European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases最新文献

We report a never seen before upsurge of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) respiratory tract infections in 2024/25 in southern Germany. Regarding 43,558 Cp PCR tests analyzed, the positivity rate increased from 0.3% in 2015-2020 to 2.6% in 2024, and 2.4% in 2025 until August 2025, peaking at ≥ 6.0% with > 100 monthly cases in October and November 2024. Children aged 6-14 years were predominantly affected, and co-infections with other pathogens were frequently detected. We aim at raising awareness concerning Cp infections.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia), is a low virulence opportunistic pathogen intrinsically resistant to a wide range of antibiotics with several virulence factors and is increasingly found in hospital and community settings, the organism is increasingly associated with biofilm infections in diabetic foot ulcers. With limited options, a novel treatment strategy is required, and the use of lytic phages presents a promising alternative. In this study, lytic phage vB_SmaS_BCU-1 was isolated from soil and propagated with a clinical S. maltophilia strain, isolated from a diabetic foot ulcer. Morphology characterisation and genomic analysis revealed it is a siphophage belonging to the family Casjenviridae, genus Sanovirus. Phage vB_SmaS_BCU-1 is a dsDNA virus consisting of 57,752 bp containing 75 open reading frames, with no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes found. vB_SmaS_BCU-1 was stable at a range of temperatures (4-55 °C) & pH values (4-12), has a short latent period (30 min), a large burst size (150 PFU/cell) and efficient adsorption. The phage demonstrated lysis of planktonic cells and can significantly reduce biofilm biomass. In a human fibroblast co-culture model, the phage exhibited no cytotoxicity, protected cells from bacterial-induced damage and significantly reduced the bacterial load.

Purpose: The DANFLU-1 trial suggested lower incidence of hospitalizations for pneumonia and influenza, respiratory disease and all-cause mortality among older adults receiving high-dose (HD-IV) versus standard-dose (SD-IV) influenza vaccine. This study assessed the relative effectiveness of HD-IV versus SD-IV according to comorbidity in elderly individuals.

Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of the DANFLU-1 randomized controlled feasibility trial of HD-IV versus SD-IV conducted during the 2021-2022 influenza season in adults aged 65-79 years. Outcomes assessed included influenza-related, respiratory, and cardiovascular hospitalizations, and mortality. We tested for effect modification by level of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) using ICD-10 codes up to 10 years prior to randomization.

Results: Of the 12,477 randomly assigned participants (mean age 71.7 ± 3.9 years, 47.1% female), 8,020 (64.3%) had CCI = 0, 3,560 (28.5%) had CCI = 1-2 and 893 (7.2%) had CCI ≥ 3. When comparing HD-IV with SD-IV, hazard ratios of hospitalizations for pneumonia and influenza were similar across CCI groups (HR [95%CI]: 0.15 [0.03-0.68] for CCI = 0, 0.36 [0.11-1.15] for CCI = 1-2, 1.00 [0.25-4.00] for CCI ≥ 3). Comparable patterns were found for hospitalizations for respiratory disease (0.46 [0.17-1.20] for CCI = 0, 0.67 [0.32-1.39] for CCI = 1-2, 0.66 [0.24-1.87] for CCI ≥ 3) and all-cause mortality (0.28 [0.09-0.86] for CCI = 0, 0.70 [0.30-1.63] for CCI = 1-2, 0.57 [0.24-1.36] for CCI ≥ 3). There was no statistical evidence of effect modification by CCI for any outcome.

Conclusions: The lower incidences of clinical outcomes for HD-IV compared to SD-IV were not significantly modified by CCI. The potential benefit of HD-IV versus SD-IV may therefore be applicable regardless of comorbidity burden. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Purpose: This study characterized Salmonella bacteriophage SGP007 to assess its potential as a safe and effective biocontrol or therapeutic agent against pathogenic Salmonella.

Results: Transmission electron microscopy revealed Podoviridae family traits, including an icosahedral head and short, non-contractile tail. Whole-genome sequencing identified a 43,156-base-pair, double-stranded DNA genome with 50.2% G + C content, consistent with Jerseyviruses targeting Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum. Bioinformatic analysis annotated 58 open reading frames, encompassing DNA replication (helicase, methyltransferase), structural assembly (portal, capsid, tail), and host lysis (holin, spanin, endolysin) modules. A single tRNA-Ser-UGA gene was detected, with codon bias compatible with Salmonella's translational system. Critically, the genome lacked lysogenic, virulence, antimicrobial resistance, or toxin-related sequences, confirming its safety. Computational tools (PHASTER, PHACTS, PhageAI) verified an obligately lytic lifecycle. Phylogenetic analysis of the large terminase subunit and genome-wide comparisons (VICTOR, VIPTree) positioned SGP007 within a distinct Jerseyvirus subclade, closely related to Salmonella-specific phages SETP7 and BPS11Q3. VIRFAM classification assigned it to Neck Type 1 - Cluster 3, reflecting its streamlined morphology. The infection cycle follows a typical lytic pathway: receptor binding, DNA ejection, gene expression, replication, virion assembly, and lytic release.

Conclusion: This genomic evidence showed that SGP007 was virulent lytic phage, optimized for rapid replication and host lysis without genomic integration.

Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is an opportunistic pathogen. Human infections are rare and often linked to close contact with horses. Consumption of raw milk cheese has also been incriminated. We present two cases of S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus bacteremia diagnosed within a short space of time in the same hospital.

We describe an unusual cross-transmission of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in an intensive care unit, initially mediated by a contaminated gastroscope and subsequently through environmental dissemination. A first patient acquired OXA-23/NDM-producing CRAB after gastroscopy, with a fatal outcome. A second patient, admitted to the same room, became colonized without endoscopic exposure. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed a clonal strain (ST570) among patients and environmental samples. This transmission underscores the critical need for rigorous endoscope reprocessing, environmental decontamination, and surveillance of emerging transmission routes to prevent nosocomial infections.

Introduction: Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales are increasing in frequency and treatment options are limited. Aztreonam/avibactam (AZA) and aztreonam (ATM) plus ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) showed activities against these organisms. Escherichia coli with PBP3 insertions (YRIN, YRIK) showed decreased activities to AZA and have been linked with treatment failures.

Methods: We used well-characterized global collections of MBL-producing Enterobacterales (n = 86) to evaluate if MICs generated by AZA MIC Test Strips (MTS) could be used as substitute testing for ATM-CZA Broth Disk Elution (ATM-CZA BDE). We also determined if AZA (breakpoint of 4/4 µg/ml) or ATM-CZA BDE could detect E. coli with PBP-3 insertions.

Results: The AZA MTS at ≤ 2/4µg/ml and ≥ 8/4µg/ml) showed 100% categorical agreement with ATM-CZA BDE but was less labour-intensive and more cost-effective. A strain with AZA MIC of 4/4 µg/ml tested not susceptible with ATM-CZA BDE, resulting in a very major error rate of 1/9 (11%). ATM-CZA BDE and AZA MICs (1-4 µg/ml) reported 76% (42/55) of E. coli with bla_NDMs that contained YRIK/YRIN insertions, as susceptible.

Conclusions: AZA MIC Test Strips can reliably predict ATM-CZA BDE results, except for strains with MICs of 4/4 µg/ml. ATM-CZA BDE failed to detect most of E. coli with PBP-3 insertions. E. coli with AZA MICs ranging from 1/4 to 4/4 µg/ml could be screened for PBP-3 insertions, and patients infected with such isolates, should be monitored for possible treatment failures with AZA or ATM-CZA.