Benjamin P Howden

..aureus infections and demonstrates the role played by walKR to increase drug resistance, control metabolism and alter the virulence potential of this pathogen...

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..Given the subtleties of vancomycin susceptibility testing against S. aureus, it is imperative that diagnostic laboratories use well-standardized methods and have a framework for detecting reduced vancomycin susceptibility in S. aureus...

..However, additional mutations are likely required to express the full VISA phenotype...

..Clinicians and diagnostic laboratories need to be aware of VISA and hVISA as a clinical problem, and consider aggressive surgical debridement and non-glycopeptide-based therapy where infections with such strains are suspected or proven...

..It should be considered in such patients with presentations possibly related to malaria, including splenomegaly, anaemia, or a long history of intermittent fevers and chills...

..Diagnostic laboratories and clinicians need to be aware of this resistance phenotype, to have procedures in place to detect the resistance, and to have strategies for managing patients with infections caused by resistant strains...

..A large outbreak of legionnaires' disease associated with the Melbourne Aquarium occurred in April 2000...

..These results reinforce the exquisite adaptability of S. aureus and show how subtle molecular changes cause major alterations in bacterial behaviour, as well as highlighting potential weaknesses of current antibiotic treatment regimens...

..A significant increase in the rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) bacteremia at our health service, despite improved infection control, prompted us to investigate the cause...

..These clinically derived pairs of isolates will be a useful resource to elucidate the genetic mechanism of resistance in hVISA/VISA strains...

..Stp1 provides a new link between vancomycin susceptibility and virulence in S. aureus...

..Based on the transcriptome results multiple genes were sequenced and innate immune system stimulation was assessed in the VSSA and hVISA/VISA pairs...

..A complete E. faecium genome will be a useful resource to assist our understanding of this emerging nosocomial pathogen...

..001), and initially low serum vancomycin levels (P=.006). These clinical markers of hVISA bacteremia may help focus diagnostic efforts and treatment...

..There are concerns about reduced efficacy of vancomycin in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), especially when the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) nears the upper limit of the susceptible range...

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..This review summarizes the current literature concerning the use of vancomycin and the role of continuous infusion antimicrobials for treatment of Gram-positive infections...

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..aureus and discusses practical issues for the diagnostic laboratory in testing and interpreting vancomycin susceptibility for S. aureus infections...

..This isolate is a representative of the most common Australian clone of cMRSA that is more distantly related to the previously sequenced genomes of S. aureus...

..Among 28 heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA)/VISA spiked BCs, the assay correctly identified 84.6% VISA and 80% hVISA isolates as MRSA...

..aureus that demonstrates intermediate-level vancomycin resistance. The strain, named JKD6008, belongs to multilocus sequence type 239 and was isolated from the bloodstream of a patient in New Zealand in 2003...

..Continued monitoring of global epidemiology and emerging drug resistance data is critical for the effective management of these infections...

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..Ensuring that systemic fusidic acid is always used in combination and that the use of topical fusidic acid is either abolished or restricted will be vital if we are to prevent the loss of this potentially useful agent...

..Resistance to colistin is emerging in multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and no solid pharmacodynamic data are available for colistin against Klebsiella pneumoniae...

..Thus, CI penicillin is feasible for the home-based treatment of a variety of deep-seated infections with minimal toxicity...

..However, cIDVRE detected significantly more VRE at 24 h (39.3% versus 21.3%, P = 0.003), and its use may facilitate the timely implementation of infection control procedures...

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..This meeting report focuses on two key areas of antimicrobial resistance: community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and resistance in Gram-negative organisms...

..aureus infections, and considers the safety profiles and likely impact on present treatment standards of novel agents either undergoing clinical development or emerging onto the market...

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..Here, we present a case of Q fever native valve endocarditis that developed in a young man despite prior vaccination. Definitive diagnosis was difficult and required C. burnetii-specific PCR testing...

..ulcerans-GFP, a strain in which fluorescence and toxin gene expression are linked, thus providing a tool for studying Buruli ulcer pathogenesis and potential transmission to humans...

..6. Appropriate use of HITH leads to improved patient and carer satisfaction, efficient in-hospital bed use and possibly some financial efficiencies. Not all patients receiving intravenous antibiotics need to be in hospital..

..Use of metronidazole may be appropriate in patients with aspiration pneumonia and evidence of a lung abscess, necrotising pneumonia, putrid sputum or severe periodontal disease...

..The treatment was well tolerated and resulted in cure or adequate suppression of infection in 27 of 28 (96%) patients in the serious MSSA infection group, and in 24 of 26 (92%) patients in the cellulitis group...

..0% versus 84.8%, respectively) and specificities (93.8% versus 92.7%, respectively). Combined PCR assays provide a rapid and more-complete assessment of colonization at a cost similar to that of single-site analysis...

..Antifungal synergy testing and combination therapy should be considered in cases of disseminated infection with Scedosporium prolificans...

..The differences between community-acquired and health care-associated MRSA explained...