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Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are global concerns in infection control, and the number of CPE outbreaks in hospitals is increasing despite the strengthening of contact precautions. This study aimed to confirm the prevalence and transition rate of CPE infection from stool surveillance culture and to identify the acquisition pathway of CPE. This is a longitudinal review of patients with stool surveillance cultures at a tertiary center in Seoul, South Korea, from July 2018 to June 2020. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multi-locus sequence typing, and whole genome sequencing were performed for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains. Among 1620 patients who had undergone stool CPE surveillance cultures, only 7.1% of active surveillance at the Emergency Room (ER) and 4.4% of universal surveillance in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were stool CPE positive. The transition rates from stool carriers to clinical CPE infections were 29.4% in the ER and 31.3% in the ICU. However, it was significantly high (55.0%) in the initial stool CPE-negative ICU patients. Among the initial stool CPE-positive patients, hypertension (61% vs. 92.3%, P = 0.004), malignancy (28.8% vs. 53.8%, P = 0.027), and mechanical ventilation (25.4% vs. 53.8%, P = 0.011) were significant risk factors for clinical CPE infection. Molecular typing revealed that sequence type (ST) 307 and ST 395 were dominant in K. pneumoniae , and ST 410 was dominant in E. coli isolates. Active surveillance showed a higher detection rate than universal stool CPE screening, and one-third of positive stool CPE specimens ultimately developed subsquent clinical CPE infection. According to the molecular typing of the identified CPE strains, in-hospital spread prevailed over external inflow, and the transition rate to clinical CPE was particularly high in the ICU. Therefore, in order to control CPE propagation, not only active surveillance to block inflow from outside, but also continuous ICU monitoring within the hospital is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Case and bacteremia of VRE considerably increased after the COVID-19. • New case of XDR-ABA and DTR-PAE was increased after pandemic. • Bacteremia of XDR-ABA, DTR-PAE on the decline was increased after pandemic. • Concerning finding because reduction of MDROs is difficult and time-consuming. • Need to continuously monitor the growth of MDROs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iridium(III)-catalyzed ortho -C–H amidation of benzoic acids with sulfonyl azides is described. These transformations allow the facile generation of N -sulfonyl anthranilic acids, which are known as crucial scaffolds found in biologically active molecules. In addition, all synthetic products were evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity against interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Notably, compounds 4c and 4d , generated from p -OMe- and p -Br-sulfonyl azides, were found to display potent anti-inflammatory property stronger than that of well-known NSAIDs ibuprofen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copolymers based on glassy and rubbery units have been developed to take advantages of both domains to enhance solubility and diffusivity. Well-tuned microstructure in copolymers has provided high gas permeability and selectivity. In this study, we report on the syntheses and characterizations of copolymers using poly(ethylene glycol) and high free volume polysulfone. Bulky and flexible bis(phenyl)fluorene moiety is introduced in polysulfone domain. Comparison between conventional bisphenol-A based polysulfone and the polysulfone in this work is made in terms of fractional free volume and gas permeation properties. In the poly(sulfone-co-ethylene glycol), the composition of sulfone/ethylene glycol results in the improvement of thermal and physical properties. Copolymers are characterized using gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction, and gas permeation measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbapenem resistance among gram-negative bacilli is an emerging threat worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for the acquisition of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRE). Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study comprising 57 cases of acquisition of CRE and 114 controls (1:2 matched) selected from patients with a culture of carbapenem-susceptible E coli between January 2006 and December 2010 at a 2000-bed tertiary care center in South Korea. Results: On univariate analysis, previous use of carbapenem (P < .01), fluoroquinolone (P < .01), and glycopeptide (P < .01), as well as length of hospital stay (P < .05), were significantly associated with CRE acquisition. On multivariate analysis, previous use of carbapenem (odds ratio [OR], 4.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-14.46; P = .01) and previous use of fluoroquinolone (OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.14-6.99; P = .03) were independent risk factors. Conclusions: At this institute, the antibiotic selective pressure of carbapenems and fluoroquinolones was shown to be an important risk factor for the acquisition of CRE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]