Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, a commensal opportunistic bacterium predominantly residing in the skin of companion animals, particularly dogs, has the potential to induce skin and soft tissue infections in pets, and zoonotic infections, including catheter-related complications. This study documents four cases of S. pseudintermedius infection or colonization in patients who had close contact with dogs or cats. Identification of the bacterial species was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using microdilution assay. DNA was sequenced using Nanopore technology followed by in silico analysis. Three isolates were multidrug resistant, including resistance to methicillin, with one belonging to the prevalent European lineage ST551, and the other two were attributed to a novel multilocus sequence type, ST2672. The remaining isolate was attributed to the novel multilocus sequence type ST2673 and was methicillin susceptible. All four isolates exhibited an array of virulence factors that contributed to colonization, damage to host immune cells, and biofilm formation. All the ST551 isolates included in the comparative analysis displayed clonality within the European continent. The importance of describing zoonotic infections associated with S. pseudintermedius resides in the scarcity of available scientific literature, further accentuated by its heightened resistance profile and potential complications, particularly in the context of catheter-related infections.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical manifestations and outcome of the oldest old (people aged ≥85 years) who were admitted to the hospital with a confirmed influenza A virus infection in comparison with younger patients and to assess the role of inflammation in the outcome of influenza infection in this population. Methods: This is an observational prospective study including all adult patients with influenza A virus infection hospitalized in a tertiary teaching hospital in Madrid, in 2 consecutive influenza seasons (2016–17 and 2017–18). Results: Five hundred nine hospitalized patients with influenza A infection were included, of whom 117 (23%) were older than 85 years (median age: 89.3 ± 3.2). We compared the clinical characteristics and outcome with those of the rest of the population (median age: 72.8 ± 15.7). Overall, mortality was higher in older patients (10% vs. 4%; p = 0.03) with no differences in clinical presentation. Patients older than 85 years who ultimately died (12 out of 117) showed increased systemic inflammation expressed by higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin compared to survivors who were discharged (odds ratio [OR] of CRP >20 mg/dL: 5.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–20.57, and OR of ferritin >500 mg: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.04–17.35). Conclusions: Patients aged 85 and older with influenza A virus infection presented a higher in-hospital mortality than younger subjects. CRP and ferritin levels were higher in the oldest old who died, suggesting that inflammation could play a key role in the outcome of this subset of patients.

(1) Background: Alternative antibiotics are needed to treat infective endocarditis (IE) caused by non-faecalis/non-faecium enterococci; we aimed to assess the in vitro activity of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (AMP + CTR) against these enterococci and to describe its clinical efficacy in IE cases. (2) Methods: Time–kill curves with standard (ISI) and high (IHI) inocula were performed to test VanC isolates [3 E. casseliflavus (ECAS) and 1 E. gallinarum (EGALL)] and non-VanC isolates [1 E. durans (EDUR), 1 E. hirae (EHIR) and 1 E. raffinosus (ERAF)]. The narrative literature review of IE cases treated with AMP + CTR was analyzed alongside three study cases. Clinical outcomes were relapse and death. (3) Results: Ampicillin plus gentamicin (AMP + GEN) showed synergistic and bactericidal activity against most isolates. AMP + CTR was synergistic at ISI for EGALL, EDUR, and EHIR and bactericidal against EHIR. At IHI, indifferent activity was observed for all isolates. In IE cases treated with AMP + CTR, it was only effective for EDUR and EHIR. Clinical information for EGALL IE is lacking. For IE caused by ECAS and ERAF, AMP + CTR seems suboptimal or ineffective, respectively. (4) AMP + CTR cannot be recommended for treating IE due to ECAS/ERAF. In contrast, this combination was effective in IE caused by EDUR/EHIR and could be recommended.

Background: Data on antibiotic treatment for diabetic foot osteomyelitis are limited. This study aims to describe the real-world effectiveness and safety of dalbavancin in treating deep diabetic foot infections. Methods: A retrospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted in nine Spanish hospitals and one Irish hospital. Patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis treated with dalbavancin were included. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, microbiology, antibiotic regimens, adverse events, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among 136 patients, 76% were male, with a mean age of 69 ± 12 years. Renal insufficiency was observed in 32%, and 6% required renal replacement therapy. Based on the McCabe scale, 70% of patients had a rapidly or ultimately fatal disease. Polypharmacy was noted in 83%, and 60% of infections were moderate. Dalbavancin was primarily used as second-line therapy (92%). The cure rate was 80.9% (95% CI: 73.5–86.6%), achieved after a median of two doses. Patients receiving dalbavancin as first-line therapy had a cure rate of 86%, comparable to 80% in second-line therapy, with no significant differences. Surgical interventions were required in 72% of cases, with minor amputations performed in 40% of patients. Polymicrobial infections were common (55%), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 26% of cases. Adverse events occurred in 5% of patients. Chronic kidney disease was the sole independent risk factor for therapeutic failure (IRR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64–1.00, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Dalbavancin is effective and safe for treating diabetic foot osteomyelitis, including in complex patients with resistant microorganisms.

To evaluate the detection rate of septic metastases in catheter-related S. aureus bacteremia (CR-SAB) episodes by using [18F]FDG-PET/CT. We conducted a retrospective, before-and-after, single-center study of a prospectively identified catheter-related SAB (CR-SAB) cohort at Hospital Clínic Barcelona. All adult patients hospitalized from January 2006 to December 2022 were included. Primary outcome was the detection of septic metastases before and after integrating [18F]FDG-PET/CT into the diagnostic workflow of CR-SAB in January 2020. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, length of stay, and treatment duration. A total of 598 episodes of CR-SAB were included, 100 in the post-intervention period (2020–2022) and 498 in the pre-intervention period (2006–2019). [18F]FDG-PET/CT scan was performed in 28/100 episodes (28.0%) in post-intervention period, versus 9/498 in pre-intervention period (1.8%). Septic metastases detection rate was higher after [18F]FDG-PET/CT implementation (22/100, 22% vs. 56/498, 11.2% p .004), mainly due to pulmonary septic emboli (13/100, 13.0% vs. 12/498, 2.4% p < .001) and osteoarticular seeding (7/100, 7.0% vs. 11/498, 2.2% p .019). Neither pulmonary septic emboli nor osteoarticular metastases increased 30-day mortality (3/25, 12.0% vs. 57/573, 10.0%, p .732; and 2/18, 11.1% vs. 58/580 10.0%, p .702, respectively). Patients with septic metastases had longer treatment [25.0 (16.0–37.0) vs. 15.0 (13.0–19.0) days, p < .001]. [18F]FDG-PET/CT use in patients with CR-SAB was associated with a higher rate of septic metastases diagnosis, mainly pulmonary and osteoarticular, resulting in longer treatment, but no differences in clinical outcomes were observed.

Eravacycline is a novel, fully synthetic fluorocycline antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, aerobic, and anaerobic pathogens, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. It maintains efficacy despite common tetracycline resistance mechanisms, such as efflux pumps and ribosomal protection proteins. Its pharmacokinetic profile is characterized by extensive tissue penetration, particularly into the epithelial lining fluid and alveolar macrophages. Eravacycline is particularly active against MDR pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Acinetobacter baumannii. It also demonstrates efficacy against Achromobacter spp., Burkholderia cepacia complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and rapidly growing mycobacteria. Moreover, owing to its minimal disruption of the intestinal microbiota, it may help reduce the risk of Clostridioides difficile infection and could serve as an adjunctive therapeutic option in severe or fulminant cases. Phase III trials (IGNITE1 and IGNITE4) demonstrated noninferiority of eravacycline compared with carbapenems in complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs), supporting its approval for this indication. It is generally well tolerated, with adverse effects mainly limited to mild gastrointestinal. Beyond its approved indication for cIAIs, eravacycline shows therapeutic potential in multiple clinical contexts, such as polymicrobial infections from skin and soft tissue (necrotizing fasciitis) or pelvic inflammatory disease, pulmonary and biliary tract infections, β-lactam allergy, infections in immunocompromised patients, C. difficile infection, and community-acquired sepsis of unknown source. Collectively, real-world evidence and its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity support eravacycline as a promising therapeutic option with potential utility extending beyond its current indications.