10 results on '"Seme, Katja"'
Search Results
2. Herpesviridae and Atypical Bacteria Co-Detections in Lower Respiratory Tract Samples of SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.
- Author
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Grubelnik, Gašper, Korva, Miša, Kogoj, Rok, Polanc, Tina, Mavrič, Matej, Jevšnik Virant, Monika, Uršič, Tina, Keše, Darja, Seme, Katja, Petrovec, Miroslav, Jereb, Matjaž, and Avšič-Županc, Tatjana
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2 ,HERPESVIRUSES ,HUMAN herpesvirus 2 ,INTENSIVE care patients ,VARICELLA-zoster virus - Abstract
Shortly after the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cases of viral, bacterial, and fungal coinfections in hospitalized patients became evident. This retrospective study investigates the prevalence of multiple pathogen co-detections in 1472 lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples from 229 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients treated in the largest intensive care unit (ICU) in Slovenia. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, (rt)RT-PCR tests were used to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and atypical bacteria: Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila/spp. At least one co-detection was observed in 89.1% of patients. EBV, HSV-1, and CMV were the most common, with 74.7%, 58.1%, and 38.0% of positive patients, respectively. The median detection time of EBV, HSV-1, and CMV after initial SARS-CoV-2 confirmation was 11 to 20 days. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tracheal aspirate (TA) samples showed equivalent performance for the detection of EBV, CMV, and HSV-1 in patients with both available samples. Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a risk factor for latent herpesvirus reactivation, especially HSV-1, EBV, and CMV. However, additional studies are needed to elucidate the clinical importance of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. The Impact of COVID-19 on Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria at a Slovenian Tertiary Medical Center.
- Author
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Mrvič, Tatjana, Stevanoska, Sintija, Beović, Bojana, Logar, Mateja, Gregorčič, Sergeja, Žnidaršič, Benica, Seme, Katja, Velimirović, Ivana, Švent Kučina, Nataša, Maver Vodičar, Polona, Križan Hergouth, Veronika, Džeroski, Sašo, and Pirs, Mateja
- Subjects
KLEBSIELLA pneumoniae ,ENTEROCOCCUS ,COVID-19 pandemic ,MEDICAL centers ,INFECTION prevention ,MEDICAL personnel ,COVID-19 - Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare systems globally. Shortages of hospital beds, reassignment of healthcare workers to COVID-19-dedicated wards, an increased workload, and evolving infection prevention and control measures have potentially contributed to the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB). To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the University Medical Center Ljubljana, a tertiary teaching hospital, we analyzed the monthly incidence of select bacterial species per patient from 2018 to 2022. The analysis was performed for all isolates and for MDRB isolates. The data were analyzed separately for isolates from all clinical samples, from blood culture only, and from clinical and surveillance samples. Our findings revealed an increased incidence density of patients with Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from clinical samples during the COVID-19 period in the studied hospital. Notably, the incidence density of MDRB isolates—vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, extended-spectrum betalactamase-producing K. pneumoniae, and betalactam-resistant P. aeruginosa—from clinical samples increased during the COVID-19 period. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence density of patients with blood culture MDRB isolates. We observed an increase in the overall MDRB burden (patients with MDRB isolates from both clinical and surveillance samples per 1000 patient days) in the COVID-19 period in the studied hospital for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, and betalactam-resistant P. aeruginosa and a decrease in the methicillin-resistant S. aureus burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Prospective Longitudinal Study of Dynamics of Human Papillomavirus 6 and 11 Infection in Anogenital Hairs and Eyebrows of Male Patients with Anogenital Warts and Age-Matched Controls.
- Author
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Tlaker, Vesna, Hošnjak, Lea, Kolenc, Mateja, Zorec, Tomaž Mark, Luzar, Boštjan, Potočnik, Marko, Miljković, Jovan, Seme, Katja, and Poljak, Mario
- Subjects
HUMAN papillomavirus ,EYEBROWS ,WARTS ,HAIR ,LONGITUDINAL method ,HUMAN experimentation - Abstract
To better understand the natural history of anogenital warts (AGWs) and the dynamics of HPV6/11 infection in regional hairs, 32 newly diagnosed male patients with AGWs and 32 age-matched healthy controls were closely followed. During enrollment and six follow-up visits (every 2.6 months), 43 AGW tissues and 1232 anogenital and eyebrow hair samples were collected. This is the closest longitudinal monitoring of AGW patients to date. Patients were treated according to standards of care. The HPV6/11 prevalence was 19.9% in the patients' hair samples (HPV6 B1 in 53.1%) and 0% in the controls. The highest HPV6/11 prevalence was found in pubic hairs (29.0%) and the lowest in eyebrows (7.1%). The odds of having HPV6/11-positive hairs increased with smoking, shaving the anogenital region, and age. A close association between HPV6/11 presence in hairs and clinically visible AGWs was observed. The proportion of patients with visible AGWs and HPV6/11-positive hairs declined during follow-up with similar trends. No particular HPV6/11 variant was linked with an increased AGW recurrence, but the sublineage HPV6 B1 showed significantly higher clearance from hairs. Despite treatment, 78.1% and 62.5% of the AGW patients experienced one and two or more post-initial AGW episodes, respectively. The patients with HPV6/11-positive hairs or visible AGWs at a preceding visit demonstrated substantially higher odds of presenting with visible AGWs at a subsequent visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. The antibacterial activity of human amniotic membrane against multidrug-resistant bacteria associated with urinary tract infections
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Železnik Ramuta, Taja, Tratnjek, Larisa, Janev, Aleksandar, Seme, Katja, Starčič Erjavec, Marjanca, and Erdani-Kreft, Mateja
- Subjects
udc:616.6 ,antibiotic resistance ,antimicrobial activity ,electron microscopy ,urothelial cells ,homogenat amnijske membrane ,amniotic membrane homogenate ,multidrug-resistant bacteria ,MRSA ,biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition ,bacterial infections and mycoses ,urinary bladder ,odpornost na antibiotike - Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a serious global health issue, especially due to emerging multidrug-resistant UTI-causing bacteria. Recently, we showed that the human amniotic membrane (hAM) could be a candidate for treatments and prevention of UPEC and Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, its role against multidrug-resistant bacteria, namely methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has not yet been thoroughly explored. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the hAM homogenate had antibacterial activity against 7 out of 11 tested multidrug-resistant strains, the greatest effect was on MRSA. Using novel approaches, its activity against MRSA was further evaluated in a complex microenvironment of normal and cancerous urinary bladder urothelia. Even short-term incubation in hAM homogenate significantly decreased the number of bacteria in MRSA-infected urothelial models, while it did not affect the viability, number, and ultrastructure of urothelial cells. The hAM patches had no antibacterial activity against any of the tested strains, which further exposes the importance of the hAM preparation. Our study substantially contributes to basic knowledge on the antibacterial activity of hAM and reveals its potential to be used as an antibacterial agent against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- Published
- 2022
6. Ceramide Phosphoethanolamine as a Possible Marker of Periodontal Disease.
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Grundner, Maja, Munjaković, Haris, Tori, Tilen, Sepčić, Kristina, Gašperšič, Rok, Oblak, Čedomir, Seme, Katja, Guella, Graziano, Trenti, Francesco, and Skočaj, Matej
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- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Collaborative Robot Precision Task in Medical Microbiology Laboratory.
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Baumkircher, Aljaz, Seme, Katja, Munih, Marko, and Mihelj, Matjaž
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MATRIX-assisted laser desorption-ionization , *MEDICAL microbiology , *MEDICAL laboratories , *BACTERIAL colonies , *GRAM-positive bacteria , *GRAM-negative bacteria , *ACINETOBACTER baumannii - Abstract
This study focuses on the feasibility of collaborative robot implementation in a medical microbiology laboratory by demonstrating fine tasks using kinesthetic teaching. Fine tasks require sub-millimetre positioning accuracy. Bacterial colony picking and identification was used as a case study. Colonies were picked from Petri dishes and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. We picked and identified 56 colonies (36 colonies of Gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii and 20 colonies of Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis). The overall identification error rate was around 11%, although it was significantly lower for Gram-positive bacteria (5%) than Gram-negative bacteria (13.9%). Based on the identification scores, it was concluded that the system works similarly well as a manual operator. It was determined that tasks were successfully demonstrated using kinesthetic teaching and generalized using dynamic movement primitives (DMP). Further improvement of the identification error rate is possible by choosing a different deposited sample treatment method (e.g., semi-extraction, wet deposition). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Molecular Characterization of Human Papillomavirus Type 159 (HPV159).
- Author
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Marković, Iva, Hošnjak, Lea, Seme, Katja, and Poljak, Mario
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VIRAL genomes ,VIRAL load ,PAPILLOMAVIRUSES ,SKIN infections ,REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction ,HUMAN beings ,ANUS ,OROPHARYNX - Abstract
Human papillomavirus type 159 (HPV159) was identified in an anal swab sample and preliminarily genetically characterized by our group in 2012. Here we present a detailed molecular in silico analysis that showed that the HPV159 viral genome is 7443 bp in length and divided into five early and two late genes, with conserved functional domains and motifs, and a non-coding long control region (LCR) with significant regulatory sequences that allow the virus to complete its life cycle and infect novel host cells. HPV159, clustering into the cutaneotropic Betapapillomavirus (Beta-PV) genus, is phylogenetically most similar to HPV9, forming an individual phylogenetic group in the viral species Beta-2. After testing a large representative collection of clinical samples with HPV159 type-specific RT-PCR, in addition to the anal canal from which the first HPV159 isolate was obtained, HPV159 was further detected in other muco-cutaneous (4/181, 2.2%), mucosal (22/764, 2.9%), and cutaneous (14/554, 2.5%) clinical samples, suggesting its extensive tissue tropism. However, because very low HPV159 viral loads were estimated in the majority of positive samples, it seemed that HPV159 mainly caused clinically insignificant infections of the skin and mucosa. Using newly developed, highly sensitive HPV159-specific nested PCRs, two additional HPV159 LCR viral variants were identified. Nevertheless, all HPV159 mutations were demonstrated outside important functional domains of the LCR, suggesting that the HPV159 viral variants were most probably not pathogenically different. This complete molecular characterization of HPV159 enhances our knowledge of the genome characteristics, tissue tropism, and phylogenetic diversity of Beta-PVs that infect humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
9. Feline Otitis Externa Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Mixed Hemolytic Phenotype and Overview of Possible Genetic Backgrounds.
- Author
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Avberšek, Jana, Papić, Bojan, Kušar, Darja, Erjavec, Vladimira, Seme, Katja, Golob, Majda, Zdovc, Irena, Barlow, John, and Martínez, Laura Selva
- Subjects
OTITIS externa ,METHICILLIN-resistant staphylococcus aureus ,PHENOTYPES ,EAR canal ,MICROBIAL sensitivity tests ,NUCLEOTIDE sequencing - Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of nosocomial infections in humans, but its importance in small animal practice is increasing. Here, we present a case of feline otitis externa (OE) caused by MRSA; both hemolytic and nonhemolytic variants with a stable phenotype were recovered from the external auditory canal after infection was detected by routine otoscopy. One isolate per variant underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by broth microdilution method, conventional spa typing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The results showed that both variants were genetically related and were of sequence type (ST) 1327, SCCmec type IV and spa type t005. AST and WGS showed that both isolates were resistant to β-lactams and sensitive to all tested non-β-lactam antibiotics. Both isolates were pvl-negative, but encoded several other virulence genes (aur, hlgABC, sak, scn, seg, sei, sem, sen, seo and seu). Genetic background of the mixed hemolytic phenotype was not identified; no differences in the agr locus or other regulatory regions were detected. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified but could not be associated with hemolysis. This well-documented case of MRSA infection in companion animals adds to the reports of MRSA infections with a mixed hemolytic phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. The Antibacterial Activity of Human Amniotic Membrane against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Associated with Urinary Tract Infections: New Insights from Normal and Cancerous Urothelial Models.
- Author
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Ramuta, Taja Železnik, Tratnjek, Larisa, Janev, Aleksandar, Seme, Katja, Starčič Erjavec, Marjanca, Kreft, Mateja Erdani, and Amedei, Amedeo
- Subjects
URINARY tract infections ,AMNION ,CARBAPENEM-resistant bacteria ,STAPHYLOCOCCUS aureus infections ,ACINETOBACTER baumannii - Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a serious global health issue, especially due to emerging multidrug-resistant UTI-causing bacteria. Recently, we showed that the human amniotic membrane (hAM) could be a candidate for treatments and prevention of UPEC and Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, its role against multidrug-resistant bacteria, namely methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa has not yet been thoroughly explored. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the hAM homogenate had antibacterial activity against 7 out of 11 tested multidrug-resistant strains, the greatest effect was on MRSA. Using novel approaches, its activity against MRSA was further evaluated in a complex microenvironment of normal and cancerous urinary bladder urothelia. Even short-term incubation in hAM homogenate significantly decreased the number of bacteria in MRSA-infected urothelial models, while it did not affect the viability, number, and ultrastructure of urothelial cells. The hAM patches had no antibacterial activity against any of the tested strains, which further exposes the importance of the hAM preparation. Our study substantially contributes to basic knowledge on the antibacterial activity of hAM and reveals its potential to be used as an antibacterial agent against multidrug-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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