PTZ appears inferior to carbapenems for the treatment of ESBL bacteremia. For patients at high risk of invasive ESBL infections, early carbapenem therapy should be considered. Our findings should not be extended to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in development, as limited clinical data are available for these agents.

Antibiotic resistance in conjunction with the erosion of the drug development pipeline may lead us into a bleak future, a "post-antibiotic era." Because of a shortage of studies addressing treatment options for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative (MDRGN) infections in children, data must be extrapolated from the adult literature. However, even adult studies are limited by significant methodological flaws. We are in urgent need of pediatric specific pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data for agents with activity against MDRGN infections as well as improved clinical outcomes studies. For the time being, we must rely on in vitro studies, observational data, and clinical experience to guide our therapeutic decisions. In this review, we discuss treatment considerations for infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing organisms, AmpC β-lactamase-producing organisms, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the pediatric population.

It is estimated that by 2015 more than half of all HIV-infected individuals in the United States will be 50 years of age or older. As this population ages, the frequency of non-AIDS related comorbidities increases, which includes cardiovascular, metabolic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and psychiatric disorders. As a result, medical management of the aging HIV population can be complicated by polypharmacy and higher pill burden, leading to poorer antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Adherence to ART is generally better in older populations when compared to younger populations; however, cognitive impairment in elderly patients can impair adherence, leading to worse treatment outcomes. Practical monitoring tools can improve adherence and increase rates of viral load suppression. Several antiretroviral drugs exhibit inhibitory and/or inducing effects on cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, which are responsible for the metabolism of many medications used for the treatment of comorbidities in the aging HIV population. The combination of ART with polypharmacy significantly increases the chance of potentially serious drug-drug interactions (DDIs), which can lead to drug toxicity, poorer ART adherence, loss of efficacy of the coadministered medication, or virologic breakthrough. Increasing clinicians awareness of common DDIs and the use of DDI programs can prevent coadministration of potentially harmful combinations in elderly HIV-infected individuals. Well designed ART adherence interventions and DDI studies are needed in the elderly HIV population.

Background:The PolII intein from the hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus abysii only splices at very high temperature. Results: NMR structure, dynamics, and mutagenesis of Pab PolII intein have been characterized. Conclusion:The Pab PolII intein has unique structural and dynamic features that may contribute to its higher temperature for optimal activity. Significance: Pab PolII intein is an ideal candidate for protein engineering.

Hospitalized children with MRSA bacteremia frequently suffered treatment failure and complications, but mortality was low. The odds of bacteremia-related complications increased with each additional day of bacteremia, emphasizing the importance of achieving rapid sterilization.