS has been proposed to identify relevant NTM. However, a software implementation is required to distinguish between MC and MI, presenting the two microorganisms’ overlapping spectra. The present study evaluates the feasibility of applying a MALDI-TOF logarithmic-based analysis in the routine of a clinical microbiology laboratory, and proposes an easy-to-u...
The widescale use of antibiotics in the preven-tion and treatment of bacterial infections has led... more The widescale use of antibiotics in the preven-tion and treatment of bacterial infections has led to the emergence and spread of resistant microorganisms requiring the constant discov-
The new microbiologica, 2012
The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro activity and the impact on bacterial adhesion o... more The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro activity and the impact on bacterial adhesion of two different catheters, one impregnated with chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (C-SS) and the other not impregnated with antibacterial agents. The antimicrobial coating prevented the bacterial colonization by slime positive Staphylococcus epidermidis in the first two days. The antibacterial activity of the effluents from catheters impregnated with C-SS dissipated by day seven. Our results demonstrated that the surface treatment modified the composition of impregnated catheters and determined different contact angle values of the two catheters (impregnated and not impregnated). Examination of coated and uncoated catheter segments by scanning electron microscopy showed a good correlation with the results of adherence experiments. In conclusion, the findings suggest that C-SS coated catheters prevent in vitro bacterial adhesion.
The new microbiologica, 2021
Nocardia has always been considered a pathogen of the immunocompromised host, but recent evidence... more Nocardia has always been considered a pathogen of the immunocompromised host, but recent evidence has also highlighted its role as a pathogen in the immunocompetent. We aim to assess the role of immunosuppression in the disease. We reviewed all the cases of infections due to Nocardia spp. in our center that occurred from 1 January 2012 to 30 September 2019. Patients were divided into three groups: typical immunocompromised (PLWHIV, solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, individuals under immunosuppressive drugs), atypical immunocompromised (ongoing chronic diseases involving the lung, kidney, liver and diabetes) and immunocompetent. We identified 53 patients with an infection by Nocardia spp. Thirty-four (60.4%) of them were immunocompromised, 22 (64.7%) typical and 12 (35.3%) atypical immunocompromised. Nineteen (35.8%) were immunocompetent. The two conditions most frequently associated with infection were chronic lung disease (41.5%) and ongoing treatment with im...
Current Therapeutic Research-clinical and Experimental, 1989
Giornale di malattie infettive e parassitarie, 1993
The role of antibiotics in the treatment of Shiga-like toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli infection is... more The role of antibiotics in the treatment of Shiga-like toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli infection is still controversial. This study investigated the effects of colistin on Vero cell cytotoxicity caused by the enterohemorrhagic EC O157:H7, and the effects of colistin on Stx and endotoxin release by EC O157:H7. Vero cells were incubated with supernatant collected from EC O157:H7 cultured for 18 h without (control) or with various concentrations of colistin. In the absence of colistin, Vero cell viability after 48 h was 29.1±6.5%. Under the same conditions, the overnight presence of colistin reduced cytotoxicity to Vero cells (viability: 97±3.5 to 56.5±14.4% for colistin concentrations ≥MIC). Sub-MIC concentrations of colistin also provided partial protection (viability: 38.8±12.5 to 36.6±14% for 0.125 and 0.06 mcg/ml colistin, respectively). Endotoxins contributed to the cytotoxic effects on Vero cells since lower but still significant protection was observed when colistin was added dir...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE When administered for severe infections in intravenous drug users (IDUs)... more BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE When administered for severe infections in intravenous drug users (IDUs) at a daily dose of 6 mg/kg, daptomycin displayed abnormal pharmacokinetic parameters compared with those seen in healthy volunteers; specifically, decreased trough and maximum concentrations (Ctrough; Cmax) and increased clearance (CL). The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of daptomycin administered at a daily dosage of 12 mg/kg for Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (IE) in patients concomitantly treated with methadone, and to compare the results with those published in the literature for healthy controls treated with the same daily dose. METHODS Antibiotic treatment included daptomycin (12 mg/kg daily) in combination with an antistaphylococcal β-lactam (cefazolin 2 g three times a day). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated through blood cultures was used to calculate pharmacokinetic and ...