Residual antimicrobials in food can select for antimicrobial resistance In their recent article in The Lancet Microbe, Elissa Khamisse and colleagues propose that the impact of antimicrobial use in animal husbandry on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans is exaggerate...

This article suggests an innovative approach of treating gut microbiome infections with foods that contain antimicrobials. Speculation exists, but Khamisse and colleagues find relevance from growing evidence. #PITT_IDFall25

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Therapeutic challenges in treating ESBL- and/or AmpC-producing non-carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales: an in vitro evaluation of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and cefiderocol AbstractBackground and objectives. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) that do not produce carbapenemases (non-CPE) are increasingly reported world

Not much data is out there with the use of novel antibiotics to the extent of older antibiotics against difficult-to-treat infections such as carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales. This study takes a step to find avenues to this therapeutic problem! #PITT_IDFall25

academic.oup.com/jac/advance-...

Aerosolization of Mycobacterium chelonae from heater-cooler-devices: a continuing risk of exposure during cardiac surgery - Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Background Following identification of widespread Mycobacterium chimaera infections in 2013 associated with aerosolization from Sorin heater-cooler-devices (HCD), microbiological monitoring of HCDs ha...

It is always important to find critical points such as the heater-cooling devices as focused in this study. It goes to show that we should be cognizant in the hospital setting since patients are more prone and vulnerable to infections. #PITT_IDFall25

aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Infection risk of peripheral intravenous catheters: meta-synthesis of 18 prospective studies with 14,606 catheters - Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Background To quantify the incidence of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) infections and to describe the influence of clinical characteristics, including dwell time, on risk. Methods Meta-synthes...

This study takes a further look in infectious rates from over 14,606 peripheral catheters! #PITT_IDFall25

aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

The impact of bacterial purine metabolism on antibiotic efficacy - npj Antimicrobials and Resistance npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - The impact of bacterial purine metabolism on antibiotic efficacy

This study takes a look at bacterial purine metabolism and its relationship with antibiotic efficacy. #PITT_IDFall25

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Structural and functional features of Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular degradation by the phage depolymerase KP32gp38: Implications for vaccination against K. pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae Przondovirus KP32 presents a complex capsular degradation machinery comprised of two serotype-specific depolymerases, KP32gp38 a…

Recent studies take a look at K21 serotype CPS degradation of the capsule to find ways to effectively mitigate Klebsiella pneumonia. #PITT_IDFall25

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Sequential antibiotic exposure restores antibiotic susceptibility AbstractBackground. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance continues to rise, rendering many valuable antimicrobial drugs ineffective. Pairwise cyclic ant

This study takes a novel approach at reducing antimicrobial resistance by alternating antibiotics quickly. Thought process being one antibiotic rendering increased susceptibility to the other antibiotic. #PITT_IDFall25

academic.oup.com/jac/advance-...

Central venous catheter infections: building a causal model with expert domain knowledge to inform future clinical trials - Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Aim Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential for long-term therapies but carry a high risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), which significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs. This study aimed to develop a causal model for CLABSI using expert knowledge to guide future clinical trials and prevention strategies. Methods We constructed a directed acyclic graph (DAG) informed by literature and expert knowledge elicitation. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians, including infectious disease and vascular access experts, participated in interviews and workshops to refine the DAG, resulting in a final model with 30 variables representing CLABSI development. Findings The expert-elicited DAG identified two main pathways, patient-related and CVC-related, each contributing to CLABSI risk. Variables and relationships in the DAG highlighted key patient characteristics, CVC management practices, and overlapping factors influencing infection. This model serves as a novel framework to understand CLABSI causation and supports trial design by identifying confounding factors, causal pathways, and meaningful endpoints. Conclusions/implications Our causal DAG provides a structured representation of CLABSI risk factors, which may support the design of clinical trials examining interventions to reduce CVC-related infections. By clarifying causal mechanisms, the DAG can enhance the specificity of endpoints and improve the rigor of prevention strategies.

Catheters have been a leading cause for infections in the health system. This report takes an approach at developing methods understanding risk factors and approaches to help mitigate central-line associated bloodstream infections. #PITT_IDFall25

aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Hijacking anaerobic metabolism to restore antibiotic efficacy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Applied and Environmental Microbiology Many antibiotics are less effective at killing pathogens under oxygen (O2)-limited conditions. Pathogens frequently encounter O2 limitation within host environments, which helps explain why antibiotic therapies often fail to resolve chronic infections. We are investigating the relationship between O2 availability and drug efficacy in the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In agreement with prior work, we demonstrate that P. aeruginosa exhibits antibiotic recalcitrance under hypoxic conditions. We also explore the use of a novel therapeutic, chlorate, which kills P. aeruginosa under O2-limited conditions when the pathogen utilizes anaerobic metabolism (nitrate respiration). Excitingly, we find that chlorate-antibiotic combinations are highly lethal to P. aeruginosa across a wide range of O2 availabilities similar to those the pathogen encounters during infection. Our work demonstrates that we can leverage our understanding of pathogen physiology to propose novel drug combinations that hijack anaerobic metabolism to overcome antibiotic treatment failure in O2-limited environments.

This study takes an innovative approach to effectively treat facultative anaerobes such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in conditions where anoxia, hypoxia, and oxic conditions exist and how combination therapy is warranted. #PITT_IDFall25

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use at the End of Life in Patients With Advanced Cancer This cohort study examines the patterns of broad-spectrum antibiotic use across defined end-of-life intervals in patients with advanced cancer.

Study has shown a need to optimize antibiotic therapy regarding advanced cancer patients where trends of high broad-spectrum dosing escalated from 3 months to 2 weeks before death. #PITT_IDFall25

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Staphylococcus lugdunensis infective endocarditis: a multicentre international observational study Staphylococcus lugdunensis (SL) can cause infective endocarditis (IE), with unusually high complication and mortality rates. According to the 2023 Duke-ISCVID criteria, blood cultures positive for ...

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is clinically under-reported, especially in infective endocarditis. This study takes a look at approaching this kind of infection.
#PITT_IDFall25

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Azithromycin mass drug administration: balancing survival benefits and risks in children Childhood mortality remains a major public health challenge in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, despite major advances in universal sanitation and immunisati...

This study takes a look at how azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, can be used to decrease childhood mortality in low- and middle-income countries by surveying guidelines, demographics, location, and current evidence.
#PITT_IDFall25

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Neonatal antibiotic exposure raises immense concern among parents and health care practitioners on long-term developmental effects. This study takes a look at how antimicrobial stewardship improved to reduce unnecessary medications. #PITT_IDFall25

www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14...

Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients This cohort study examines whether nontuberculous mycobacterial disease is associated with increased mortality risk among solid-organ transplant recipients.

A good read for those interested in infection risks for solid-organ transplant receivers such as nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. #PITT_IDFall25

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Corynebacterium amycolatum: an underestimated pathogen in early-onset neonatal sepsis—a case report - BMC Infectious Diseases Background Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) is a critical condition primarily caused by maternal–fetal transmission of bacterial pathogens during delivery, with Escherichia coli and Group B Streptoco...

This study takes a look at life-threatening condition known as early-onset neonatal sepsis and calls a need to properly treat Corynebacterium amycolatum infections from misidentification. #PITT_IDFall25

bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Self-assembled DNA nanocarrier-enabled drug delivery for bone remodeling and antimicrobial applications - npj Biomedical Innovations npj Biomedical Innovations - Self-assembled DNA nanocarrier-enabled drug delivery for bone remodeling and antimicrobial applications

Synthetic tetrahedral DNA nanocarrier (TDN) involving nanoparticles are being studied to treat bone defects and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Vancomycin acid-loaded TDN has shown increased effectiveness against MRSA.
#PITT_IDFall2025

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Postoperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Use and Outcomes in Pectus Excavatum Repair This cohort study assesses the association of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis with surgical site infections and other postoperative outcomes in children undergoing minimally invasive pectus excav...

Pectus ecvavatum is a condition of congenital chest wall deformity. When undergoing invasive pectus excavatum repairs, researchers investigated if post-operative antimicrobial prophylaxis should be considered. #PITT_ID2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial, azelastine 0.1% nasal spray has been shown to have a 2.2% infection rate in 227 participants for SARS-CoV-2 as compared to placebo group 6.7% of 223 participants.
#PITT_ID2025
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from intensive care and non-intensive care units and its impact on treatment decisions - Scientific Reports Scientific Reports - Comparison of antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from intensive care and non-intensive care units and its impact on treatment decisions

Treating for Pseudomonas aeruginosa varies between ICU and non-ICU settings. Eid and colleagues take a look at current treatment guidelines for this pathogen and each antimicrobial agent resistant pattern. #PITT_ID2025

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Hospitalized Infants This cohort study estimates the incidence and attributable mortality of late-onset invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection among hospitalized infants in the US.

Jennings and her colleagues develop a cohort study between 2016 and 2021 to analyze Staphylococcus aureus in the infant population when hospitalized. This is a good read to see how this pathogen can cause high mortality rates in this vulnerable population. #PITT_2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Risk factors for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clinical samples upon hospital admission - Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Background/introduction Antipseudomonal antibiotics are frequently used in patients admitted to hospitals. Many of these substances are classified as a reserve or watch status by the WHO. Inappropriat...

Antimicrobials for Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often over-prescribed in the hospital setting. This study investigates proper risk assessment diagnostics to mitigate unnecessary antimicrobial resistance. #PITT_ID2025

aricjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections in 10 US States This population-based surveillance study investigates trends in the incidence, characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, and outcomes of invasive group A Streptococcus infections among individuals in...

Christopher Gregory and his research team investigate incidence rates of group A stretococcus infections in ten U.S. states. From 2013 to 2022, they saw a large trend of cases increase in the past decade. #PITT_ID2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

There is an outbreak growing in measles at this moment. The rise in cases can be depicted in the graph shown in this article. #PITT_ID2025

publications.aap.org/redbook/reso...

A seemingly considerable increase in antimicrobial resistance in the Bacteroides fragilis group from blood cultures – the second national study in Denmark Bacteroides fragilis group species are the most frequently encountered bacteria involved in anaerobic bacteraemia and associated with high mortality rates. In 2012, we performed the first national ...

Important study looking behind the drug resistance of piperacillin/tazobactam to Bacteroides fragilis from 8.5% in 2012 to 42.7% in 2022. #PITT_ID2025

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Attribution of <em>Salmonella enterica</em> to Food Sources by Using Whole-Genome Sequencing Data Attribution of <em>Salmonella enterica</em> to Food Sources

I am surprised to see vegetables to be a second food source for causing salmonella enterica. #PITT_ID2025

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...

Seven vs Fourteen Days of Antibiotics for Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection This systematic review and noninferiority meta-analysis applies bayesian statistics to randomized clinical trials comparing 7 vs 14 days of antibiotic therapy among patients with Gram-negative bloodst...

Many antibiotics are prescribed for 14 days in uncomplicated gram-negative bloodstream infections. This article takes a look in using 7-day regimens to help improve anti-microbial stewardship. #PITT_ID2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Point-of-care testing reduces antibiotic prescribing in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a significant global health burden as the third leading cause of death worldwide. In 2019, COPD was responsible for 3.23 million deaths globally [1...

Here is another article integrating antimicrobial stewardship in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through point of care testing to help guide appropriate antimicrobial use. #PITT_ID2025

www.ijidonline.com/article/S120...

Decisions About Suppressive Antibiotics After Prosthetic Joint Infection This qualitative study characterizes clinical decision-making about suppressive antibiotic therapy after prosthetic joint infection and identifies stewardship intervention opportunities to stop or red...

This article takes a look into antimicrobial stewardship by critiquing suppressive antibiotic therapy use for prosthetic joint infection. The focus is to reduce antimicrobial use to avoid unnecessary resistance rates. #PITT_ID2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

This article introduces a vaccine for preventing Chlamydia trachomatis which is a highly prevalent bacteria causing sexually transmitted infection around the world. #PITT_ID2025

www.ijidonline.com/article/S120...

Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Use and Outcomes for Children Undergoing Cholecystectomy This cohort study compares surgical site infection outcomes between children undergoing cholecystectomy who received prophylaxis and those who did not.

This article takes a look into prophylactic use of antibiotics in children with cholecystectomy where the Infectious Disease Society of America recommends against in adult surgical populations, but not specified for children. #PITT_ID2025

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...