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Article
Open AccessRisk factors for colonization with multiple species of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales: a case-case–control study
Approximately 11% of patients colonized with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) are colonized with more than one ESBL-producing species. We investigated risk factors associat...
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Article
Open AccessWhole-genome sequence-informed MALDI-TOF MS diagnostics reveal importance of Klebsiella oxytoca group in invasive infections: a retrospective clinical study
Klebsiella spp. are opportunistic pathogens which can cause severe infections, are often multi-drug resistant and are a common cause of hospital-acquired infections. Multiple new Klebsiella species have recently ...
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Article
Open AccessCutibacterium modestum and “Propionibacterium humerusii” represent the same species that is commonly misidentified as Cutibacterium acnes
Cutibacterium spp. play an increasing role in soft tissue and implant-associated infections. We isolated a novel Cutibacterium spp. from an implant and investigated this isolate using multiple identification appr...
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Article
A rationally designed oral vaccine induces immunoglobulin A in the murine gut that directs the evolution of attenuated Salmonella variants
The ability of gut bacterial pathogens to escape immunity by antigenic variation—particularly via changes to surface-exposed antigens—is a major barrier to immune clearance1. However, not all variants are equally...
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Article
Open AccessBilateral acute renal cortical necrosis after a dog bite: case report
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a Gram-negative capnophilic rod and part of dogs/cats’ normal oral flora. It can be transmitted by bites, scratches, or even by contact of saliva with injured skin. Asplenic patients ...
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Article
Open AccessSystematic screening on admission for SARS-CoV-2 to detect asymptomatic infections
The proportion of asymptomatic carriers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains elusive and the potential benefit of systematic screening during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic is contr...
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Article
Open AccessAccuracy of urine flow cytometry and urine test strip in predicting relevant bacteriuria in different patient populations
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is diagnosed combining urinary symptoms with demonstration of urine culture growth above a given threshold. Our aim was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Urine Flow Cytometry ...
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Article
Open AccessCommunity-acquired and hospital-acquired respiratory tract infection and bloodstream infection in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia
SARS-CoV-2 may cause acute lung injury, and secondary infections are thus relevant complications in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, detailed information on community- and hospital-acquired infection...
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Chapter
Advanced Applications of MALDI-TOF MS – Ty** and Beyond
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation - Time of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has revolutionised species identification in clinical microbiology routine diagnostics and continues to replace con...
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Article
Open AccessPredictors of infectious meningitis or encephalitis: the yield of cerebrospinal fluid in a cross-sectional study
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses are recommended in patients with meningitis and/or encephalitis, but evidence regarding its diagnostic yield is low. We aimed to determine predictors of infectious pathogens ...
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Article
Open AccessAgrobacterium spp. nosocomial outbreak assessment using rapid MALDI-TOF MS based ty**, confirmed by whole genome sequencing
A number of episodes of nosocomial Agrobacterium spp. bacteremia (two cases per year) were observed at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, from 2015 to 2017. This triggered an outbreak investigation.
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Article
Salmonella persisters promote the spread of antibiotic resistance plasmids in the gut
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through mutations or the acquisition of genetic material such as resistance plasmids represents a major public health issue1,2. Persisters are subpopulations of bact...
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Article
Open AccessProsthetic valve endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with variable antibacterial resistance profiles: a diagnostic challenge
Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by gram-negative bacilli is rare. However, the incidence of this severe infection is rising because of the increasing number of persons at risk, such as patients with immunos...
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Article
Open AccessClinical impact of the type VI secretion system on virulence of Campylobacter species during infection
The clinical course of Campylobacter infection varies in symptoms and severity depending on host factors, virulence of the pathogen and initiated therapy. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) has been identified a...
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Article
Open AccessAntibiotic resistance in Swiss nursing homes: analysis of National Surveillance Data over an 11-year period between 2007 and 2017
We evaluated data from isolates of nursing home (NH) patients sent to the Swiss centre for antibiotic resistance (ANRESIS). We focussed on carbapenem-resistance (CR) among Gram-negative pathogens, extended-spe...
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Article
Open AccessInfluenza vaccination of cancer patients during PD-1 blockade induces serological protection but may raise the risk for immune-related adverse events
Immune checkpoint inhibiting antibodies were introduced into routine clinical practice for cancer patients. Checkpoint blockade has led to durable remissions in some patients, but may also induce immune-relate...
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Article
Open AccessIFNΛ3/4 locus polymorphisms and IFNΛ3 circulating levels are associated with COPD severity and outcomes
Interferon lambdas (IFNLs) have important anti-viral/bacterial and immunomodulatory functions in the respiratory tract. How do IFNLs impact COPD and its exacerbations?
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Article
Open AccessCase report: when two and ½ men go cam**…
In patients, rapid identification of bacterial species may help to guide treatment at early stages. New protocols for the identification directly from positive blood culture flasks significantly helped in the ...
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Article
Design and evaluation of a portable intra-operative unified-planning-and-guidance framework applied to distal radius fracture surgery
During a standard fracture reduction and fixation procedure of the distal radius, only fluoroscopic images are available for planning of the screw placement and monitoring of the drill bit trajectory. Our prot...
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Article
Open AccessMannose-binding lectin protein and its association to clinical outcomes in COPD: a longitudinal study
Functional deficiency of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We hypothesized that specific MBL2 gene polymorphisms and circulating MBL prot...
