Clinical relevance of the ESKAPE pathogens
Jack Norman Pendleton, Sean P. Gorman, Brendan Gilmore · 1 Mar 2013
In recent years, the Infectious Diseases Society of America has highlighted a faction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) - acronymically dubbed 'the ESKAPE pathogens' - capable of 'escaping' the biocidal action of antibiotics and mutually representing new paradigms in pathogenesis, transmission and resistance. This…
Chitosan preparations for wounds and burns: antimicrobial and wound-healing effects
Tianhong Dai, Masamitsu Tanaka, Ying‐Ying Huang et al. · 1 Jul 2011
Since its discovery approximately 200 years ago, chitosan, as a cationic natural polymer, has been widely used as a topical dressing in wound management owing to its hemostatic, stimulation of healing, antimicrobial, nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable properties. This article covers the antimicrobial and wound-healing effects of chitosan, as well as its derivatives and complexes, and…
Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in enterococci
William R. Miller, José M. Munita, César A. Arias · 9 Sep 2014
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) enterococci are important nosocomial pathogens and a growing clinical challenge. These organisms have developed resistance to virtually all antimicrobials currently used in clinical practice using a diverse number of genetic strategies. Due to this ability to recruit antibiotic resistance determinants, MDR enterococci display a wide repertoire of antibiotic resistance mechanisms including modification of…
Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock: changes in incidence, pathogens and outcomes
Greg S. Martin · 1 Jun 2012
Sepsis has been around since the dawn of time, having been described for more than 2000 years, although clinical definitions are recent. The consensus sepsis definitions have permitted worldwide epidemiological studies of sepsis to be conducted. We now recognize the common nature of sepsis and the consistency of its disease - particularly severe sepsis and…
Chronic wound infections: the role of<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>and<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
Raffaele Serra, Raffaele Grande, Lucia Butrico et al. · 8 Mar 2015
Chronic leg ulcers affect 1-2% of the general population and are related to increased morbidity and health costs. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common bacteria isolated from chronic wounds. They can express virulence factors and surface proteins affecting wound healing. The co-infection of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa is more virulent than…
