Here are the three studies selected for this month’s Microbiology Time:

• In the first paper, the Spanish researchers investigated persistent biomarkers in the nasopharyngeal tract of fully asymptomatic patients two years post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, considering the initial severity of their illness. This study aims to shed light on SARS-CoV-2’s wide range of symptoms that span from mild to severe cases requiring intensive care. The study found 371 proteins and their related pathways that reflect different adverse effects of the infection, demonstrating that biomarkers can persist long-term and indicate the severity of the initial infection. While significant efforts have been made to identify severity-linked biomarkers and those connected with long-COVID, this provides the first evidence of biomarkers persisting years after recovery.
• For the second study, we move to Denmark. This Chronic Wound Characterisation (CWC) study aims to investigate chronic wounds, focusing on bacterial communities and biofilm, inflammation, and their effects on wound healing. The study comprised two cohorts: the predictive cohort involving patients with chronic wounds undergoing mechanical debridement and the in-depth cohort following patients receiving split-thickness skin grafts. The samples from the two cohorts were then analyzed using culturing and next-generation sequencing, laying the foundation to identify human genes and microbes related to infection and healing. Moreover, the researchers established a biobank of clinical samples and data that will also help explore the influence of bacteria on wound progression and healing.
• In the last paper, R. Traynor and colleagues investigated a PVL-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus outbreak in the Irish National Burns Unit in 2022, involving seven patients, two staff members, and two positive environmental samples. Staff and environmental screening, along with enhanced cleaning protocols, were crucial for effectively managing this outbreak. The application of real-time whole genome sequencing (WGS) facilitated the quick identification of related cases and enabled a swift response to the outbreak, making the management of this infection an example of effective outbreak management.