PapersFlow Research Brief
Infections and bacterial resistance
Research Guide
What is Infections and bacterial resistance?
Infections and bacterial resistance refers to the clinical challenges posed by nosocomial and opportunistic pathogens such as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Elizabethkingia, and Achromobacter, which exhibit multidrug resistance, biofilm formation, and associations with conditions like cystic fibrosis and bacteremia.
This field encompasses 64,071 papers on antibiotic resistance mechanisms in pathogens like Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a multidrug-resistant opportunistic bacterium linked to nosocomial infections. Key topics include biofilm formation, as detailed in 'Bacterial Biofilms in Nature and Disease' (1987) by Costerton et al., and carbapenemase production in Enterobacteriaceae, covered in 'Global Spread of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae' (2011) by Nordmann et al. Growth data over the past 5 years is not available.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Antibiotic Resistance
Research characterizes efflux pumps, L1/L2 metallo-β-lactamases, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance in S. maltophilia isolates. Genomic surveillance tracks ST11 clones and therapeutic failures.
Biofilm Formation in Nosocomial Pathogens
Studies elucidate polysaccharide matrix, quorum sensing, and catheter adhesion in Elizabethkingia and Achromobacter biofilms. Researchers test dispersants, phages, and locked nucleic acid inhibitors.
Multidrug-Resistant Stenotrophomonas Infections
Clinical investigations report bacteremia outcomes, levofloxacin monotherapy, and combination therapy with colistin in ICU cohorts. Risk factor analyses include neutropenia and carbapenem exposure.
Opportunistic Infections in Cystic Fibrosis
This area examines Achromobacter xylosoxidans lung colonization, Stenotrophomonas superinfections, and lung function decline correlations. Longitudinal genotyping tracks transmission in clinics.
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica Pathogenesis
Research dissects neonatal meningitis virulence, capsular polysaccharides, and immunocompromised bacteremia outbreaks. Whole-genome sequencing reveals hospital transmission clusters.
Why It Matters
Bacterial resistance complicates treatment of nosocomial infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients, where Stenotrophomonas maltophilia causes high-mortality bacteremia and is associated with cystic fibrosis. 'Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen' (2012) by Brooke documents its increasing incidence in hospital settings, with resistance to multiple antibiotics rendering standard therapies ineffective. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, as in 'Global Spread of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae' (2011) by Nordmann et al., have led to endemic outbreaks in the United States and Greece, exemplified by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases reported worldwide. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multiple resistance mechanisms heighten risks, per 'Multiple Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Our Worst Nightmare?' (2002) by Livermore, affecting vulnerable populations like diabetics as noted in 'Infections in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus' (1999) by Joshi et al.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
'Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen' by Brooke (2012), as it provides a focused summary of this key pathogen central to the cluster, including its multidrug resistance and clinical relevance for nosocomial infections.
Key Papers Explained
'Bacterial Biofilms in Nature and Disease' (1987) by Costerton et al. establishes biofilm mechanisms foundational to resistance in opportunistic pathogens. 'Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen' (2012) by Brooke applies this to S. maltophilia's nosocomial role. 'Global Spread of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae' (2011) by Nordmann et al. and 'AmpC β-Lactamases' (2009) by Jacoby detail enzymatic resistance in related Enterobacteriaceae, while 'Multiple Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Our Worst Nightmare?' (2002) by Livermore connects to broader Gram-negative threats.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Research emphasizes multidrug resistance in nosocomial pathogens like Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii, with ongoing focus on mechanisms from top-cited works such as carbapenemases and AmpC enzymes, amid no recent preprints or news reported.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bacterial Biofilms in Nature and Disease | 1987 | Annual Review of Micro... | 3.1K | ✕ |
| 2 | Manual of clinical microbiology | 2003 | Transactions of the Ro... | 2.6K | ✕ |
| 3 | Global Spread of Carbapenemase-producing<i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> | 2011 | Emerging infectious di... | 2.2K | ✓ |
| 4 | AmpC β-Lactamases | 2009 | Clinical Microbiology ... | 2.1K | ✓ |
| 5 | The real threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-produci... | 2009 | The Lancet Infectious ... | 1.6K | ✕ |
| 6 | Multiple Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas... | 2002 | Clinical Infectious Di... | 1.4K | ✕ |
| 7 | Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic... | 2012 | Clinical Microbiology ... | 1.4K | ✓ |
| 8 | 1 Classical and Rapid Identification Methods for Medically Imp... | 1988 | Methods in microbiology | 1.3K | ✕ |
| 9 | Infections in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus | 1999 | New England Journal of... | 1.0K | ✕ |
| 10 | Carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii: mechanisms a... | 2006 | Clinical Microbiology ... | 1.0K | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stenotrophomonas maltophilia?
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial and community-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Brooke (2012) in 'Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen' notes its high mortality in bacteremia cases and links to cystic fibrosis. It resists multiple antibiotics through intrinsic and acquired mechanisms.
How do bacterial biofilms contribute to infections?
Bacterial biofilms protect pathogens in nature and disease, enabling persistence on surfaces and resistance to antibiotics. Costerton et al. (1987) in 'Bacterial Biofilms in Nature and Disease' describe how biofilms form structured communities that complicate treatment of nosocomial infections. This is relevant for opportunistic pathogens like those in cystic fibrosis patients.
What are carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae?
Carbapenemases are enzymes in Enterobacteriaceae that confer resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases spreading globally. Nordmann et al. (2011) in 'Global Spread of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae' report endemicity in the US and Greece, including metallo-enzymes like Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamases. This drives multidrug resistance in clinical settings.
What mechanisms cause resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa develops resistance through multiple mechanisms, including mutational changes to cephalosporins and low plasmid carriage compared to other bacteria. Livermore (2002) in 'Multiple Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Our Worst Nightmare?' highlights its unique adaptability, making it harder to treat than Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in some aspects. This contributes to its status as a major nosocomial threat.
How does AmpC β-lactamase mediate resistance?
AmpC β-lactamases are chromosomal cephalosporinases in Enterobacteriaceae that resist cephalothin, cefazolin, cefoxitin, most penicillins, and β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Jacoby (2009) in 'AmpC β-Lactamases' explains their role in many organisms, leading to clinical resistance challenges. They differ from extended-spectrum β-lactamases by their broad hydrolytic activity.
What role does diabetes play in infections?
Patients with diabetes mellitus face higher risks for specific infections, though general susceptibility lacks strong evidence. Joshi et al. (1999) in 'Infections in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus' identify infections that occur almost exclusively in diabetics, linking to bacterial pathogens. This intersects with resistance issues in opportunistic bacteria.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can biofilm formation in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia be disrupted to improve treatment outcomes in cystic fibrosis patients?
- ? What drives the global dissemination of carbapenemase genes in Enterobacteriaceae beyond known endemic regions?
- ? Which combinations of resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa most frequently lead to untreatable nosocomial bacteremia?
- ? How do AmpC β-lactamases evolve in response to new cephalosporins in opportunistic pathogens?
- ? What epidemiological factors predict outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in hospital settings?
Recent Trends
The field maintains a large corpus of 64,071 papers without specified 5-year growth data, sustaining emphasis on Stenotrophomonas maltophilia's opportunistic infections as per Brooke.
2012No recent preprints or news coverage from the last 12 months indicate steady rather than accelerating activity.
Core insights from high-citation papers like Nordmann et al. on carbapenemase spread continue to inform resistance epidemiology.
2011Research Infections and bacterial resistance with AI
PapersFlow provides specialized AI tools for Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology researchers. Here are the most relevant for this topic:
AI Literature Review
Automate paper discovery and synthesis across 474M+ papers
Paper Summarizer
Get structured summaries of any paper in seconds
Deep Research Reports
Multi-source evidence synthesis with counter-evidence
See how researchers in Life Sciences use PapersFlow
Field-specific workflows, example queries, and use cases.
Start Researching Infections and bacterial resistance with AI
Search 474M+ papers, run AI-powered literature reviews, and write with integrated citations — all in one workspace.
See how PapersFlow works for Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology researchers