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About one in five hospital patients in the United States have a urinary catheter, making it one of the most common indwelling devices among hospitalized patients1. A survey conducted by CDC in 20112 found that 45-79% of adult patients in critical care units have urinary catheters. Therefore, the use of urinary catheters is exceptionally prevalent in hospitals.  Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a form of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), is the most commonly occurring health condition associated with the use of urinary catheters. According to the CDC, about 75% of hospital-acquired UTIs are CAUTIs, and prolonged use of urinary catheters […]

MicroGenDX next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the way infections are diagnosed. MicroGenDX can efficiently sequence the entire genome within days, thereby rapidly and accurately identifying microbes present in samples.

Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria are essentially ‘dormant’ bacteria that have intrinsically low metabolic activities and are non-proliferative. They are unable to grow and multiply. Research has pointed to VBNC state as a pro-survival strategy employed by certain bacteria to withstand harsh environmental stressors, such as UV radiation, nutrient deprivation, reduced osmotic potential, oxygen levels, and even antibiotic treatment. These stressors induce injuries in bacteria causing them to enter the VBNC state. This ‘hibernation-like’ state ensures that the bacteria survive and persist despite the difficult conditions. One of the major characteristics of VBNC bacteria is that they do not grow […]

Fungal infections and diseases, when compared to viral or bacterial infections, have always been considered less common, and mostly nonlife-threatening (except to immunocompromised patients or those with comorbidities), and have been unfortunately ignored. However, according to the Journal of Bacteriology & Mycology, this notion has changed in recent years for several reasons. First, the number of immunocompromised individuals has increased globally, largely due to cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and patients who’ve received organ transplants. Second, major changes in healthcare practices over the past decade and advancements of medical care have prompted the emergence of drug-resistant fungi, especially in the healthcare setting. […]