Cuello, Luz

Abstract Background Phage therapy has gained increasing interest as an approach to treat antimicrobial- resistant bacterial infections. Standardized, reproducible PST methods are needed to rapidly identify active phages for potential clinical use. Here, PST of 24 clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CR-Kp) to 6 K. pneumoniae phages (3 from KlebPhaCol and 3 from phage hunting) was assessed using a plaque assay (PA) and a liquid assay (LA), and results compared. Phage Susceptibility Testing: Agreement Between Plaque Assay and Liquid Assay Methods For the PA, 2µL of 10−1-10−8 phage dilutions were spotted on bacterial laws of CR-Kp (double agar overlay), and plaques scored upon overnight incubation at 37°C [0 (no activity), 1+ (lysis from without), 2+ (concentration-dependent lysis), 3+ (clear plaques, small or medium size), 4+ (clear plaques of large size); scores ≥ 2+ were considered susceptible]. Testing was performed on 3 different days. If ≥ 2 replicates scored ≥ 2+, the result was classified as susceptible. For the LA, phages and bacteria were combined (MOI=10) in 96-well plates [phage-bacteria combinations (3 replicates), phage controls (106 PFU/mL), bacterial controls (BC, 105 CFU/mL), media sterility controls] and plates incubated at 37°C for 24h, with OD600 measured every 15 min. Hold time (HT) — delay in achieving inflection at the beginning of exponential growth phase — was calculated for phage-treated compared to BC wells. Testing was performed on 2 different days. Mean HT was computed for each phage-bacteria combination and results assessed as susceptible or not using cutoff HTs of 4h and 8h. Results Using a LA HT cutoff of 4h, there was complete agreement with results of the PA for 3 phages, and 96, 79 and 67% overall agreement for 3 other phages (Table). Using a LA HT cutoff of 8h, there was complete negative agreement for 4 phages, but lower overall agreement between the LA and PA (58-96%). Increased classification as susceptible by PA compared to LA was the main source of disagreement when using a LA HT cutoff of 8h. Conclusion Here, two PST assays were compared, and greater agreement was found when using a 4h compared to an 8h HT LA cutoff. These results represent a step forward in the standardization of PST methods, bearing in mind that correlation of results with pre-clinical and clinical outcomes is needed. Disclosures Robin Patel, MD, a patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication, a patent on PET imaging of bacterial infection: a patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication, a patent on PET imaging of bacterial infection|MicuRx Pharmaceuticals and bioMérieux: Grant/Research Support|PhAST, Day Zero Diagnostics, DEEPULL DIAGNOSTICS, S.L., Nostics, HealthTrackRx, bioMérieux and CARB-X: Advisor/Consultant|Up-to-Date and the Infectious Diseases Board Review Course: Honoraria

ABSTRACT The genomic sequences of seven phages isolated from municipal sewage in Rochester, Minnesota, USA, using Klebsiella pneumoniae strains ( bla KPC carriers) as hosts are reported. These phages are lytic and belong to the Ackermannviridae, Drexlerviridae , and Zobellviridae families. No known antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes were found within their genomes.

ABSTRACT Wound infections, exacerbated by the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, necessitate innovative antimicrobial approaches. Polymicrobial infections, often involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), present challenges due to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent antimicrobial agent, holds promise as an alternative therapy. An electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) that generates HOCl in situ via precise polarization controlled by a miniaturized potentiostat was evaluated for the treatment of murine wound biofilm infections containing both P. aeruginosa with “difficult-to-treat” resistance and MRSA. Previously, HOCl-producing e-bandage was shown to reduce murine wound biofilms containing P. aeruginosa alone. Here, in 5-mm excisional skin wounds containing 48-h biofilms comprising MRSA and P. aeruginosa combined, polarized e-bandage treatment reduced MRSA by 1.1 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.026) vs non-polarized e-bandage treatment (no HOCl production), and 1.4 log 10 CFU/g (0.0015) vs Tegaderm only controls; P. aeruginosa was similarly reduced by 1.6 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0032) and 1.6 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0015), respectively. For wounds infected with MRSA alone, polarized e-bandage treatment reduced bacterial load by 1.1 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0048) and 1.3 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0048) compared with non-polarized e-bandage and Tegaderm only, respectively. The e-bandage treatment did not negatively impact wound healing or cause tissue toxicity. The addition of systemic antibiotics did not enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of e-bandages. This study provides additional evidence for the HOCl-producing e-bandage as a novel antimicrobial strategy for managing wound infections, including in the context of antibiotic resistance and polymicrobial infections. IMPORTANCE New approaches are needed to combat the rise of antimicrobial-resistant infections. The HOCl-producing electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) leverages in situ generation of HOCl, a natural biocide, for broad-spectrum killing of wound pathogens. Unlike traditional therapies that may exhibit limited activity against biofilms and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, the e-bandage offers a potent, standalone solution that does not contribute to further resistance or require adjunctive antibiotic therapy. Here, we show the ability of the e-bandage to address polymicrobial infection by antimicrobial resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , two commonly isolated, co-infecting wound pathogens. Effectiveness of the HOCl-producing e-bandage in reducing pathogen load while minimizing tissue toxicity and avoiding the need for systemic antibiotics underscores its potential as a tool in managing complex wound infections.

Rapid detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in the Klebsiella species is desirable. The MALDI Biotyper® MBT Subtyping Module (Bruker Daltonics) uses an algorithm that detects a peak at ~11,109 m/z corresponding to a protein encoded by the p019 gene to detect KPC simultaneously with organism identification by a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). Here, the subtyping module was evaluated using 795 clinical Klebsiella isolates, with whole genome sequences used to assess for blaKPC and p019. For the isolates identified as KPC positive by sequencing, the overall sensitivity of the MALDI-ToF MS subtyping module was 239/574 (42%) with 100% specificity. For the isolates harboring p019, the subtyping module showed a sensitivity of 97% (239/246) and a specificity of 100%. The subtyping module had poor sensitivity for the detection of blaKPC-positive Klebsiella isolates, albeit exhibiting excellent specificity. The poor sensitivity was a result of p019 being present in only 43% of the blaKPC-positive Klebsiella isolates.