Ricerc@Sapienza

Antibiotic resistance refers to when microorganisms survive and grow in the presence of specific antibiotics, a phenomenon mainly related to the indiscriminate widespread use and abuse of antibiotics. In this framework, thanks to the design and fabrication of original functional nanomaterials, nanotechnology offers a powerful weapon against several diseases such as cancer and pathogenic illness. Smart nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles and semiconductor nanocrystals, enable the realization of novel drug-free medical therapies for fighting against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) have been found on fresh fruit and vegetables globally. These types of ARB infections are spreading rapidly and are a major human health threat. A quantitative human exposure assessment model was created using scenario analysis to investigate the potential human exposure to antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli (AR-E. coli) through the consumption of lettuce irrigated with surface water. Scientific literature and site specific data were collected to model each process from farm to fork to calculate the concentration of AR-E.

Background: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are microbial factories aimed to reduce the amount of nutrients and pathogenic microorganisms in the treated wastewater before its discharge into the environment. We studied the impact of urban WWTP effluents on the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (AR-E. coli) in the last stretch of two rivers (Arrone and Tiber) in Central Italy that differ in size and flow volume.

Objective: To evaluate the ability of the BioFire FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panel to rapidly detect pathogens producing late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a severe infection often produced by Gram-negative bacteria. These microorganisms are frequently multidrug resistant and typically require broad-spectrum empiric treatment. Methods: In the context of an international multicentre clinical trial (MagicBullet), respiratory samples were collected at the time of suspicion of VAP from 165 patients in 32 participating hospitals in Spain, Greece and Italy.

Corynebacterium jeikeium is a commensal bacterium that colonizes human skin, and it is part of the normal bacterial flora. In non-risk subjects, it can be the cause of bad body smell due to the generation of volatile odorous metabolites, especially in the wet parts of the body that this bacterium often colonizes (i.e., groin and axillary regions). Importantly, in the last few decades, there have been increasing cases of serious infections provoked by this bacterium, especially in immunocompromised or hospitalized patients who have undergone installation of prostheses or catheters.

Background and Objectives: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections and represent a major clinical problem in terms of mortality, morbidity, length of stay and overall costs. The appropriateness of Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP) is a key component to reduce the SSIs while the inappropriateness is a major cause of some emerging infections and selection of antibiotic resistance, therefore increasing healthcare costs. For this reasons international and national guidelines have been developed to guide clinicians in the optimal use of SAP.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L., Apiaceae) is known for its antimicrobial activity and the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of its essential oil
(CDO) against multidrug resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). CDO was able to inhibit the growth of UPEC strains and propidium iodide uptake,
and electron microscopy examination suggested that bacterial structural modifications occurred. The presence of CDO reduced the MIC of gentamicin. E.coli

Antibiotic resistance is now considered a worldwide problem that puts public health at risk. The onset of bacterial strains resistant to conventional antibiotics and the scarcity of new drugs have prompted scientific research to re-evaluate natural products as molecules with high biological and chemical potential. A class of natural compounds of significant importance is represented by alkaloids derived from higher plants.

The discovery of antibiotics has revolutionized the medicine and treatment of microbial
infections. However, the current scenario has highlighted the difficulties in marketing new
antibiotics and an exponential increase in the appearance of resistant strains. On the other hand,
research in the field of drug-discovery has revaluated the potential of natural products as a unique
source for new biologically active molecules and scaffolds for the medicinal chemistry. In this

In this study we report the detection of the recently described mcr-4 gene in two human isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The strains were isolated from faecal samples of two Italian patients with gastroenteritis, collected in 2016. The identified mcr-4 genes (variant mcr-4.2) differed from the mcr-4 gene originally described in a Salmonella strain of swine origin from Italy. Salmonella species could represent a hidden reservoir for mcr genes. © 2018, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.