Regular as clockwork, our March Microbiology Time is out. Discover below the top three studies we selected:

• A South African paper investigating SNPs and plasmids associated with antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoeae samples from a cohort of South African patients. Using real-time PCR, high-resolution melting analysis, and whole-genome sequencing, the researchers analyzed resistance genes, comparing the results with phenotypic culture results. The results demonstrated the correlation between molecular biology and phenotypic culture results, but analyzing larger populations of patients is needed to validate the utility of these techniques as a convenient culture-free diagnostic tool.
• A letter to the editor published in the Journal of Hospital Infection analyzing the prevalence of rectal colonization by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (EB) and the rate of Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance among KPC-EB isolates in a cohort of patients admitted to an Italian intensive care unit. The study highlights a relevant intra-hospital spread of CZA-resistant isolates that could escape surveillance if traditional phenotypic detection methods are used. Moreover, even if these strains do not express a wide multi-drug resistance pattern, the spread of these KPC mutants on resistance plasmids might generate extended-drugs-resistant phenotypes. Thus, the researchers suggest an urgent update of international guidelines for carbapenemase-producing EB
• An exciting review by Dr. Cherkaoui’s team dissecting the benefits of Total Laboratory Automation in helping laboratories to face the complexity of diagnostic bacteriological testing procedures. According to the study, automation should drive a fundamental change in the laboratory workflow and prompt users to reconsider all the approaches currently used in the diagnostic work-up –

including the accurate identification of pathogens and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods.

Find the complete studies at the links below: